Green signature

The dude from August Burns Red has a signature model. Basically an RGA given the green treatment. It's not a Japanese make so hopefully, it'll be available here/ everywhere in time to come. I still dislike EMGs.

Get through it

A through-neck Ibanez RGA for the Summer (RGAT62) with a pair of singing DiMarzios (Air Norton/TZ). That see-through finish is respectable.

Ibanez RGA- revision

The Ibanez RGA model is one of the RG spinoffs which features a curved body top. It's still in production today & I hope it would remain that way. The RGA model I own was the first generation version - RGA32 - equipped with a pair of active in-house pickups referred to as the Lo-Z3. Unlike others, they run on 2 X AA batteries. 

This year's version (latest), features revisions which reflect some listening, on the manufacturer's part, to players:

1. Pickups are now passive. They are the direct mount version as well, no mounting brackets required.
2. A simpler bridge, which sits closer to the body.
3. Cutaways feature bevelling.
4. Side-aligned fretboard markers.

This year also saw the RGA making its way into the Iron Label series with more refinements befitting of the series' image/ expectations. What does the future hold for the Standard series RGA? Only time will tell.

Ibanez 2016: More ironing

Ibanez came up with the Iron Label models in 2014 to much fanfare. These instruments were touted to be no-frills models equipped to maximize your distortion tolerance. However, it's unclear if the Iron Label category itself serves to be a series of its own or mere variation of existing models. Despite being an Ibanez fan, I personally find the Iron Label misleading & unnecessary especially so when the manufacturer added visual considerations to mark the price up (RGIX20 is an example). So we have Iron Label models costing more than Premium models & the lower tier Prestige selections; it's confusing & just doesn't make sense.

Seeing what Ibanez offers this year it seems that the Iron Label camp is here to stay but with a little twist; active electronics are non-obligatory features. The new member here is an RGD (so the RGD joins the Iron Label series) with a stunning finish but we know this isn't the first, conceptually. It's good to see a maple fretboard making its way into standard production.

And a 7-string version if you think an extended scale length just doesn't get you low enough.

If an extended scale length is not your thing, then be informed that the RGA models are in this Iron Label twist as well. Both the RGA & RGD feature DiMarzio Fusion Twist pickups. Good because you get quality tone for the money. Not so good because it will factor into the price.

Broderick's (guitar) body

I can't seem to stop looking at this guitar. Anyway, Mr. Broderick's custom Ibanez RGA model features a generous amount of maple as seen under the finished top.

For any wood capped onto a guitar body, there should be at least a quarter inch's worth of material for it to play a significant contribution to tone. Otherwise, it would simply be a cosmetic top or what the industry refers to as a laminate top- visually stunning but there for a decorative function only.

Trigger the RGA

In a recent conversation with Sick Sounds magazine, Rob Purnell (Trigger the Bloodshed- pic above) said:

... I use Ibanez guitars because we love the profile of the guitars; the playability is unrivaled. I used the RGA42, which is a Prestige model, ...

But we know the RGA42 (pic above) is not a Prestige model...

... however, the RGA420 is. Might be a typo there...

By the way, Rob isn't strapping an RGA420 in the first pic there, it's the discontinued RGA321.

Ibanez 2009: Touchdown! (Part 1)

The above 2009 Ibanez (Indonesian) guitars are now available @ Swee Lee (thanks Adam @ BB showroom for the heads-up!):

• RGA32: List- $856
• DTT700: List- $1,920
• XP300: List- $735 (bag included- wise move, Ibanez...)
  

The weekend crowd prevented me from trying them all, I just managed to try the RGA32 & it sounds very commanding in the midrange partly attributable to its light nature, unlike its Destroyer sibling which makes the average Les Paul easy handling. One of the above guitars would be following me home tomorrow (Monday 12th Jan)...

Ibanez: 2009 anticipations (Part2)

More confirmed 2009 models: RGA32/ 42. This was in the grapevine back in late 2007 (that's how long ago the leak was...); a more affordable carved top RG to debut & they do this year. Look closely- they are not Prestige units (not saying this is bad) so expect a non-Japanese craftsmanship.