What's your favourite Ibanez guitar for metal?

[jdiz]

I own a s520ex. I know it's not the greatest guitar in the world, but it's been really good to me. I paid $1000 for it too! lol. I was in australia at the time and guitar gear over there is just ridiculously expensive, if you didn't know. I love the wizard neck and how thin it is, combined with the jumbo frets! and the body on the s series is so thin and comfortable. I mainly play death metal. I want a 24 fret RG of some kind, but don't know which one would be the best. There are no RGs at the local shop either. I realize that 'best' is subjective... I'm just looking for advice of where to start.

I wanted to sand and stain my s520ex down, but saw photos of it done and the 3 piece doesn't look good at all!. well.. maybe a little bit.

I've modded the pickups to dimarzio super distortion and a PAFpro in the neck. Was really into paul gilbert and speed metal when I did that haha. sounds fine now, but maybe a little mid heavy on the bridge pickup..

I play out of an older 2 channel dual rec with mesa trad 412 cab.

 

[MichaelC4]

A mid to late '90s RG570 w/bubinga stripe neck (also called a Super Wizard) would be a cool guitar.
Or, any Prestige models.

General rules for RGs, though some may not follow these.....

RGs from 87-92 will have a square heel neck joint.
RGs from 93-on will have an AANJ (all access neck joint).

RG1xx, RG2xx, RG3xx and some RG4xx will have a Wizard II (no screws in the tuners on back of headstock).
Some RG4xx and all RG5xx and up will have a Wizard neck (little screws in tuners on back of headstock).

RGx70 = H-S-H, no pickguard
RGx60 = H-S-S, no pickguard
RGx50 = H-S-H w/pickguard
RGx40 = H-S-S w/pickguard
RGx20 = H-H, no pickguard

Prestige models will have 4 #s - RG1xxx, RG2xxx and so on.

Models with the licensed Floyd Roses - Original and Lo-Pro (called LO-TRS) can swapped out for a real Floyd Rose Original.
Models with the Edge Tremolo can not take anything but an Edge. A Floyd Rose would need body modifications.


I learned alot about RGs when I custom built a right-handed RG450 with a RG570 Super Wizard Neck (flipped it upside down, Hendrix style).
Although, I only played it about 10 times. The knobs got in the way of my picking and hand were very uncomfortable.

It has a black '97 RG450 body made in Korea and a '98 RG570 neck made in Japan. Those are the only Ibanez parts.

Floyd Rose Original w/big block upgrade,
Seymour Duncan Distortion, lil '59 and Jazz pickups,
Jackson Dinky wiring harness,
Fender 5-way super switch set up as 5 humbuckers (position 2 and 4 split coils from humbuckers to make their own humbuckers),
custom cut mirror pickguard,
chrome Jackson tuners.
I had to buy all the black knobs and screws.
I ended up getting a black Floyd Rose handle.



Here is a picture of the body that I took in 2009

Here is a RG470L Wizard II, RG570 Super Wizard and RG470 Wizard

The thickness difference between a Wizard II and a Wizard (actually the Super Wizard, but, same thickness)

 

[MichaelC4]

In the middle picture, the right handed RG470, was a '99 that I bought at a yard sale for $60.
New Penny (copper) body and Cosmo (smoked chrome) hardware.
Needed a new volume pot and input jack ($5 worth of parts).
I sold it for $200.

 

[MichaelC4]

I'll jump in, one more time.
All the parts for the custom RG450 were found on eBay.

I don't know if you'd want a 300 series or lower, but......
I did pick up my RG370DXL off of eBay. Winning bid was $104 + $30 S&H.
It was in perfect condition.
I sold the GFS VEH pickup that came in it for $20. The guy included the original INF4.
And, I sold the almost new RoadRunner case for $40. Dropping my total price invested to $74.
It's not a bad guitar.

 

[MkIII Renegade]

RG770 without a doubt. 8)

 

[CrazyYoshi73]

A heavy s540 from the early 90's!!

 

[Jorn218]

My DT-250 has been my go to Ibanez for nearly 24 years for a guitar that will be 30 in March.

 

[elvis]

J Custom RG7. I'm in the process of putting Nailbombs in right now.

 

[Diezelmonster]

Ive used my UV7PWH and RG7 for years. I really like the pickups. I just recently got some parts from nate perle and made an Rg7 with duncan blackout EMTY pickups sounds ferocious with my dual!

 

[jpistolas]

Not the typical metal guitar offering from Ibanez but I've been using 2 Artist AR-30's for 15 plus years.

 

[menace329]

Ibanez 2027 XVV

Only Ibanez I have left, apparently from what I have been told it is slightly rare and highly desired. I have never heard another Ibanez or any other 7 string for that matter sound as good.

 

[Archlute75]

Mostly been using my RG920QMZ with a Bareknuckle Holydiver in the bridge and Emerald in the neck.

However, last year I picked up an old, electric blue RG470 with and amazing neck. I'm in the process of putting ceramic BKP Blawkhawks and a Cobra middle coil, and replacing the worn out, crap lo-trs II trem with a Gotoh Floyd. I just got a Suhr Modern with one, and really like them.