Do a forum search. Plenty of info already here.

But again , get out there and try the guitars yourself. Everything is just opinion anyway. YOU have to PLAY the guitars to see WHAT YOU think!!!!!

 

Ibanez is trying pretty hard to impress with the Premium line and they seem to be putting a lot of work into them to make sure they hold up: You'll find nice fretwork from either (some even prefer the ball ends of the Premium to Prestige) but you might find more finishing flaws or inconsistencies with Premium than Prestige if you look hard enough. Either way, look for one with a nice stable neck joint and consistent fret finishing and you should be okay. I'd certainly have no problem buying Premium over Prestige if I found the right one.

 

Just an opinion from someone who owns both.
the premium is inferior no doubt.

I won't knock the premium line, but the prestige is much higher quality.
more precise on neck adjusting, sustain, and electronics.

Personally I will never purchase another premium because the Prestige is such a better player. I think owning one is a better example then just checking them out at a store.
There is so much more I can do on my prestige, that I lack on the premium.
my speed and acuracy is much better on a prestige due the lower action, and lower fret noise. the premium neck is just not as sound and playable.

either way you do get what you pay for.
personally I would rather get a RG350 instead of a premium, or just jump right to Prestige.

 

Just an opinion from someone who owns both.
the premium is inferior no doubt.

I won't knock the premium line, but the prestige is much higher quality.
more precise on neck adjusting, sustain, and electronics.

Personally I will never purchase another premium because the Prestige is such a better player. I think owning one is a better example then just checking them out at a store.
There is so much more I can do on my prestige, that I lack on the premium.
my speed and acuracy is much better on a prestige due the lower action, and lower fret noise. the premium neck is just not as sound and playable.

either way you do get what you pay for.
personally I would rather get a RG350 instead of a premium, or just jump right to Prestige.

Just for clarification, what guitars are you comparing? There are too many prestige types and levels to lump them all into one catagory.

 

Depends on whether you work on your own guitars much.... I played an RG450 and a Premium RG920 before I bought the RG450. The Premium does have better pickups, but I was going to change those on either. The trems are the same, but the Premium has that little bar with springs to return to zero like the ZR trems. I always remove those anyway. I can't get the trem to float where I want it if the little bar is used correctly.

The Premium has a Veneered (pretty) maple top, which I could care less about. The Premium MAY have better wood in the body and neck ?? but the RG450 felt just as good/sturdy. The Premium has better finishing on the frets, which you can replicate on your RG450 with some 0000 steel wool and a few spare minutes.

To me, the advantages were all cosmetic and I don't really care if my guitar is pretty or not, so I went with the RG450 and put an Air Zone and Air Norton in it. Its great, for a 400 dollar guitar.

 

2008 Prestige RG2550z with EMG 81/60
2011 Premium RG870z customized with pickguard, and D Activators
xxxx Indo RG370DXGP4 I just got rid of for no good reason.
1991 FujiGen Fender Talon V original w/ stock Super3/s/H3

Just also to clarify that Ibanez Prestige guitars are made by FujiGen Guitars.
they made Super Strats for Fender before they acquired Jackson.
although I won't really compare either to the Talon. it is the best guitar ever made in the history of the world, lol... IMO but it is old and worn, but still plays great.

I can confirm that the 2550 is much better quality, and not just looks.

like green lion said, the premium is pretty much a more cosmetic pleasing RG350/450 etc... with a 5-piece maple walnut wiz premium neck, that to me is no better then the 3 piece maple wiz 3.

Although I do like the premium better then a RG350, that gap is small between the 2, for the money I would rather get a 350 and cherry it out.

I keep all my guitars on record at my guitar blog,
http://wwguitar.com use the drop down menu [Guitars] for work logs, and photos. to many to post here.
you will see all I have to my Ibanez guitars..

..

 

2008 Prestige RG2550z with EMG 81/60
2011 Premium RG870z customized with pickguard, and D Activators
xxxx Indo RG370DXGP4 I just got rid of for no good reason.
1991 FujiGen Fender Talon V original w/ stock Super3/s/H3

Just also to clarify that Ibanez Premium guitars are made by FujiGen Guitars.
they made Super Strats for Fender before they acquired Jackson.
although I won't really compare either to the Talon. it is the best guitar ever made in the history of the world, lol... IMO but it is old and worn, but still plays great.

I can confirm that the 2550 is much better quality, and not just looks.

like green lion said, the premium is pretty much a more cosmetic pleasing RG350/450 etc... with a 5-piece maple walnut wiz premium neck, that to me is no better then the 3 piece maple wiz 3.

Although I do like the premium better then a RG350, that gap is small between the 2, for the money I would rather get a 350 and cherry it out.

I keep all my guitars on record at my guitar blog,
http://wwguitar.com use the drop down menu [Guitars] for work logs, and photos. to many to post here.
you will see all I have to my Ibanez guitars..

..

+1.

I loaded my RG350EXZ with Evos and it destroys my friends RG 25th.