nez RGXXV vs Laguna LE924

[smokeyman992]

I was looking for a guitar with a maple neck other than fenders and found the rg3XXV and the laguna le924(greg howe signature model) but i am not sure which one to get. i know that the laguna is 400 bucks more than the ibanez which cost around 600. the laguna looks kinda bigger though but it looks awesome specially in orange
Has anyone tried any of those? how are they?

links
ibanez.com/ElectricGuitars/model-RG3XXV

playlaguna.com/models/index.cfm?model=le924

[RGTFanatic]

Just in comparison of specs, I would pick the RG3xxv. It's NOT because I'm an Ibanez player, but rather, because on paper the RG3 is a better built guitar.

The RG3 neck is 3-piece rock maple- The 924 is one piece. The 3-piece will be more stable.

The bridge pickup in the RG3 is a real DiMarzio D-activator- The 924 has a laguna spec GH-5?? Probably made by DiMarzio but similar to the "DiMarzio/IBZ" pickups in quality and tone.

Both have an Air Norton S in the neck position

Both have liscensed trem's, but the EZII in the RG3 is proven to be stable and reliable. No unbiased, educated reviews of the Laguna bridge can be found......... The only review I could find that mentioned the laguna trem had the owner wanting to switch it out for a Schaller OFR.

The RG3 is FAR better looking IMO.

[smokeyman992]

and what about the RG920MQM?

[RGTFanatic]

Well, the premium is certainly the nicest looking guitar out of all of them. It's also quite a bit more in price than the RG3. All the extra money is centered in the Premium neck. The fret treatment is FAR better on the premium AND your getting a 5-piece with a volute and titanium reinforcement rods. I'm not sure if the RG3 has a volute, but I don't think it does.

You'll also be losing the DiMarzio's on the Premium. They come with the DiMarzio/IBZ pups that I mentioned above. Some people love them, but most change them out.

Is the extra couple hundred $$ worth it.......... IMO, yes for that neck!!!

[chrisgr]

I had the Laguna LE924 and it was a pretty good guitar but not worth the asking price. I got a good deal on it used, wouldn't have paid the new price. The guitar played well but the hardware was pretty cheap considering it sells for a grand new. No name tuners, pots, input jack, and floyd copy. For the money, the Charvel san dimas, so-cals, etc. were much better and they were priced the same but the Charvels had better componets. Never played the RG3. Might want to look at the new Jacksons or a used Jackson DK2M.

[RGTFanatic]

Originally Posted by chrisgr

I had the Laguna LE924 and it was a pretty good guitar but not worth the asking price. I got a good deal on it used, wouldn't have paid the new price. The guitar played well but the hardware was pretty cheap considering it sells for a grand new. No name tuners, pots, input jack, and floyd copy. For the money, the Charvel san dimas, so-cals, etc. were much better and they were priced the same but the Charvels had better componets. Never played the RG3.

Great point!! when you get into the near $1k area, there's a LOT more out there to consider over an artist sig Laguna, or even a Premium RG.

[JackButlerGOT]

GH5 is a real American made DiMarzio... Steve Blucher designed that for Greg Howe.

[racerevlon]

The RG3XX is an amazing guitar. I also recently picked up an S570MQMBBB. Can't go wrong with either. Extremely versatile!

[RGTFanatic]

Originally Posted by JackButlerGOT

GH5 is a real American made DiMarzio... Steve Blucher designed that for Greg Howe.

That's what I said:

Originally Posted by RGTFanatic

The bridge pickup in the RG3 is a real DiMarzio D-activator- The 924 has a laguna spec GH-5?? Probably made by DiMarzio but similar to the "DiMarzio/IBZ" pickups in quality and tone.

Both have an Air Norton S in the neck position

[JackButlerGOT]

ahhh.. see kids.. probably shouldn't be posting on post surgery pain meds! lol

[TheTranslator]

Originally Posted by smokeyman992

and what about the RG920MQM?

I have the RG920MQM and RG3XXV. As previously mentioned, the neck on the Premium is just as good, if not better, than most Prestige models. Tone-wise, they both sound killer in distortion mode, but the RG920MQM sounds considerably clearer in the clean channel. In clean mode, the RG3XXV sounds decent in positions 2, 3 and 4, but the pickups by themselves in full humbucker mode; especially the neck pickup, sound extremely muffled in comparison. So for an extra $300, the RG920MQM is well worth the cash, unless you're a Grunge/Punk player, whose idea of pristine clean, is rolling off the volume in heavy distortion mode


Disregard post. I was referring to the RG920QM with the rosewood fingerboard, not the RG920MQM with the maple fingerboard, which I don't have.

Maybe Rosewood sounds cleaner and smoother in the clean channel than Maple

[TheTranslator]

Originally Posted by smokeyman992

I was looking for a guitar with a maple neck other than fenders and found the rg3XXV and the laguna le924(greg howe signature model) but i am not sure which one to get. i know that the laguna is 400 bucks more than the ibanez which cost around 600. the laguna looks kinda bigger though but it looks awesome specially in orange
Has anyone tried any of those? how are they?

links
ibanez.com/ElectricGuitars/model-RG3XXV

playlaguna.com/models/index.cfm?model=le924

The RG3XXV sounds incredible with distortion (through a good amp), but the clean tone is questionable, to say the least.

[javelin]

Originally Posted by RGTFanatic

... because on paper the RG3 is a better built guitar.

Really? Proof?
The LE924 is assembled and set up in the USA, vs Ibanez in Indonesia.

The RG3 neck is 3-piece rock maple- The 924 is one piece. The 3-piece will be more stable.

Not really. One piece is rock solid, thats why Fender has been making them for over 60 years and they last!

The bridge pickup in the RG3 is a real DiMarzio D-activator- The 924 has a laguna spec GH-5?? Probably made by DiMarzio but similar to the "DiMarzio/IBZ" pickups in quality and tone.

The GH-5 is DiMarzio's Greg Howe signature pickup, better definition and clarity than a D-Activator.

Both have liscensed trem's, but the EZII in the RG3 is proven to be stable and reliable.

The Laguna Floyd is a Schaller - Germany made - and very a good trem, in fact the original Floyd is made by Schaller, and many think Schallers own version is the best version. The nez trem is good too of course.

No unbiased, educated reviews of the Laguna bridge can be found......... The only review I could find that mentioned the laguna trem had the owner wanting to switch it out for a Schaller OFR.

The fact that Greg Howe actually plays this everywhere is review enough for me. ;-)