RGxxxR - what does the R mean?

[AMH82]

I have recently purchased an RG270R (I know it's pretty lowly ) I was told that the R meant reverse headstock but mine doesn't have a reverse headstock (tuners are on LHS as you look at it face on) so what does it actually mean?

[Jaden]

yea, good question mate !!!
I have a 1991 RG450R and wanted to know the same !!!

[eviltwin]

RGRxxx refers to a reverse headstock, *not* RGxxxR.

The letters after the numbers usually refer to finishes
IE RB (Royal Blue) or JB (Jewel Blue)

but in some cases there is first a code for materials or appointments:
IE VWH (Vine+WHite) PBK (Pyramids+Black)
or FAWN (Flamed Ash+Walnut)
or DXGSV (Deluxe+Green Silver)
or XTLB (Double Edge+Transparent Light Blue)

or if you are very lucky something like DNA (duh) or HAM (Hoshino Anniversary Model )

loads of possibilities...but most of those won't be available on a 270

I happen to have thew 2001 and 2005 brochures here and no RG270R in those, there is however an RG270B (in JB or BKN) the B refers to Basswood. An educated guess: but presumably because there is/was also an RG270R in Agathis or Luthite (Resin not wood)

[AMH82]

So are we suggesting that my RG270R is in fact made out of cheaper agathis and not basswood ?? It's deep red in colour so I suppose the R could mean the colour, but most Ibanez paint codes are two letter codes.

[eviltwin]

well, there is RR: Ruby Red

as for 1991 there was RD (Red) and RR.

I don't know about the 450, but the 550 came in R and M,

you guesed it: Rosewood or Maple fretboard


btw I rechecked the RGR bit, but they didn't actually appear like that in the brochure. The reverse headstock RG565 is referred to as plain RG565 *not* RGR565

[psychoshredder]

Originally Posted by eviltwin

I happen to have thew 2001 and 2005 brochures here and no RG270R in those, there is however an RG270B (in JB or BKN) the B refers to Basswood. An educated guess: but presumably because there is/was also an RG270R in Agathis or Luthite (Resin not wood)

I don't think so dude, as per my 97 asian catalogue, RG270B made out of resoncast, not basswood.

[mi2tom]

Rock Guitar 370 Reverse

[NormalPerson]

y cant ibanez be like everyone else so u dont have to be a codebreaker to know wot colour ur guitar is

[xspace]

Yeah Rev. headstock...

[eviltwin]

Originally Posted by psychoshredder

I don't think so dude, as per my 97 asian catalogue, RG270B made out of resoncast, not basswood.

Adding to more confusion, no doubt...I was referring to the 2005 GRG270B.

There is no RG270B in my 1997 brochure though, just an RG270 and it's basswood! The RG170 is Agatis.

[vmx23]

Originally Posted by mi2tom

Rock Guitar 370 Reverse

A reverse headstock code is RGR not RGxxxR

[eviltwin]

doesn't anybody actually read before they post

[toshiro]

The RG270 used to come with a maple board. When they switch to rosewood they probably added the -R.

More recent Reverse headstock models have the RGR prefix, examples of this are the RGR1220, RGR580, and RGRT42(the last being a neckthrough, hence the T) all Japanese market models of course.

[AMH82]

Thanks toshiro, mine does indeed have a rosewood fretboard so this must be what it is.
Mine is a '97 RG270R, would this made from basswood or resincast?