How to tell if a neck is made in Japan?

GuitarEvan07 · #1 03-04-2008, 07:15 PM

Hey guys, I just bought an Ibanez RG neck from a guy here on the forum. The back of the neck is sanded down, along with the back of the headstock, so I don't know where it was made(cause I can't see the serial number). It was made in '97. Only way I know that is cause its stamped on the back of back of the neck(the part that connects to the body).

The reason I ask is because I know many of the RG series back then were made in Japan. Was this one? Also, I dont know what model it was.

FYI: It has grey shark tooth inlays. Rosewood fingerboard. Black headstock, says "RG series" on logo(obviously)

rty13ibz98 · #2 03-04-2008, 07:21 PM

does it feel like a wizard 1 or 2? since your thinking its a 97 and with sharksteeth on an rg, i would venture to say that it's a korean neck from a lower end dx model.

rich

albee1952 · #3 03-04-2008, 08:42 PM

Another tell is what holes are there for tuners. If each has 2 un-threaded holes and no offset screw hole, likely it had screw-less tuners which makes it probably Korean. If each tuner has a single offset screw hole, that means Gotoh tuners and probably Japanese. This is not 100% proof but applies to most RG's.

rty13ibz98 · #4 03-04-2008, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by albee1952

Another tell is what holes are there for tuners. If each has 2 un-threaded holes and no offset screw hole, likely it had screw-less tuners which makes it probably Korean. If each tuner has a single offset screw hole, that means Gotoh tuners and probably Japanese. This is not 100% proof but applies to most RG's.

good point!!

rich

TAorama · #5 03-05-2008, 10:01 AM

If it's date stamped on the back of the neck heel, it's probably NOT Japanese. I've seen a lot of Korean W2's stamped like that, but no original Wizards.

jkahrs · #6 03-05-2008, 12:28 PM

See what truss rod adjustment nut it has. I've never seen a Japanese model that didn't have the brass hex nut. All the others, korean, Indo, Chino, etc, I've worked on seem to have the allen head hex socket you use an allen wrench to adjust. --Jason

gpenguins · #7 03-06-2008, 10:27 AM

I think the tuner holes are the quickest way to tell, although possibly quicker is if the headstock logo is mirrored or not. From what I've seen, until the last couple of years, the Jap ones always had mirrored logos with "RG Series" and the Korean and Indo ones didn't. I think so anyway.