USA custom RG (just bought one, but I have a question)

[maliciousteve]

Hey guys I just bought this beuty



Now I know these guitars are quite hard to find but I have a question. Is this particular guitar a pre-pro? the headstock makes me think that it may be as it doesn't have that 'usa custom' logo on the headstock. But I have seen pre-pros with just the usual Ibanez logo, I've not seen one with this pickup configuration either.

[jl2556]

Heck, if you look at the 88 USCG catalog on Rich Harris site,
it shows this guitar with dot inlays..It shows the
necromancers castle with the same head stock as your guitar.
If you check Ibanez register, there are 2 shown on the Ibanez
register and they have reverse headstocks with different pick up confi.
What a mess!!!!
I think they made some of the early USCG guitars with the different
pickup config. I have heard people say this before....
Someone correct me if I'm wrong...

[brianxtr]

great guitar!very nice

my usa custom rg doesn't have the * usa custom* logo on the head. and in the 1988 folder you see the necromancer also without the usa custom logo.

http://www.ibanezrules.com/catalogs/...scan0011_1.jpg

and the pickup's the neck and inlays could be chosen when orderd.so they could be different.yours is basicly a rg 760 (hss and backrouted shark inlays bindings) i like it very much!

[TAorama]

The USAC's could be ordered with your choice of pickup configuration and inlay. Have you taken the neck off to see what's stamped in the neck pocket and on the neck heel? Is there a serial number on the headstock or is it on the neck plate? It's possible the neck was replaced with an RG700 series neck, or it's possible yours just made it out of the factory without the USAC logo being addded. Either way, it's a nice one. Congrats!

[heffergm]

Wow... I miss the 80's and the sci-fi inspired graphics jobs

[brianxtr]

no more info about it?

[maliciousteve]

Well I finally got my hands on it today. It's as if a monkey has put new strings on it as each one has a kink in it, which I'm guessing isn't helping with keeping it in tune (depressing the bar takes it out of tune a bit) So new strings tomorrow and a little clean of the bridge and it should be ok hopefully.

There's a serial number on the neck heel reads 893018 and the stamp on the back of the headstock says F117110. Any ideas? Some ones installed a Dimarzio by the look of it. Not sure which one though but just by looks it might be a PAF or PAF pro.

[GAZ]

Originally Posted by maliciousteve

Well I finally got my hands on it today. It's as if a monkey has put new strings on it as each one has a kink in it, which I'm guessing isn't helping with keeping it in tune (depressing the bar takes it out of tune a bit) So new strings tomorrow and a little clean of the bridge and it should be ok hopefully.

There's a serial number on the neck heel reads 893018 and the stamp on the back of the headstock says F117110. Any ideas? Some ones installed a Dimarzio by the look of it. Not sure which one though but just by looks it might be a PAF or PAF pro.

That would suggest it's a '91 Japanese neck ? I bet the kinks are near the nut, poor setup job by GV !! Congrats !

[maliciousteve]

well I changed the strings today and I had a look in the neck pocket. The neck is stamped RG750 which to me seems as it's a replacement neck. The neck pocket is stamped H & S, which I'm guessing means it was originally a Humbucker, Single Coil set up instead of the 2 SC and HB that it is now. If that's true, the guy who installed the middle pickup done a very good job as the routing looks just as good as the others.

I've ordered two new locking pivots and I think a filing of one of the knife edges may be in order as there's a very tiny groove on the flat side. I just want to get this thing sorted asap. I'll post some more pictures tonight.

[TAorama]

H&S refers to the Hoshino USA shop, not the pickup routs. If you've got two serials on it, then it's a replacement neck, which certainly explains the missing "USA Custom" logo. It's an appropriate replacement, though, since the guitar's basically an RG700 series anyway.

[maliciousteve]

Here's some pictures





I've just bought a Edge trem in fairly good condition so I hopefully the tuning stability problems will vanish soon. Sounds and plays great, just the tuning stability letting it down.

[TheJazzTerminator]

That guitar is awesome! I've never played one, but when I was taking lessons years ago, when that guitar was in production, I remember walking into the music store (ironically the place where I teach now!) and being in awe of it. Nice to see it again!

[maliciousteve]

I got a new Edge trem on there now with some new locking trem posts. It seems to be staying in tune now but I'm expecting it to be little rocky till the strings are properly stretched. Liking the Paf Pro more and more too. Needs a pro set up due to some rattling at the 12ft fret on the G string but still plays, sounds and looks great.