Japanese RG370 - now I'm confused

Petie · #1 08-02-2003, 11:34 AM

Finally, after ten years, I worked up the confidence to pop the neck off my first RG, a lovely Jewel Blue Japanese dealie with an original chrome Edge trem, and the old block style neck joint (minus the crescent moon carve you often see).

To my surprise, the stamp on the neck and in the pocket reveal it's an RG370. It's definitely Japanese (Edge trem, "Japan" on the serial number and Ibanez MADE IN JAPAN on the neck plate). The serial number is F311403 which would lead me to believe it's a 93 (I got it in December of that year). It has a Wizard neck (shockingly thin). I didn't realise RG3XX's were ever made in Japan. Were they whacking these together to clear out old parts (non-AANJ necks and bodies, and Edge trems which were generally being replaced with Lo Pros) or something? If anyone has any info on this model's Japanese incarnation it would be greatly appreciated.

Ibanez Junkie · #2 08-02-2003, 11:48 AM

maybe it's somekind of a deluxe model or smth'?
or a special edition..

Petie · #3 08-02-2003, 01:53 PM

I've never seen this particular version outside Australia so maybe it had something to do with the local distributor. A guy on a TV chat show played one exactly the same in about 94. It'd probably make more sense if it was an RG570 from 1989!

ScottB · #4 08-02-2003, 02:08 PM

Do you have any pics? Especially of the neck pocket stamp and input jack. Sometimes the stamped numbers are a little smeared and the 3XX could be a 5XX. The input jack will also clear up any confusion. The 5XX series and above use the round input jacks, which are set directly into the edge of the body. The 4XX models and lower, use various plate mounted jacks. Some of the mounting plates are plastic and some are metal.

5XX or above jack:

An example of a plate mounted jack:

Petie · #5 08-02-2003, 08:30 PM

It has a square black plastic plate for the input jack. The stamp is clear, in fact this particular neck pocket stamp is the cleanest one I've ever seen.

LucasKotzen · #6 08-02-2003, 10:25 PM

I know a guy that has a japanese made RG350 too. I've seen it. It has a F00xxx... serial and a "Made in Japan" just below it. He even argued with me because I didn't believe him. Told him his serial started with a C. IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT, JEMSITERS!

wilch · #7 08-03-2003, 07:52 AM

now I'm confused!

Seeing as it has an edge it has to be a Japanese model. The Korean made bodies were never routed for Edge's or Lo-pro's.

hmm...I betcha some dude that use to work/works on the assembly line putting stamps in the neck pockets of the guitars is having a good old giggle right now.

(visualise)
Little Japanese dude standing at a conveyour belt with a rubber stamp, stamping each neck pocket as every ibanez RG guitar body goes by.

Thought bubble appears, "hmmm...I'll change this 5 to a 3!! That'll teach them for making me do this monotonous job. No one will ever realise! Well....not until it's too LATE!! Mwaahahahahahaha!!

"
(/visualise)

hehehe

wil..