[mike570]

IMHO an RG should always be 25.5" scale.

 

[nathan80]

That rg550 violet chamelion looks awesome.

 

[ibz_SA]

Japan only. They're basically throwing the home market a bone.

But, I am told they will be bringing in "much more attractive offerings for 2014 for the US market".

I fail to see anything more attractive then an original spec 550 dy and fr...just set your high Rich...

 

[Takin' a Ride]

I'm certainly interested to see what 2014 brings. To me, the best thing here is the RG570 with direct-mounts. While the RG550 is cool, pretty much the exact same thing was released five years ago and I can find those used regularly. I'm hoping to see something that hasn't previously been reissued.

 

[Ke^in]

IMHO an RG should always be 25.5" scale.

Why? Ibanez already made some 24 3/4 scale RGs not too long ago.

 

[63Blazer]

Why? Ibanez already made some 24 3/4 scale RGs not too long ago.

Now that is cool. I didn't know that they did those recently. The first superstrats I know of that did a 24.75" inch option was Valley Arts Guitars. Larry Carlton had one of their superstrats, and tele type also, when he ditched the semi-hollowbody in that period. I don't know if the ones he used was the shorter scale or longer Fender scale version. The 1980s was a great time for Floyded superstrats, and Kahlers, too. You had maple, ebony, rosewood, 25.5" inch, 24.75" inch, and even Gibson making some entries into the world of uberfast superstrats. While Ibanez and Jackson/Charvel dominated the world of superstrats, I did like the aforementioned Gibson, Kramers, Peaveys, Fernandes, and the emerging ESPs. It's almost outside of superstrats and traditional strats, there wasn't too much other than those flying off the shelves of Guitar Center. Anyway it was a great time to get a super deal on Les Pauls, 335s, Yamaha SG2000s, and rare stuff like Fender Coronados, Starcasters, or Guild Starfires.

 

[D.M.RG7620]

IMHO an RG should always be 25.5" scale.

25.5"+

 

[63Blazer]

I see that the thread with some pictures of Summer/Fall 2013 gear have been deleted. Traditionally, Fall season in most markets happens a month (at least) before September 1st to get a jump on competition. Summer of course is slated to begin with merchandise by May 1st but the recession has made all seasons start quite a bit earlier.

Anyway, it's September 1st in Japan and there's nothing new over there except Genesis guitars and in the states the budget George Benson model. Anything posted now in pictures is likely to ship by what most will consider 2014 season (or December 25th of this year under the tree). It sucks that Ibanez is so far behind the curve in getting stuff out and some stuff still says Ibanez 2012!

 

[63Blazer]

A few new pix up are up USA's Ibanez homepage showing Chris Miller signature guitar, Roadcore, Destroyer, and BTB bass. I don't know if it's a change in front page only or that if new guitars are now out from Ibanez for latter part of 2013.

http://www.ibanez.co.jp/products/u_...3&color=CL01&year=2013&cat_id=1&series_id=180

http://www.ibanez.co.jp/products/u_...8&color=CL02&year=2013&cat_id=1&series_id=152

http://www.ibanez.co.jp/products/u_eg_series13.php?series_id=181&year=2013&cat_id=1

http://www.ibanez.co.jp/products/u_eb_series13.php?series_id=114&year=2013&cat_id=2

From what I can tell the Artstar line now has the new burled maple AF255 and that is definitely "new".

http://www.ibanez.co.jp/products/u_...1&color=CL01&year=2013&cat_id=7&series_id=103

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/AF255BMBLG

 

[MatiasTolkki]

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwww USA gets a mass produced destroyer That sunburst destroyer is only a limited production model for Japan

 

[63Blazer]

I don't know if the Ibanez Artstar AM153 is new this fall or if it was here at the beginning of this year for USA market? I know it was in other Ibanez markets earlier this year and was hoping it to make it here but maybe it was and I just didn't notice all this time.

http://www.ibanez.co.jp/products/u_...2&color=CL01&year=2013&cat_id=7&series_id=110

The new AM153 with a street of a grand is certainly not MIJ, but it has some of the same aspects as the great Ibanez AM205 of old.

http://www.elderly.com/vintage/items/40U-3828.htm

The AM153 has an extra switch, different color pickup rings and selector switch, and different and fancier pickguard. Of course the old AM205 has the 70s/80s headstock similar to John Scofield model and the now discontinued jack mount on top of body. The new AM has that safer side jack mount and more versatile toggle switch but the old AM was MIJ when Ibanez first got their name and has arguably the best workmanship of that company's history and is nothing Ibanez can do with regular Artstars today at their current price point.

 

[RGTFanatic]

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwww USA gets a mass produced destroyer That sunburst destroyer is only a limited production model for Japan

They're the same guitars we get. It's probably a spot model to gauge interest....... if it sells- they'll keep making them IMO

 

[63Blazer]

New summer/fall wrap up:

So it looks like we definitely have the new lower priced George Benson signature, Chris Miller signature Roadcore, Artstar AF255, and Artstar AM153 for the American market. Japan has the really cool Genesis guitars. While all really cool, I don't think they will make as big a splash as a major move within the RG model.

