RGA121 Dissappointment!

[screamndemon69]

gotcha - i'm still on my first cup of coffee at the moment.
you wouldn't get the maple cap (i think it is a fairly thick cap 16mm in center) so your tone would be a lot darker. for the money, i'm sure it will be a solid player.

[John01W]

The Rga 121vlf is a dream guitar, I love it after the set up, plays like air man, picking easier on a fixed bridge.... I'm going for the combination similar to what they put in j customs since the wood combo is similar....... air zone/air norton....... I love my rg550dx(92 maple neck basswood body) with the air zone, paf joe with no tone knob...... I'm hoping that the air zone will be similar if I leave the tone knob on the rga....

In my experience, leaving that tone pot off in a couple of my guitars, made it brighter... since the maple top in the rga makes it naturally brighter, I'm thinking I can leave the tone pot on.... and get similar results with a few amp tweaks...

that air zone in that 550 is the sound IMO, I love it

[AirGuitarHero]

Am I the only one who thinks that a good factory setup would be mandatory when we're talking about these prices? (I love Ibanezes, but they need a heads up I think)

[screamndemon69]

Originally Posted by AirGuitarHero

Am I the only one who thinks that a good factory setup would be mandatory when we're talking about these prices? (I love Ibanezes, but they need a heads up I think)

i don't see good factory set-ups from a lot of companies, not just Ibanez. that's just par. a lot of people like different set-ups so you usually need a good set-up when you purchase a guitar anyway. they should be intonated fairly close from the factory but action is rarely where i would want it. i've had good set-ups from USA Jacksons and Carvins. never have with Gibson and the PRS, EBMM guitars i've played in stores have all had crap set-ups as well with the action at unplayable heights.
the time and expense of a "full set-up", ala Rich from Ibanez Rules, takes a couple hours so it isn't cost effective with the quatity of guitar these companies put out. pick up a USA Hamer sometime - they have only a few people in the factory working in the factory and keep their production #'s low so they can give every guitar more attention - but that is rare in this industry unless you are getting a custom shop from other companies. definitely won't get that from Fender.

[lyconxero]

You speak very good words about guitars straight from the factory, which is why buying this guitar online is no longer an option for me since I definitely wouldn't know how to set up the guitar properly. The guy that fixed my RG370DX today (adjusted the truss rod and the bridge height to lower the action) told me that he personally does a setup on every guitar that comes into his shop and he goes over it again before he sells the guitar. His prices are also very reasonable and he said that he'd try and get a RGA121NTF into the store so that I can play it.

He said that he could sell the guitar to me at $840 which is really good considering Prestige Ibanez guitars come with those sweet cases, so if it plays like I hope it does then I'll probably go into debt to acquire it. I'm just wondering exactly how much the guitar weighs because my RG370DX is heavier than the JEM and the RG1570 that I played at GC (higher quality wood, most likely) so I'm hoping that the guitar is somewhat lighter.

[screamndemon69]

Originally Posted by lyconxero

He said that he could sell the guitar to me at $840 which is really good considering Prestige Ibanez guitars come with those sweet cases, so if it plays like I hope it does then I'll probably go into debt to acquire it. I'm just wondering exactly how much the guitar weighs because my RG370DX is heavier than the JEM and the RG1570 that I played at GC (higher quality wood, most likely) so I'm hoping that the guitar is somewhat lighter.

i think probably 6 -7 lbs. i have never weighed it so i'm just guessing. it's comfortable and weighs far less than my Gibson Explorer.

[lyconxero]

6-7 lbs. Well atleast that gives me something that I can compare. Thanks!

[ZippoTragedy]

I have an RGA 121NF.
Excellent guitar.

Superb tone -
Assume that strings are dead when playing in store.
Always re-string.

Change PUPs for madness.
I dropped in some Seymour Duncans and huge diff.
(btw, ToneZone and Air Norton sounded like ass, if ass has a sound)
Go for the throaty-gain ++

I will buy another of these - great value.
I actually like as much as my RG2550. (possibly more)

[richard1973]

grrr 2005 thread!!!

i'd never ressurect old threads and continue post as if it was a new topic

[Amonb]

I'm kinda glad it was rezzed cause I am really GASsin for an RGA 121 NF...

[TequilaKing]

Originally Posted by Amonb

I'm kinda glad it was rezzed cause I am really GASsin for an RGA 121 NF...

having had the fortune to having had a NF on loan and now being the owner of a Violin finish I would 100% wholeheartedly say go for the Violin finish

I know it's not a very helpful or factual saying but the look and finish is much 'nicer' if that makes any sense

[Amonb]

It does! cheers Tequila!

[Kemono]

Originally Posted by ScottB

The RG321 has a flat, standard RG body. The RGAs have arched tops. Big difference in tone.

How does arch top shape affect tone?

[rastachild]

Originally Posted by Kemono

How does arch top shape affect tone?

the top is maple, so it should have more high end and brightness.

[Of Angels]

Originally Posted by Rich

Unless of course the neck was actually loose enough to move bass to treble or back.

Rich, this may not be the place for this, but how is this problem corrected?