Ibanez RG7421 7-String

Basswood body RG w/black poly finish. Maple neck with skunk stripe. Fixed bridge w/strings through body. V7 & V8 ceramic mag pickups. 7 strings. Bone stock

I play fingerstyle jazz, small combo jazz, fusion, & indie rock. (Surprise: a non-metal use!) Used with a Fender Jazz King w/15" Eminence, Victoria 20112 w/12" Jenson, Tech 21 Trademark 30 w/Weber 10", & THD Univalve through Longhorn 2x12 cab. Strung with a lighter gauge stainless steel flatwound set, this is one versatile guitar. It does smokey jazz single lines (5-way switch position 5 with treble roll off), 7-string fingerstyle (5-way switch positions 5 & 3), several quacky strats (5-way switch positions 4 & 2), and solid distorted lead tone (5-way switch position 1). I use Van Eps (low A + standard) tuning, as well as low B + standard.

Made in Japan. Sweet action, fit, and finish. News flash: this 1999 model has no finish chips on body or headstock.

It's a solid guitar, used live and in studio. Secret to preserving chip-free finish is keeping it in a hardshell case when not in use, or on a stand away from traffic areas. I gig without backup all the time.

Here is how modern customer service works. Find an authorized dealer that gives good sales and customer service. Buy through them, supporting their business. Ibanez, like Gibson and Fender, provides support through the dealer. Find a good dealer, receive good service.

Have played and used several 7 strings in my application, including archtops and handbuilt customs. They have come and gone. The 7421 is my keeper. It is light, well balanced, ergonomic, reliable, and toneful. Most importantly, it intonates properly. Not all 7-string guitars have this ability. I purchased this guitar for $495, used, with Ibanez logo hardshell case containing all the original candy.

I purchased this guitar about 5-6 years ago. Black, 24 frets, 5 way selector, came with stock pickups, passive electronics, Floyd licensed tremelo, stock has a THIN neck. I changed out the stock pickups and put a Seymour Duncan Invader in the bridge and Dimarzio (Evo I think) in the front. Naturally, this improved the sound significantly. I also changed out the stock Floyd tremelo and put in a Carvin licensed Floyd trem because I was having problems with the saddles breaking. This Carvin trem fit PERFECTLY and has proved MUCH, MUCH more reliable. Moreover, I use 4 springs in the back.

I play through a Boogie Triple Rec and the sound is unbelievable. It's thick and smooth without being mushy. All the notes in 4/5 note power chords using heavy distortion ring through. It is slighly noisy in certain pickup positions (not the bridge, fortunately), but this is normal. I spent many years and lots of $$ on equipment to get a great, unique sound that I'm happy with. My biggest complaint is that the guitar does not play pinch harmonics (at all), regardless of the amp. I considered getting an EMG active pickup to rectify this problem, but the user reviews on this pickup are not very good. Oh well.

I played standard tuning 1-6. I tune the seventh string to A and use a bass string (60-65 gauge). I had to route out the bridge saddle to accomodate this gauge string, but it was well worth it. Forget factory set-ups--they are worthless. Learn to set-up your own guitar. Anyhow, the action is great. Fret action is fast. The best part is the thin neck. This enables relatively easy access to all strings and frets. I've checked out Carvin 7 strings at stores and the fat neck is uncomfortable and awkward. Finish is okay. If you play live and practice a lot, the finish will eventually get destroyed anyhow.

I've beat the crap out of this guitar live and it's never let me down. Like I mentioned, I had to replace the stock tremelo and since then I have had minimumal string breakage. It goes out of tune if you really kick the crap out of it, but what do you expect? I took the strap button off and use clips (highly recommended). Lastly, I've had challenges getting the pickups rewired properly. But this isn't a problem with the guitar; just a problem with echs trying to figure out polarity and where all those little wires in the back go.

Yeah right. Who calls customer support on a guitar? Best bet is to figure out how to troubleshoot and fix problems on your own.

I've been playing for 20 years. I own a Jackson 7 string and 6 string Ibanez. These don't come close to this guitar. If it were stolen I'd cry blood.

