New 2003 prestige models--why not better pickups?

[bduersch]

I've always thought of the Prestige line of guitars as the highest quality guitars available from Ibanez in the US. While I appreciate the additional attention to quality that goes into the Prestige guitars, I would like to see better pickups installed in them coming out of the factory.

The V7 & V8 pickups lack the punch and clarity that many aftermarket pickups offer. While some Prestiges like the 3120 come standard with Dimarzios, others like the 2120x, 1570, and 1550 come with the V7/V8 pickups. If I were to buy any of those guitars, I would save up so I could immediately order a set of Dimarzios when I ordered the guitar, and there are many other Ibanez players who think the same way. How much would it cost to install better pickups in the high-end guitars? Likely, Ibanez could get the Dimarzios and install them much cheaper than any of us could aftermarket.

An interesting side story... when the 2020x first came out, I immediately wanted one based on the specs. But when I went to the store to try it out, I was completely unimpressed with the tone. It wasn't until after I played a friend's 2020x with Dimarzios that I decided that the 2020x was a worthy purchase. How many "missed sales" could be attributed to the less than optimal tone provided by the stock V7/V8 pickups? Just something to think about...

--Brent

[mike777]

I swapped my stock pickups out of my RG550DY for DiMarzios but I have to say that the V7 and 8 aren't that bad for stock pickups. I don't totally disagree (model depending). It's nice to see the 550 revisited in the US again although I like the checkmark logo much better as it goes with the rest of the lines of the RG guitars. I'd like to see the prestige logo reworked with the checkmark.

Mike 777 Haug

[trouble311]

I agree whole-heartedly with Brent, here. I am a big fan of everything about the RG2020-2120X myself, except for the pickups. I put aftermarkets in nearly every guitar I buy, except for my JEMs and UVs...so I would like to see the Prestige models for 2004, or Winter NAMM be issued with Dimarzios....a good *stock* combo would be:

*drumroll*

Air Norton - Neck (although it seems like PAF Pros are what normally go in the neck on high end Ibanezes)

Tone Zone - Bridge (or a Steve's Special...depends on the body wood)

Just my two cents!

[little wing]

I'm not sure if you guys have seen the RG2570ex yet but i think that the pickups on it are cool. Seriously. It's equipped with custom made DiMarzio/Ibanez pickups which i think that it produces sweet, round and clear tone that were of a very resonable price for that prestige and those middle pickups were good. Altough the pickups might sound a little too punchy for me especially at the neck area but i still think that they are great! In my opinion lol. Long live good pickups for ibanez.

[gkelm]

V7 & 8 are intersting birds in my experience. I generally find Dimarzios have a bit more richness to the tone, but the Vs have sounded great in both a couple 520QSs I've had and a 620X I now have.

I have not yet tried the new DiMarzio/Ibanez pickups, but I relly like the old IBZ/USAs.
Greg

[freak]

Originally Posted by trouble311

Air Norton - Neck (although it seems like PAF Pros are what normally go in the neck on high end Ibanezes)

Tone Zone - Bridge (or a Steve's Special...depends on the body wood)

Just my two cents!

I love that combo man That would rock on the3120TW (with a blue velvet in the middle )

[darren wilson]

From what i've been able to deduce from the Ibanez catalogs, there seems to be three tiers of Prestige RGs:

Tier 1: 1000 series
Basswood bodies, Ibanez pickups, solid finishes.

Tier 2: 2000 series
Mahogany bodies, Ibanez pickups, transparent finishes.

Tier 3: 3000 series
Mahogany bodies with figured tops, bound fretboards, DiMarzio pickups, transparent finishes.

They have to cut corners somewhere in trying to bring the Prestige line down to the midrange end of the market. By offering generic pickups, they save a few bucks per guitar.

[spencer096]

the stock V7 and V8 pickups are quite good for stock pickups.

keep in mind, these pickups have to appeal to a wide variety of players, from death metalheads to fusion players to the rare ibanez blues player. and these pickups, while not evolutions, are rather good sounding in all those fields, and in that sense, ibanez has done a killer job making a versatile pickup.

however, its almost a given that they are going to get swapped for some kind of DiMarzio or EMG or Duncan. but they sure do beat the hell out of duncan designed and jackson stock pickups.

[wyldeman]

I agree...it's almost impossible to please everyone and I think Ibanez has done a great job in making a well rounded pickup for the masses. Personally I change everything over to EMG's but depending on the gig I also have a few left with Dimarzio's that I like and a hot older 550 with older jem pickups that are out of this world.

Rick

[x2n]

hey,
I found nothing wrong with the vintage 7 and 8...damn good for stock pickups....

[Devo]

I whole heartedly agree with Brent. V pickups come straight off my ibanez guitars and are replaced with aftermarket ones.

I guess if it came with aftermarket pickups I would still change them to my personal preference. There are thousands of different pickups to choose from and whatever pickups were in it I would probably change, so my vote is to keep the price down and leave the V pickups in.

Steve

[Artist]

Has anyone thought that because one of the main quarms with ibanez is their lack of colour choice.
Ibanez could produce put it together yourself kits, guitars with a neck, unfinished body, no pups, all hardware and wiring. This would be perfect for those people that want to have more customised guitars, which seems to be a large part of the ibanez market.
They could have a range of woods, starting probably with only the rg body, and if it takes off then the S series body.