looking at buying an RG470 but need advice

ahowlingson · #1 09-13-2008, 07:41 PM

Hi, well, first post. Nice site - very informative. I suppose this is more an opinion gathering excercise but I realise there are lots of you that know WAY more than me when it comes to Ibanez guitars...........I have the chance of picking up an RG470. The shop actually has 2.

1) is made in Japan, coppertone (?), V7 and V8 pickups + a single coil. Lo-TRS trem - perfect condition. Not sure if it's a wizard or a wizard 2? price (cash) is $389

2) is made in korea, blue (yuk), inf pickups, lo trs - perfect nick but used. also has gigbag. price - again cash - $219

is there anything i should be aware of in making this decision? both guitars are set up terribly (i do all that stuff myself) and i will most likely swap out pickups for dimarzios.......so. what do you guys think?

LonePhantom · #2 09-13-2008, 09:12 PM

Go for the MIJ one, but you should be able to get the price down a little. $300 would probably be a great price. LO-TRS is far better than the LO-TRS II, longevity wise.

callen3615 · #3 09-13-2008, 09:47 PM

my first ibby was a 470 mik with a trs. its a great guitar wish i still had it. for alittle more you could save and get a 550. <- i wish i would have done that. you just get so much more with a 5xx or 7xx series

Clonetool · #4 09-14-2008, 12:01 AM

I bought my sparkle apple 570 for 350 so I think you can do better and wait for a nice 550 or 570 to come around.

ahowlingson · #5 09-14-2008, 02:08 AM

thanks for all the responses so far......i was also thinking that 389 was too much for the MiJ 470. He has had it a looong time (ie, it's new!). I don't think he would go any lower than that though. BTW, it's the same trem on both guitars - the Lo TRS.

LonePhantom · #6 09-14-2008, 07:45 AM

as I said LO-TRS is better than LO-TRS II - they are different.

callen3615 · #7 09-14-2008, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clonetool

I bought my sparkle apple 570 for 350 so I think you can do better and wait for a nice 550 or 570 to come around.

see i payed 390 for my 470.

i wish i would have waited

Clonetool · #8 09-14-2008, 05:25 PM

There is a story the first try I was told by customshopguitars.com they had a 570 for 300. I sent them the money via paypal and got a 470. After being called a liar, jerk, a-hole etc. when I wanted a refund I finally got my money back. Good times...good times.

vultures · #9 09-14-2008, 05:39 PM

Love my 470, traded an Epi LP for it and never regretted it. Came with a Tremol-No! Go for the MIJ one, V7 & V8's sound more bearable than INF's, atleast to me! If you do pick one up and look for new pickups try out a Dimarzio X2N.

Clonetool · #10 09-14-2008, 07:43 PM

The edge trem and thin neck is the big selling point.

ahowlingson · #11 09-17-2008, 02:09 AM

So if there is one thing I HATE it's people who ask advice and then, don't follow it.....so I apologize in advance for this post.
I ended up going for the Korean 470. It was $190 and then $20 for a gigbag. I stuck an air norton in the neck and a tonezone in the bridge - i had those lying around from another guitar....(not sure on the tonezone - the wiring was weird on the Ibanez 5 way though so i could have messed up). I then went and bought an OFR which dropped right in as nice as pie. All i can say is - HOLY COW! it plays incredibly well. stays in tune. sounds great (i think i prefer the evo bridge in my other rg though). I figured it cost $360 for the guitar when all is said and done which seems reasonable. i actually prefer the wizard II neck (i know, i know) so i wasn't too bothered about the 550.......it seriously is a very nice guitar to play.
thanks for all the opinions and advice!
oh, i think i'm going to get the other one as well :-)

callen3615 · #12 09-17-2008, 05:55 PM

good for you. im in the process of putting an edge pro in my 320. i did what u did and got dimarzios. evo2 and paf pro. i play it all the time now

ahowlingson · #13 09-18-2008, 01:25 AM

one more question.....the other RG470 that I am looking at picking up tomorrow is a new (well, a few years old but it was never sold) copper finish one, made in Japan: does anyone know if I bought it NEW back when they first got it in, would it come with a hard case?