Product: Ibanez RG570 Price Paid: US $250+case, strap w/locks,and Boss MZ-2 used
Submitted 01/06/1999
at 12:56pm
by Joe
Email: chung_5 at hotmail<dot>com
Features
:9
This guitar was made in 1990 in Japan, it has 24 frets, with a solid top. For electronics it has a H/S/H configuration, wiht Ibanez V1 humbucker at the neck, S1 in the middle and V2 at the bridge, all with ta 5-way switch, that I doesn't do anything fancy as the pickups are 2-conductor. The lectronics are passive with 1 tone and 1 volume and no pickguard. The neck is maple, I have been told the body is basswood(correct me if I'm wrong), I know the new ones are. The finish is a dark shiny blue/purple. The body is Ibanez super-strat, it looks a lot like a JEM, does anybody know if they are the same? The bridge is a Floyd Rose, I'm not sure if it's a lo-pro or not(once again does anybody know?), I know the new ones have the lo-pro. It has standard, sealed Gotoh tuners and a Floyd Rose Locking Nut. I give it 9 due to it's lack of diversity in the lectronics department.
Sound
:8
I play mostly hard rock and black metal, although I do play some classick rock. I'm using an older Crate G40C with the onboard distortion, I also have a BOSS MZ-2 Digital Metalizer that I don't use. I mainly use the last and second to last position on the 5-way switch, which are bridge humbucker and bridge plus single-coil, respectively. The pickups seem a little bit too hot for my tastes, I like something a little bit cleaner and with a little more growl than these have. One thing I don't like about these pickups is that when you play notes from the first and second string right after each other, the pickups make a sound similar to feedback, which I don't like. I'm thinking of trying out a new pickup in the bridge. The neck humbucker is useless, it lacks clarity, it's really muddy. The playability of this guitar is excellent, I love Ibanez's necks and I find the Floyd Rose to be really comfortable and the jumbo frets are excellent, even in the worn out shape they are in right now. So I'm able to get a decent sound out of it because it's easy to play, but the electronics limit me in what I would like to achieve as far as tone goes.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:9
This guitar is very solid, the neck is wonderful, I can't speak for the manufacturer's job, but the action is wonderful on it. The hardware has quite a bit of oxidization on it, particulalry on the pickups and the neck plate. I've found it difficult to adjust the bridge for intonation, perhaps I'm not doing something right, but its eems like everytime I want to move the saddle I have to loosen the string a lot, sometimes remove it completely. Overall this guitar has held up well, the frst could use a crowning and it could use a setup, but I don't think it's had either in 9 years, so I would say its pretty good.
Reliability/Durability
:9
This guitar is extremely solid, I've whacked the headstock a couple times against my desk, wall and bed and it hasn't even squealed. The paint is has several cracks and chips from the previous owner and considering how deep some of them are, it looks like it's taken quite a beating before. It has straplocks on it, as I mentioned before, it looks like they were purchased a little bit late. I don't gig, but I wouldn't use a backup, because I don't have one working at the moment, but It's very dependable, it is missing one of the locks for the nut, so it tends to go out of tune pretty quickly, but that's an easy fix.
Customer Support
:7
I e-mailed them to find out the year of this guitar and the responded within a couple of days, I later emailed them asking about the trem and body wood and never got a response, so it's hard to say. Since they responded within a couple of days 2 out of the 3 times, I'll give'em a 7.
Overall Rating
:9
This is a very nice guitar that is fun and comfortable to play, It has everything a beginner to an intermediate player could want and with a switch of pickups even a pro. I've seen several bands using this guitar recently, so that's a pretty good indication of it's usability. I think the electronics could have been better, but for all I know it could be my amp is part of my problem. I would recomend this guitar to anybody, they can be picked up quite cheaply and they are easy to use.
Product: Ibanez RG570 Price Paid: US $499
Submitted 12/03/1998
at 12:27pm
by laine baker
Features
:10
Japan made, 1997 model. 24 jumbo frets on a maple neck/rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays. H/S/H config, was originally ibanez but I put a Duncan JB in the bridge. Gonna change to EMG-85/SA/85 as soon as I get some money. Passive electronics. I guess basswood body. Finish is called "Holo-flake blue" and it's a really pretty sparkly blue. Nice! other features are standard RG feautres. I got with nothing except the whammy bar and some wrenches.
