Ibanez RG

The Ibanez RG series has the maximum subtypes of guitars under the Ibanez Electric Guitar catalog^{[citation needed]} 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^{[citation needed]} 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 JEM 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^{[citation needed]} (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^{[citation needed]} - 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 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 as well as Basswood and Mahogany. The fretboard is made of Rosewood with the exception of the RG350MDX, the RG550MXXDY/RF and the RG270 which can be seen in the catalog section of IbanezRules.com in the 1996 catalog [1], where the fretboard is made of maple. The pickups are usually configured as HSH 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 EMGs 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^{[citation needed]}, 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.

Various models

Current RG Series is currently split into 5 versions depending on quality:

• 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 (as of 2011, J customs are available in the U.S.) unless you buy them from a non-authorized retailer. Typically, there are a few listed at any given time on eBay.
• RG Prestige - 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 7-String RG's currently in production.
• Ibanez RG Premium - High quality instrument below the RG prestige series, has USA-made Dimarzio/Ibz pickups and Edge Zero II tremolos. Some models feature highly figured maple veneer.
• RG Tremolo - RG series guitars of non-Japanese origin (China, Korea and Indonesia) with Floyd Rose-style tremolo.
• RG Fixed - RG guitars with fixed bridges of non-Japanese origin.

Source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibanez_RG