Ibanez RG470

This is a korean made one. Usual RG features. "INF" pickups...not sure how good they're supposed to be. I think the neck is a wizard II since its a bit thicker than the wizard. It does have everything I could need in a guitar, minus pickups but you never get exactly what you want stock anyway.

I play the metal, and jazz fusion , and the progressive rock. I think this suits all styles I'm interested in.
I use a behringer v-amp, and a roland cube 30, and have played this through a laney VC-50 a few times.

It sounds pretty good for what it is. I'm going to switch out the bridge pickup at least. Depending on what I do with the tone knob, I can get a searing metal sound, or a slighty richer fusion sound..frank gambale or something like that. I like versatility in a guitar sound, and this does have it. It doesn't nail anything in particular dead on, but does any sound I want reasonably well.

I didn't buy it new, but it was like new from the pawn shop I found it in, though the locking nut mechanism had been removed for some bizarre reason.
I don't think anyone had set the guitar up, so I'll assume it arrived like this from the factory. The action was too high and I had to do the intonation and adjust the spring tension, but that all is no big deal.
Even being a used guitar, the finish is still flawless, with only the guitar equivalent to swirl marks on a car, since its black and all. It feels quite solid.
The tuners don't feel as good as the ones on my japan made RG570, but they're not terrible.
The bridge seems a bit crappier than the 570 as well, but it stays in tune just fine and works just the same. It's just that the fine tuners don't have that smooth action that they have on the 570. Probably not a big deal really.

There is no reason for this guitar to not withstand live playing. There is nothing wrong with the floyd rose bridge if you take the 5 minutes it takes to figure out how it works. If it's setup properly, it stays in tune better than any tune o matic guitar I ever had.

I would use it without a backup, yes.

no idea

I've been playing for a long time and have an ESP explorer and a japanese made RG570.
I can have no complaint about this guitar....it's not a real high end guitar, but it does its job well. I can think of no better guitar than the ibanez RG, whether korean or japanese. The ESP just sits now that I own 2 RGs. They definitely have expanded my playing beyond hitting palm muted power chords all day. I've played some yamaha, kramers, BC Rich, gibson..I don't like them at all. I would take this korean RG over a lot of more expensive guitars.
I just wish it had better pickups, but you really can't hold that against a guitar of this price.

one last thing...this guitar was in the pawn shop because the person couldn't handle a floyd rose. I see a lot of that in reviews. Take the time to figure out how to set it up! It's not that hard and it stays in tune just fine! Don't blame the guitar!

This has changed from the manufacturers standards spec. I think I may have reviewed this earlier, but this is a bit of a road update. I bought the guitar in 2000 and I'm still using it live.

Current specifications:

EMG 81 bridge SA middle and 85 Neck
5-way switchcraft switch
Official Floyd Rose tremolo, black.
Gotoh SG tuners, black.
Professional Refinish

The sound is ballsy and meaty. I use this as a backup in my thrash band, though mainly use it for recording these days due to its convenient shape. There is just something about basswood. I got the guitar with DiMarzios initially and hated the sound... The evolution sounded sterile and flat and the PAF Pro was muddy. I used it for years as a beater with a single EMG81. Now I have recently rejiuvenated it with a refinish and new hardware and its phenomenal! For some reason, EMG plus Basswood is just unbelievably nice!

The 81 has all the balls necessary to wake the dead, or at least drive any neighbours insane. The SA has a sweetness to it like a strat on its way to the prom. The 85 has some really classic lead tones in the neck position and really punches through well.

I am using an Engl Powerball and a Marshall TSL 100, each through its own Marshall 1960 cabinets, each with v-30s and g75s in X formation.

I love the sound of this guitar now.

The guitar has lasted a long time. The finish wore our and died under my sweaty paws. Its just had a refret after years of use the original frets were a little dented and discolored.

The basswood chips a little too easily for my liking and during the modification process, I had to strengthen some screw holes and in some cases fill them and re-drill them. The most risky was the tremolo posts, but it has come off alright!

I would be happy to rely on this guitar now. It has always been a well built guitar and survived a few drops and unintentional slams! (ooer - its metal after all!)

The TRS tremolo wore quickly and wasn't much use after a few years, but that has now been remedied. I love that you can just change out the tremolo to the official floyd.

I'm sure I can depend on this guitar and always have really!