Sound
:10
I play neoclassical shit. Sounds great! More consistent warmer tone than my old RG-560.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:9
Set up was okay, action was a bit high, but everything else was good.
Reliability/Durability
:8
It breaks strings more than my other guitars, but everything else is good.
Customer Support
:8
okay.
Overall Rating
:9
I own schecter, peavey, ibanez, and digitech. I tried this against an ESP M-II Deluxe (nicer but too expensive), an Ibanez RG-470 (sounded bad and didn't stay in tune), and a Fender Floyd Rose Classic (felt like shit to me, but sounded great). If it got stolen- ESP M-II custom with neck-thru.
Product: Ibanez RG570 Price Paid: brazilian real 1000 used
Submitted 11/24/1998
at 09:35am
by Davi Fernandes Alves de Lima
Email: niloalves at secrel<dot>com<dot>br
Features
:8
Ok, year is 96 I guess; made in Japan; 24 frets; basswood blue transparent finish body with maple top (very cool green flame-type pattern); 1 500k volume and a 500k tone; five-way selector; H/S/H - Ibanez V8 / S2 / V7 (passive) ; maple neck with rosewood top, thin and very wide 12 inch radius, super-jumbo frets ; super strat body style with deep cutaways for easy access to the upper frets; Ibanez lo-pro edge tremolo floyd rose licenced, VERY cool; Gotoh locking tuners;all gold hardware; no case or anything - buyed later.
Sound
:7
Well, I play jazz-rock, richie kotzen kind of style, and a litlle bit of hard rock, and this guitar I guess it's to "metal" for me. don't have that glassy sound of the strato, but the output is very high. I use a marshall vs100 with only a vox wah-wah, I don't like digital-fake distortion and extremelly high distortion, just enough to make some fast runs and arpeggios. The guitar it's no noisy at all, if you have done the shielding right, even in the single only position. The sound it's very big, but not like a paf pro. It's real muddy with the H's but have a real nice glassy and Bright sound in the H/S together positions. This guitar is made for Metal, and is real good for that, with high output and a very dark sound. I guess I'm gonna buy a clapton strato in december and leave the ibanez to the whammy stuff.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:8
I buy used, and the setup was terrible. with some easy ajustments, she became top professional. The Ibanez guitars are very easy to adjust, VERY easy. the action is VERY low right now, and it's a very thin and easy neck to play. the only problem that I found is the neck size (wide and lenght) is so GIANT. the pickups in my guitar are set kind of high, to increase the volume a litlle more. The bridge is the wonderfull Ibanez Lo Pro Edge. It's never out of tune, never, never, never. The frets are too high for me, but help the bending stuff, because the neck is too flat for that. the pickup selector is VERY noisy, change it soon as you can, and the potentiometers are real fragile. one of mine broked twice. Ah, the FINISH is perfect. Very, VERY beautiful. kind of a transparent blue flame top. it's AWESOME!! the gold hardware came of very easily with time, and this sucks because it's f@#!!! beautiful!
Reliability/Durability
:9
This guitar was made for stage and gig playing. the tuners are shit, but with the locking tremolo, why use it anyway?stay in tuner ever and ever. the gold hardware is cool but it's easy to wear off. the finish doesn't. I play a lot on the stage and besides a feel marks it's looks new and beautiful. the strap buttons I changed for the dimarzio locking strap, so I don't use anymore, but are real good and solid. Please, NEVER use a floyd rose guitar without a backup PLEASE. if any string broke, you are F....
Customer Support
:No Opinion
never dealt it and I don't think I gonna need too.
Overall Rating
:7
I've been for 7 years, 3 years with this guitar. I used to play hard rock and metal once, and this guitar is the result. I guess it's don't suit my fusion needs anymore. I'm trying to buy a real good fender or a musicman luke, I don't want ibanez anymore, it's a pain in the a# for peole with litlle hands like me. besides of that, its a very very cool guitar. It's not professional, but is not expensive and it's the best guitar for this price range.
