Looking for an RG education...

[cboshdave]

I have enjoyed playing Ibanez guitars. Looking to get one. I am happy to do a little more research, but I need to understand a little more about the RG line. How do I tell one from another? RG4EXQM1 compared to an RG420FB? They both look similar to me?? I just don't know what I am looking at? Is there a site that will explain some of these things? I think i got the RG120 entry level down. I am trying to get a more midlevel guitar.

Thanks,
Ibanez Noob
Dave

[AlaskaBat]

Yeah--the Ibanez catalogs and official page.
You can compare all of the specs there. The catalogs are here:

http://www.ibanezrules.com/catalogs/index.htm

[dex]

Just FYI Ibanez also published their catalogs online

http://www.ibanez.co.jp/anniversary/index.html

For quick reference on any given RG model a good place to start would be ibanezregister, go to the old gallery and then select "the guitars".
It's better than the catalogs as all RGs are there on one page and can be browsed without going through 10-15 catalogs.

http://www.ibanezregister.com/

[dex]

This is if you are looking to get older pre-owned guitar, for new guitars just check Ibanez online or download the latest catalog.

[SGramer]

The EX portion of the RG line is a Guitar center only, and maybe Musicians Friend item. That is why the two you are looking at seem so redundant. i agree with the others, look on Ibanez's site, the run down of each guitar is very detailed.

[Spiderman]

Providing your not looking for new... my suggestion would be to check out the various classified sections and auction sites for a very good to excellent condition Japanese made RG 570 520,1570(There are a few others in that catagory that escape me at the moment??perhaps someone else can chime in.) Preferably years '98-'04. These can usually be had for between 350-600 bucks depending on condition. Get one of these, replace the stock PU's(if they haven't already) with one's of your choice and there you have it. One killer playing/ sounding RG for not to much money! Agian just an option. Good hunting.

[xXLinkageXx]

RG420FB
----------
body - Mahogany with Figured Bubinga top
hardware - Cosmo Black
pickups - INF1 and INF2

RG4EXQM1
------------
body - Basswood with Quilted Maple top and White binding
hardware - Chrome
pickups - INF3, INFS3, INF4

Everything else is exactly the same. Check out Ibanez Wiki:
http://ibanez.wikia.com/wiki/Category:RG_models

[cboshdave]

All of these suggestions and thoughts are helpful! Thanks!

[mike570]

I think the RG4EXQM1 has a laser copy top, not a real quilted maple veneer. My RG3EXQM1 is much the same. I plan on modding mine in the future so I'll tell you for sure once I sand her down.