Never dealt with Ibanez

I have done the following to this guitar:

Ripped out the worn-out TRS tremolo and replaced it with an Offical Floyd Rose in black: #120-130 ish
Replaced the tuners simply to match the floyd rose, the original tuners are still in good nick: #30
EMG pickups: #160
Refinished in bright yellow: #175

The guitar looks phenomenal and plays really well. I have it tuned to C and the neck feels really nice!

I have been playing since I was 8 and tinkering with guitars since 15 or so. I am 24 now.

I hope this never gets stolen as I'm sure its almost one of a kind. Again massive kudos to Ibanez for making the tremolo the same size as an official floyd. I ended up filling the original holes for the tremolo posts and recalculating/redrilling them, but it was worth it.

I have two other Ibanez RGs. One is an expensive ish quilt top one, unfortunately with an Edge tremolo and the other is an RG 570 which is still going strong after all these years. I intend to modify this one next.

I love the new color and the new hardware. Its a real piece of eye-candy. I will endeavour to beg or steel for a digital camera and show the world!

OK, so yes, its essentially #500 of upgrades for a guitar you can now by for #200 or so. Was it worth it? Well, for #700 you can buy a nice guitar, or you can get one of these and do what I did and get something that your REALLY want. I know when I'm jamming out and playing, I feel like I'm playing an extention of me and that the guitar is part of me, not just something hanging off me! Its going to make its first outings soon!

I've had it at rehearsals too and when guitarists of other bands see it, they ALWAYS ask about it and are very very interested. One wanted to swap me for his Jackson Rhoades RR5, but for me, this is definately going nowhere!

Amazing - when I first got this guitar, I really didn't like it too much! It was a while before I discovered how good the EMGs sound in there with the basswood body and how much difference a decent tremolo can have!

Go me!

Korean Made, not sure of year. 24 frets. Controls: volume, tone & 5 way selector switch. Pickups: H/S/H all dimarzio (put on by previous owner), LoTrs Locking Tremolo (which although there seems to be quite a few bad reviews of, seems to hold its tune well. I did have to use a spring under the arm screw on to tighten the arm but its been good), Neck is smooth, slim & a pure delight & comfort to play

This guitar sounds very good with fitted dimarzios (not sure of model) and is very versatile. I play alot of rock, metal, funk, jazz & blues and this guitar does all rather well but a little weaker on the jazz & funk although I would use as a backup on a gig if necessary.
sound is near full (not as much as my strat fitted with hot rails) but very good excellent for metal and hard rock.
I like the sound of this guitar alot but there is still a tone gap between it & my strat.

this guitar was purchased from a guy who makes guitars so set up, condition & everything was absolutely flawless.
this guitar was as new, hardly played.

no reason why this little beauty wont live on the stage with me for many years. The neck does creak/click very, very, very. very slightly no & then due to the tapered heal but this is only slightly & not a problem. All hardware is black, infact everything is black!
some have slated the lo-trs locking trem system which has been completely fine so far, with good abuse i should add! Finish also is very good. again this guitar is like new! Strap buttons are very solid. I can definately depend on this guitar. Although I always take a back-up guitar for every gig, I would'nt be over concerned if I only had the 470.

I once owned a steve vai jem some years back. the neck warped & it took Ibanez about 8 months to sort it & replace with new, which they did but was frustrating due to time limit & the new neck was as good as the other (before the warp obviously). So, maybe its changed? dunno, however, I quite like Ibanez guitars & the warp was a rarity so I have no problem about buying Ibanez again as long as its a regular production model.

I have been playing guitar for 13 years & in that time have become a full time guitar tutor and have also picked up a music degree along the way. I own a few other guitars, tone wise my strat is superior to the Ibanez but I was looking for a competitior, I was looking for a locking trem guitar and Ibanez has just the best feel. If this guitar was stolen I would take a look at different Ibanez models as this model is now discontinued but I would replace it no question. The guitar just feels so nice & sounds very good with the dimarzios, keeps its tune well. I compared this guitar to a few other locking trem models, maverick, Ibanez 550ex but the 470 was just in a different class completely & felt like an old freind. maybe if the lo-trs becomes as bad as people say I'll replace it with a lo-pro but thats all.

Bought it about 6 years ago. It's got a pain in the ass floating bridge and locking system. Other than that it's only an Ibanez. 8 for ibanez's goal to make my life a living hell to tune.

