[Fowleri]

https://www.ibanezrules.com/new/rg550rf.htm

Rich

People often say that the Genesis is not truly a prestige because it doesn't have the "prestige fret treatment", but based on your writings, even the RGs named prestige with maple fretboards do not have the prestige fret treatment seen in rosewood, despite having it included in the description.

Here is an example

https://www.ibanezrules.com/new/rg752wmfxol.htm

As you can see the maple board Prestige models do not have the "Prestige" fret end and fretboard edge finishing, this now evidently factory standard, as maple fretboard models have been for many year.

So, if the "real" maple Prestiges that have "Prestige" on the headstock, don't have the fret treatment, why should the Genesis be any different?

Here's a maple Prestige with no fret treatment

but even the RG550 dx with rosewood doesn't have the treatment, it wasn't going to have it anyway. Yet, why are all current maple Prestiges, not having the treatment? And what's so special about this. It's just cosmetic and can this be done by the average joe?

 

[Rich]

The rosewood have a slight treatment if you look at better shots. but I don't think they've ever claimed they were Prestige. Nothing in print ever has said anything. Nothing maple but some rare signature models and the AZ's get treatment. The Genesis has ever bit of the close tolerances, it uses the same programs as Prestige for all the mill work, but these were always about giving you Japanese on a budget. They don't even give you a multi tool.

 

[jono]

I think the Op is worrying too much. The Genesis series are not Prestige, because Ibanez choose not to label them as such. That’s all there is to it.

That doesn’t stop them being amazing guitars that follow in the decades-old tradition of building amazing guitars under the Ibanez brand in Japan.

Enjoy it for what it is, a Japanese RG in a crazy colour.

 

[Fowleri]

Right but the fret treatment is just a cosmetic thing, it feels nicer when you run your finger on the end of the frets I guess?

Is it worth having a tech round the frets since shipping a guitar to rich just for that alone wouldnt be worth it i guess

I supposed this is not something a noob can do with some files lol

 

[Fowleri]

If you look at the Jem 30th anniversary, it doesn’t have the rounded prestige frets either. I’ve looked at photos and the fret ends look cut similar to the Genesis rg550. Both are maple fretboards.

Is it possible that they did it this way to stay true to the original models of both the rg550 and jem777

I mean you’re paying over $3500 and now is even 5k and it doesn’t have the rounded fret ends as the prestiges.

 

[Rich]

You need to look at better pictures

 

[Fowleri]

Those are not rounded frets like the ones seen on the prestiges tho

 

[Rich]

Yes, they are.

 

[Fowleri]

They look nothing alike

 

[Rich]

What world do you live in? That's a J CUSTOM!!!!

Prestige

 

[Fowleri]

What world do you live in? That's a J CUSTOM!!!!

Prestige

The Genesis has the same exact fret ends as this picture. I have my guitar here and they look exactly the same.

 

[Rich]

Bad angle, try this one....

Genesis

 

[Fowleri]

so all they did was sand it to a rounded shape, that's all there is to the "prestige" treatment?

Based on what I read on your website, no maple Prestige has this done apparently

Why does the genesis have those marks above the frets?

 

[aesthyrian]

The ignore list is a great feature in case anyone was wondering

 

[The TPS Report]

The ignore list is a great feature in case anyone was wondering

If you take out his obvious troll comments, I always enjoy learning from Rich and would love good comparison photos.

 

[aesthyrian]

True, Rich has managed to still provided some great knowledge and insight. Even though the person in question wants nothing to do with hearing it.

 

[BigBazz]

If you like rounded fret ends so much you should buy a Premium, I know you love to hate the Premiums but they come with the round ball end frets. Personally fret end shape is completely irrelevant to me, this feels like the most ridiculous topic I've seen in a while but I'm not surprised.

 

[brielleluna]

I am now a fan! This is such a masterpiece.

 

[jaxadam]

If you like rounded fret ends so much you should buy a Premium, I know you love to hate the Premiums but they come with the round ball end frets. Personally fret end shape is completely irrelevant to me, this feels like the most ridiculous topic I've seen in a while but I'm not surprised.

No kidding. I don't think the end of a fret has ever crossed my mind and it would never be a deal breaker.

 

[FireEagle]

The only time they have really bothered me is on the very low end guitars... Like an Ibanez Mikro I played in the music store. Brutally rough/sharp, but nothing that couldn't be rectified with some careful elbow grease. I've been poor all my life, so I'm used to buying cheap stuff and making it better! :smile_big: