Core enjoyment

Managed to squeeze in some playing time over the holidays. Decided to bring my Ibanez Roadcore out. Back to the 25.5" scale length after some shorter spells last week. When you think the shorter ones helped you play better then there's an exception like this one. It's  more of the neck profile than anything else, really. It's also down to how much practice you did for your chops. Every scale length is difficult if your fingers are really doing the work. 

Ibanez: More Roadcore goodness

There are 2 more Ibanez Roadcore models to look forward to come 2015. This green meanie is the RC1720M, featuring the highly acclaimed Ibanez Super 58 humbucker in the neck & a Core Tone counterpart in the bridge. I've had personal encounters with the Super 58 & must say that it's one of the best non-high output pickup I've heard in action- the reason why George Benson & John Scofield leave them be in their signature models. However, those signature models are hollow/semi-hollow instruments. The Super 58's performance in this solid body remains to be heard.

The final member in the new 2015 lineup is the RC1720S, featuring a pair of Ibanez Super 9 pickups. I'm not an ardent fan of single coils but I do pay attention to the ones that do well with distortion so this one needs some audition time once it gets here, of course.

Ibanez: RC2720

An interesting release by Ibanez for 2015; the Roadcore RC2720. Interesting because it's not a Prestige model by description but it's made in Japan. It features a pair of Seymour Duncan humbuckers; the P-Rails. There's a special selector switch there just next to the tone button that gives you 3 tone modes: 1) Full humbucking 2) P-90 only 3) Single coil blade only. Interesting, yes?

Ibanez 2014: Thin core

Another cracking inclusion by Ibanez for 2014: RC365H. This is basically a thinline-type model with a mahogany/maple body unlike its solid body siblings featuring basswood units. Pickups are covered versions of the manufacturer's Core Tone models so expect some rounded tones from this one. It's a wise move in my opinion because Ibanez had been offering semis & hollows in the Artcore range which some of us find too boxy in terms of handling comfort. Awesome.

Ibanez: RC320M

Every now & then, Ibanez would surprise us with some singular models which drew much from its history as well as contemporary ideas. The Roadcore series, a member of which is featured here- RC320M- has semblances of the Blazer & Talman models but it remains refined & different in its final incarnation.

The instrument features a mahogany body & maple neck with a traditional boxy heel at the joint so all you all-access neck fans, be warned. The model featured here is the latest variation featuring a maple fretboard so everything looks flushed from headstock to the 22nd fret. Also, be informed that the neck is a finished, glossy affair, quite removed from the satin feel of the RGs.

The RC feels retro from the start, there's something heavily borrowed from yesterday's design but the overall weight is much lighter than one would expect from a mahogany bodied instrument. Together with the all maple neck, this guitar gives off a warm tone but nothing too dark & bottom end inclined. Neck-wise, the much rounded C-profile is -dare I say it- Strat in nature but manifesting a slightly wider (not to mention slimmer) feel as one goes up the upper fret register. It's rather clear that Ibanez didn't intend to give us an all-out rock machine with the inclusion of these Core Tone humbuckers; some Alnico type crunchy performance, nothing to appease the high gain fans, mind you- think ACDC.

The instrument was well set up right out of the box but the fact that it was strung up with a set of .010s but without the nut slots properly cut out for them is indeed worrying. I nearly gave up based on tuning stability alone when trying it at the store, the wound strings were choked at the nut & the steep break angle from the nut to the string retainers/ machine heads compounded the difficulty to keep this instrument in tune. However, a set of .009s cured everything.

The Roadcore model is a 'different' offering by Ibanez, there's no immediate shred appeal if you approach this from an RG mindset but it's a good one for those who are in no hurry to move across the fretboard.

Overall rating: 78%

Availability: Swee Lee Co.

List: $540

October-core

It's the final day of October. Personally, it had been an uneventful month guitar-wise. Every manufacturer is holding back their new stuff to be released only at the year's end. Bleah.

Managed to snag the above guitar before I changed my mind, was gonna buy something else but that didn't happen :-)

Ibanez: Chris Miller Roadcore

This is one of Ibanez's Spring releases; a signature Chris Miller model based on the Roadcore series. Creamy & tasty. I'm totally into that P-90 + humbucker combo.

Ibanez: Roadcore

This is the latest from Ibanez- the Roadcore series. It's not one to relive your shred/ thrash moments but it could be of use for those applications. The neck profile is more rounded, very C-type in feel according to the manufacturer. Coupled with that non-angled headstock, it' very RX/ RT in make. Also, Ibanez had chosen to resurrect the block heel, if you are used to your all-access neck joint (AANJ), this one might be a little tricky. But if you embrace all things guitar, it'll be of little hindrance (you have no such issues with your Fenders, yes?). This model was a Fall release but there was an announcement stating it won't appear State-side till further notice. Maybe it'd be a Winter NAMM debut, who knows? That headstock looks familiar, you say? Here: