Genesis Collection RG521 vs. RGR652AHBF Prestige

7607 Views 15 Replies 7 Participants Last post by mike570, May 20, 2018

Alex Skolnickolas Cage

Discussion Starter · May 17, 2018

Basically two MIJ fixed bridge RGs in the current catalog

Genesis Collection RG521

RGR652AHBF Prestige

Which would you choose? I think the 521 is a bit cheaper if I'm not mistaken and it's not a prestige so I'm wondering if that makes it inferior and/or superior to the other one. Except for the finish and the tonewoods, I think they're basically the same guitar but perhaps there is a pros/cons thing between the old-school style tilt joint in the 521 and the AANJ in the prestige that I should be aware of? Both have the super wizard HP neck and the gibraltar II standard bridge. I will be using the guitar mostly for death metal so tuning stability and overall durability and reliability are priorities. Pickups aren't an issue at all as they will be changed to an EMG 81/85 set.

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Leviathus

· #2 · May 17, 2018

I'd pick the Genesis as i'm not super into that matte finish on the RGR (though the RGR is more metal, if only the 521 had a reverse headstock option!). I'd rather have the bigger neck joint too.

Rich

· #3 · May 17, 2018

If it's made at Fujigen it's either Prestige or J custom. They're not badged Prestige because it wouldn't fit with the whole reissue theme, even though there never was a 521 30 years ago.

mike570

· #4 · May 17, 2018

I'd pick the RG521. But for what you describe, Alex, the RGR652 might be better.

karlic

· #5 · May 19, 2018

Is there any reason the RGR is 50% more expensive than the 521? Does the 521 have the Prestige fret edges?

Rich

· #6 · May 19, 2018

The 521 is the loss leader of all the fixed just as the 550's are of the trems. The extra gets you Dimarzio's, the Prestige case, and a multi tool which doesn't add up to $400, but it's not supposed to.

All Prestige fret end finishing is a bit lame currently. I just checked in 2 521's and they were a hair lamer than the RGR I just looked at.

karlic

· #7 · May 19, 2018

I see now that the bodies are different. Is Ash an advantage over Basswood? Also the pickups are either V7/V8 or Fusion. Most of the DiMarzios sound quite similar with distorted sounds, although I haven't heard the Fusion.

In the UK it is £400 difference, which is hard to justify, even if the matt finish looks fresh.

Alex Skolnickolas Cage

Discussion Starter · #8 · May 19, 2018 (Edited)

Rich said:
The 521 is the loss leader of all the fixed just as the 550's are of the trems. The extra gets you Dimarzio's, the Prestige case, and a multi tool which doesn't add up to $400, but it's not supposed to.

All Prestige fret end finishing is a bit lame currently. I just checked in 2 521's and they were a hair lamer than the RGR I just looked at.

Please correct me if I'm wrong but do you mean that the 521 is currently the best 6-string fixed bridge RG in the current catalog?

Thank you for the advice everyone. Appreciate it. This will help me in my decision. Though the prestige seems to be the more 'metal' looking guitar, it looks like the 521 is the more bang-for-your-buck deal. Planning on using either one for some old school Morbid Angel/Cannibal Corpse/Deicide style death metal and I think a nice quality fixed bridge RG fits the bill.

mike570

· #9 · May 19, 2018

Alex Skolnickolas Cage said:
Please correct me if I'm wrong but do you mean that the 521 is currently the best 6-string fixed bridge RG in the current catalog?

Probably a subjective question but I would venture to say no - and I'm not sure if one of those RG521's Rich has is mine.

I'd venture to guess the best fixed RG 6-string in the catalog now is the RG652AHM.

jemsite

· #10 · May 19, 2018

The 652 has some theoretically meaningful "improvements" including body wood, Prestige fret end treatment (whatever that's worth), AANJ, dimarzios and hard case. A mix of ornamentation too including reverse headstock, non 80s era finish/style and added neck/body bindings.

mike570

· #11 · May 19, 2018

The RGR652AH is, of course, very much like the RG652AHM fixed, just with a more metal look and the Fusion Edge pickups as opposed to the TZ/AN combo on the green burst version. I don't know what to think of the Fusion Edge pickups. They're nice and all but I prefer the TZ/AZ combo. Some people think the Fusion Edge pickups are just rebranded DimarzioIBZs but I don't think so.

Strazz

· #12 · May 19, 2018

I emailed Dimarzio about the Fusion Edge pickups last month and they wouldn’t say much but that they resemble Titans. Hopefully I’ll have some to try out in a week or so when my 8520 arrives.

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Alex Skolnickolas Cage

Discussion Starter · #13 · May 19, 2018

Thank you for all your inputs everyone. Appreciate it.

I'm planning to swap the pickups to an EMG 81/85 set as that is the sound that my ears are looking for. With that in mind, I don't think tonewood would really matter which is why I never figured it to be a deciding factor in determining which of these two axes are ideal. I'm even planning to remove the tone knob completely and move the volume knob to where the tone knob is originally as I don't use the tone pot at all and because I'm not a fan of the standard position of volume knobs in RGs (too close to the bridge pickup IMHO).

mike570

· #14 · May 19, 2018 (Edited)

Alex Skolnickolas Cage said:
Thank you for all your inputs everyone. Appreciate it.

I'm planning to swap the pickups to an EMG 81/85 set as that is the sound that my ears are looking for. With that in mind, I don't think tonewood would really matter which is why I never figured it to be a deciding factor in determining which of these two axes are ideal. I'm even planning to remove the tone knob completely and move the volume knob to where the tone knob is originally as I don't use the tone pot at all and because I'm not a fan of the standard position of volume knobs in RGs (too close to the bridge pickup IMHO).

Then maybe the RG521 is the answer. Really the question then is if you want a square heel or not. Having a fixed bridge version of the classic RG with the square heel joint was the big sell for me on that guitar.
IMO the solid black finish on the Genesis seems more metal to me. \m/

Alex Skolnickolas Cage

Discussion Starter · #15 · May 20, 2018

Thank you for the advice, Mike. Appreciate it. Looks like I have all the information that I need in making a decision.:grin2:

Now comes the hard part: coming up with the money, haha

I'll probably wait for the holiday promo deal in my local Ibanez dealer and maybe the office bonus will come in by then

mike570

· #16 · May 20, 2018

Yeah I've been trying to sell a bunch of gear as well. I might even put the RG1570 up for sale too.

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