Mr. Hosono.........

[NickCormier]

Originally Posted by jono

Of course there's just as many of us who believe that a bolt on is superior to a neck through. Espcially in terms of presence and attack, both of which are critical to downtuned playing.

Ibanez offers this and thus retains its position as the alternative to the stodgy, muddy neckthrough sounds offered by some other brands !!!

But uh Ibanez already has all the bolt ons to survive a millenium, yet basically No Neckthrus.. Your only options even as a 6 string is like.. RGT, Xiphos and VBlades(both made this year, so going in right direction).. where as you have what, 200+ bolt on models? how fair is that. I know a good ammount of thinking what guitar I wanna buy, in terms of playability, stability and tone, come down to bolt on and neckthru models, and unfortunately because of that, I have about 2-3 ibanez's to choose from, where as tons from other companies (basically everything from other companies is neckthru, which sell more than Ibanez, so they must be doing something right.. and people are buying.)

Or at least Set-neck with a good joint.. like the SZ's

[Drow Swordsman]

Originally Posted by Dee

That rosewood is simply dry. I have seen many guitars, not just Ibanez, that have fretboards as dry as a desert! A JEM should never come like this from new, in fact no guitar should. The solution is Fret Doctor. It doesn't "darken" the rosewood, but rather it restores the natural colour. Eventually any rosewood board will dry up and turn a lighter shade if not kept in the right conditions and oiled occasionally. Forget lemon oil, though, Fret Doctor, or at least good quality bore oil is where it's at.

Read it: http://www.beafifer.com/boredoctor.htm


Before:



After:

I think you're right Dee, I've always meant to give that stuff a try. However I wish Ibanez could somehow do that in the process when building the guitar so when it is received at the stores some nice bore oil is already in it to preserve the wood. That's a little unrealistic of course of me to somehow expect that but it sure would be nice.

[Dee]

I don't think it's unrealistic, actually. It takes just a few minutes to apply and makes a huge difference to the look of the guitar, plus of course it preserves it and makes cracking of the wood much less likely to happen. I used it on my RG3120 and my ancient RG750, and both fretboards ended up looking not too unlike ebony. Only need to apply it a couple of times a year, too. A small bottle of FD lasts a heck of a long time if you only use it on fretboards. Give it a try mate. If you haven't oiled the fretboards on your guitars you'll wonder how you ever managed without it.

[nikt]

I wanted to throw mu 2cents into this thread as I am also a 7string guitar player and long time Ibanez fan.


Mr. Tak
If You look closely to the production list of all 7strings ever produced ,You will see that all were bolt-ons and there was not many (only 2 models S7420 in two finish options and S7320) that weren't RG series guitars... maybe AF series but this is not solidbody model.

I much appreciate Ibanez input into 7string development and bringing back S7 series that I see is becoming more and more popular.

I don't think that there is a small market for a 7string guitars! Ibanez is just not a leader in production of them any more. Ibanez guitars are very popular as a secound hand guitars but Schecter beats the offer as it goes to new models. Floyd,TOM,Set neck,maple boards, baritones,various body shapes to choose from. Every year a new model.

I'm NOT asking here about some dream "custom look a like" guitars or extream shaped like Xiphos (it would be sweet to see it ) I just think that introducing a neck thru model of a 7string (S,RG,RGA... whatever to come) would be a big step ahead and for sure many of todays Ibanez players would buy it. The same goes to RGA7 fixed bridge.

I have a complain to Ibanez and I'm a little scared to see one thing!!!

The 8string model was introduced and it's still not availible. Many peoples (me included) are waiting so see any "first hand revews" from users. It's almost half of year and there is nothing about it. I just don't want to see that Ibanez will end production of this model because it was small market for it..... there are people waiting for this guitar and nowhere to buy it


thanks Tak for Your time and hope that we will see some RGA or RGTs next year,and then discuss about some maple boards

kind regards
Przemek Polek

[eelblack2]

Well said Nikt I agree on all counts.

[ken]

I have played Ibanez 7 strings for almost 15 years now. I have owned every Universe model except the UV777GR. I have even owned the RG7CST and 2027 models.

Mr. Hosono, the only ibanez 7 strings that have stayed in my possession are my 7620s (and I own no other brand). I think the current lineup is fine, but I really think Ibanez is missing out on the piezo market. I suggest offering the 1527 with a piezo option. Outside of that, I believe Ibanez makes the best 7 strings for the money.

