What's this RG?

[esmo]

I recently acquired an interesting RG, but don't really have a clue as to which model it is. The shop had it tagged as a RG620 - could be right, could be wrong. According to the serial number it's from the year 2000, made in Japan, and probably a Japan-only model. Other specs include:

- H-H pickup configuration. The guitar now has active EMGs, but they don't seem factory-installed. There are currently volume and tone pots with two on/off switches for the pickups, looks like there never was a 5-way switch installed.
- A flamed maple top with red finish. There's a slight burst on the top, and the entire back of the neck is also lacquered red. Not the greatest flame top I've seen, but not horrible.
- A creme binding on the body, neck and headstock.
- Original Edge bridge. The hardware is cosmo black, I think.
- Rosewood fingerboard, fret markers are dots (that seem to be slightly larger than usual on Ibanezes).

I don't have pictures right now, but will post some as soon as I get around to taking them. I'll accept any input in the meanwhile! I'm guessing a 2000 Japanese catalog would give me the answer, but can't seem to find any online...

[IbanezDaemon]

Could be an RG620qm. Probably would have a Lo Pro Edge on it. I know some of the models came with the V7 and V8 pickups so I'm assuming that the EMG's aren't the original pups. Pics would be a great help if you can post some.

[esmo]

Here's some pics, not great quality, but probably should have posted them to begin with.

Thanks for the guess, but it's not a 620QM, partly because it's not a quilt but a flame top and other features don't really match either. I think they used to make them with Edges too, though.

[jkahrs]

I've never seen one like it. Take the neck off and see if stamped on the butt of the neck or neck pocket. That's going to be the best way to know for sure what you have. It's a nice piece no matter what model it is! --Jason

[Agent540]

don't know !

but a good quality FM RG ! sure !

looks to be customed - the switches /;

[eviltwin]

interesting set of features:

stained three piece neck (maple bubinga)
bound neck+body
EMGs /w mounting rings

also the AANJ is decidedly J-Custom like. (but the pics could be fooling me)

As for the flametop, it could be a photoflame/gravure (basically a picture of a nice flametop on paper, laminated onto an alder or basswood body), covered up by the body binding. Very hard to tell on pics.

Most of it looks too professional to be aftermarket, perhaps it was a small series to spec by one of the large Japanese music chains? There are plenty of examples of those types of "weird" Ibanezzes.

[jazzedout]

Also the switching system although strange, seems to be from the factory...

[IbanezDaemon]

It may be worth having a trawl through the catalogs on Ibanez Rules.

[esmo]

Thanks for the comments! I did mean to look for the model number in the neck joint, but forgot about it when doing setup for the guitar - which was pretty off when I got it, but now plays very well indeed.

The EMGs are quite definitely aftermarket, as is probably the switching. I'm thinking of installing a 3-way switch and maybe keeping the other 2-way as a killswitch. Maybe.

I'm not an expert by any means, but I'm guessing the flame is a veneer top. I'm pretty sure the body itself is mahogany. I'll have to take a closer look at the AANJ, although the only J-Custom I have for reference is a neck-through. The build quality as far as the neck, fret dressing etc. seem excellent (better than prestiges in general), although the top and binding aren't the best I've ever seen, which is not a big deal for me.

So yeah, it's probably a Japan-only model or part of a smaller run for a reseller. Still no luck finding Japanese catalogues...