Late 1999/early 2000, Japan, Black, 24 frets, Stock humbucking pickups x 2 (which are pretty cool), classic RG 5-way pickup selector, Floyd Rose trem, Fat 7 string neck, basically all these features are quite basic RG features, but...Such a 7 string model is NOT the top of the line, but when compared to the TOP of the line models, it does not lack much at all. Please Read on for reasons why.

By the way, i should mention that ive been looking for and wanting one of these since i watched the Ibanez 7th heaven video about 4 years ago, i was roughly sixteen. Just seeing John Petrucci play a 7-string and hearing him on the Dream Theater Awake album inspired me to buy one.

I should also mention that i traded my recently bought B.C rich Warlock which was quite a classic model (the old-school reverse headstock, original floyd rose trem and heavy as F*CK). I had to part with it to buy yet another Awesome Ibanez.

Music Style: Death Metal, Thrash Metal, Black metal, Progressive, basically i play in the vein of Morbid Angel, (early) Sepultura, Deicide, Atheist (a la 'piece of time'), Death, to name a few.

I run a Behringer V-amp pro through a Marshall 6040 power amp into a Kustom quadie, and a Behringer FCB MIDI foot controller. Awesome affordable sound, the V-amp is awesome!!! Heavy crunching low-mid distortion, basically i currently use a Washburn A-5 http://www.rexc.com/photos/guitars-used/washburnA5V.jpg with a DiMarzio Air Classic in the bridge, a hot Evolution type sound, and an Ibanez RG270DX with a pink DiMarzio Evolution in the bridge, so it is a great 'hot' sound.

The Ibanez RG7421 HAS NOT been played through this particular setup as yet, because i have not picked up the guitar from the music shop as yet, but this setup will be totally awesome and the exact sound i am looking for for my band Abortium, www.abortium666.cjb.net Heavy fast, screaming solos, and sheer brutality. The shitty amp i tried out this axe through still gave it an awesome sound so i cant wait

I really like how this axe compares to the rg7420 and the rg7620. It is basically exactly the same as a rg7621 as it did replace it in 2000, the differences are not noticeable and i would say that it is equal to the 7620 but HEAPS better than the 7420 which is the black sheep of RG 7's, not to say that it is total crap, but not the best.

playing it clean for jazz and soft melodies? SURE, consistecny of quality sound is preserved, of course if you want optimum performance you change the stock pickups to what im going to, whcih is DiMarzio evolution 7's!! but for a factory finish, the sound is one that i am quite content with hence the rating. It would earn a ten with hotter pickups in it, and thats about all it would need in my opinion.

Since i bought it used and traded my okay-ish condition 'warlock-project' i shall call it, cos i didnt have enough time to bring it back to glory in terms of new humbuckers and the chips fixed up, the guitar set-up is very good, the Ibanez necks, well, this, my RG270DX and my mate's Fender Showmaster and three of the best necks ive ever played on.

The guitar although used, has the tiniest chip on the headstock whcih goes unnoticeable, and apart from that its all mint!! it was hard to ditch the warlock which i had waited so long for, one that was produced prior to the death of Bernie Rico Senior, before the widow headstock came and ruined it all along with cheap production, BUT alas i did and i am extremely happy with my decision.

I believe it will be a monster when i take to the stage, cant wait. Especially since my band have finished our first EP, i think the new material will take a slight turn into bigger harmonies and heavier chords to back the solos with.

Finish is as good as most Ibanez finishes, not quite the prestige series, but as good as any other model in the range.

i always need a backup guitar so i feel secure, but this will take over as my priority, and i cant wait to take it on stage with me, like i have said again and again, ITS F*CKING AWESOME!!

BIG FAN OF IBANEZ!

Ibanez - 10 rating, because they will answer any questions and give you prompt feedback.

Melbourne Music Centre - 1 rating, simply because they were a bunch of arseholes about the trade, i got $200 for my warlock and they were very rude about the deal. will not go into detail but will avoid them at all costs, THEY KNOW NOTHING ABOUR GUITARS DAMNIT!!!

10!!! $595 for a guitar that is much better than the RG7420 which retails for $1700 AUS!! a bloody score!

