Here's the scoop behind Ikebe Special models. They're essentially RG8470's with the following exceptions:
-Darkened/"Ebonized"
Rosewood fretboards (idea adopted from PRS)
-New types of Clear Coat. Unlike other production models(including other J-Customs), these two new models don't have a poly-coat, rather the two models use one of the followig.
HRG2007RNS -> Shellac Varnish (French polished like those $10k-$20k classical guitars)
HRG2007ALQ -> All Lacquer top (Nitro Cellulose lacquer that is dried/hardened with ultra violet light like the higher end Taylor acoustics where the lacquer is kinda floating above the wood grain).
The idea behind using the different types of clear coating is to allow the wood to "breath" more. The French Polished Shellac finish is supposedly more porous and the new all lacquer finish is supposed to protect the wood but not seal the grain.
Also, these guitars feature push-pull Volume and Tone pots.
Volume pot -> Wired to switch the neck pickup from series/parallel. (down series, up parallel for a thinner sound with a higher resonant peak)
Tone pot ->Wired to include a Low cut Filter. (down is standard, up enables the low-cut filter but the tone pot still stays a tone pot so the amount of Low Cut is not variable)
I can't confirm this but it also appears that the trems have been updated again. I don't know what's been changed and it's just purely cosmetic, but it looks like the studs have been finished in the same cosmo black finish the trem is. (If you're hoping for
locking studs, I've gotten word that they ain't got any locking set screws, but the studs may just be sturdier than previous ones).
That's about all the info I can fish out.