For metal and hard fucking rock, this is the guitar to go. It has no variety though. It is harder to play light and vintage stuff. I regret liking hard rock 6 years ago. Fret board also likes to rattle like a fat woman having an orgasm. 9 if you like metal and hard strumming. 3 if you are everyone else.,

What do I look like? A freaking guitar tech.? the bridge is a pain in the ass. The neck is for black basketball players with hands that can grapple an eight pound watermelon. The finish on the guitar really does make the scratches stand out. There are plenty of loose screws on the bridge and the black paint on the bridge comes off with time. Low quality assembly.

LOOK ABOVE IF IM NOT A GUITAR TECH U THINK I PLAY LIVE?!?!?!? Well the finish doesn't last. The floating bridge won't last much longer if I have to keep changing strings on this sh*t. There is also the tone knob likes to fall off. Maybe it's because i drop it like I drop my kid. The locking nuts do not like to fit snuggly near the head of the guitar. I'll let you know how it lasts when I change strings again. I'll see how long it takes me to snap it in half.

First off, THEY CHARGED ME FOR A FREE CATALOUGE! I mean what do I look like? Bill Gates? I can't afford a catalouge that's free. Other than that Ibanez U better do something about the big freaking necks. PRS on the other hand mailed me a free catalouge and dvd. I would have got a PRS if I could afford it. I can barely afford a pick. If I lost this guitar, some poor guy will find it washed up in a river.

I have been playing for 10 years. I wished I asked the damn company how da heck to tune these guitars man. If I lost this guitar, some poor guy will find it washed up in a river. IF YOUR A METAL MAN THIS IS FOR YOU. IF YOUR EVERYONE NORMAL GO WITH SOMETHING LESS PAIN IN THE ASS.

This guitar rocks,i bought it used. Its has 24 frets, with 2 control knobs, a volume and a tone. The pickups are H/S/H, my pickups have been replaced and has a dimarzio DS100 supre distortion neck pickup. and fender red lace sensor,which sounds like a humbucker and hotrails for the bridge pickup. It has an awsome floyd rose bridge with cool string lockers. The guy at the shop gave me a free nylon case with it too......

this guitar definatly fits my style of playing, i like to play rock and cKy, which is listed as alternative metal, the pickups are awsome, i am glad that the person who owned it before me changed them, They give the guitar a nice full sound, especially the humbuckers on them, i run this guitar through a pedal, so its not noisy at all, but when it is not ran through the pedal it hums, but my amp sucks anyway, so i dont think it would matter if it does hum.
there is nothing i dont love about this guitar

When i bought the guitar it was great, but there was a dramatic change in temperature over here where i live so i had to get the neck re-adjusted thats about it. When i bought it there were 2 little tiny nicks in the body, nothign too serious, but you cant notice them from a foot away...

This guitar could withstand anything, messing around or live playing, the finish seems fine and doesnt look like its going to wear down anytime soon, i would definatly use this guitar without a backup, if i could have one guitar for the rest of my life, this would be it...

never had to deal with any customer support

I own a takamine guitar, that was my first guitar, after i bought that i bought a squier strat, and the Ibanez RG470 is the biggest upgrade i have made and probably ever will. I have a digitech RP100 mulit effects pedal that i play this guitar through, i compared it to other ibanez models, i knew i wanted an ibanez, but wasnt sure which one, glad i found this one, the only reason i would not buy this guitar again is becuase i would buy the RG570. I would only change one thing, i would add another tone knob, but overall this is the best guitar ever in my opinion

Basicaly the same features as described in other reviews except the infinity pickups (96/97), it has the dreaded Lo-TRS II floyd, made in korea

I play mostly rock and metal, i like to play classic pieces too. The bridge infinity pickup is decent since it provides a good metal distortion sound although leads sound a bit sterile and bright, the single coil is cool for clean stuff but the awfull bridge takes away most of the sustain, its pretty noisey too, the neck pickup is worthless as it is not sensible to fast shred notes at all, its like your playing sounds like an ice picker. With a decent neck pickup this would make the guitar pretty versatile ... this Lo-TRS bridge is the worst piece of crap floyd ive ever seen, even my 3(!) maison guitars have better floyds, it just kills the sustain and it makes the guitar go out of tune instantly. Overall the guitar does sound a bit cold in most settings, with a pickup and bridge change it would probably be alot better since the guitar plays pretty well

I got it used so i had to set it up myself, pretty easy to get a low action without buzz, if you dont use the trem it will KINDA stay in tune but not for long, i am gonna block this worthless thing next week, i dont know what the hell did the guys at ibanez were thinking when they put out this trem. Most of the screws are corroded but that is understandable since its a 96 model, the arm is in excelent shape

You can play live with it but you have to block the trem or it will go out of tune, this guitars is 7/8 years old and looks like new so i guess it will last a long time, since i dont play live i cant say mutch more ...

