Low rider

Another re-string weekend. I have since equipped all my extended scale Ibanez with a set of 11s. This is my RGD2120, one of the best in terms of construction & value-for-money. I have no obligations to keep all RGDs in my possession to the same tuning. This one is in D.

The only letdown were the default Ibanez pickups which had been removed & replaced by the Seymour Duncans you see here: 59/Custom (b) / Pearly Gates (n). This pickup was conceived to churn out lesser lower end responses so naturally, we would instal one in a guitar with an already massive low end response such as the typical Les Paul. Having this in the RGD was a bit of a risk because an Ibanez RGD has very little similarities with a Gibson Les Paul. However, this guitar is about belching out lower end frequencies to begin with so my take on the situation here is that it should work well; a bright pickup with a string A5 magnet handling lower tunings. True enough, the TB-16 was up to it with lots of clarity to spare. That SH-PG1N there works wonders for solos if you wish to avoid excessive rounder top end in the neck position.

So that's pretty much how the Sunday went with a glorious distorted bottom end by a guitar that was meant to deliver just that. Not forgetting the Rugby World Cup matches in between.

Here's wishing everyone a good week ahead. 👍

Low & behold

Last Sunday, just before I called it a day, I decided to give the Ibanez RGD321 some playing time. The RGD is Ibanez's extended scale guitar measuring 26.5" from nut to bridge. The objective of owning such an instrument is to enjoy lower tuning without dealing with string tension issues. I initially settled with a set of 10s sporting only a half-step detune, enough to play along Depeche Mode tunes 😄 Anyway, there was a re-think along the way- why go through an under-experience so to speak, with a guitar of such a potential? The nut was filed a wee bit to accommodate a thicker set of strings (11s) to sport a C# tuning.

Same set of tuning was done here with the RGDIX6 as well. Played on the same day, the IX6 offers a different voicing namely due to its DiMarzio pickups on board while the RGD321 above has Seymour Duncans in there.

Sometimes we only have ourselves to blame for not accepting things that were meant to be in the first place. You want to play standard tuning with the RGDs- no issues but they were not meant to excel in this application. It's like driving an off-road vehicle on tarmac on a daily basis & whining about the vehicle's under-performance. My RGDs will continue to manifest low tunings in the mean time. The extended scale length proves to be a challenge when when playing fast but I have other guitars to realize speed potential.

Happy mid-December, everyone. 👍

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.

Ihsahn RGD

Ihsahn, the grand master of dark-side metal, is now an ambassador for Ibanez's RGD model. It might be a natural pick for him because the RGD isn't too removed from his other embrace- the 8-string Ibanez but do take time to reflect this pairing from a commercial stand: I am Ibanez, I know Ihsahn is enjoying his other crowning glory now that his black metal pinnacle has passed. He favours the 8-string but this isn't going to see a major embrace from the buying public- there's purchase issue when it comes to 8-strings (which string manufacturer is offering an off-the-shelf pack to date? is there a healthy selection out there?), the instrument's neck profile & 2 more strings on the fretboard are not commercially viable. I know the 8-string camp is numbered so I need an associate model & what better than the RGD as an alternative enticement.

All in all, the 8-string won't see the light of day for too long. It's a niche preference that won't bring in too much money.

Similarities

Cant help but notice the similarities between the Music Man JP & the new Ibanez RGD- they both sport bevellings at the body edges as well as the cutaways...

RGD scale length

If you are intending to get the new, absolutely attractive Ibanez RGD, be informed of its scale length: 26.5"

The 'D' in RGD implies 'Drop-tuning'; the guitar sports a longer scale length to prevent excessive tension slack due to lower than standard tunings.

Is that something new from Ibanez? No, the discontinued RG1077XL had a 27" scale length...

... the (discont'd) Mike Mushok signature model was 28".

Ibanez 2010 sneaks (Part 2)

Come 2010, expect 24 frets on all S-series model, including the 7-string version.

The new RGD model; here's the 7-string make. Fans current dissent: Where's the tone pot?? *sigh*

For us with a tight budget but wanting a 7-string badly- the RGA model might have something for us...