sfguitartech
Where to start on this money making machine, one of the only guitars that has jumped over 200 in price over the last year, while remaining almost the exact same?
On to the guitar specs:
The specs: The RG1570 is the newer version of Ibanez’s familiar “Superstrat” style RG570 shape stemming from a few modifications to the traditional Fender Stratocaster design, and it doesn’t dissapoint with it’s sharp looks and (in this case) Royal Blue sparkle finish. The new numbering system for Ibanez goes like this, if it’s got 4 digits in the number, and the starting digit is a 1 or a 2, it’s got a Prestige neck. This Japan-made guitar has a 24 fret Prestige Neck with Jumbo wide frets, Ibanez V7 and V8 humbuckers with an S1 in the middle, simple 1 volume and 1 tone control configuration, a set-in (not plate mounted) input jack, Gotoh tuners, and a double locking Edge Pro Tremolo.
Now that the boring crap is out of the way, lets get to the guitar instead of the numbers and letters which mean close to nothing for someone who’s never seen or played one.
The Neck: Ibanez’s aim for the RG1570 is to tailor to the higher skill level, middle budget guitar player with interests in speed. And in that area, it does not dissapoint. The prestige neck I made a deliberate effort to explain is quite the nice thing when it comes to speed-friendly guitars. It’s 2 millimeters thinner than Ibanez’s already thin neck, not to mention it has a flatter fretboard. For those who want to go from 0 to 24 in a few notes flat, this is your guitar. The unfinished back, jumbo frets and low action makes sure you’ll hit the notes no matter how fast you’re going. Of the very few qualms with the neck of the guitar, one has to be the finished frets. The edges have been rounded a little too much, abandoning a more squared off edge. What this does is it gives a slight less crown to the top of the fret, therefore allowing a little bit less vibrato room on the high and low strings. This may seem like nitpicking, but when something one would easily overlook is actually noticed, it needs to be said.
The body: It is very comfortable, and the cutaways allow a decent amount of access to the upper frets. The countoured edges are rounded and comfortable while still maintaining the sharp looks associated with an Ibanez RG. Over the last few years, the paint has changed. The 2004 model had a finish with a much finer sparkle to it, but over the last year the price has jumped and the sparkles in the finish have become much larger. A benefit to this is the new thickness of paint and durability, while the 2004 model’s had a slightly less sparkle to it, they were noticeably weaker and prone to small chipping in sharp areas like the pickup and neck sockets. Assumedly, Ibanez figured it out an accounted for it with a thicker, stronger type of finish, hopefully picking up the shortcomings of the older finish.
The electronics: They are one of the very few dissapointments of this guitar. To pair a medium-priced guitar that is conducive to lead playing and crunch with the lower output, lower costs V and S series pickups is a shame. They should’ve used their upper range Dimarzio IBZ pickups with much higher output and versatility. However, what it does mean is that the weak pickups on the guitar are just begging to be replaced with whatever pickups (EMG, Dimarzio, Seymour Duncan, ETC) you desire. Personally, I like the idea of putting my own pickup preference. The guitar you buy was mass produced with a general population of guitarists in mind, and you want your guitar to have you in mind. There’s a HUGE range of pickups for every tone out there, and there’s no reason why your BC Rich can’t have jazz pickups, and your Benedetto Hollowbody can’t have a metal pickup. Obviously this is an exaggeration, but i’m trying to emphasize the fact that since no two players are the same, their instrument should follow suit.
The Hardware: The edge pro bridge is a mixed blessing. While still being a nuisance like all floating bridge, it does have some endearing qualities. While Floyd Rose bridges require you to cut the ball end of the string to insert them into the bridge, the Edge Pro lets you slide the strings through the bottom and lock them with the ball end or cut them off if you desire. Of the biggest annoyances of the bridge, it’s the fact that the peolpe at Ibanez put the fine tuners at an angle, basically asking you to scratch up the finish with your finger nails when struggling to change the fine tunings. The Gotoh tuners, like always, are great. They are smooth, sensitive, and don’t fatigue the hand when using them like mini-grovers seem to. And you will be using these tuners. When you change strings, you’ll be using them while you’re trying to find the right tuning while finding that precious equilibrium you need from a floating tremolo. What they should’ve done, much like every company should do with their floating bridges, is incorporate a mechanism by which you can lock the bridge to turn it into a fixed bridge. There are people out there that make such products, but I can’t really give them support until I try one out myself.
The whole shebang: It’s a great guitar, but as I mentioned, it has its irritating shortcomings. But that shouldn’t stop anyone from seriously considering adding this gem to their collection. With a few modifications, like any guitar, it can turn out to be your perfect guitar. Unlike some guitars, this shows potential to be spectacular, but it didn’t quite jump the hurdle.
The Pros: Fast neck, comfortable, great action, excellent tuners, durable hardware, Ibanez reliability.
The Cons: Low output pickups, poor fret finishing, poorly designed bridge.