Been playing for 5 years mostly with my brothers Maison but also with other borrowed maison guitars (no i dont have a fetish for maison guitars!), i bought this guitar cause it was a nice oportunity as i intend to sell it for more $$$, i had a little bit of a problem adjusting to the tall frets but i'm kinda used to it now, the arm is excelent for my girly hands, i wouldnt buy it for more than 250euros cause of the terrible Lo-TRS but since that was discontinued a couple years ago (the rg 470 is discontinued also) and now that the new edge pro 2 seems a pretty decent floyd i would consider another korean rg (maybe the 321 with fixed bridge), overall it has potencial due to the nice playability but it probably needs new pickups and bridge to really shine

1993 model i think, black, Korean made. has all the usual stuff.. locking nut and fake floyd rose, 5 way switch, tone & volume knobs, maple neck/rosewood fretboard.

Has all the usual stuff you'd expect a guitar like this to have, dont know about the quality of said parts though.

Sounds like ass. the pickups are really REALLY weak. i know it's not my amp or my style because my other guitars sound good. my rg470 isn't even a backup anymore because of the way it sounds.

Not much of a variety because it sounds so thin and weak. I don't use many effects(read any, except amp lead channel) so i mostly vary sound by changing pickup & volume level but with this guitar it has to remain maxed out and on bridge pickup to get heard though the mix.

Strangely enough, this guitar sounds almost 'fendery' thru my jcm800. had someone play a greenday song with it and it sounded 98% there.

I got the guitar 2nd hand, my 3rd guitar ever and 2nd electric. It was set up fine when i got it and has never needed any serious repairs. the electronics still work fine(pots are a bit scratchy), the hardware has gotten a tad rusty though. I've put my fair share of dents in the neck and body and it's held up fine. I'm suprised so much of the finish is still attached. Frets still fine, neck straight, no sharp bits on bridge or nut. the locking bridge sometimes has trouble holding a .009 e which kinda sucks, but i never play it so doesnt bother me.

I wouldnt gig with this guitar, but that's because of the weak sound. I did play a few shows with it when it was my only electric but those days are long gone.

Hardware goes rusty, had a few bridge problems (strings not being held firmly by locking bridge)

oh yeah, one of the tuning pegs broke! they dont make the kind anymore so had to order in an almost identical set and install. new one isnt as 'smooth' as the old one though.

other than that, it's fine. it nails that shredder style for ease of play.

Never dealt with 'em.

Been playing since '93. Main axe is '99 american deluxe strat with dimarzio super distortion in bridge. main amp is 1988 50w lead series marshall jcm800.

Dont have any real regrets about buying it because it served its purpose til i got the strat. that being said, i probably would've quit guitar if i hadnt scored the strat.

Neck is superfast, that's good. pickups suck, that's bad. looks too metal (i play in a punk band now), that's bad.

it needs a higher gain bridge pickup. i dont know how the jap or newer rg470s shape up in that regard. if you can score one of these cheap and it's fairly straight, it would make a good do'er upper/fuckaround guitar. something to try out weird pickup wirings or new pickups on. if it were lost or stolen i wouldnt care, i'd prefer it were stolen from my house or when car is parked on someone's driveway so i can get the insurance payount.

The reviews below tell the story. Basically, this is an Ibanez and it has everything you expect. Now discontinued so good deals are out there to be had and believe me...you want one.

I'm going to give it a 9 because for #300 it has everything you need.

The sound is pure Vai/Satch etc... Some people will have you elieve the pick ups could be improved upon or that it doesn't sound as good as a Vai or Satch signature model. Forget all that. I have owned a Jem, I have owned a JS1000. There is almost no difference.

You see, a decent rock sound is all about the amp and your technique. Not the guitar or the pick ups. Generally, the sound is so processed anyhow (distortion and effects) that the pick ups make v.little difference indeed.

