Older Japanese RG's Vs. Prestiege

2665 Views 19 Replies 16 Participants Last post by guitarshredder7, Sep 1, 2005

Thrash

Discussion Starter · Aug 24, 2005

How do the Japanese RG's 470, 550, 570, 750, 770, etc. compair to the new prestiege models. Other than the bridge and pickups I don't see much difference. Both seem to play as well as the other?

1 - 20 of 20 Posts

marianozz

· #2 · Aug 24, 2005

Thing is, with the older models you get Edges and Lo Pros, V series pickups in the 5xx and IBZ USA in the 7xx (made by Dimarzio)... With the new ones, you have Edge Pros, some have V pickups and some have Dimarzio IBZ (which people swap anyway)...

Whats good about the new ones is the Prestige treatment to the neck...

If you ask me, ill take a 750 or 770dx over anything any day of the week... and a used 570 over new 1570 just for the trem alone (save quite a few bucks too!)

thats as far as the "replacement" models go...

And im not sure about all 470s being MIJ...

RCB

· #3 · Aug 24, 2005

The 40XX series was MIJ in the late 80s/early 90s. Since then they were made in Korea.

I would also take a 770DX over a 2570, or a 570 over a 1570.

But I would take a 2020X or a 3120 over any old RG. As a matter of fact, Id take an RG3120 over any UCGR and Id take the new RGT320 over an american master.

jim777

· #4 · Aug 24, 2005

It all boils down to the neck.
I don't have much experience with the Prestige guitars, only having had two. I was unimpressed by the RG3120, so I tend to stick with the older guitars. I would echo Marianozz's comments about the 7xx series guitars, though. Both trems are fine, so to me that's a wash. Pickups are almost always going to be changed as well. The old 7xx series bound wizard necks are a joy to play, and simply can't be beaten for the price. I'd personally take an old 7xx series guitar over the 5xx series because of the neck binding. I'd also look at an older 7xx series guitar over a new one, because I rarely buy new :lol:
So....If you are asking if the old ones are better, then I don't really know. It would be a personal choice about the neck, I suppose.
If you are asking if the old ones are worth considering as an alternative to a "Prestige" instrument, then the answer is absofreakinlutely.

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marianozz

· #5 · Aug 24, 2005

RCB said:
But I would take a 2020X or a 3120 over any old RG. As a matter of fact, Id take an RG3120 over any UCGR and Id take the new RGT320 over an american master.

Yeah, me too, thats why said "thats as far as the "replacement" models go..."

red5

· #6 · Aug 24, 2005

The 1570 is the newer version of the 570. 1570s have Edge Pros, and 570s had Lo-Pros or Edge's depending on how old it is. Both models are comprable as far as the trems go.

On the older ones, it is my understanding that you might get one with a great neck and one with a **** neck, where on the new ones all the necks are at least pretty damn good.

Stock pickups were different, but on these guitars, people usually throw in their own choice of pickups anyway.

I would buy a used 570 because you can buy them for quite cheap these days!

machinediva

· #7 · Aug 24, 2005

RCB said:
I would also take a 770DX over a 2570, or a 570 over a 1570.

agree

RCB said:
But I would take a 2020X or a 3120 over any old RG.

agree

RCB said:
As a matter of fact, Id take an RG3120 over any UCGR

agree, for the heavier woods

RCB said:
and Id take the new RGT320 over an american master.

REALLY???!

RCB

· #8 · Aug 24, 2005

yeah, I played an american master (purplle quilted maple top) of a friend a couple of times, and the only thing I loved about it was the looks.... and the RGA looks even better IMHO.

Flobanez

· #9 · Aug 24, 2005

RCB said:
I would also take a 770DX over a 2570, or a 570 over a 1570.

Same here.

Titan

· #10 · Aug 25, 2005

I totally love my older 570, love playing it right along with the J.Custom 8170. The 570 really holds it's own, especially considering what you can purchase one for...

LonePhantom

· #11 · Aug 25, 2005

Weren't the RG470s made in japan until 93 and came with Edge trems. Moved to Korea in 94 and got TRS II trems, and went back to Japan in 98 or 99 and had slightly better TRS trems?

toshiro

· #12 · Aug 25, 2005

LonePhantom said:
Weren't the RG470s made in japan until 93 and came with Edge trems. Moved to Korea in 94 and got TRS II trems, and went back to Japan in 98 or 99 and had slightly better TRS trems?

Yup.

ElectriK

· #13 · Aug 26, 2005

so if they had edge's and were MIJ, woudlnt they be exactly the same as the 5xx's?

machinediva

· #14 · Aug 26, 2005

ElectriK said:
so if they had edge's and were MIJ, woudlnt they be exactly the same as the 5xx's?

it depends... you still have to check for overall wood quality, and neck dimensions

toshiro

· #15 · Aug 26, 2005

A 4xx from that period also had an un-contoured neck heel(it was flat like a strat, while the 5xx/7xx has an angle), a plate-mounted jack, and black headstocks(upper lines had color-matched heads). Also, during that time the 5xx and higher guitars had LoPro Edges.

Chameleonfong

· #16 · Sep 1, 2005

I had a RG3120 and i find that the neck if significantly fatter than a RG550.

my two cents
Fong

Bluestreak

· #17 · Sep 1, 2005

I'll take any pre-Prestige RG5xx/7xx over a new Prestige any day and twice on Sunday. I've recently purchased my first and last Prestige Ibanez... which likely means I've purchased my last new Ibanez until they get their heads outta their backsides. I've never paid so much money for so much headache as my '04 RG2770 has caused me. Because I imported it from Japan and it's outside its intended distribution region, I have no support from Ibanez.

I expected a high-end Ibanez to perform right out of the box, as my other RG's I've purchased new have. How wrong I was. Ibanez has consistently disappointed me in recent years, and if my older equipment wasn't so rock solid and reliable, I'd abandon the brand altogether.

-R

maliciousteve

· #18 · Sep 1, 2005

I have a Ibanez Prestige RG1550FM. I really love the thing, it's possibly the best guitar i have ever played. It's like an attachment to my body like an extra arm,lol. The neck is thin, something i never used to like but now i love it. The frets are nice and big and smooth, the tremolo works brilliantly and it looks gorgeous. I played an older RG550 and i didn't like it at all.

damo7v

· #19 · Sep 1, 2005

for comparison, i have a '99 RG550 and an '05 RG1570. the only thing the '550 has over the '1570 is price and nostalgia.

guitarshredder7

· #20 · Sep 1, 2005

anything with heavier woods is better

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