Ibanez electric guitar?

[Sage]

Russ aren't you a lawyer? I'm astounded that you don't know the difference between a fact and an opinion.

Consensus does not a fact make.

Once I replaced the single coils in my old guitar (actually an old Ibanez s260) with expensive Kinman pickups. The 3 x pickups cost more than the guitar.

But I preferred the sound of the cheap Ibanez ceramic magnet single coils to the expensive vintage mangnet nickel/Cadmium dummy coil Kinmans which are faithful replicas of the pickups in a 1962 strat (but are noise free)

Unfortunately I play gigs which often have large lighting rigs which create huge RF fields, therefore making ANY single coils too noisy for my application, so practical considerations have to trump tonal considerations.

In this case, it is fact. The cheap Ibanez ones just sound like you've got the tone control turned down permanently, so horrible and useless.
I've not used Kinmen pickups, but I have often found myself preferring stock pickups to aftermarket ones, which mostly seem to turn guitars into one trick ponies in my opinion.

I'm lucky in that I can get away with lots of noise from my Strats and Teles, my guitars are never meant to sound pretty

[OvertoneZero]

Add me the consensus..

I have never been a huge fan of Ibanez pickups, but generally prefer a PAF type of sound from humbuckers. Not really into gainy shred stuff.

[Anubis]

I got this one. It feels good. Made in Indonesia. Them monkees been whittlin' on wood fer centuries. I don't really care about the pickups cause it goes straight into Ampeg SVX.

[beats me]

I got this one. It feels good. Made in Indonesia. Them monkees been whittlin' on wood fer centuries. I don't really care about the pickups cause it goes straight into Ampeg SVX.

That seems to be missing 2 strings, but maybe I'm just an old school purist.

[Anubis]

That seems to be missing 2 strings...

Yeah but the strings are fatter.

[greta]

I'm not sure if the OP was looking for a more rock oriented guitar or not but the Ibanez Artcore series are fantastic for the money.

[ewistrand]

Laughing WITH Ewistrand - He doesn't like yamaha, and I HATE Charvels !!! (every wanna be metal guitarist in the 80s had these, and especially hated the cheapy ones with one pickup). Jackson and ESP were OK, I never liked B.C. Rich much either, all look and no substance, but I really liked Larrivee's they were quite rare in England and cost a ton.

All depends on the BC Rich. A '78 Mockingbird made out of koa was my main stage guitar for a couple years. For clean tones- yeah, it didn't work. Switch on the preamp, though, and it was a completely different matter.

Shows you how subjective this all is and the only way to decide is really to go down to a couple of stores and check out every guitar you like the look or feel of within your budget and pick the one which you think sounds best. The Yamaha SG is actually awesome too, but for me, The Pacifica (Strat shaped) is my baby. And I'm not a big fan of real Fender Strats (especially the Mexican and Korean ones, the Japanese ones weren't too bad) , although I have played some killer modded ones, a sunburst 1972 American Strat with DiMarzio pickups etc which my friend owned was pretty awesome.

I've never liked MIM or MIJ Strats either. My current Strat (a 2003 American Standard with EMGs) is the best Sttrat I've ever owned though (six of them, including one-off customs), and the second best I've ever played (after a beat up '57 that sounded like God). YMMV...

ew

[bagginz]

Russ aren't you a lawyer? I'm astounded that you don't know the difference between a fact and an opinion.

Consensus does not a fact make.

In this case, it is fact. The cheap Ibanez ones just sound like you've got the tone control turned down permanently, so horrible and useless.

Hello Sage,
cool, so I can chalk you up as another one that doesn't get the distinction between a fact and opinion.

cheers,
bagginz

[bagginz]

Add me the consensus..

Not really into gainy shred stuff.

Neither am I into the shred stuff.

Personally I get on better with lower output single coil pickups, the clankier, the better.

Still, I like the sound of the Ibanez pickup INF2 (for the bridge) and an INF1 in the neck pickup.

They also split well with a middle single coil, though on my guitar I did physically turn the INF1 around 180 degrees so the coil nearest the fingerboard combines with the middle P/U when it's split and in combination.

Cheers,
bagginz

[Ajbbklyn]

Bought a MIM Standard Strat in 2004 on closeout for $300 @ Sam Ash. Three single coil configuration.

Just this past weekend, I rewired and shielded the innards and replaced the stock pups with a set of Jason Lollar Blackface. It now sounds like the most beautiful vintage Stratocaster and the best part? Absolutely quiet as a mouse - even in positions 1, 3 & 5 - even next to fluorescent lighting.

