What ibanez????

6StringGod · #1 05-21-2003, 09:41 PM

I'm looking to get an ibanez guitar... I was looking into the RG570. How is this guitar with changed pickups? What are some Jems that might are good? Should I go for neck-through or bolt-on? Is there much difference? I play 80's metal and Prog rock like Dream theater. I don't want to spend too much money. The rg570 is $300 used. $300-600 used is good, but i can go over if i need to. Thanks

6StringGod · #2 05-21-2003, 10:22 PM

anyone?

Petie · #3 05-21-2003, 11:36 PM

The RG570 is perfect for prog stuff. You may eventually want to change the pickups (I quite like 'em though), and if so, just remember Petrucci used a Dimarzio Air Norton neck pickup and Steve's Special bridge pickup.
I would say go for a bolt-on, that way if you ever damage the neck you haven't ruined the entire guitar.

6StringGod · #4 05-21-2003, 11:44 PM

Is the rg570 a good guitar? can you pull up on the edge tremelo? Is that as good as the lo pro? Are the Jems a lot better? Are the neck-throughs that much easier to reach the upper frets? Do they sustain longer? Oh yeah I was reading a topic about the different tones on guitars with 24 frets because of the different location of the neck pickup. Is this how it is on the rg570?

About the pickups.. how does the Air norton in the neck sound compared to the PAF pro? How does the Tone zone sound compared to the steve's special in the bridge?

Petie · #5 05-22-2003, 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6StringGod

Is the rg570 a good guitar? can you pull up on the edge tremelo? Is that as good as the lo pro? Are the Jems a lot better? Are the neck-throughs that much easier to reach the upper frets? Do they sustain longer? Oh yeah I was reading a topic about the different tones on guitars with 24 frets because of the different location of the neck pickup. Is this how it is on the rg570?

About the pickups.. how does the Air norton in the neck sound compared to the PAF pro? How does the Tone zone sound compared to the steve's special in the bridge?

Well that's a lot of questions... Let's see...
The RG570 is basically top of the line for Ibanez before you get to the very expensive signature and prestige models.
You can pull up on the Edge, probably further than you'd ever need to go. The differences between the Edge and the Lo Pro are related to how the strings slot in, not overall performance, and they basically feel and perform exactly the same (though the Lo Pro is a little less intrusive to palm muting, not that the Edge really gets in the way...)
The differences between a Jem and an RG570 with a good set-up are subtle and if you're not dying to have a Jem, don't feel pressured into buying one.
RG570s from the early 90s onwards have the All Access Neck Joint (AANJ), which will give you all the upper fret access you'll ever need.
Neck-throughs may have a little more sustain and less dead spots on the neck, but have a lot of hidden negatives, especially over time.
The difference in tone due to neck pickup placement is pretty nebulous - if you look at a Strat neck pickup and compare it to an RG, there really isn't much difference, as the strat has almost an inch of space between the end of the fretboard and the pickup, while the RG has the pickup placed right against the fretboard.

Air Norton is more flute-like than the PAF Pro.
Tone Zone has a lot of midrange, Steve's Special doesn't.

6StringGod · #6 05-22-2003, 12:36 AM

I don't think I'd really be able to tell the difference between the rg570 and the Jem except buzzing wise and sound wise. I heard the Rg570 with such a flat neck isn't good for bending. Is this true? I know its a shredder, but I love to bend. Is the rg570 better quality then the jem 555 (except for the bridge which is bad on the 555)?

Oh on the steve's special the mids aren't cut are they? I like mids but the tonezone seems like it might be too much.

Thanks for the help!

Petie · #7 05-22-2003, 12:47 AM

There is a slight radius to the fretboard. Much easier to bend than a Jackson or BC Rich. The neck itself is pretty thin but a lot of people find it gives them better bending control, since it makes you tend to use your fingertips more.

Generally the 570 is better quality than the 555, as the 570 is made in Japan where parts and quality control are of a higher standard compared to Korea, where the 555 is made. The Korean stuff really seems to have improved in the last year or two, but you'll have a hard time finding a new 555 (with the new and vastly improved Edge Pro trem) outside of Europe.

6StringGod · #8 05-22-2003, 12:54 AM

So you think the edge pro is better then the oiginal edge trem (on the 570)? Is there better electronics in the jems? Would changing the electronics (pots etc.) be a good idea in the rg570?

Petie · #9 05-22-2003, 12:59 AM

I should also mention that Jems and RGs (and probably other Ibanez models but I only have RGs - four of them) have a little capacitor on the volume knob which allows you to retain the high end tones when you lower the volume, which, when combined with the single coil pickup selections, gives you a great old school Stones tone. I played through some guy's metal-oriented Mesa Boogie setup a few weeks ago and when I rolled back the volume knob on my guitar he thought I'd switched to the clean channel. For an example of this, check out Steve Vai's "Tender Surrender," where he uses the volume control and pickup switch on his guitar to get three very distinct tones, and distortion levels, through the same amp sound.

6StringGod · #10 05-22-2003, 01:05 AM

Wow that's pretty cool. I may do a Bridge ON push/pull volume pot so i can get the bridge and neck together. What do you think about doing a split neck pickup or it isn't needed?

Petie · #11 05-22-2003, 01:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6StringGod

So you think the edge pro is better then the oiginal edge trem (on the 570)? Is there better electronics in the jems? Would changing the electronics (pots etc.) be a good idea in the rg570?

The new Edge Pro II is an improvement on the LO TRS II, which is the trem they used to use on Korean-made guitars. The LO TRS II is basically a cheap, less intricately-made version of the Lo Pro Edge.

I'd hold out on getting a 2003 Ibanez with an Edge Pro or Edge Pro II (the version on the Korean guitars) until they listen to consumer demand and reinstate the locking trem studs that were part of the Edge and Lo Pro Edge's success. (for more information, check out the setup page on Ibanezrules.com, a link at the top of this page).

As for the electronics, I don't think there's much difference. The 570 is a professional-quality guitar, not some cheapie little beater.

6StringGod · #12 05-22-2003, 01:12 AM

I may do a Bridge ON push/pull volume pot so i can get the bridge and neck together. What do you think about doing a split neck pickup or it isn't needed?

Petie · #13 05-22-2003, 01:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6StringGod

Wow that's pretty cool. I may do a Bridge ON push/pull volume pot so i can get the bridge and neck together. What do you think about doing a split neck pickup or it isn't needed?

That sounds like a cool idea but I have two RGs with just a neck and bridge humbucker, and two with the middle pickup, and the pickup combinations which use the middle pickup sound more focused. You can use the second position for a crystal-clear rhythm sound (like in Tender Surrender), or the fourth for a sharper, funkier tone. It also sounds great when you turn the tone control all the way down while in position two, like it's on the verge of feedback, very Reeves Gabrels.

The switching on a 570 goes:
1. Neck humbucker
2. One coil of the neck humbucker + middle single coil
3. Middle single coil
4. One coil of the bridge humbucker + middle single coil
5. Bridge humbucker.

6StringGod · #14 05-22-2003, 01:22 AM

you think a split neck pickup only for cleans would useful or not on this type of guitar? I'm having trouble deciding on the PAF pro and air norton .. can you give me a little more detailed explanation on the sounds? Thank you again.

6StringGod · #15 05-22-2003, 01:35 AM

What position is Vai on in the begging of tender surrender? I like it. Would the pickups I'm choosing come close? What does he use? evolution and breed or something?

edit: does the pickup selector make noise at all?