Product: Ibanez RG570 Price Paid: US $600 for the 97, $50 for the 94
Submitted 11/08/1998
at 11:22pm
by Justin Hill
Email: addaxcs1 at shelby<dot>net
Features
:9
i have two, 94(??) and 97. they both are japanese made superstrat style guitars with floyd rose trems, and gotoh tuners. they are both equipped with 24 JUMBO frets(love 'em!!). solid basswood body with rose wood neck and skunk stipe. the pickup config is h/s/h. in the 94 the pickups are as follows:a V2 in the bridge, an S1 in the middle, and a V1 in the neck position. the 97 has a V8 in the lead, S1 in the middle, and a V7 in the neck position. my 94 was used, so i didnt get any thing with it, but with the 97 i got a hardshell case and small toolkit for the bridge/nut/truss rod.
Sound
:10
my main style is METAL, if its loud and hard, i probably play it. im really happy with the tone i get out of it with a peavy bandit 112, but through my jcm900 it needs some work tone wise. i make my own effects ,but basically i could use high end. it just doesnt bite quite hard enough suit me(but im going deaf anyway so what can you do?). it seems to play really well clean also.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:10
other than having to get it set up for 10's, it was perfect.this seems to be done at the factory as all of the 570's that ive seen have stock 9s on them. the finish is freakin' FLAWLESS!!! this is the most gorgeous beast ive ever seen.the 97 has a metal flake purple finish. the frets as i mentioned earlier are great!
THIS THING JUST LOOKS EVIL!!!!
Reliability/Durability
:9
ive beaten the crap out of the 97 and it just looks back at you and aks for more. i droppedit off the stage at a show and i didnt even crack the finish!
the 94 didnt fare quite so well, somebody abused this thing hard, but it still looks okay.
both are super dependable, but i wont go to a show without a backup, period.
Customer Support
:No Opinion
ill have to post back on this one, as i have to get some parts for the 94.
Overall Rating
:10
if either was lost or stolen i would hunt that person to the end of the earth. the only thing i could ask for would be a little more power out of the pickups. the neck is the best ive ever played!
Product: Ibanez RG570 Price Paid: trade used
Submitted 11/06/1998
at 04:12am
by Harlan Y Stephens (Chip)
Email: jarmands<at>nwol dot net
Features
:9
I now own ren peddlers rg570 the one he said he would never get rid of sorry ren ! and ren owns my mockingbird as we traded guitars in a coast to coast trade, the guitar is purple and so is the headstock. when i got it it had 10s on it and the bridge was sticking way up so I put on some 9-42s lowered the bridge, adjusted the truss rod ect..ect.. uhhh set the guitar up. and I love it, anyway 24 jumbo frets rosewood finger board basswood body gotoh tuners h-s-h pick-ups edge trem and ren said its from 1990 ? nice yellowing starting to form on the neck ...
Sound
:8
the combo of basswood and the edge trem is the overall tone I was looking for and could not get out of a adler mocking bird with a stop tail,ren seems to like it so it was a good trade anyway the tone is bright and I must agree with ren about the stock pick-ups a bit thin not as full as my js100 that I put a paf pro and a fred into, but a set of evo pick-ups should cure that,I also plan on installing the jem wiring and switch, as the evo's coil tap well after I do my rewire this will be a 10
Action, Fit, & Finish
:9
compared to my js-100 this guitar is a bit better a 9 on fit and finish, well the gutar is used so its got some nick's and dents ..ect but its a solid guitar I do my own set-ups so I won't comment on that I like it as low as I can go with only slight buzzing, others hate it that way ? go figure ? one of the black dome knobs is uhh not right (ren where in the hell did you get that knob?) witch does not matter as the I will repace the pick-ups (EVO) knobs and pick-up rings with dimarzio purple ones to get that poor boy jem look (the purple people eater)
Reliability/Durability
:10
this area gets a 10 from me, this guitar is solid,I like the older rg's before the wizard necks just a bit stouter all I own are ibanez's and I love em all and this is one of my fav's I'll repost after the pick-up change and tell ya how that goes
Customer Support
:1
ibanez will not deal with ya go to guitar center to order parts they have never returned e-mail or anything but if my name was steve vai Iam shure they would rap out with me all day long sigh.....