**well, some re-assuring points that tell how good this guitar is, i have been playing for about 6 years and have studied the seven string guitar in all its glory since i started, i have only just bought my first 2 days ago because i have searched long and wide for a good one. I have played LOTS of sevens, from the super rare s-series seven, which i a god, to the cheapie GRX seven, which is still okay but is slightly muddy, also ive played the J&D luthiers sevens, Jackson, Dean and squier. although i have never seen a universe in a melbourne music store, i am still waiting for the day when i get to play one of them or a prestige model.

I have to say that no matter what anybody else says, IBANEZ is and always will be the king of sevens.

for two reasons: Innovation and price range.

If you buy an ernie ball, you have to pay at least 3.5 to 4k, and the others just dont compare. Play an ibanez over any other brand, i recommend it, Praise Ibanez!! \m/ the RG7421 rules! and like steve Vai says, the revolutionary concept of the Ibanez seven string will have any player "wailing into the stratosphere"

Given to me as a gift. Made and purchased in 1999.
Rundown on current setup:
24 frets, black finish (second finish on guitar, if you can call it a finish), one (1) EMG 707 active pickup, EMG "standard" tone and volume knobs, Basswood body, fixed bridge. I'd give it a 10 if the factory pickups didn't suck.

When I first had it, my amp setup made the guitar sound horrible. God, I dont even remember what the model was, but it was like a 20 year old Washburn. It was like $50 at a pawnshop. That sucked. Then I got an anniversary edition gx-50 crate with shitty dist and clean settings. That didn't make it sound too much better. Then I turned 16. Got a good job. Saved a few paychecks and bought a Marshall Valvestate with a 4x10 cab. The guitar sounded sweet. It was kinda noisy but I lived with that. I played that for about a year. Through that time, I put more expensive guitars through my rig and decided the pickups had to go. I only had the cash for one EMG 707. I decided that since I don't do any blusey sounding or clean leads on my 7 string, I'd just buy one for the bridge position. Great investment!!!!
Yet again, I'd give it a 10 if the factory pickups didn't suck.

Well, lets just say when I first got it, I didn't know too much about this. I got it when I was 14, only played for like 2 years by then. So over the years there could have been alterations done that I can't remember. I do remember like 2 days after I got it, I was playing and the black piece that goes over the volume knob fell off. I remember I thought it was broken. Stupid child! Like I said, I had been playing for two years by age 14. Thats all I did was play my guitar so you could imagine I exteremely good really fast. I got used to playing a 7 string in days because of this guitar. Really comfortable playing it. Over the years the hardware became rusted but that was because I was careless when it came to taking care of the guitar. I'd play for hours and not wipe the sweat off the hardware. Right now, it's set up pretty nicely. Had the action set to a nice level so it flys like none other.

What has the guitar been through: Getting dropped many times, thrown around (not to damage, just stage shit), headstock beaten against cymbals, and its been run over!!! Yes ladies and gents, this guitar has survived being run over by a car!! I was in a hurry to pack my shit for practice a few years back. I leaned it against the back bumper of my friend's car. Forgot about it. Backed up into the street and saw a black mass sitting in my driveway. I thought it was my dog so I went to look. Nope, it was the guitar. After further inspection, the tone knob got smashed into the guitar bringing a small piece of wood with it. Some bondo fixed that. Too bad I couldnt find the cherry fudge paint anywhere. I liked that color... It's a very dependable guitar. Taken it to many gigs without backups....

Never delt with Ibanez.

Bad ass guitar. I wish that I would have been a bit knowledgable when I got the guitar. Would have taken better care of it. I would buy this again if stolen, but I'd have to take the time out and re-custom this piece. Great guitar for the price. I will be buying another 7string in the next few weeks. EMG M-207 LTD. Let's see just how they compare :-)

Series 1999, made in Japan-24 frets, Black finish, one volume/one tone, 5-way selector--Pickups: two Ibanez stock humbuckers which are hot enough for me, all I need is sufficient punch when it comes to palm-muting and I'm straight. Uh, maple neck, rosewood fretboard: this is the quintessential feature on this guitar for me-my fingers are really long and on the six string, I tended to overshoot chords because the neck was too small for me. But when I brought that RG7421 home, I had a neck big enough for me. On a related note, the neck seemed to be the heaviest thing on the guitar, kinda weird. I got one of them fixed bridges which is fine because the seven string guitar is not as versatile for soloing and wankin' off. I use this guitar for my straight-ahead assault style metal. I call this guitar "The Axe". She is my mainstay, my main flame, my dream come true. By the way, I don't really care about the paint chipping; I think it gives it a vintage time-worn look.

