Ibanez 2013: RG1550

I love this- the new Ibanez RG1550 in 2013 will feature non-locking hardware (look: Ibanez SyncroniZR bridge). But... it's gonna be black only (argh!). Also: basswood alder body + default coil split switch (volume knob :-)

Things are looking good in the Ibanez camp, the LTD camp is confusing everyone with the Elite range *pfffttt*

MG100HFX + Ibanez

The first 2 guitars to be plugged into my new MG100HFX were:

• Ibanez RG1550: Chose this guitar because it has a fresh set of strings in there (D'Addario Steels) & a trio of Seymour Duncan pickups. Wanted to test the amp's clarity & it's all there from clean to slight dirt & finally all-out distortion
• Ibanez SZR520: This is one of the few guitars I own with factory default pickups, a very high output pair to test the MG100HFX's capacity- whether it can handle high output units. Verdict: Of course, it can.
  

Screws, knobs...

My RG1550, nothing new...

New are the knobs & pickguard screws:

• Locking knobs: As depicted above, I prefer these knobs for security; they won't come undone & promote better grip
• Flathead screws: For a flushed feel, no protrusions. The old ones were rusty so I replaced the whole set

The Seymour Duncan pickups in this guitar:

• Neck: Full Shred
• Mid: Classic Stack
• Bridge: Screamin' Demon trembucker
  

Coated!

Yes, I do install coated strings in some of my guitars. I have the above DR red set...

...in my RG1550. So what's the big deal? Coated strings last longer, they would not corrode till the coating wears off. People are wary of coated strings because these affect feel- not quite. the coating here is minimal, it won't bump your .009 wire much thicker, it's negligible. However, people still feel the difference, some said the coating restrict movements but if one's accustomed to the feel, it's not a hindrance. A friend also told me the coating restricts (pinch) harmonics triggering. I've not encountered this problem thus far; the fact that my gain/drive/distortion is always at overdose levels might be the assurance.

The real setback here would be the cost of these strings; $18 per pack, that could get me 3 packs of D'Addarios...

Also, for us dweebs who grind our strings, the coating over the picked length disappears more rapidly than the bits over at the fretted section.

DR strings are available @ Davis GMC.

Ibanez: RG1550 (disct'd)

The basswood rant continues; the above, alien-warded Ibanez RG1550 was discontinued in 2005. I bought it a year before its bow-out from the catalogs, when the retail price was still below SGD1K. It's a definite value-for-money Prestige unit as the feel & tone on offer speak for the exalted series it hails from.

I was itching to buy this guitar simply because back then, I still did not own any maple fretboard Ibanez guitar so the feel was definitely different & appealing. The default V-series pickups made way for Seymour Duncan's Screamin' Demon (B) & Distortion (N), the mid single coil was left stock. Upon this swap, what went missing was that excessive midrange response typical of in-house Ibanez pickups, in place was the grizzly Duncan growl in the bridge which sounds very fitting for black metal stuff. The neck humbucker is hotter in output, with this in mind, I had it set up to such an extent that it sounds louder than the bridge counterpart making it perfect for lead playing- no volume pedal boosting necessary.