Overall Rating
:8
my rating on this guitar will be a 8. I feel for this type of guitar, (a floyed rose type shread thingy) that you will find no better. now Iam not saying its as good as a prs , old les paul-goldtop,or a 10th anv. jem ect... but with me price is a factor, and all my guitars are players, you'll find a great price, the best floyed trem made ( the edge)great tuners , frets and a guitar worthy or pick-up upgrades this could be a 10 with me (all things factored in) but ibanez needs to work on customer support as far as parts and stuff.ever try to find list price on a edge trem ? I have. anyway I still love the guitar and sorry ren ya can't have it back .... Chip
Product: Ibanez RG570 Price Paid: gift
Submitted 10/15/1998
at 09:41am
by robert johnson
Email: crustdog at yahoo<dot>com
Features
:10
this is actually a custom made circa 1990 model. the rg style guitars are commonly known as being strats on steroids, and i guess i'd have to agree with that. basswood body, h/s/h pickup configuration, 24 jumbo frets, floyd rose double locking tremolo. the big things that make this model different from others are: this has a maple neck/finderboard instead of the customary rosewood fingerboard, the finish is a pretty bright orangish type color- the volume and tone controls are green, with a black pickguard (very steve vai-ish). the neck pickup is an emg select, the middle is a dimarzio hs-3, and the bridge is a dimarzio x2-n. it's also got a toggle switch that acts as a coil splitter and a phase switch. i aslo had a chandler tone-x built in.
Sound
:10
when i first got this guitar, i was playing primarily metal. i've since broadened my styles (rock, blues, etc.). i have been using an ampeg svt, but i recently sold that and i'm getting a 5150. this guitar is very quiet. at high volumes, there isn't much annoying noise that goes on when you're just sitting there between songs, unless of course, you're pointed right at your amp 5 feet away from it. actually, the mid pickup (hs-3) can be a little noisy sometimes, but that's all. this guitar has one of the widest tonal varieties i have EVER heard on a guitar. it used to be too much for me! every pickup position is clearly different from the next, which is excellent and very useful. in all, there are 7 different pickup configurations, including the phase setting. when played clean, this guitar has some of the most captivating sounds. they're all beautiful. with distortion, it's just the same. the tone control by itself can make a distinct change in your tone, unlike a lot of tone controls. also, when i pull up on the tone control, it activates the chandler tone-x, which is a midrange booster preamp. this acts like a wah pedal. this feature alone gives me a wide wide variety of sounds, from muted nasally sounds, to bright and piercing, to really feedbacky stuff. i've had this guitar for over 3 years now, and i've seldom found a guitar that can match it's sounds
Action, Fit, & Finish
:9
this was a custom made job, so it better be good!! the action was fine, but i had it set up again about a year ago, since it's several years old. everything is seemingly flawless. nothing is loose, and the tuning is perfect. i hardly ever have to tune this thing up. the volume knob can come off, but that was done by the guy who set up my guitar and installed the tone-x a year ago. the only thing that annoys me about the finish is that the body finish and head finish don't exactly match. the headstock is slightly lighter, but i've heard that this was common in all their guitars this color.
Reliability/Durability
:10
this guitar has gone through a lot. it's been gigged over and over again and it's gone through abuse, sadly enough. there's one paint chip in the back where it fell over, and there's a ding on the front where a drum stick went flying and hit it. it's gone all over the place, and still in almost perfect shape, even after 8 or 9 years. i have used it before without a backup, but i don't really like doing that, just in case.
Customer Support
:No Opinion
never had to deal with them
Overall Rating
:10
i've been playing for quite a while now, and this is my favorite piece of musical equipment i've ever owned. i also have a new ibanez s classic 520, which is an awesome guitar, but it still can't stand up to this one. if someone had the nerve to steal this guitar, i would hunt them down until i was dead. i'll never find another guitar like this, and i will NEVER sell it. i love everything about it, and i would buy another one just like it if i could. it seems like when i play it, it plays itself, and all i have to do is hold it. i'm a devoted ibanez fan due to this guitar!!!
