Ibanez RG
Encyclopedia
The Ibanez RG series has the maximum subtypes of guitars under the Ibanez Electric Guitar catalog and a popular series of Ibanez
electric guitars produced by Hoshino Gakki
. The Ibanez RG was originally designed as a derivative of Steve Vai's JEM\Universe series and released in 1987. Manufacture of the RG model continues through today. The RG series are among the most popular hard rock and metal guitars ever made.
and Universe
series by Steve Vai
, contrary to the more popular opinion that Rocky George
, former lead guitarist for the California based hardcore punk
/thrash metal
outfit Suicidal Tendencies
and current lead guitarist for Fishbone
was its designer (Rocky however was one of the first famous users of the RG model). This was believed because Rocky's initials are the same as the model. The RG in the Ibanez RG name does not mean Rocky George, in reality it means Roadstar Guitar, although these instruments differ significantly from the original Roadstar II series, introduced in the early 1980s.
All of the RG550s, 560s, 565s, 570s, 670s 750s, 760s and 770s have a version of the Ibanez Edge tremolo, be it Original or Lo-Pro. The Edge tremolo incorporated several manufacturing changes when compared to the original Floyd Rose, including increased mass, relocated fine tuners and improved locking posts. The locking posts are no longer used as of the 2003 model year along with the introduction of the Edge Pro.
or Basswood with the exception of the RGT220A, where the body is made of swamp ash. As of 2008 though, select J Custom RGs are made out of Alder
as well as Basswood and Mahogany
. The fretboard is made of Rosewood
with the exception of the RG350MDX, the RG550MXXDY/RF and the RG270 (Can be seen in the catalog section of IbanezRules.com in the 1996 catalog http://www.ibanezrules.com/catalogs/us/1996/96017.jpg),where the fretboard is made of maple
. The pickups are usually configured as H
SH or HH. There are Japan-Custom IBZ, USA-Custom IBZ, Infinity, Powersound, Seymour Duncan, DiMarzio, Acis, LoZ or EMG pickups in the RG Tremolo and Fixed series. The Prestige series typically comes equipped with either the USA and Japan IBZ series, IBZ DiMarzio pickups, DiMarzio pickups in different configurations (most often the ToneZone and Air Norton), active EMG
s in several configurations, and one model comes equipped with Non-OEM Seymour Duncans.
Almost all guitars in the series have some variations of a Floyd Rose
-style tremolo, except for the RG Fixed and the RGA Prestige series, which have fixed bridges.
RG's are famous for being the basis of particularly easy to play seven string guitars, and as of 2007, Ibanez produced its first commercially available 8 string guitar, the RG2228.
Ibanez
is a Japanese guitar brand owned by Hoshino Gakki. Based in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, Hoshino Gakki were one of the first Japanese musical instrument companies to gain a significant foothold in import guitar sales in the United States and Europe, as well as the first brand of guitars to mass produce...
electric guitars produced by Hoshino Gakki
Hoshino Gakki
is the owner of the Ibanez guitar and Tama drums brand names.-History:The Hoshino company was founded in 1908 by Matsujiro Hoshino originally as the Hoshino Shoten bookstore which mostly sold books and sheet music and then gradually over the years also began to import musical instruments into...
. The Ibanez RG was originally designed as a derivative of Steve Vai's JEM\Universe series and released in 1987. Manufacture of the RG model continues through today. The RG series are among the most popular hard rock and metal guitars ever made.
Origins
The RG series was first introduced in 1987 as a derivative to the Ibanez JEMIbanez JEM
Ibanez JEM is an electric guitar manufactured by Ibanez and first produced in 1987. The guitar's most notable user is its co-designer, Steve Vai. As of 2010, there have been five sub-models of the JEM: the JEM7, JEM77, JEM777, JEM555 and the JEM333...
and Universe
Ibanez Universe
The Ibanez Universe is the world's first modern, commercial seven-string electric guitar, developed by Steve Vai and manufactured by Ibanez. The Universe is a seven-string version of the Ibanez JEM series, Vai's signature model...
series by Steve Vai
Steve Vai
Steven Siro "Steve" Vai is a three time Grammy Award-winning American guitarist, songwriter and producer who has sold over 15 million albums. Steve Vai is widely known as a flamboyant guitar virtuoso....
