SOLD: Ibanez RG321

Sold this guitar off a few days ago to Mr. Wong. If you are reading this, hope you are happy with your new companion.

Midweek re-string

Was sick yesterday. Couldn't really play guitar because my nose leaked like a faulty pipe. I wouldn't want any goo on my instruments so it was time spent lying around & watching DVD. Managed to re-string my RG321 before I went to bed. Watched:

• The A-Team
• Lethal Weapon 3
• Beverly Hills Cop

(The good stuff) Not offered here

The RG321 still exists. But it's not offered here, you won't see it at the authorized dealer. In my opinion, the RG321 represents a very sensible purchase in terms of tone, playability & the asking price. Ibanez had been practicing differentiated supply as evident in the American & Asian offerings, the only sensible reason for doing so would point to sales figures. Seeing things from the consumer's point of view, the RG321 is one of the best seller here but then again, I'm not privy to other sales issues. 

Duncan talk: Duncan Custom SH-5

 

Here's a 2-tier understanding of Duncan's Custom humbucker: It's a hotter interpretation of the PAF unit + it's given a more commanding bottom end. This pickup has a twin application considering its authoritative lower frequencies. If you are looking for a pickup to balance out a guitar with bright acoustics, the SH-5 would serve you. Alternatively, if you peddle lots of bass notes but wish to maintain clarity in an already booming guitar, the SH-5 would serve you as well. It's a good alternative to the Duncan Distortion (SH-6) for those of us who think it's a harsh sounding humbucker; the SH-5 possesses the former's attributes but with added bass. All in all, the SH-5 is a high output unit which loves distortion.

I was happy with the Duncan Distortion (SH-6) humbucker; it's an outstanding high output humbucker for distortion laden tone & resided in my Ibanez RG321. However, my satin finished RG321 is a bright-sounding guitar which doesn't need additional emphasis in the upper frequencies but I am stubborn in my EQ settings; I don't pump up the bass more than the midrange/ treble. I was looking for a replacement unit which should not compromise the distortion performance but has added low frequencies; the SH-5 was it.

Manufacturer's notes:

• Pickup's default EQ settings: Bass- 7/ Midrange- 6/ Treble- 9
• Magnet type: Ceramic
• Output: High

My experience with this pickup:

• Current resident guitar: Ibanez RG321

It used to be in the following guitar(s):

• Ibanez: RG1550
• Gibson: Les Paul BFG

If you decide to purchase this pickup based on the manufacturer's pickup EQ  reference per se, you'd be mistaken into thinking the SH-5 has added brightness due to its over-the-top treble enhancements. It's only when you have it in real use then the bottom end emphasis would make its mark. It's a little deceiving, the statistics...

Lethargy

Was a little under the weather lately, hence the zilch entries...

But the desire to play was definitely there. There's this strong urge to just manifest the tunes in my head through the instrument. Until I got that done, I felt bothered. It's like when you play so much, once you stop for some reasons or other, it's akin to substance withdrawal- the sore feeling of something missing breathes with you. It's definitely a plus to have some simple setup going just to address this anxiety so it was the Ibanez RG321 & my Vox amPlug-cab to see me through in the mean time.

Shred guitar recommendations (Part 1): Ibanez

I have some friends asking me to recommend some shred-friendly guitars:

• which are relatively affordable
• user-friendly (meaning: won't make beginners weep because of handling issues)

There are too many guitars out there which are shred-worthy regardless of the brand name. The conventional belief here is the acquisition of guitars with skinny neck profiles to enhance fretting hand movements- rubbish. If you are a capable player, you can shred with any guitar in hand; it's a matter of capacity. In this installment, I'd like to recommend some models from the typical shredder's default brand name: Ibanez

My firm recommendation here is the RG321. Please note it features a slim but not an excessively skinny Ibanez neck (Wizard II) unlike its Prestige counterparts. The instrument has a solid feel & possesses great unplugged mahogany resonance (a sign of a good sounding guitar upon plugging in).

