Ibanez EX models

JM5150 · #1 08-21-2005, 01:39 PM

A blast from the recent past, I believe EX model guitars were an "inexpesive" companion to the RG models in the 1990s (woods, hardware, and pickups were not as good). What I'm wondering is, are they good enough to pick up, switch out the electronics, maybe upgrade hardware?

Always looking for a project!

giannifive · #2 08-21-2005, 04:35 PM

I'd say no way. I had one. The body was plywood, and the neck developed a kink which could not be fixed with a fret level (it was a really big kink) and required uncomfortably high action to eliminate dead spots. Also, the nut was junk, and bound a lot, leading to tuning problems (it was fixed bridge).

-John

JM5150 · #3 08-21-2005, 04:47 PM

Good to know. Thanks!

fuze · #4 08-23-2005, 04:19 PM

JM,

According to the catalogs they were solid wood:
http://www.ibanezrules.com/catalogs/us/1993/ex_3.jpg

When Ibanez first started making RGs in Korea, they didn't want to put the RG name on them in case they ended up being crap. EX stood for "experimental", As korean manufacturing got better, so did the EX models. Most were bargain models, but there were some high end ones, like the EX3700. -from "Ibanez, the Untold Story"

They phased out the EX series in '94, and started using the RG name on the Korean models as well as the MIJ ones.

-Fuze

marianozz · #5 08-23-2005, 04:33 PM

Weird, seeing as those EXs have 24 frets and RXs have 22... theyre very different axes

from the 1st part of your post, i was expecting a "they were replaced by MIK RGs later on", not "replaced by RX"...

weird!

giannifive · #6 08-23-2005, 04:50 PM

Sorry, I should have been more specific. I had an EX120, which is close to the bottom of the line for the EX series. It was definitely plywood, though. I took it apart and in the neck pocket, trem cavity, etc., I could see clear layers of pressed wood. It was a total piece of junk.

The solid wood ones are probably better. My guess is that the quality of the earliest Korean models is not very consistent, though. If I were you I'd play first before buying.

My $0.02...

giannifive · #7 08-23-2005, 04:54 PM

The catalog for my year claims it was Basswood. It doesn't say "solid", though, so maybe it's a PR euphemism for "plywood made up of parts of basswood".

fuze · #8 08-23-2005, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marianozz

Weird, seeing as those EXs have 24 frets and RXs have 22... theyre very different axes

from the 1st part of your post, i was expecting a "they were replaced by MIK RGs later on", not "replaced by RX"...

weird!

You're absolutely right. I actually caught it and corrected myself right after I posted it. But you got in there too quick!

fuze · #9 08-23-2005, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by giannifive

The catalog for my year claims it was Basswood. It doesn't say "solid", though, so maybe it's a PR euphemism for "plywood made up of parts of basswood".

The 92 and 93 catalogs says the 160 and 170 are "made of solid maple, not plywood". I don't see any mention of an EX120 though.

marianozz · #10 08-23-2005, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fuze

You're absolutely right. I actually caught it and corrected myself right after I posted it. But you got in there too quick!

heh, great... that was pretty confusing!

I gotta get my hands on the Ibanez book sometime...

guitarshredder7 · #11 08-23-2005, 06:06 PM

nah i dont think so

giannifive · #12 08-23-2005, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fuze

The 92 and 93 catalogs says the 160 and 170 are "made of solid maple, not plywood". I don't see any mention of an EX120 though.

Look at the 89, 90, and 91 catalogs, where they're listed as "basswood". Maybe 92 was the first year they were solid wood?

damo7v · #13 08-23-2005, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by giannifive

Look at the 89, 90, and 91 catalogs, where they're listed as "basswood". Maybe 92 was the first year they were solid wood?

basswood isn't solid?

giannifive · #14 08-23-2005, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by damo7v

basswood isn't solid?

read the whole thread.

fuze · #15 08-23-2005, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by giannifive

Look at the 89, 90, and 91 catalogs, where they're listed as "basswood". Maybe 92 was the first year they were solid wood?

Oh yeah! You can tell Ibanez didn't have much faith in these, they're really hidden in the back of the catalog

That's pretty cheezy not mentioning the laminated construction. It was a bad move, and they're very clear to call out "solid" construction in the '92 & '93.

Also, notice that the 89-91 EX have 22 frets.