Product: Ibanez RG570 Price Paid: US $500
Submitted 07/21/1998
at 02:35pm
by Anonymous
Features
:7
1997 Japanese, 24-fret solid-top, 1 vol, 1 tone, "Split 5" 5-way pickup selector (Neck HB, Neck SC/Mid SC, Mid SC, Mid SC/Bridge SC, Bridge HB) 3 Ibanez Pickups (neck: V-7HB, Mid: S-1 SC, Bridge: V-8hb), passive electronics. Basswood body, maple neck with rosewood fretboard. Superstrat body shape (well duh it's a superstrat), Ibanez EDGE Floyd Rose Liscensed bridge (Still the best!) tuners are gotoh I think.. Neck is THIN THIN THIN and wide, with jumbo frets. Finish is BEAUTFIFUL flake blue, it's so sparkling you need sunglasses. Mine came with NOTHING at all except the whammy bar. It isn't dripping with features (like a BC Rich Bich Supreme with like 6 switches) but it isn't bare (telecaster, les paul junior), it's your average superstrat.
Sound
:7
I play METAL (black, thrash, progressive, melodic, you name it), mainly with Marshall/Soldano SLO. Generally my effects are wah, delay, and my HANDS. This guitar can SCREAM for a stock $500 guitar, man, it has some good fatness and BEEF. There are a lot of mids in these pickups, and a lot of bass.. not the brightest in the world. I get great blues/clean tones with the middle pickup, and the neck is fat. It's not a Les Paul, but it has good sustain for a superstrat. It also can be a little muddy and occasionally a little buzzy, but it still rocks.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:No Opinion
I had it set up at the store so i can't comment. Great action though. Pickups, everything adjusted well.. I will say the finish is BEAUTIFUL the guitar was on display for over a year and it still looks brand new.
Reliability/Durability
:No Opinion
My other Ibanez has so i guess this will but i can't say now.
Customer Support
:10
They're great, Very helpful, quick and polite.
Overall Rating
:9
I needed to replace my old main axe, the RG-656S (see review), so i tried every superstrat style guitar i could afford (and those I couldn't) and this hit me the best. Maybe someday i'l put DiMarzios in it like a JEM but maybe not, the pickups really do rock. Plus the neck is the WIZARD neck with all-access joint, so playability is *10*! It's not the best guitar in the world (JEM JEM JEM) but it rocks 100% and sounds good!
Product: Ibanez RG570 Price Paid: US $550
Submitted 07/16/1998
at 12:55am
by James Bay
Features
:9
Japanese made guitar w/ 24 jumbo frets. Basswood body w/ flamed maple top. 1 vol, 1 tone, 5 way selector. H-S-H pickup config (V7-S1-V8) with 2nd and 4th positions of selector splitting the humbucker working it w/ the single(yes, humcanceling!) Bolt-on maple neck w/ a high quality rosewood fingerboard. Super strat-shaped body w/ rounded heel. Gold harware, Ibanez Edge Trem.
Sound
:6
I play diverse styles, from metal to blues to folk. The guitar being a locking trem type loses some warmth. Pickups and electronics are very clean although humbuckers seem to produce an excessive amount of mids and lacks bottom end. However the single is excellant when used w/ a split bridge humbucker(Fender Twang!). I replaced the humbuckers w/ a Duncan Distortion humbucker and Duncan Custom Trembucker. The custom beefed up the sound perfectly... (Rating is for originals pickup config). Would be an 8 w/ the duncans..(added sustain and warmth)
Action, Fit, & Finish
:7
Seems that Ibanez RG's are set in the factory to use light gauge strings.. using regular gauge(or heavier) will result in the bridge getting excessively raised, this however can easily be corrected. Pickups are direct mounted and the alignment is perfect. Lacquering is reasonable w/ grooves that follow the grain of the maple top. Neck is firmly bolted on w/ a great satin finish. The edges of the fingerboard however is too angular and can be pretty sharp .. Gold hardware oxidies pretty quickly too.
