New neon RGs - they're not popular enough

[bikeman]

Given that there are stores in the US with some RG20ths in stock right now, and also that people still seem to be taking orders for them, it looks like there is no real demand for a regular production run of neon RGs. Which is what I thought might be the case.

I guess these facts should stop the "Ibanez should re-release neons as they'd sell like hot cakes" threads here on Jemsite....

[Dee]

So how long do you think the stores will have them in stock? Given that they've only just come in, I think it's too early to tell whether or not they'll be popular. I think more importantly, the black one has barely sold any at all, according to the people I've spoken to. Doesn't that say more to you than the few neons that are currently in stock at various stores? What it says to me is the price is a little too high, regardless of the colour, because people can pick up an old one for hundreds of pounds/dollars less.

[Davey]

I hate to say I told you so but...

The people that complain for those colours (for the most part) aren't buying because they find other reasons than the colour not to buy, i.e. no AANJ, no Lo-Pro, etc.

Having said that, if they WERE available to not just the avid fans of Ibanez, it'd be interesting to say how many would sell these days.

[Dee]

Again, they'd need to price them right. Are you guys trying to say the RG550 wasn't / isn't a popular guitar? Pull the other one!

[bikeman]

Ibanez249:

But that's the point, they ARE available to "not just the avid fans of Ibanez". They're in stores, not pre-ordered, available for sale. They've been mentioned in NAMM summaries in the guitar mags (certainly in the UK at least) so people know they're out there.

Dee:

I'm not saying there's no demand at all - clearly the number of sales/pre-sales so far proves there is a market. There's clearly not a big enough market to reissue them in any great number though otherwise they'd be long gone...

[Dee]

I get your point, bikeman, I just still think it's too early to tell. Going on the 36,000+ thread views for the RG 20th thread that you started and the 152,754 views on the official Ibanez forum thread, I think the response has been astonishing! It's actually surpassed my expectations.

You know what? I'm getting one, so I don't give a crap anyway! Woo hooo!

[falkendrift]

If they had re-issued a certain amount in lefty, I would have ordered a DY right away. I would have gladly paid about a 1000-1100 for one, since the 1570L comes in at just under 900 nowadays.

[Davey]

Well as far as I see, only the avid guys are the ones that knew the RG20th was coming out.

When Johnny Roadhouse (for those that don't it, it's a big shop in Manchester where Oasis used to buy their gear) doesn't know they're being released then your average Joe isn't going to know.

[Davey]

That is, until there is a store full of black ones because the hardcore fans snapped up all the neons

[Dee]

I spoke to a few people about the RG's and told them they were being re-released as a ltd edition anniversary model, and they had no clue. They were like "you're kidding!? That's great!". Lots of people still don't know about them.

[Davey]

Exactly.

[Batchimp RG]

I think it's the reissue thing, not the colours.

As Dee said the black one is the least popular...It's not the actual colours it's the whole package. I like DY but not with a black pickguard and black pickups etc etc, that and the higher price makes me shop around for other RGs....like I have actually recently done.

Put all the modern Ibanez touches on a DY and RFR and I'm sure they'd sell.

My 2 pence anyway.

[toneboy]

- I like guitars with neon colors.
- I like guitars with maple fingerboards
- I dislike guitars with trems.

2 out of 3 ain't bad but it ain't a sale either.

[Dee]

Does anyone else agree that the price is a major factor?

EDIT: Oops, I posted without refreshing the page and reading Chimp's post. So yeah, price definitely comes into it. The UK price in particular is stupid!

[Davey]

Oh yeah, change the $ for a £