Thank you for taking the time to listen (or read, as it were).

[Ranz 777]

Mr. Hosono.....
I myself appologize for not responding very quickly. I had no idea that you had responded to me. Now I look........and the thread is three pages long.
I would just very much like to see a few more variations of the Universe series available. Ultimatley it would be awesome to have a 7 string version of all the Jems available upon request.........but I realize that just isnt very cost effective for anyone.........Ibanez or us. I dont do market research, so it would be foolish of me to even attempt to counterpoint you on a 7 string market. It just seems like through all the custom builders, and all the guitarist popping up out there.........the market is growing. I also realize that there are plenty of manufacturers out there with "their" version of a seven string. But as I have overly stated time & time again............I wont play anything other then Ibanez and/or custom Ibanez guitars.
I extremely appreciate you answering my post sir.........I know your time is very valuble. I dunno..........just, at the next board meeting........throw it out there on the table to offer up a few more UV's. Perhaps it would open up the market just that much more

Ranz

[nuno]

Originally Posted by Ranz 777

I would just very much like to see a few more variations of the Universe series available. [...] at the next board meeting throw it out there on the table to offer up a few more UV's.

Mr.Vai does NOT use the UV anymore since about 1992. it's 2007 now, and to have a UV still in production is even too much. the idea for any variations on it it's just ridiculous.

[zEr0]

I'd simply would like to say +1 on the maple board (even better if ebony is possible). Neckthrough's would be interesting but I'm not that crazy on that either.

I also personally love the extended scale of my 2077 since I always felt 25.5" just isn't enough to keep the lower strings clear sounding. Specialy since I don't like bright sounding pick-ups and I prefer warmer mics.

THX for listening Mr. Hosono

[Ranz 777]

Originally Posted by nuno

Mr.Vai does NOT use the UV anymore since about 1992. it's 2007 now, and to have a UV still in production is even too much. the idea for any variations on it it's just ridiculous.

Who cares what Vai is playing? And why is it ridiculous to want more options from your favorite tools?
I realize because of Vai's design & endorsment, Ibanez probably is what it is today, but, Vai's pocket book "isnt" whats keeping them going.
Im just as picky about my tools as anyone else..........famous or not. I prefer UV's over RG's anyday...........I love the tonal quality alot more. Why should I have to be limited to a black one with white binding and a pyramid on the body? "That" to me is ridiculous!

[Eco]

I think what he's getting at is people who like Vai but dont know the guitars that well are being fobbed off on stuff his name is selling to get the Vai sound, when he's not even using them

But the 7 string market seems limited enough lately without losing the UV.

[nuno]

Originally Posted by Ranz 777

Who cares what Vai is playing? And why is it ridiculous to want more options from your favorite tools?

it's not about your fave guitar, it's about something that's not being endorsed anymore 15 years now or so. otherwise there would be still the LNG, the SK, the RB and all of his early JEMs. this post must keep "on earth" with realistic ideas and input, not the sole boring "dream's guitar" post. stop dreaming and keep grounded, guys, Tak has no time to loose, and it's a bless to have the man listening to us.

Originally Posted by Ranz 777

Why should I have to be limited to a black one with white binding and a pyramid on the body?

because Ibanez... doesn't do otherwise!

[Petie]

The following is from a sales perspective, not a "what I'd like to see" perspective.

In terms of what can be done to make the current line-up of 7 strings better, I have seen many teenagers come into the store where I work asking if there are 7 strings below $1000 (Australian dollars). No such guitars exist, so the kids often give up on their 7 string dreams and end up buying an Epiphone Les Paul and tuning it down instead.

If a Korean/Indonesian 7 string could be manufactured with a locking trem, I think it would fill a hole in the market and lead to more sales and more popularity for 7 strings in general.

I won't suggest specs/colours etc because that's not really what I'm talking about. I just think Ibanez could open up a new market segment for itself by releasing a budget 7 string RG.

The new fixed bridge Apex is a good start, as is the new 7 string S series, but that's still a little too expensive for the potential buyers I see at the store. And the RG7321 has no locking trem, which is a big deal to a lot of kids today.

[Astrocreep]

I'm loving the RG7420L that I recently picked up....

...so I'd say what's missing from the current range is any 7 string lefty. I'd happily buy an RG7321 or RG1527 if they made them southpaw.

T

[Dee]

Left-handed models have always been a problem. Considering that something like 1 in 17 people is left handed, it's not exactly fair to have so few available.