[Alex Skolnickolas Cage]

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.

 

[Alex Skolnickolas Cage]

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.

 

[Alex Skolnickolas Cage]

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).

 

[Alex Skolnickolas Cage]

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