Reliability/Durability
:9
No problems w/ reliability, very light weight axe, great for stage use and is perfectly balanced. Stays well in tune even after divebombs. Strap buttons are huge and holds strap well(however is too large to use w/ some straps). No need for gigging w/ a backup but I use others for some variation.
Customer Support
:No Opinion
Never needed any.
Overall Rating
:8
Been playing for 4yrs and have 4 other guitars. Will definately get another if this one is ever lost. Being lightweight and has a very fast neck(although too thin and flat.. practically no support for bending) its a good guitar for shredders and playing live. Lower range high end guitar at the price of a mid range.. undoubtedly one of the best deals on a factory guitar..
Product: Ibanez RG570 Price Paid: US $299 used
Submitted 06/19/1998
at 08:17pm
by Ren Peddler
Email: renpeddler at erols<dot>com
Features
:8
This guitar was made in 1990 in Japan. It has 24 frets. I guess it a solid-top. I'm not too familiar with all of those terms. It has one tone, one volume, and a 5 way selector switch. The picup configuration is H-S-H. I have no clue what type of pickups these are, but I'll tell you wahat it says. On the neck pickup it says V1, on the single coil it says S1, and on the bridge pickup it says V2. I'm not sure if it has active or passive electronics or what woods are used, sorry. It has a Strat body style. The bridge is a Floyd Rose Licensed Locking Tremolo. It has Gotoh tuners and they are locking. When I got it I neglected to notice that it doesn't have the locking nuts. I don't know what kind of neck/scale it has. According to the another persons review, it has Jumbo Frets. I got it used with a gig bag.
Sound
:10
I love this guitar. I own 4 guitars (and know nothing about them :>) and out of them this is the one that I like the most. I play a ton of different style including: punk, pop-punk, thrash, hardcore, metal, emo, ska, and even a little blues and solo-type stuff. Right now I am using it w/ a Fender Champion 110 amp w/ the drive channel. I have a few pedals, but rarely use them. I am getting a Marshall stack soon, so I can't wait to see it how it will sound with that. It's gives off a little feedback when I the Gain up around half-way. It has a very bright sound, but I can't say it's really too full. I like it that way. Nice and tight. It's really a screamy guitar. Bending sounds especially cool on it. You can get quite a lot of different sounds out of this guitar. Very versatile. I like it a lot, but I can't say that the neck pickup is very outstanding. I don't use it too much. Otherwise, I'm very happy with everything it has and I don't plan on replacing anything.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:No Opinion
I got it used and everything was perfect. I'm not sure if that's due to the previous owner or if it's because of the factory.
Reliability/Durability
:10
This guitar would be great for live playing. I plan on using it live when my band gets gig. The hardware seems very good and so does the finish. It is 8 years old and Everything is absolutely fine. It looks and works perfect. I would totally depend on it. I wouldn't play a gig without a backup no matter what. I am very neurotic about breaking strings. But if I surpassed that fear, I would use it without a backup. Oh by the way, I've owned it for 2 monthes and haven't ripped a string yet, and I do attack them. In fact, the strings don't show any wear. Maybe, it's the strings. If anyone knows what kind of strings these might be, please contact me.
Customer Support
:No Opinion
Haven't dealt with Ibanez at all.
Overall Rating
:10
I've been playing for about 4 1/2 years and this is my fourth guitar. I also own an Epiphone Special (shit), a Kimberely (?), and a Squier Fat Tele (quite nice). I consider this guitar my first quality guitar and I would never get rid of it. Before I bought it I wish I would have asked for the locking nuts. If I ever lost this guitar, I would first cry and wail, then I would go back to the store and buy the other one that they had. I love how it looks and especially how it feels when you play it. It's very light and comfortable. I love the bridge pickup and the strap buttons. If you want a good and relatively cheap guitar, get this.