So:
Guitar: $300
Pickups: $240 + $12.50 shipping
Sundry supplies (aluminum tape, 40-watt soldering iron, Kester 60/40 .040 solder, electrical tape. aluminum foil) $60
Graphtech TUSQ saddles and nut $50?

Let's say $675 for a killer axe.
A bit OT, I know. For those of you who are brave enough to rewire and shield your Strat:

Quieting The Beast

For Jason Lollar's pickups:

Lollar Guitars

[Sage]

Russ aren't you a lawyer? I'm astounded that you don't know the difference between a fact and an opinion.

Consensus does not a fact make.

In this case, it is fact. The cheap Ibanez ones just sound like you've got the tone control turned down permanently, so horrible and useless.

Hello Sage,
cool, so I can chalk you up as another one that doesn't get the distinction between a fact and opinion.

cheers,
bagginz

So can I chalk you up as someone who doesn't understand someone with a strong opinion masquerading it as fact?

[bagginz]

Hello Sage,
cool, so I can chalk you up as another one that doesn't get the distinction between a fact and opinion.

cheers,
bagginz

So can I chalk you up as someone who doesn't understand someone with a strong opinion masquerading it as fact?

Ahh good, precisely my point: you and others were stating your opinions as if they were facts.

I'm glad we got to the truth in the end.

cheers,
bagginz

[aqua_tek]

hai guise.

So, guess what... I'm looking at getting a guitar too. Not necessarily an ibanez, considering a few other brands. I'd say my budget lies around the $400 mark as well.

I'm not much of a guitar expert. I know I used to have an old Squier strat that I messed around with during my high school years. That's about it.

In my search around a variety of sites, I found a few used Ibanez RG's for a bit under 400 bucks. These had already intrigued me before even checking this thread. So, as beats asked, is a 400 dollar used Ibanez RG a bad guitar? I'm not clear on this.

Another thing... anyone have opinions of Westone guitars? I found a Westone Bendmaster and a Westone Corsair, each for around 300 and change. Looked interesting as well.

Then again, I've seen some Strats selling for about 200 and change... maybe I should just go for this... though I don't want to go TOO cheap. I fear I'll end up paying more in the long run.

Thoughts?

EDIT:
OOH! And one more thing. Has anyone heard of a guy named Teddy Zane? Supposedly it's this guy who makes his own custom guitars, which are "Ibanez killers" and he seems to have a bit of a cult following. Some of his guitars are CRAZY looking as well... and not too expensive.

[Anubis]

hai guise.

So, guess what... I'm looking at getting a guitar too...


In my search around a variety of sites, I found a few used Ibanez RG's for a bit under 400 bucks. These had already intrigued me before even checking this thread. So, as beats asked, is a 400 dollar used Ibanez RG a bad guitar? I'm not clear on this.

So guess what dude... I was in the same mood this weekend and decided to head over to my friendly neighborhood GC in search of a good bargain used guitar to fire up the inspirational juices. So out of the corner of my eye I spot this sleek lookin' pearl-blue beauty. When I picked it up it darn near played itself! The neck is the fastest I have ever felt. The axe was pretty filthy and didn't even have the proper strings on it. So I hesitated and left the store. That was Fri.

Then on Sat. I woke up and I couldn't get her out of my mind. I instinctively knew that I had passed up on a gem so I hauled ass back to GC again praying that it was still there. When I got there I headed straight over to it and it was still there. This time I plugged it in and played it for well over one hour and discovered it's secrets.

Guitar Center had it for $495 but had reduced it to $199 on clearance for the Labor Day "event". I snatched it up along with a Dunlop guitar restoration kit and the tremelo bar that was missing. Well I found out that I had picked up one of the most coveted axes in Ibanez history... the Roadstar II RG 440. After I cleaned it up and restrung it with some proper 9's she wails like a porn star. You can read more about this feature-rich classic at Harmony Central. You can see this guitar in action here.

If you can find one of these at any price, do not hesitate!



This is not my guitar but just shown for illustration. The clear coat on mine has apparently yellowed a bit over it's 23 year life-span but that imparts an eerie, greenish, iridescent hue that makes it look studlier than the original, girlie, baby blue.

[sublimelobc]

My most used guitar is an Ibanez GR 520 (ghost rider) that I found in a pawn shop. If you could find a ghost rider under 400 bucks it might be the best money you ever spent...I have seen them go for that on ebay sometimes.

Lots of good options, I would watch pawn shops for a while.