Recommendations wanted for a budget '70s/'80s metal/hard rock guitar

[Keen Anthony]

Hi everyone, I am looking for a backup guitar in the $300-$600 price range for playing '70s and '80s era heavy metal and hard rock. Judas Priest on the heavy end, RATT/Dokken on the light end.

I'm new to Ibanez in general, coming over from old Jacksons and Kramers. I am pretty sure I want an Edge Pro based MIK Ibanez, but for the moment I'm more interested in getting stock pickups that I can use. I don't want to do any upgrades right away. I haven't bought a new guitar in maybe ten years, so if there's another non-Ibanez that someone thinks I should check out, please feel free to suggest. Thanks.

[sirbrandon101]

I'd go for a rg470 or rg570 with an edge trem. the current line of guitars aren't really anything to shout about

[Lefty Robb]

Someone was/is selling a RG3120 here in the classifieds for $675, can't beat that...also check out the RG1570.

[supermau]

Schecter is worth checking out. A lot of bang for the buck. Otherwise, look for a good used MIJ Ibanez.

[Keen Anthony]

:-( At my price range, so far nothing Ibanez has really thrills me. Will all mid-level and budget Ibanez guitars with tremelos be Indonesian made, generally speaking? No real MIK or MIJ options for me without pushing a grand?

I've been glancing at Schecter a few times since seeing Billy Corgan perform with what looked like a C-1 Blackjack. I liked the sound he was getting out of it, but I really had a my heart set on an Ibanez until I can score an RFR RG550

[Lefty Robb]

RG1570's are in the $500 range in most music stores and 3bay all the time, worth checking out...and I'm pretty sure they are MIJ..

[Keen Anthony]

Yep, that's come up in a few other discussions I had regarding the RG550. Most likely I'll look up a 1570, 470, or 570 if not settle on something in the current RG tremolo line. My preference for MIJ/MIK and Edge/Edge Pro is about getting a consistent quality and a longer lifespan by the way.

[Lefty Robb]

well the 1570's have the volute which solves the biggest issue you would get with the 550's which is nut cracks, you also get a AANJ unless you get one of the later 550's. No matter which one you get you would probably change the pickups eventually anyways, but the ones they come with are not to bad to begin with.

[Dee]

Originally Posted by Lefty Robb

RG1570's are in the $500 range in most music stores and 3bay all the time, worth checking out...and I'm pretty sure they are MIJ..

They are indeed MIJ.

[TongueShredder]

Originally Posted by Lefty Robb

RG1570's are in the $500 range in most music stores and 3bay all the time, worth checking out...and I'm pretty sure they are MIJ..

+1. RG1570, a good choice....

[Ayrton]

There is a 1570 in the classifieds now...

[RG_FANMAN]

RG550 in DY or RFR?

[falkendrift]

If you're looking for Edge Pro, or Edge, skip the 470's unless you can find one from before 94, I believe. The older ones came with Edge's, but the later ones came with the Lo TRS, which isn't too good. It's not bad, but if you can find an Edge equipped guitar, then definitely go for that. I own a 98 470L, and I enjoy my TRS, but it's definitely showing signs of wear. I'm either switching to a Gotoh trem soon, or getting a custom built from a local guy here in Portland.

I would say:

550
560 - these can usually be had pretty cheap on the bay. I just missed out on a lefty that ended at $107. I'm SUPER pissed.
570
1570

[ken_r152]

If you don't mind the original Floyd Rose trems, you can also take a look at the RG270 and RG370. I have an RG270 and it's a nice guitar for it's price range. The PowerSound pickups are pretty good sounding.

[jim777]

If you don't want to toss 20% of your buying power away immediately then buy used, not new. Getting a new Korean Ibanez over a used Japanese one is just silly. $600 bucks buy a lot of guitar.