I play Industrial-strength grunge/punk/techno/heavy metal. This guitar is perfect for it. I don't have a big amp yet, I play through something relatively small as I am in the process of writing my debut album. Years ago, I discovered a hybrid form of distortion where I would fuse amplifier distortion with the distortion from the effects pedal. What I got was a wild, strong, blatant, and brutal form of distortion. I use a Boss "Metal Zone" (would rather have a DOD "Grunge") and a Boss "Stereo Chorus". The pickups are fine, but not noisy enough for me,I like to manipulate feedback. I don't know about all the special gizmos or heads or effects and all, I am very simple and straight-forward. All I need is a 'clean' that is crisp like a cool Autumn day and a distortion that is so flagrant when I mute the guitar, it feels like you're getting punched in your chest. This apparatus delivers such.

The action was set perfectly, I can't stress that enough. As I mentioned before, I've got big hands and long fingers, and there is nothing in the world like a bridge that accommodates my hands. The pickups were adjusted perfectly and the guitar contained no flaws. She is a true workhorse.

This is a professional-grade instrument. It can certainly withstand live laying. No problems with the hardware. I am not the angst-ridden shredder that I used to be (devil without a cause), I am not as abusive to the guitar as I was in the past either. I'm still hard but I play with flair-this will guarantee a lasting finish despite the fact that the finish does chip easily. I have standard, boring strap buttons-they hold up just fine. Can I depend on it? For $500 you bet I can, and will!! Like I said, she'e a dream. I feel so powerful with this thing around my neck with these 24 frets. The 7-string is not for the novice but for the accomplished, skilled musician. This is a man's guitar.

N/A

Okay, here goes...I've been playing guitar 10 years, self taught. I had a nice little Fender Stratocaster: there are some really good grunge songs that I have written that are not fit for such a gothic and brutal instrument such as the RG7421. The Strat is light, versatile, and armed with a tremolo, I can abuse this guitar guilt-free. My music consists of different rock genres: in a nutshell, it just doesn't feel right playing grunge on a metal guitar, nor does feel right playing metal on something traditional like a Strat/Jaguar/Mustang. Unfortunately, Fender hasn't really explored the 7-string market when it comes to Jaguars and Mustangs. Maybe one day, some skinny little black boy will come along and shake up things so much that they'll give him some play....So for now, I have to play some of my grunge numbers on this wicked lookin' thang of mine. There is nothing that I really hate about it, it's complete as far as I am concerned. Maybe if it had a pickguard and a Floyd Rose bridge, but not having those features also gives my RG7421 its distinction. It's everything that I thought that it would be, and more. I can't play without it. It is the most prized possession I have. If it were ever stolen, I would replace it in a heartbeat. What I love about the 7-string no longer being the novelty item that it was during the Korn/Deftones nu-metal days is that fewer people use them. So,it makes you stand out and above the six-stringers. I cannot compare the RG7421 to anything else, only I wish that I had a 7-string Fender Jaguar and Mustang to complete my arsenal and compliment my Ibanez. There is a new day ahead. There is a new sound. If time will permit, the 7-string guitar will be the instrument that will usher in a new era in music. Rock 'n' Roll needs an enema...

I assume this guitar was made in '99. serial F99 53440.
Made in Japan 24 frets. Single Volume and Tone controls w/ 5-way switch. Two Humbuckers. I think they are DiMarzios Blaze II pickups? Passive. The neck is Maple w/ Rosewood fingerboard. I think the body is made of Basswood. Finish is Magenta Crush. Nice color, put poor workmanship. The paint chips too easily. This is not good and has tarnished my desire to ever buy another Ibanez. Body style is similar to the Universe. No pickguard and pickups are front loaded. Gootoh tuners, Neck Scale 251/2" scale Frets are Jumbo
My favorite feature is the wiring of the pickup selector. I like the middle positon which activates the lower neck P.U. coil and the upper bridge coil P.U. The guitar plays simliar to my Universe.
NO case with this I had to buy a thick padded gig bag.

