2005 Winter NAMM Report

[spiro]

Thanks for the photos Rich.. :P

OK OK OK I got my info from someone from Cort!!! OKay!

and photos of product last year but had to keep my mouth shut until something was shown on the web!! and then I pounced..

The W Designation is also used for Cort Guitars now I have been told.. Samick is moving to Z as their designation..

I'm actually glad you can see the quilt through those SZ520's now as well rather than that heavy finish they used to put on them before.. (more like PRS now) ...

I think I will be looking at the following in the next few months:

SZ520BBL
SZ2020TKF "KRESTIGE" with my pick of the Australian Crop..

I just cant go back to the RG's cause of scale difference.. (keep missing those notes )

Dont you also love how they have differentiated the inlays for the "KRESTIGE" line

[Rich]

I've seen these W's for years and was told long ago they're made in the World factory. Now I've heard several stories there, from it's a new factory, it's a government factory, it Samick that was taken over by the government and renamed, and who knows what the truth is. Everything else MIK was clearly marked C including all the Prestige basses [well, at least the ones I inspected just to check]

[Petie]

Originally Posted by Rich

The EPIII statement is pretty self explanatory if you read it.

Sorry Rich, maybe it's cos I've worked 50 hours this week and still have another 5 ahead of me, but I'm not quite sure what you mean. Are you saying it's like a 'non-lo-pro' version of the Edge Pro II, the way an original Edge would be a 'non-lo-pro' version of the Lo Pro?

*brain fizzes*

*eyes roll back*

*mutters 'lo-pro, lo-pro' for an hour while rocking back at forth*

[scanlan75018]

Great job, thanks a lot for your report (nothing official came from ibanez yet)

[Rich]

It's basically EPII, but based on the Edge, big whale tail but with the same EPII bar and holder. Different saddles than on any though. Pics will be up at some point.

[cerealk]

Wow nice pics Rich

Great job again!

[Petie]

Thanks Rich. Sounds interesting. I notice the RG3XX series now has INF pickups instead of PSND too... I reiterate: interesting!

[ukwan]

the RG range looks outstanding this year, the choice of quilts and natural finishes is amazing, the limited edition and chrome JS and the Mirrored JEM, Fixed bridge RGA's and some generally wicked looking instruments..

Ibanez has made me proud, and it's a long time since they've made me smile.

[fettouhi]

Interesting reading, many thanks Rich. Great pics!!!

Regards

André

[donnyboy]

Looks like the new JS2PRM has an original Edge on it ;-) Definitely not an EP. Either Ibanez are planning to install the Edge on them all to exactly match Joe's guitars, or the display piece was made for Joe himself and the others will all have EPs. What d'you reckon Rich?

[6828]

Damn Spiro, I thought you were net-dead !

Tony

[Serratus]

Thanks Rich - nice pics. Can't believe they've done a black and white swirl as that is what my current project is! Always nice to see new Ibanez models, although if you only play 7's like me then it's always disappointing at the same time (will they EVER change the UV again, or will it stay like that forever now??!!??!)

[Scott 74]

I'm getting a RG1570MRB this year come hell or high water *LOL*.......Thx Rich!

[Karmann]

Great report, just want to say that you stated "Euphoria is the first signature acoustic to be released by Ibanez, and fitting that Steve would lead the pack." But Ibanez did release a PGM 1000 acoustic somewhere in the past...

no colorfull jems nor budget jems...

Great report otherwise!

[Polaris20]

Are they on crack with the pricing? Nice stuff though. Too bad I can't afford most of it anymore. I'm glad I got my 1527 last year.