Ibanez RG

Infobox Guitar model|title=Ibanez RG


manufacturer=Ibanez
period= 1987 — present
bodytype=Solid
necktype=Bolt-on, Neck-thru
woodbody=Basswood, Mahogany
woodneck=5pc Maple with Walnut, 3pc Maple with Walnut
woodfingerboard=24 fret Rosewood, Maple
bridge=Edge Zero, Edge III Tremolo, Fixed Bridge, Edge Pro Tremolo, Gibraltar Plus Bridge
pickups=H-S-H or H-H IBZ Infinity, DiMarzio IBZ, Air Norton, Blue Velvet, and Tone Zone, or IBZ V7 & V8 & S1 pickups
colors=Black, Electric Blue, White, Amber, Transparent Lavender Blue, Weathered Black, Metallic Khaki, Jewel Blue, Black Night, Regal Brown Burst, Stained Oil, Natural Flat, Dark Amber, Aged Natural, Cubed Black Pewter, Grey Nickel, Vital Silver, Galaxy Black, Mirage Blue, Mirage Red, Royal Blue, Black Pearl, Sapphire Blue & Violin Flat

The Ibanez RG series are the most numerous guitars made in the whole world (in terms of various models) [As of September, 2006, Ibanez catalog of electric guitars [http://ibanez.com/guitars/] lists 29 models — it's more than any other Ibanez series.] and arguably the most popular series of Ibanez electric guitars produced by Hoshino Gakki. The Ibanez RG was originally designed as a derivative of Steve Vai's JEMUniverse series and released in 1987. Manufacture of the RG model continues through today. The RG series are among the most popular hard rock and metal guitars ever made.

Origins

The RG series was first introduced in 1987 as a derivative to the Ibanez JEM and Universe series by Steve Vai, contrary to the more popular opinion that Rocky George, former lead guitarist for the California based hardcore punk/thrash metal outfit Suicidal Tendencies and current lead guitarist for Fishbone was its designerFact|date=December 2007 (Rocky however was one of the first famous users of the RG model). This was believed because Rocky's initials are the same as the model. The RG in the Ibanez RG name does not mean Rocky George, in reality they mean Roadstar Guitar, although these instruments differ significantly from the original Roadstar II series, introduced in the early 1980s. One of the first guitars in the RG series was the RG550 with an Edge tremolo. It became one of the most popular guitars ever made by Ibanez and made the RG name known internationally. While professional musicians use the RG Prestige Series, newcomers often start playing on the RG Tremolo series, which are budget-priced high quality instruments. These guitars are made in Japan, China, Korea or Indonesia and generally considered to have a high quality to price ratio in comparison (even The Prestige series) to other manufacturers like Gibson, Fender, Rickenbacker and PRS.All of the RG550s, 560s, 565s, 570s, 670s 750s, 760s and 770s have a version of the Ibanez Edge tremolo, be it Original or Lo-Pro. The Edge tremolo incorporated several manufacturing changes when compared to the original Floyd Rose, including increased mass, relocated fine tuners and improved locking posts. The Locking Posts are no longer used as of the 2003 model year along with the introduction of the Edge Pro.

Features

The RG Series features a thin neck [The Wizard Prestige and Wizard II necks are the thinnest and flattest necks ever made on guitars] with a wide, almost flat, double octave (24 fret) fret board, facilitating the performance of chords and solos. The body of the RG Series features sleek, offset pointed double cutaways giving better access to the upper frets. Typically the body is made of Mahogany or Basswood with the exception of the RGT220A, where the body is made of swamp ash. As of 2008 though, select J Custom RGs are made out Alder as well as Basswood and Mahogany. The fretboard is made of Rosewood with the exception of the RG350MDX and the RG270 (which can be seen at the catalog section of ibanezrules.com in the 1996 catalog [http://www.ibanezrules.com/catalogs/us/1996/96017.jpg] ),where the fretboard is made of maple. The pickups are usually configured as HSH or HH. There are IBZ Infinity, IBZ Powersound, IBZ Seymour Duncan or IBZ-EMG pickups in the RG Tremolo and Fixed series. The Prestige series typically comes equipped with either the IBZ V7/S7/V8 series, IBZ DiMarzio pickups, Non-OEM DiMarzio pickups in different configurations (most often the ToneZone and Air Norton), active EMGs in several configurations, and one model comes equipped with Non-OEM Seymour Duncans.

Almost all guitars in the series have some variations of a Floyd Rose-style tremolo, except for the RG Fixed and the RGA Prestige series, which have fixed bridges.

RG's are famous for being the basis of particularly easy to play seven string guitars, and as of 2007, Ibanez produced its first commercially available 8 string guitar, the RG2228.

The RG Series

Current RG Series is currently split into 5 subsections

* Ibanez J Custom- Highest quality Japanese made RG guitars exclusive to the Japanese market, sometimes available retail in Europe. The only source of 7 String RG's with non-IBZ branded pickups. Unfortunately, not available outside of Japan unless you buy them from a non-authorized retailer. Typically there are a few listed at any given time on eBay
*Ibanez RG Extreme-A middle range between the RG tremolo and RG prestige series guitars. All three are of non Japanese origin, have EMG pickups and Edge III tremolos. They are not available in the United States and many other countries.
* RG Prestige - High quality Japanese-made RG guitars which contains the RG, RGA, and most of the RGT series. Contains the nicer of the two RG Seven Strings currently in production. Contains Ibanez' only commercially available 8 string
* RG Tremolo - RG series guitars of non Japanese (China, Korea and Indonesia) origin with Floyd Rose-style tremolo.
* RG Fixed - RG guitars with fixed bridges of non Japanese origin. Contains one of only 2 Ibanez 7 String RG's currently in production

Ibanez RG series

References

External links

* http://jemsite.com/ - A fansite for JEM and other Ibanez guitars
* http://www.guitar123.co.uk/index.php?page=ibanez_rg - Comparison of the RG models & RG's Bridge pick-ups.