2012: Hits and misses (3)

Hit: Ibanez's 25th Anniversary RG1XXV. OK, so it was a little wishful thinking on our part- that Ibanez would kick start 2012 with a bang considering their most iconic guitar model, the RG, celebrates its 25th year of production. It was a bang alright, but coming from a small gun. The RG1XXV was given the Premium treatment & with the set of DiMarzio IBZ pickups in there, it's a value-for-money instrument.

Miss: Ibanez's 25th Anniversary RG2XXV. This is the final model under the Anniversary offering & it sure looks... ordinary. In fact, after giving it a go, I'd say it's indeed ordinary, so ordinary that it retails for as much as the RG350, a non-Anniversary model. If you'd like to amuse yourself with some matching coloured fretboard markers, go ahead. But with all due respect, it's not a dud.

Ibanez: RG2XXV

One of the current highlights (forgive the pun) at Swee Lee's BB showroom is the Ibanez Anniversary RG2XXV. Like the S1XXV before it, it's a novelty commemoration; there's nothing special about this guitar save for the fact that it's been given an anniversary assignment. I'm not being too dismissive of this one, I believe I'm giving fair warning to prospective buyers who would be checking it out in the hope of discovering something new- please approach this one like any other RGs currently out there. Maybe you're discovering neon pink/ yellow & going head over heels over it, well, good for you.

Ibanez did a wise thing by pricing it in the same bracket as the standard RG3XX models, so someone shopping for an RG would be a little swayed by the fact that for the same amount of money, he could own a limited production model instead. Despite my obvious belittling of its reverence, it's indeed a worthy player as far as QC & playability go. In fact, I'm recommending it to those of you who are truly considering a virtuous RG to invest in, I'd say go for it- ignore the loud colours, of course.

Ibanez: RG2XXV

This is perhaps the much anticipated sequel to this year's Ibanez 25th Anniversary RG observance, the RG2XXV. Not much differene in specs to its RG1XXV sibling but look at the headstock- ta da! It's not a Premium model. So expect a more affordable price tag. I'm definitely interested :-)
-----------------------------------------------

Of thrashing & crusting: 1 more day to go...