Ibanez RG3XXV, Should I or Shouldn't I

[Iron Dog]

After seeing Steinmetzify's Ibanez GAS thread (damn you) I'm gassing for an RG3XXV. I've been casually looking for a bolt-on, maple fretboard guitar for awhile and I really dig this guitars 80's shred style with the reversed headstock and the hardware seems very decent.

I phoned up my local Long & McQuade (Canadian chain store) and they have a used one in Ontario going for $429, which was only owned for about a month, but for them to bring it in will require a $50 non-refundable deposit. I don't really dig being partially committed to a guitar I haven't seen or tried.

I'm also heading down to Arizona in March and plan on checking out the music stores down there, so don't know if I want to save my cash for that.

How does an RG3XXV stack up against a Japanese Jackson DK2M?

Opinions

 

[Crunchity]

I hear ya on being a little un-comfy with guitar purchases without first hand sampling, don't think I've ever even actually done that in fact. FWIW, I have one of these and really like it, great bang for buck axe. It seems the word is the build quality can be all over the place, especially with regards to the finish. Eh, mine is great. The fretwork is nice, even and clean, the joint is tight as a mutha, etc. The trem works like a champ. The volume knob and switches all work glitch free and silent (no scratchy stuff). The highlight though is the DiMarzio's - they're a great match with this guitar. An all around solid Ibanez, and fairly unique. The neck also feels amazing! Bottom line, if you can sample it in person, that would be ideal and hopefully you'll find it to be up to snuff for the asking price. Mine definitely was. And yeah, reverse headstocks and HS configs are sexy! Purists are of course gonna tell ya skip it and try to track down a used 565...good luck, lol!

 

[bulletproof_funk]

^^ This sums it up very well. The stock DiMarzios don't work for me tonally, I'm just fussy that way, but I don't read about many others disliking them either. I'm not sure I'd spend $50 just to try a used $429 guitar I've never played before either, but I think L & M allows you to return used gear too, you should ask if they still keep your $50 deposit should you return it.

 

[Anonymous]

Cool guitar, I like the pickups in them, as well as the trem system
If you're going to swap pickups, it might not be that good of a deal
I always look for old MIJ RG470 and RG570 on the cheap, best bang for your buck used guitar IMO

 

[Purpleibby]

I thought the guitar was disappointing. I went in trying to like it when i tried it out. The fret ends are uncomfortable and sharp, the wizard 3 neck for me sucked....of course my main ibanez is a 92 with the original wizard profile so I may just be spoiled by that neck....but the material just had the feel that a baseball bat might be the same hardness. I never liked the neck pickup in any guitar, and the bridge suffered from what it was designed to sound like, an active pup...but in a bad way. Overall I wanted to like it but came out disappointed....a 565 for a great price it is not. I don't know why Ibanez couldn't just do it right....they have a winning formula but keep messing with it. Just my opinion.

 

[just42dave]

Nope tried 2 of them but im a purist i wont even buy the at premium im dying to try but no Japanese?/ no way on Ibanez

 

[Anonymous]

I thought the guitar was disappointing. I went in trying to like it when i tried it out. The fret ends are uncomfortable and sharp, the wizard 3 neck for me sucked....of course my main ibanez is a 92 with the original wizard profile so I may just be spoiled by that neck....but the material just had the feel that a baseball bat might be the same hardness. I never liked the neck pickup in any guitar, and the bridge suffered from what it was designed to sound like, an active pup...but in a bad way. Overall I wanted to like it but came out disappointed....a 565 for a great price it is not. I don't know why Ibanez couldn't just do it right....they have a winning formula but keep messing with it. Just my opinion.

Right, it's a D-Activator
Don't know why I thought it was a Tone Zone

 

[Iron Dog]

Thanks for the replies guys, I've decided to pass on it. The $50 is to cover shipping back to Ontario if I don't take it as the store doesn't want it.

I hear ya on being a little un-comfy with guitar purchases without first hand sampling, don't think I've ever even actually done that in fact. FWIW, I have one of these and really like it, great bang for buck axe. It seems the word is the build quality can be all over the place, especially with regards to the finish. Eh, mine is great. The fretwork is nice, even and clean, the joint is tight as a mutha, etc. The trem works like a champ. The volume knob and switches all work glitch free and silent (no scratchy stuff). The highlight though is the DiMarzio's - they're a great match with this guitar. An all around solid Ibanez, and fairly unique. The neck also feels amazing! Bottom line, if you can sample it in person, that would be ideal and hopefully you'll find it to be up to snuff for the asking price. Mine definitely was. And yeah, reverse headstocks and HS configs are sexy! Purists are of course gonna tell ya skip it and try to track down a used 565...good luck, lol!

I'm glad you like yours, looks awesome. I've heard that the Indonesian Ibanez stuff is very inconsistent quality wise, which worries me. I have an Ibanez SR1200 Premium bass, which is awesome.

Cool guitar, I like the pickups in them, as well as the trem system
If you're going to swap pickups, it might not be that good of a deal
I always look for old MIJ RG470 and RG570 on the cheap, best bang for your buck used guitar IMO

Yeah I'm looking for guitars that I don't have to swap pups on.