Sphalerite

Not new. The RG8870 had been in the catalog since October 2024. Just wanna announce its presence here (Swee Lee, $4,899). It took seven months. Some people give birth after seven months, yes? One more time - this finish is called brown sphalerite.

Pic: Ibanez

Ibanez: October '24 (2)

The other 'new' Ibanez model this October is this blue RG8870 - they call this finish sodalite. FYI, the existing / older RG8870 is a black guitar.

For variety's sake, there's also this natural-esque finish which the manufacturer refers to as brownish sphalerite. Reminder - the special feature of this guitar is its chambered body.

Pic: Ibanez

Ibanez 2023 (6)

The J.Custom gets a new model this year; RG8870. The catalog already offered an RG8570, which, from the images depicted above, look darn close. These sport DiMarzio pickups albeit different models & the 8870 gets a covered bridge humbucker which looks a little misplaced against the black hardware. It really belongs in the 8570 (chrome hardware).

The major difference here which is not obvious - the 8870 gets the Axe Design Lab treatment. Meaning - something that isn't the usual deal had been implemented in the instrument's design / spec. In this case, the 8870 is chambered body instrument (alder), while the 8570 is a solid affair (mahogany).

Pics: Ibanez