The new colors on the Iron Labels that seemed to leak out will probably then be gear for the 2014 NAMM which is not too far away. I hope the USA gets Genesis, too for 2014.

 

[MatiasTolkki]

New summer/fall wrap up:

So it looks like we definitely have the new lower priced George Benson signature, Chris Miller signature Roadcore, Artstar AF255, and Artstar AM153 for the American market. Japan has the really cool Genesis guitars. While all really cool, I don't think they will make as big a splash as a major move within the RG model.

The new colors on the Iron Labels that seemed to leak out will probably then be gear for the 2014 NAMM which is not too far away. I hope the USA gets Genesis, too for 2014.

Rich said earlier in this thread that the US market is getting something better next year.

 

[mike570]

Why? Ibanez already made some 24 3/4 scale RGs not too long ago.

Just my humble opinion. I guess it would be cool to offer a 24.75" scale RG but it's not for me. I love RG's because they feel like a strat with the bigger mass/sound of an LP. I'm also not very keen on 22 fret RG's. I guess my first RG570 is etched in my brain as the ideal RG so anything else feels odd.

 

[Ke^in]

Nothing wrong with having options

 

[MatiasTolkki]

Here's some info from this side of the Pacific

End of september release, spot model RG450RSP:

http://store.shopping.yahoo.co.jp/ikebe/324770.html

Why is this a spot model? HOSHINO! :evil::evil::evil:

New J Custom:

http://store.shopping.yahoo.co.jp/ishibashi/311890300.html

Iron label 8 string in RED! Also spot model :evil:

http://store.shopping.yahoo.co.jp/ikebe/324198.html

Other Iron Labels:

http://store.shopping.yahoo.co.jp/ikebe/rgix20feqm.html

The Iron labels are due for release at the end of the year.

 

[63Blazer]

Here's some info from this side of the Pacific

End of september release, spot model RG450RSP:

http://store.shopping.yahoo.co.jp/ikebe/324770.html

Why is this a spot model? HOSHINO! :evil::evil::evil:

New J Custom:

http://store.shopping.yahoo.co.jp/ishibashi/311890300.html

Iron label 8 string in RED! Also spot model :evil:

http://store.shopping.yahoo.co.jp/ikebe/324198.html

Other Iron Labels:

http://store.shopping.yahoo.co.jp/ikebe/rgix20feqm.html

The Iron labels are due for release at the end of the year.

Those are really sexy guitars. I guess I don't expect to see anything like that in California until next year. The colored Iron Labels are kind of like the regular solidbodies and lack that simple black and white motif. The transluscent finishes make them pretty but not scary or as metal anymore.

 

[MatiasTolkki]

Those are really sexy guitars. I guess I don't expect to see anything like that in California until next year. The colored Iron Labels are kind of like the regular solidbodies and lack that simple black and white motif. The transluscent finishes make them pretty but not scary or as metal anymore.

I prefer these colored ones because I'm tired of black and white only on guitars recently. Only the premiums/j customs have some interesting colors over here (as jet stream green or whatever that 450 is hasn't been released over here). The Genesis collection is nice but it's just a rehash and I already have a candy apple 550 so it's not really worth it to buy something for just the color.

 

[63Blazer]

I prefer these colored ones because I'm tired of black and white only on guitars recently. Only the premiums/j customs have some interesting colors over here (as jet stream green or whatever that 450 is hasn't been released over here). The Genesis collection is nice but it's just a rehash and I already have a candy apple 550 so it's not really worth it to buy something for just the color.

It's funny about the color. I had a couple of candy apple red guitars and a metallic turquoise. For acoustic I had a few Gibsons and Martins that had a nice deep brown mahogany color. All those were gorgeous in person but none of them looked good on stage at night or during the day. Stuff I don't take to like white, black, and gold actually look the best. Black and gold are great during the day and for night gigs, nothing cuts through visually quite like white or off white. Colored stage lights also make white a great color for a guitar.

Colors are kind of like sounds.

What sounds great on a guitar with just an amp and distortion pedal is often too weak to cut through the mix of a band or recording. A less buzzy distortion with some nice clean highs work better with other instruments also playing and cut through better on a recording. But just by itself, that clean and slightly distorted guitar tone doesn't seem to have enough balls and distortion. Sometimes the simple stuff, colors or sounds, end up working the best in real life. So for now, probably, until the end of the year, the Iron Labels in the states for sale will be those stage worthy all black or all white models.

Ibanez has never been shy about introducing new colors, model tweaks, and completely new concepts (like Fireman, Talman, Artcore all next to the perennial and trusty RGs) into year and every year so 2014 should predictably be a great one.