RG 1880

[Skull]

Hi,

I've got a RG 3120 and I want a second guitar, I think the RG 1880 would be a good choice ! Can you tell me more about this guitar ?

Another problem is that I live in Belgium, this guitar isn't importated in Europe so what can I do to buy it ?

Thanx

Fabian

[gkelm]

There was one on **** a little while back...if you search there on expired auction with "RG1880" you'll find it...cool dark green burst flamed maple. *One difference from your 3120 would be the neck, which is a bit thicker...also has 2-1-2 pups.
Greg

[bduersch]

Hmmm.. I wonder what ba$tard bought that 1880 on e-bay... *

See previous discussion here:
http://jemsiteforum.com/board/topic....2&topic=14

I also have a 3120 that I love almost as dearly, so I can make a few comparisons:

* The 3120 has a Tone Zone & a PAF Pro with a special 5 way switch, while the 1880 has a Tone Zone, Blue Velvet, and an Air Norton with split 5 (Jem-like) wiring. Personally, I like the sound of the PAF Pro in a mahogany body more than an Air Norton (the PAF Pro sounds much more solid), but the Blue Velvet is really great by itself and combined with neck/bridge split coils.

* The 1880 has a 5 piece bound neck, while the 3120 has a simpler, thinner neck. Personally, I like the bigger neck, but it is absolute night & day compared to the 3120 neck--they don't feel remotely similar. The 1880's neck makes my strat's neck look like a toothpick.

* Of course there are the finish differences: The 1880 has a burst finish (the finish is also on the headstock--very cool), while the 3120 is a transparent stain. Both of them have killer tops.

* General attention to detail seems just as good on the 3120 as it does on the 1880.

Ishibashi music (http://www.ishibashi.co.jp)--good luck finding your way around the website--stocks the 1880's, 1680's (unbound neck and different pickups), and lots of other sweet guitars, and they ship internationally.

If you do shell out of the 1880, you won't be disappointed (just don't be surprised by the neck!).

If you have more ?'s, let me know.

--Brent

(Edited by bduersch at 10:05 pm on Feb. 4, 2001)

[gkelm]

Way to go Brent. * I saw your post in the other topic after posting this. *Enjoy the 1880! *I'll have to be happy with my 3220 for now.
Greg

[jem7vwh]

I love the 3120, those are nice playing guitars. *Everytime I go to GC, I grab that one, and a JEM7VWH and run over to the Blue Voodoo or the Triple Rectifier and play until somebody makes me stop!

[gkelm]

Hey Brent, had a couple questions about your 1880. *Is the neck bound with maple or plastic? *The Ishibashi site says "flamed maple". *I've been lured by that V V finish! *Thanks.
Greg

[Kevan]

"5-piece neck"

That's true, but pieces #4 and #5 are there only to complete the headstock shape. *They're not really part of the (3-piece) neck.

[bduersch]

The binding on the neck actually is flamed maple. There's a very thin strip of it around the 3 edges of the fretboard. It's one of those pieces of craftsmanship that just makes you say "d@#$".

--Brent

[gkelm]

I agree, Brent. *That's was my reaction when I saw that on Larrivee acoustics...tasteful. *Sure beats a plastic binding.
Greg

[ripl3y]

Skull,
I'd also go with Ishibashi.

If it's so hard to find in Europe the markup will be substantial.
You'll get a great deal from them and most probably it'll work out cheaper even if there wasn't an over the top markup.

Steve

[cmartin]

Quote: from bduersch on 3:53 pm on Mar. 16, 2001
The binding on the neck actually is flamed maple. There's a very thin strip of it around the 3 edges of the fretboard. It's one of those pieces of craftsmanship that just makes you say "d@#$".

--Brent

I was intrigued by the flame maple binding when I first noticed it mentioned in the specs of the RG1880 on Ibanez.co.jp. I haven't found real good pics featuring it, but it sounds cool.

Does the headstock feature flame maple binding too, or what exactly?

How about the body? Natural binding?

[bduersch]

The body has the same natural binding that's on the 3120. The headstock itself is not bound--the binding on the neck stops at the nut. If you look at this picture (http://imagehost.auctionwatch.com/bi...t/P1010064.jpg), you can see the binding. It's more subtle in the picture than it is in real life.

After looking closely at it, Kevan, it actually is a 5-piece neck. Pieces 2 & 4 are incredibly thin, and are some darker wood (I'm assuming walnut). Again, though, they are very thin (<1mm). So at the headstock, it's actually a 7-piece neck.

--B

[jem7vwh]

sure is pretty. *I'm impressed. Ibanez has really stepped up the quality of their tops on some of these models. *The 3120s are nice. *The 1880s are too. *the RG7CTW and CT were both impressive. *Also, the Texas Special Prestige models have been exceptional. *Nice to see the quality being pushed up again.

[cmartin]

Can I get the scoop on the RG7CTW?

[bduersch]

You mean the RG7CT V V ? (not aware of any W's, but when lots of V's hang out together ...)

It's similar in many respects to the RG7CST. Mahogany body w/ flamed maple top, vintage violin finish, rosewood fretboard w/ offset abalone dot inlays, bubinga stripe on neck, black chrome hardware, Lo-pro 7, New 7 pickups, ebony headstock cover. More details & pics available here:
http://w3.one.net/~brentano/studio/ibanezrg7.html

It's not a J-custom model (don't tell anyone we're discussing in here), but it's a rather limited prestige model. The main differences between the CT and the CST (the J-custom model): the CST has an ebony fretboard, piezo pickups, believe it has fewer inlays and different pickups.

--B