Product: Ibanez RG570 Price Paid: N/A
Submitted 04/20/1998
at 03:46am
by Jarmo Louet
Email: jarloue<at>kanto dot cc dot jyu dot fi
Features
:8
This is a 1996 model, made in Japan guitar with a basswood body, maple neck and a rosewood fingerboard with 24 jumbo frets. It has 3 pickups in a H-S-H combination, 5-way selector that splits the humbuckers in positions 2 & 4 (and connects them in parallel with the middle pickup) and master tone and volume knobs. The pickups are stock (neck:V7, middle:S1, bridge:V8) and they are passive, as are all the other electronics. Finish is glossy black (I think Ibanez calls it black pearl or something). The bridge is Floyd-Rose style, and the body shape is strat-like, but sleeker. Tuners are Gotoh. Neck is very thin and bolted on. No pickguard.
Sound
:7
My style is mostly metal and other heavyish stuff, but I try to play lots of different things every now and then. The Ibanez suits all that quite well, except that I can't seem to palm mute it properly (maybe it would work better if I could play it louder). I mostly play it through a BOSS ME-8 with headphones, as I live in a block house (or whatever they are in English), and my neighbours really wouldn't appreciate the noises I make, not to mention that I mostly play at night. However, I've also used it with a Park G10, and it really makes that little amp growl and scream, and the neck pickup sounds great clean. It isn't noisy at all (except the single coil when it's used alone).
The bridge pickup is clear and sounds good with distortion, and the neck sounds good & bassy clean, as I said above, but it's a bit muddy when distorted. The single coil in the middle is bright, but I don't care for it that much. I wish thay had made the RGs without the single coil a couple of years ago... The pickups are pretty good and the guitar has lots of variety in its sound with coil taps and all, but they could be quite a bit hotter. I still would like to try to play really loud (and not with the damn headphones) with them to see if that would help, but I'll replace them anyway after I've bought a better amp first (I want one anyway, even if I'll still be doing most of my playing with the headphones).
I give it 7 for now, though it probably would sound better if I could play it loud with a real amp.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:9
The guitar was set up pretty well, though I lowered the action a little. The tremolo-springs were adjusted so the guitar couldn't be tuned properly without the bridge's tail-end rising too high, but that was easy to fix. I haven't found any flaws in the workmanship and the finish is absolutely uniform. All parts seem to be of good quality and fit together well.
Reliability/Durability
:9
It seems quite durable to me, but I have handled it pretty carefully, so I don't know how many serious bangs it can take or whether the finish scratches easily (no scratches on mine).
Customer Support
:No Opinion
Don't know. I did send email to Ibanez to find out a couple of things about it after I'd bought it, and they answered in a day or two.
Overall Rating
:8
I still think the frets are a bit too large, but I've gotten pretty used to them. I was looking for a guitar with two humbuckers (I'm biased against single coils, because my Tokai had such lousy ones) and no tremolo, but somehow ended up buying this Ibanez. The main selling point was the super-thin neck, which suited my rather short fingers perfectly. I just didn't feel comfortable trying to reach aroud thick Gibson necks. It also felt good, is balanced perfectly and, as a bonus, looks good too. I did try quite a few other guitars before I bought this, and of those that were available, this was the best that I could afford. The Jacksons in the store were also good, but they had too many single coils in them for me to really like them and they would have been too similar with my older Tokai.
I also own a Tokai Custom Edition (my first guitar, I've been playing it for five years), Park G10 and BOSS ME-8. If it was stolen, I probably couldn't afford to buy another one, so I'd try again to get a two-humbucker guitar with no tremolo. Don't get me wrong, the tremolo on this guitar is really good, so if you are fond of tremolos, you'll probably love this one. And the guitar stays in tune no matter how hard you push or pull on the tremolo arm.
I wish it had a bit hotter pickups, but that's all. I still like it, and haven't found anything to dislike in it. Except maybe for the palm muting difficulty. Oh, it can be done, but it doesn't have anything like the chunkiness of the Tokai, which sounds really good. I'll keep working on it...
It's a good guitar. Maybe I'll buy more guitars in future, but I'll still keep this one (and the Tokai, too. That one is definitely not for sale).