, contrary to the more popular opinion that Rocky George
Rocky George
Rocky George is an American heavy metal guitarist who has been a member of several notable musical acts. George's guitar playing career began in 1982 when he joined a local punk rock band called Pap Smear. He became lead guitarist of Suicidal Tendencies in 1984 and stayed with the band until their...
, former lead guitarist for the California based hardcore punk
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
/thrash metal
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
outfit Suicidal Tendencies
Suicidal Tendencies
Suicidal Tendencies is a U.S. crossover thrash band founded in 1981 in Venice, Los Angeles, California by Mike Muir, its leader and only permanent member. The band is sometimes credited as one of "the fathers of crossover thrash"...
and current lead guitarist for Fishbone
Fishbone
Fishbone is a U.S. alternative rock band formed in 1979 in Los Angeles, California, which plays a fusion of ska, punk rock, funk, hard rock and soul. Critics have noted of the band: "Fishbone was one of the most distinctive and eclectic alternative rock bands of the late '80s...
was its designer (Rocky however was one of the first famous users of the RG model). This was believed because Rocky's initials are the same as the model. The RG in the Ibanez RG name does not mean Rocky George, in reality it means Roadstar Guitar, although these instruments differ significantly from the original Roadstar II series, introduced in the early 1980s.
All of the RG550s, 560s, 565s, 570s, 670s 750s, 760s and 770s have a version of the Ibanez Edge tremolo, be it Original or Lo-Pro. The Edge tremolo incorporated several manufacturing changes when compared to the original Floyd Rose, including increased mass, relocated fine tuners and improved locking posts. The locking posts are no longer used as of the 2003 model year along with the introduction of the Edge Pro.
Features
The RG Series features a thin neck - The Wizard Prestige and Wizard II necks are the thinnest and flattest necks ever made on guitars - with a wide, almost flat, double octave (24 fret) fret board, facilitating the performance of chords and solos. The body of the RG Series features sleek, offset pointed double cutaways giving better access to the upper frets. Typically the body is made of MahoganyMahogany
The name mahogany is used when referring to numerous varieties of dark-colored hardwood. It is a native American word originally used for the wood of the species Swietenia mahagoni, known as West Indian or Cuban mahogany....
or Basswood with the exception of the RGT220A, where the body is made of swamp ash. As of 2008 though, select J Custom RGs are made out of Alder
Alder
Alder is the common name of a genus of flowering plants belonging to the birch family . The genus comprises about 30 species of monoecious trees and shrubs, few reaching large size, distributed throughout the North Temperate Zone and in the Americas along the Andes southwards to...
as well as Basswood and Mahogany
Mahogany
The name mahogany is used when referring to numerous varieties of dark-colored hardwood. It is a native American word originally used for the wood of the species Swietenia mahagoni, known as West Indian or Cuban mahogany....
. The fretboard is made of Rosewood
Rosewood
Rosewood refers to any of a number of richly hued timbers, often brownish with darker veining, but found in many different hues. All rosewoods are strong and heavy, taking an excellent polish, being suitable for guitars, marimbas, turnery , handles, furniture, luxury flooring, etc.In general,...
with the exception of the RG350MDX, the RG550MXXDY/RF and the RG270 (Can be seen in the catalog section of IbanezRules.com in the 1996 catalog http://www.ibanezrules.com/catalogs/us/1996/96017.jpg),where the fretboard is made of maple
Maple
Acer is a genus of trees or shrubs commonly known as maple.Maples are variously classified in a family of their own, the Aceraceae, or together with the Hippocastanaceae included in the family Sapindaceae. Modern classifications, including the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group system, favour inclusion in...