This guitar has the same 24 fret access shape as a Jem (the JS1000 doesn't even have 24 frets) but costs #1,800 less. Use the difference to get lessons.

Set up is fine no problems with this at all. You could go higher or lower as you require. Use the money saved on buying such a cheap guitar to get it done professionally.

It is as strong as any other precision Ibanez...which means it is not a strat and actually very fragile.

I would never bother Ibanez. If a guitar goes wrong it is becuase I didn't check it properly. Anyone who feels different should get off their high horse.

No other Ibanez is worth considering. Just buy this one. If your technique is bad, change the pick ups and add more distortion. Otherwise enjoy the best value shred machine money can buy...but remember it is a discontinued model so move quickly!!!

This is a Japanese-made 24-fret beast, one of Ibanez's most common types of guitar and the kind of thing (minus monkey-grip!) that Steve Vai uses. You can see why. The H/S/H pickup combination gives it tonal versatility, and the licensed Floyd Rose trem means you can divebomb, wobble, even bounce the guitar up and down using the trem bar in a fit of rock cheese without it losing its tuning!

I'm gonna give this one 9 because it has so many features that make it a very usable guitar.

I said above about the tonal versatility - let me expand on that. the neck humbucker does the creamy kind of sound that you'd expect, with plenty of clarity. The middle pick up does a very Strat sound, with its own edge. If I say it sounds artificial, I don't mean it in a bad way. I mean that there's a real unique tone to this pickup, it's not quite metallic, not quite twangy, indeed it has tons of warmth. It's perfect for anything from crunchy cutting-through blues solos or quieter melodic moments like Steve Vai's so famous for. The bridge humbucker is impressive too, a real rounded sound unlike the nasty trebly fare you sometimes get from Eastern-made guitars, especially if you roll off the tone pot a tiny bit.

The volume and tone pots have a real effect on the sound, and clever use of the volume control especially can mould the sound from the same pickup from all out, vivid, expressive rock to a cleaner yet still full-bodied sound. In fact, it works like a perfect volume control should, keeping the compression and clarity of the sound all the way through.

I'm rating this as 9, because, 4 years into owning this guitar, I still believe it to give tone that you'd struggle to find on most other guitars even at higher prices.

To be really critical, the frets were only 90% good enough, the action was a little low in places, but that is being very very critical. The important thing to remember is the price, and for a #400 pound guitar, this is the best you will ever get. It's sleek, well-built and the finish (if I say sparkly purple don't get the wrong ideas, it comes out as dark blue really) is impeccably done.

You can always change the pickups on a guitar, but you can't do much about the playability, and on this count the RG470 is superb.

I've had a problem with the input on the guitar, has crackled a bit but no worries most of the time. The pickup pole-pieces have rusted a bit, as has the trem, although it hasn't affected the performance of the guitar. 4 years on, it's been used plenty, and yet the only marks on it are little chips on the back of the headstock where I've decided to join in with the drummer and play a cymbal or two!

Never dealt with them, but the guys at the Guitar Amp and Keyboard Center in Brighton were very helpful.

Overall, I'm gonna go the whole way and give it 10/10. This is because if you're just starting, as I was at the time, to build on your Squier Strat or whatever and spend #400 on a nice electric, you will not get a better guitar. There's a nice, organic feel like you connect with the guitar, and on a guitar this cheap it's a rare and very welcome feeling.

24 fret, double locking crap whammy. The pickups are U series instead of V series, I'm not sure why, I just know they sound AWFUL!!! Very muddy, no bite to them at all. I tried a .001 capacitor on the volume pot like Fender does with their telecasters and it helped a little but it has no sustain, it just goes ?thunk?. I also put in a coil tap to switch from single to hum bucker. It?s o.k. Clean but when I use any drive it makes my 4x12 peavey or crate cabinets sound like a 1x10. I tried it with my Marshall and my Randall amps, and digitech preamp effects but it still doesn?t help the sound of this thing. And Ibanez wants $450 bucks for this thing new? I?m glad I only paid $100 for it used at Sam Ash!!!! I thought I was getting a great deal but it?s only worth about $25 to me. I have an rg270 that sounds and plays better and cost me less.

The neck is nice and thin but there?s too much string buzz if I try any decent low string action. It could need some truss rod adjustment or fret work. It?s a pain in the ass to tune or change strings. The only thing I like about this guitar is the color (jewel blue), the lightweight and the thin neck.