J.Custom RG8420zd

[^MoZaRt^]

Hi, I have a question about flamed maple grades (A, AA, AAA, AAAA, AAAAA ... .
Here 2 pictures of RG8420zd in red spinel with flamed maple top.
The flame looks different on these guitars, does that mean that the grade of the maple is different ? which one is better quality/grade ?
Thanks

[shreddersymphony]

"Grade" is pretty much subjective. I wouldnt trust the # of As in the item description, I would just go by whether or not you like the look. I've seen some tops that people call "AAAA" that to me are A or AA at best. With the custom builds I've gotten done for me I've realized that different people will grade the same piece of wood differently.

personally of those 2 pics I would say the second one is better, but its hard to tell in pictures because lighting, etc makes a huge difference.

[Matheau]

It's wood, so each one will look a little different. Odds are that Ibanez or their supplier would have graded all of the ones used for the same model the same.

Just go whichever you think looks better.

[bulletbass man]

Well the problem is if Ibanez gets a shipment of 100 AAA tops it's doubtful that all will be as good as the other. I've seen double AA look amazing and AAAA look rather bland. It all depends on what the supplier considers what grade.

[shreddersymphony]

Originally Posted by bulletbass man

Well the problem is if Ibanez gets a shipment of 100 AAA tops it's doubtful that all will be as good as the other. I've seen double AA look amazing and AAAA look rather bland. It all depends on what the supplier considers what grade.

It all depends on what you prefer. Some people prefer tight-grained tops, some people prefer perfectly straight bookmatched ones, some people prefer wide curls in the grain, weird designs within it, etc.

[PBGas]

I have one myself and the grain is interesting on it. You can see the flame very clearly at different angles and at other angles you see just a nice woodgrain pattern. Regardless, it is a stunning guitar!

[eviltwin]

Originally Posted by bulletbass man

Well the problem is if Ibanez gets a shipment of 100 AAA tops it's doubtful that all will be as good as the other. I've seen double AA look amazing and AAAA look rather bland. It all depends on what the supplier considers what grade.

That's not how it works, Ibanez is not a company, they do not manufacture guitars.

Ibanez is a brand name of Hoshino. The MIJ stuff comes from another company: Fujigen.

Fujigen will put exactly that wood quality on a J-Custom (or any guitar), which Hoshino specify them to put on an Ibanez.

Fujigen have their own wood grading and curing facility.
http://www.fujigen.co.jp/feature/wood.asp

Furthermore, I seriously doubt that they are using their best stuff on Ibanezes, this is under their own brandname:



That guitar has an insane looking half flame /half quilt neck, just follow the link. http://www.fujigen.co.jp/exp/Scategory2.aspx?SH=EOC1001

The RG8420 is 280k￥, whereas that strat copy is 260k￥, but Fujigen also do stuff upwards of 400k￥ (~3700US$) so it's problably not yet the best grade available.

Also note that Fujigen operate a web-based custom shop which allows you to specify body woods, neck types, finishes, pups, etc, All for less than 2000US$ on such a strat copy, which I'm sure could be adapted to an Ibanez RG-type guitar.

http://www.fujigen.co.jp/exp/SpecF.aspx?TYPE=OS

[rvai]

that guitar is beautiful, kinda like a suhr

[Of Angels]

Agreed, and maybe it's just me, but as soon as I saw that fretboard, I thought, "Prestige!" - even if it does have less frets. Very cool stuff.

[Tubyboulin]

I want to buy one of those but i dont have that kind of money But i agree with everyone else, just go with what you like best. Ibanez cant really guarentee that every guitar is going to have the same looking grain

[^MoZaRt^]

Actually, the guitar on the first picture is mine
I love it for its wide, crazy, unusual grain (i wanted something special ) it looks like 3D and changes color when you look at it from different angles
Just wanted to know what is the grade of the maple top

[Whey]

Yeah every flame grade is different, I don't even know what my RRG1 is but I do enjoy its look, to me its has quite the sex appeal.

[woodshed]

Woah. That takes care of the flame question.....