This guitar, despite proving to be one of the manufacturer's best seller, has been removed from this region's catalogue offerings. However, you can still find remainder units at Swee Lee & Standard Value. Highly recommended.


My next recommendation would be the SA260. This guitar is aimed at the player who wishes for a distortion-friendly unit but would require some single coil tones in the mix. The instrument features a True-Duo humbucker in the bridge position which could be switched to single coil mode when in need. The SA neck profile differs slightly from the RG as it is slightly rounded & not distinctly flat like the RG's. The SA body also sports a curved top for a more sensuous feel during play. Do note the 2 lesser frets on offer. Also, the guitar is equipped with a whammy-able SAT Pro II bridge.

The latest shredtastic guitar Ibanez has to offer is the RGA model (in this price bracket) which is a fusion of the RG & SA guitars but completely fresh are the active pickups by the manufacturer (LoZ3). The model featured here is the RGA32 which I prefer because it has a passive EQ section unlike its other sibling, the RGA42 which sports an active control which I deem unnecessary. The active humbuckers would make this instrument tentalizing tone-wise but the tone I hear from this one is a make/break affair which would surely dichotomize the tone critics.

To be cont'd...

LTD/RG

These are my 2 most played guitars of late:

• Ibanez RG321: This is my no-frills RG. I keep coming back to this guitar for these fundamental reasons; (1) feels good (2) sounds appealing. It's equipped with Duncans- Distortion (N) & Custom (B). Some friends deem this combination rather foolish because the Distortion is more ferocious in the neck position but my intention was for my solos (usually done with ths pickup) to be more pronounced & I'd like clarity here as well.
• LTD M-53: I have this guitar out on the stand while playing others, I usually stop playing whatever guitar's in hand & starts playing the M-53. This is also one of my few guitars with default pickups in tact, the set-up was also superb right from the start, there were no further tinkering done- a reminder of how some of the lower-priced guitars could be so right if we look hard enough. We must also not be dismissive of the lesser instrument before we know what's in store for the money.
  

Seeing red

It's rather disheartening that the Ibanez RG321 is now not offered to the Asian market (WEF 2009) but now made available in the USA. The candy apply finish (above) looks very enticing...

RG321... farewell?

Word has it that the RG321MH will no longer be available for the market here- I'm still trying to confirm this...

RG321- wish...

Really wish the above RG321 finishes are made available here- I think everyone's quite nauseated with the black & blue version. However, I'm not one who judge a guitar by its looks, more particular with QC & tone.

Strings: Brooklyn Gear

I chanced upon this Brooklyn Gear set of strings the other day when I was at Yamaha, decided to give it a try (in my RG321). I kinda enjoy the thrill of discovering a relatively unknown brand name which might contain that mojo, akin to my Curt Mangan experience. Not cheap though- $11.00...

RG321 (2008 version)

With reference to the pic here, note the 2008 version of the popular RG321 now features binding over at the headstock.

I would like to thank Adam @ Swee Lee (Bras Basah showroom) for the kind permission to snap a pic of this new feature.

Ibanez: RG321

This is my most unglamourous Ibanez RG- no locking vibrato bridge, no locking nut, boring black finish... Along the way, I realized how excessive implements added very little to better playing. True, a whammy bar would trigger some of the most out-of-this-world tune which inspires us to play on but it's a matter of incorporation; how often do we manifest this measure in our playing style?


As always, I'm not a fan of Ibanez in-house pickups (even their DiMarzio affiliated models) so they made way for this pair here:

• Neck- Duncan Distortion
• Bridge- Duncan Custom

The distortion neck was chosen to accentuate solo notes, this pickup is also inherently louder than the Custom so when I flick it on during play, it gives a 'boosted' output which is what i would have wanted to begin with.

I have absolutely no issues with the RG321, it's one of the better stripped-down Ibanez out there for those of us who wish for minimum hassle & maximum play (not to mention the affordable price tag). The mahogany body has lots of useful midrange but the satin finish makes it ding-prone. To those of you who would weep should your guitar dent, steer clear of this one (or any other satin finished guitar for that matter).