Why did Ibanez decrease high-end guitar models?

no1spretty · #1 08-06-2006, 05:08 AM

I was lookin at the ibanez army website and i noticed that most of the guitars they use are discontinued high-end guitars. All their main guitars are discontinued now actually. There are some guitars that are still in production but they dont use them as much
Is there any reason why Ibanez stopped making as many high-end guitars? I mean, the only ones available are the RGTs and RGAs now, and they dont even come with dimarzios. There are also the J customs but their availability is limited
Also, does anybody know if Ibanez is planning to release better guitars in the next few years?

pawel · #2 08-06-2006, 07:39 AM

If you lower your costs proportionally more than the prices you make more profit, as simple as that.

madpickin03 · #3 08-06-2006, 08:14 AM

or they dont actually communicate wisely with their customers and not giving them what they actually want

mi2tom · #4 08-06-2006, 08:39 AM

Prolly cos their lower ends are as good as their higher end? No, silly comment anyway

King Knall · #5 08-06-2006, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mi2tom

Prolly cos their lower ends are as good as their higher end? No, silly comment anyway

They're very good, but not 'as' good.

And what do you mean the only high-end ones are the RGTs and RGAs. What do you call the RG2620? A hunk of junk? And they DO come with Dimarzios, just not the usuals.

pawel · #6 08-06-2006, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madpickin03

or they dont actually communicate wisely with their customers and not giving them what they actually want

Or maybe they do

Ozzdoc · #7 08-06-2006, 12:18 PM

Ibanez is a buisness, plain simple. What do buisnesses want more then anything, MONEY.

How are they going to get more money? Make the gutiars made for cheaper, made with cheaper parts and then sale for even more.

JJEMMER777 · #8 08-06-2006, 12:57 PM

Why make something people cannot afford??

_allan · #9 08-06-2006, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamikaze_1

They're very good, but not 'as' good.

And what do you mean the only high-end ones are the RGTs and RGAs. What do you call the RG2620? A hunk of junk? And they DO come with Dimarzios, just not the usuals.

As an owner of an RG2620, i can confirm that it is great. Infact, i bought this over a jem, not only for the price tag but the fact that it looked incredible and played just as well. Throw in whatever pickups you want and huzzah you have yourself an incredible guitar for a very good price.

john1880 · #10 08-06-2006, 02:38 PM

what really bummed me out was the quality of the newer lower to medium end guitars. i bought a RG450dx i think it was, as a blem and i had it back in the box and returning it within an hour of receiving it. it sure looked pretty, but if felt like crap. the tremolo wasn't even in seated in the posts correctly. i fixed it and sent it back to the online store i got it from. this was an Indonesia made model.
i have not played the newer RG2550 and those models yet. actually, the only reason i am not interested is because i need a higher profile trem like the edge because i use a D-tuna and all the newer guitars have low profile trems.
i am also not a big fan of sparkle. a lot of the new finished are sparkle finishes. i'll stick with the 1990-2001 ibanez models.

no1spretty · #11 08-06-2006, 03:12 PM

Quote:

And what do you mean the only high-end ones are the RGTs and RGAs. What do you call the RG2620? A hunk of junk? And they DO come with Dimarzios, just not the usuals.

Ok sorry. forgot to mention the RG2620

But you still get the point. Im talking about the mahogany bodied, maple top prestiges they had before. Like the RG3270 or the 3170. Im not flaming any ibanez guitar now, but they need to offer more guitars to the non-japanese market

no1spretty · #12 08-06-2006, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madpickin03

or they dont actually communicate wisely with their customers and not giving them what they actually want

Well they actually do, but not all customers. Thats what im asking about. theyre making everything beginners and intermediates need. But when it comes to pro level, there arent many guitars to choose from, and not many options

fettouhi · #13 08-06-2006, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawel

Or maybe they do

Regards

André

bonehead189 · #14 08-06-2006, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by no1spretty

they need to offer more guitars to the non-japanese market

+1!

Demiurge · #15 08-06-2006, 08:34 PM

Ibanez does listen to their customers- the thousands of people who are buying up their black-finished, Korean-made budget guitars like hotcakes. The entry-level market is freaking huge right now.

That said, it would be nice for them to consider the corollary market consisting of people looking to graduate from their entry-level instruments, who are now looking for variety, precision, and sophistication in a higher-level instrument. Sadly, the guitar market is alot like health clubs, they're gunning for the beginner's money- the quick payoff- because most people who get into either usually don't follow through for that long.