The Grade:
I just went out and bought a new ibanez rg, wizard II neck and all the bells and whistles, its the best $1100 i ever sand in my entire life. I love the sharp sound and playablitiy, i love it =)
There’s scraping the barrel in an attempt to find fault, and there’s…
“Of the biggest annoyances of the bridge, it’s the fact that the people at Ibanez put the fine tuners at an angle, basically asking you to scratch up the finish with your fingernails when struggling to change fine tunings”
1)No guitarist worth their axe has long fingernails
2)If they DO happen to have long fingernails I have yet to meet anyone with tungsten-carbide steel fingertips. Your average poly finish is a damnsight tougher than the common-or-garden fingernail
The Edge Pro is one of the best Floyd variants on the market – all your issues with it are with Floyds in general. If you don’t like them that’s fine, not everyone does, but stating that the Edge Pro is “poorly designed” just because you don’t like Floyd’s much isn’t exactly objective.
^Toshay good sir.
If you knew anything about Floyd Rose varients, you would know that Ibanez makes the best, and that the Edge Pro (while I prefer the Lo-Pro) is one of their best. Cut your fingernails, if you value them more than your guitar playing in the first place then you don’t deserve an Ibanez Prestige!
The only problem I have with this guitar is the low output stock pickups, and as you said they are easily replaced.
I have to side with with the other guys though, if you’re seriously worried about scratching the finnish because of angled fine tuners, cut your nails. Me on the other hand, I couldn’t give a damn. A few minor scratches are easy to buff out of the tough finish and you would need to have metal fingernails to do any more damage then just minor damage. I suggest purchasing a some guitar polish or turtle wax (Car wax), a foam polisher pad either made specifically for guitars or 3m brand that attaches to the end of a drill. Pre-moisten your pad, keep the speed below 2500 rpm and have at’er.
good advice and sharing,I will buy one this good jeans for me .thanks
Such a poor review. Clip your fucking fingernails, fool. The trem is one of the best on the market. The guitar itself is nicely appointed and set up. It is a no bells and whistles type model that offers some of the RG’s best features at a great price point. Oh, and stop being a pussy and worrying about scratches. Guitars are meant to be played. This one can go the distance.
had the chance to purchase a prestige 1570 mmr(stock)… didnt go for it after reading this review. a friend got it instead…went to his gig three weeks later, guitar looked amazing on stage glittering away like a beacon calling me but worse still it sounded incredible… thanks dude you were spot on (not)
I can’t fault my 2005 model RG1570, played great stock from day 1 (I figure it was well set up at the factory)
I have ‘axxess’ to plenty of ‘nice’ guitars to compare it against.
The stock V8, S1, V7 pickups hold up EXTREMELY WELL directly compared against hot and warm Duncans, Dimarzios, EMGs and Gibson 490/498 combos.
These ibby pickups are very accurate and bright, depending on settings/height/strings/picking style etc.. so a slight roll off on the guitars tone control gets rid of any extra sizzle I think many rich guys (with bottomless amounts of replacement pickup dollars) ‘whine’ about at forums.
Quote Ibanez specs: “The RG1570/RG1550M can dial in any tone, from crystal clear to searing and nasty, thanks to its V7 neck pickup, S1 middle pickup and V8 bridge pickup combination.”
i.e. if you want less “crystal clear to searing and nasty” back off the tone and play with the volume knob a bit, or tweak your amp.
I intend to NEVER swap out the V8, S1, V7 pickups, I am very happy with them.
Besides the logic that Ibanez would not go cheap on pickups for a great guitar like this, I DO NOT WANT MY DIFFERENT GUITARS ALL SOUNDING THE SAME anyway,
or with very similar quacky tones due to wasting ‘future guitar purchase money’ buying identical pickups, wtf!? lol
Nice J team prestige case too btw!
This is my first Ibanez RG, I wanted to see what the fuss was all about over the last 20 years with axe masters Satriani, Vai, Gilbert, and others endorsing them. They are a different piece of kit compared to les pauls, strats, custom builds and others, and a great all rounder.
I intend to buy a maple neck RG350M next (with the money I saved on not buying pickup$$$ for my 1570 😉
The only negative about many of these Ibanez RG models is the neck pickup rattle when it bangs against the butt of the neck when fingers or pick touch it, but I am in the process of sorting that out properly and aesthetically in a novel way with a rubber retainer come isolation buffer of some kind, as soon as I have some time.
It should help stabilise neck tones if no wobbling, rattling and banging about in free space, because of no retaining ring or buffer surround.
The bridge and middle pickups don’t have this issue.
A tremolo lock option would be a great Ibanez feature also, if you wanted more sustain, stability, or to compensate for a string break.
Thanks to ‘The Guitarist’ for the post 🙂
poorly designed bridge?? if you are calling the EDGE bridges poorly designed then i don’t know what will satisfy you. and again, clip your fingernails you idiot