. The pickups are usually configured as H
Humbucker
A humbucker is a type of electric guitar pickup, first patented by Seth Lover and the Gibson company, that uses two coils, both generating string signal. Humbuckers have higher output than a single coil pickup since both coils are connected in series...
SH or HH. There are Japan-Custom IBZ, USA-Custom IBZ, Infinity, Powersound, Seymour Duncan, DiMarzio, Acis, LoZ or EMG pickups in the RG Tremolo and Fixed series. The Prestige series typically comes equipped with either the USA and Japan IBZ series, IBZ DiMarzio pickups, DiMarzio pickups in different configurations (most often the ToneZone and Air Norton), active EMG
EMG, Inc.
EMG, Inc. is the current legal name of a company based in Santa Rosa, California which manufactures guitar pickups and EQ accessories. Founded in 1976, the company was originally called Dirtywork Studios. The name was changed to "Overlend" in 1978 and then to the current name in 1983...
s in several configurations, and one model comes equipped with Non-OEM Seymour Duncans.
Almost all guitars in the series have some variations of a Floyd Rose
Floyd Rose
The Floyd Rose Locking Tremolo, or simply Floyd Rose, is a type of locking vibrato arm for a guitar. The first of its kind, Floyd D. Rose invented the locking vibrato in 1977, and it is now manufactured by a company of the same name...
-style tremolo, except for the RG Fixed and the RGA Prestige series, which have fixed bridges.
RG's are famous for being the basis of particularly easy to play seven string guitars, and as of 2007, Ibanez produced its first commercially available 8 string guitar, the RG2228.
The RG Series
Current RG Series is currently split into 5 subsections- Ibanez J Custom- Highest quality Japanese made RG guitars exclusive to the Japanese market, sometimes available retail in Europe. The only source of 7 String RG's with non-IBZ branded pickups. Unfortunately, not available outside of Japan unless you buy them from a non-authorized retailer. Typically there are a few listed at any given time on eBayEBayeBay Inc. is an American internet consumer-to-consumer corporation that manages eBay.com, an online auction and shopping website in which people and businesses buy and sell a broad variety of goods and services worldwide...
- Ibanez RG Extreme-A middle range between the RG tremolo and RG prestige series guitars. All three are of non Japanese origin, have EMGEMG, Inc.EMG, Inc. is the current legal name of a company based in Santa Rosa, California which manufactures guitar pickups and EQ accessories. Founded in 1976, the company was originally called Dirtywork Studios. The name was changed to "Overlend" in 1978 and then to the current name in 1983...
pickups and Edge III tremolos. They are not available in the United States and many other countries. - RG PrestigeIbanez RG PrestigeThe Ibanez RG Prestige series are the highest quality guitars in the extremely popular RG series next to the J-Custom Series. They were introduced in 1987 and are well known for their characteristic thin necks and hard-edged tone, which is generated by high-output humbuckers...
- High quality Japanese-made RG guitars which contains the RG, RGA, and most of the RGT series. Contains the higher quality model of the two RG Seven Strings currently in production. - RG TremoloIbanez RG TremoloThe Ibanez RG Tremolo series is a series of guitars. They are made as a basic superstrat design, but are known for having much pointer horns then a standard superstrat. The series were introduced in 1987 with an RG Tremolo model known as RG570DX and sold well...
- RG series guitars of non Japanese (China, Korea and Indonesia) origin with Floyd Rose-style tremolo. - RG FixedIbanez RG FixedThe Ibanez RG Fixed is a range of guitars with fixed bridge made by Ibanez. All guitars features two Humbuckers and a five-way pickup selector with the exception of the RGT6EXFX, RG321EX, RGR321EX and the Rg2Ex1/Rg2ex2 with only three-way selector.- Origins :...
- RG guitars with fixed bridges of non Japanese origin. Contains one of only 2 Ibanez 7 String RG's currently in production
External links
- http://jemsite.com/ - A fansite for JEM and other Ibanez guitars
- http://www.guitar123.co.uk/index.php?page=ibanez_rg - Comparison of the RG models & RG's Bridge pick-ups.