NGD - FR1620

[Bones43x]

Here it is! The funky Tele/Les Paul/RG/whatever. I call it FReakin' cool...















It just came yesterday, and so far I really love this guitar. The sustain is pretty amazing. I haven't weighed it,
but it feels heavier than any of my RGs (the 2550Z is the heaviest). Everything about this guitar is really comfortable.
I especially like the upper body contour. The Tight End is perfect. It's solid and smooth, which makes it really
comfortable to rest your hand on.

The neck feels incredible. I think the satin finish on this one feels better than my other guitars, and I don't
remember any of them feeling this smooth when they were new.

The stock pickups sound pretty good. I really like the switching options. These pickups sound great
in split and hum modes, clean and distorted. I think I'll actually use all 5, instead of just the 1, 2 and 5
positions on my RGs.

I wasn't expecting the binding to be cream colored. I thought it was white from all the pics I've seen. It looks great though.
The finish is VERY glassy. Much more so than my RGs. They don't fill the grain on the back side, like they do front.
That way you can actually tell it's real Swamp Ash underneath the finish.

I gotta give a shout out to the man, Rich (Ibanez Rules). You rock! There's just no reason to go anywhere else.

[Bones43x]

More pics!

[Bones43x]

Here's a not-so-flattering Ibby family shot: RG2550Z, RG1420F, FR1620, RG1527






Some better pics of the RGs:

[1010011010]

Nice! Been looking for a fixed bridge companion to my RG and I gotta add that to the list.

[steve]

That's lovely - harkens back to my first love of electric guitars, the Tele... but with all the appointments of a rocking beast - slick neck, 24 frets, AANJ, body contours... binding...

I have a 2620 DBS, and just love it (and I'm primarily an RG7/Universe/RG1527/Jem/RG, thereby, locking trem guy =]).

I did switch out the pickups, change the wiring (stock switch is a VLX91, so that's a 4-pole super-switch... awesome for options) and scallop the top 4 frets (add those to all above that don't have them, an adoption from the Jems, of course...).

Most recently, I did a 'quick' mod that I am recommending if you find you have any tuning issues with aggressive playing, since you appear to also be very used to locking bridge setups - locking tuners.
Just like magic on mine - I'm a very 'bendy' player, and as such, found I challenge non-locking setups... but, the /moment/ I put on the locking tuners, it became that much more awesome.
The ones I used; I looked for what appeared to be a direct swap-out, gambled on it based also on positive history and reviews, and got a set of Planet Waves Auto Trims... they're a direct fit.
In fact, at least on the JS1600 (and possibly one SV model) Ibanez uses these same tuners re-branded with their Ibanez logo on the locking knob, and have their 'usual' Prestige buttons on the tuners.
The stock ones on the PW ATs are a little different, and I have yet to test this theory, but I suspect that the buttons might be direct swap-outs if I want to keep it just that little bit more stock looking.
Either way, they're great - just need to re-use the Ibanez mounting screw on the back tab of each tuner; it's a beefier screw than the ones provided in the box - which won't grab well at all - and again, keeps things that little bit more stock in appearance.

Sorry for the blathering; I just haven't discussed this model on a forum yet, and I have a lot of good things to say =]

Cheers, and congratulations.

[Bones43x]

I actually had the Planet Waves Auto Trim tuners in mind already! I researched that before I ordered it. I'll probably change them when it's ready for a string change.

I just need to decide if I want to tune this guitar, or my SG Standard, down to D Standard/Drop C.

[steve]

Awesome - excellent.

As for tuning; do you play in that tuning often?
If not, relegate the SG so that job, and keep the FR at your standard =]

... my bias showing? Naaaaaaaaah...

[doriangrey]

Very nice indeed - a model that rolls elemenets of a few classic designs into one...congrats!!!

[DaylightDies]

Been mulling one of these over ever since they came out. Beautiful guitar, and happy NGD!

[Devo]

Had one for a year and traded it... one of my guitar regrets.. wish I hadnt. They are a an excellent value guitar... completely agree with steve... inredibly versatile too.. will get another one day

Congrats!

Steve

[Bones43x]

Originally Posted by steve

Awesome - excellent.

As for tuning; do you play in that tuning often?
If not, relegate the SG so that job, and keep the FR at your standard =]

... my bias showing? Naaaaaaaaah...

Well, the only place I play out is at church. So whatever I decide to tune down will pretty much be relegated to home use, and mostly rhythm tracks. I don't want that for this guitar.

But, really, it wouldn't be that big of a deal to change it back if I get the string gauge/tension close. I don't need a D Standard guitar all the time. I got about halfway done recording a song, only to find out I couldn't sing the melody how I wanted. Now I need to re-record it in a step down.

[steve]

That's true; wouldn't be a big deal... just depends on how close to tolerance you run things =]
But it should cooperate for that without hassle. Those locking tuners will also making things a good bit more stable in general for tuning.
Cheers.