This guitar suits my style fine. I write original heavy rock/metal music. I like the flexability of the Seven string tuning.
I use ADA MP-1(tone generator)line level in a loop of a Boss NS-2. The output of the Boss NS-2 feeds the Tubeworks Realtube II on (clean setting). I have a Rocktron Replifex (primary effects) a Rocktron Intellifex (secondary) and a Boss SE-50(aux. FX)switched on/off by the Replifex. These effects are in a parallel loop of the Tubeworks Realtube II preamp. Then the preamp is amplified by a MOSVALVE MV-962. The RG7421 sounds very articulate through any setting I use on my rig. The pickups are a little ouder than the Universe. I like the cleans sounds of this guitar. No need to upgrade the pickups.

The guitar was setup fine when I got it. The Action is excellent. I had to get my Universe worked on. The both play very well. The RG7421 has a weird flaw in the fingerboard. It is just cosmetic. Finish is a cool color. Chips way too easily. I put the guitar in the extra padded gig bag. Carefully transported it. Discovered a small chip. Later, I bought an Ibanez Seven string case. It has red velvet lining and looks nice. I put the guitar in it's case. Took it to rehearsal and I discovered another chip. I took off the strap at a gig, while putting the guitar away and there was another chip from a soft suede strap? Explain that. The poor finish has made me look for Alternatives to Ibanez. They should cover bad finished in the warranty. I would have made a higher rating if the finish wouldn't have been so flawed.

This guitar is fine except for the shitty quality in the Magenta Crush finish. Hey I like my sticker collection so far. Adds personality to the guitar. Check out www.jointchiefsmi.com to see a photo of this guitar and my other guitars.

Customer support for Ibanez is a joke. Warranty doesn't cover poor workmanship for the finish. No help at all, this company doesn't give a rats ass about you. If you are a signed artists with them they will polish your ass for you with your new custom artist axe.

I have been playing since 1986. I have four Seven strings now. and five other guitars. I like the Universe and the RG7421. I also love my Artwood Acoustic Seven string. I have a DEAN AVALANCHE 7. It was the cheapest. It stays in tune great. I discovered some different tunings since the AVALANCHE 7 uses a stop tail piece. I use a drop A tuning and a Double D tuning. The pick ups may not be as hot as the Ibanez guitars, but I realized that it has it's own sound.

2000 model i think!, 1 volume 1 tone 5 way-selector, V7 and V8 Ibanez pickups , black, hardtail.

I play detuned heavy stuff. I got this coz i couldn't afford a RG7620 or the K7, the sound is quite good for the price, not the best but... It's quite full and rich but i'm thinking of changing the bridge pickup.

I read in a Ibanez advert in a guitar mag that "Ibanez 7 strings don't have string buzz, because we have been making 7 strings the longest" or something to that effect. THIS IS UNTRUE! I get f'ing string buzz!
the thing that i do like the most about this guitar is that it can stay in-tune even when you have re-strung it. once you've worn the strings in you don't have to tune it very oftern!

The main problem with this guitar is that if you knock it in the slightest you will chip/dent it. i was walking out of my bedroom and banged it on the door... chipped the bastard!
The volume/tone knobs are REALLY cheaply made and crackle after a year or so of constant use!

Its a good beginners 7 string but if i have to be honest, if you are thinking of getting this particular guitar, PLEASE save up abit longer and get a RG7620 or something on the same level. I didn't and i do sometimes regret it!For a few hundred more you can get a guitar so much more!

ON the other hand! if your looking for a reliable mid-price 7 string that you can throw around and will still stay in tune... this is the guitar for you!

2000, I dunno where from, 24 frets, solid body, 1 volume 1 tone 5 way selector, H/H, V7 and V8 Ibanez passive pickups, basswood body and basswood is like fuckin cork because every 7421 Ive seen is chipped, I bought mine chipped goddamnit! black finish, string through body hardtail, gotoh tuners, 27" neck, guitar center didnt give me shit for free but when I buy a strap I get a free amp, dont ask why.

*Its good for my music style (heavy metal), I use it with a Digitech RP200 through a Marshall 100 watt, its noisy (in a good way), I like the low end but the high end is too trebly.

The guitar was set up great in the sweatshop, the pickups were adjusted fine, when I bought it it had a chip in the corner.

I suppose it would withstand live playing at a blues convention but no guitar could withstand a slipknot concert, so it depends how hard its being played, the hardware is some sort of metal material so until rusting sets in it'll last, finish is good, strap buttons havent fallen off yet so I guess they're solid, I couldnt depend on it to pick me up after school or to remember my birthday but I can depend on it to play when I want to.

Ibanez is super-helpful, they gave me a great little 4 page pamphlet when I bought my 600 dollar guitar and they answer your emails after about a month, under a 30 day warranty.

I own a fender strat, a squier bass and an acoustic, if it was stolen Id buy another 7 string Ibanez.


for questions/comments email me and enjoy!

I think this one was made in 1999 and is probably a Japanese product. Has a black paintjob, two hot ass humbuckers, string-thru bridge, volume and tone knobs, and a grenade launcher mounted on the neck.

A lot of sounds are possible with this guitar but I don't give a flaming shit about any of them. I only use the bridge pickup along with ridiculous amounts of distortion. My setup is: 7-string, randall rg-150 head, marshall 4x12 cab, sonic maximizer 482, boss eq, fingers. Very forbidding sounds are vomited from my trembling speakers this way. See, I play really deep brutal fucking death metal(Morbid Angel, Cryptopsy, Incantation), none of that weak-ass nu metal Korn feces that that little chode a few reviews down is into. Why waste a 7-string on talentless radio friendly trash like that?

Yeah yeah yeah, it works great, no problems here. One tiny chip in my paint.

I don't expect any problems with this instrument of bowel destruction. I expect to make people shit their drawers for some time and leave behind a trail of bloody diarrhea.

Haven't had to call the fuckos yet.

Damn fine instrument and if someone took it without my permission I would gut and rape his mother and then burn his fucking house to the ground!

Ibanez RG7421, hardtail, 7 string guitar. Pretty solid

Dimarzio Blaze - metal - the way I like it. Pretty hot for a passive.
Stock neck pickup - good for thicker sounds (acoustic)
I don't bother with the others...

It isn't a les paul, but it is mine, and it sounds much better on the B string than my RG470 tuned to B

When I did all my work to it (see below) I cleaned the crap out of it with a toothbrush & water, then used a towel to get the water up, then took a cottonball and used baby oil on the neck...
I don't know why, but it plays a HELL of a lot better....
The person I bought it from, (see reason below why he sold it to me so cheap) bought another RG7421 to replace this one becuase it wasn't working right.
There is a night and day difference between the guitars feel. Granted, it might be my tweaking with it, but the neck jsut feels different, not a bad different...
Overall, I think it is a pretyt good guitar, since I tweaked it a lot anyway.

I got it with a huge "dent" under the high E and high B strings on the third fret.
It stays in tune, and it doesn't effect playability.
Also, when i got it, the pickup switch was busted, and the pickups, when the switch was working, were fried. I replaced all the electronics myself, and bought a DiMarzio Blaze humbucker for the bridge pickup (it was fried, would work then not work, and when it did, only one coild worked)
after that, I have not had a problem since. From what my friend told me (who I bought it from) someone screwed with it, and the only reason it worked as much as it did was becuase he messed with it. I knew this when I got it, and planned on doing all the work to it anyway, so I think it is pretty reliable/durable

Never used them, doubt I would need to.

Playing guitar for 4 years, and drums for 9.
I have played in several bands, and basicly it doesn't mean shit - just pick one up and play it.
These things are all about opinion, never fact. So, just like buying a car, test it out first.
I personally think it is an excellent guitar, especially for what I paid for it :-)
25 for the guitar, $20 for the wiring(approx) and 60 for the pickup. So for $105(approx) I have a nice guitar, granted it isn't a Les Paul Custom, but those cost 10x as much...