RGR320EX Review

It has 24 jumbo frets on an Ibanez Wizard II flat neck, and edge 3 double locking bridge with tremelo, a basswood boday, and it has a textured matt black finish, which Ibanez name roadrage black.

Features:	8
Sound:	8.5
Action:	5
Reliability:	7
Impression:	8
Overall rating:	7.3
Users rating:	9
Comments:	39

overall: 6.6

Featured review by: unregistered, on september 17, 2007

Price paid: $ 567

Purchased from: Store in Portugal

Features: This Ibanez RGR320EX is a 2007 model, made in Indonesia. It features 24 Jumbo frets on a Wizard II, thin and flat bolt-on rosewood neck. The headstock is reversed; the tuners face down. Comes with an Ibanez Edge 3 double-locking whammy-bar and two passive Humbuckers designed by EMG. The Switch is a three-way one. And the body is the usual RG Super Strat in basswood with a slightly textured greyish black finish that goes by the name of Roadrage Black. With the exception of a small cable, the Allen keys and an extra spring, nothing is included with the guitar // 7

Sound: I bought this guitar for Metal, and it does an excellent job at that. It is great for fast playing and shoots out the notes very clearly even with good amounts of distortion. Great for lead and soloing. Though it does give some beautiful sounds through a clean channel, it is not a very versatile guitar. The possibilities are somewhat limited if you want to open up your musical range. I wouldn't recommend it for a chord-based take on music, there is a point where the pickups will sound a little muddy. When I compare it to my Stratocaster, I can really hear its limitations when it comes to versatility. There is just no comparison to the amount of different sounds I can get from the Strat. I have played this guitar through a Marshal AVT150X and a Fender 65. I have also used a DigiTech RP250 effects pedal. Again I can tell you that my Strat can make more out of the amps and effects. The RGR320EX is deffinitely not a multi-functional guitar, but it is wonderfull at what it does. The EMGs are the reason why I bought the guitar. They have a wonderful sustain - more than you will find in equivalently priced guitars. If you want a guitar for all forms of Metal, you will find these pickups quite the blessing. They are not noisy at all and yet are able to give sounds with great attack and punch. You should try those Dimebag-like screeching harmonics to hear just how great the sustain is. For me the EMGs are alone worth it. But they are the blessing and the curse. Wonderful for heavy music but lackluster for nearly everything else. // 8

Action, Fit & Finish: The guitar came with a really very poor setup on the edge whammy-bar. I went through all kind of complications with this. To tune-up seemed an impossible mission at first. When I was adjusting the spring tension to meet the string tension, one of the screws came clear out of the body (which doesn't say much for the quality of the wood). I substituted the two screws which hold the strings for larger and sturdier ones, which was a great improvement. After some 60 minutes of work I finally managed to get a proper tuning and it has since kept it fairly well. The action can be put quite low, with only minor rattle on the low E String, which won't be noticed through the amp and that does not even exist when the string is picked separately. And the intonation was wounderful all the way from the start. The finish is very good. Very comfortable neck and frets. The only problem with the guitar is deffinitely the Edge 3 bridge. I will change it in time and advise you to do the same. It is a poorly built piece. // 5

Reliability & Durability: I would not play this guitar Live without a backup. It is not at all a fragile thing, but the bridge is bound to give a few problems sooner or later, especially when using it to raise pitch. The finnish is sure to last. As well as the strap buttons and overall hardware. I see no major flaws in the guitar, and with a change to a better bridge I would even consider playing it without a backup. The Edge 3 really is the single problem. // 6

Impression: If you want something for Heavy Metal or Punk or Core music, I believe this is great for its price. The pickups will really ensnare you with the sustain, speed and clearness. These EMGs did it for me, they alone sold the guitar. On the other hand, this guitar is not for beginners. it's lack of versatility is lousy for the needs of someone Who is still learning different styles or for someone Who possesses only one guitar. And as I said before, the pickups will not service someone Who plays chord-based music, the strumming will come out muddy. I love the look of the guitar; the reverse headstock does contribute with style to the agressive look. If it were stolen and I had the same amount of money to spend, I would buy it again. But if I could spend a little more money, I would deffinitely look for something with a better bridge. The Edge 3 is it's only serious fault. It is the only thing you should be warned about before getting it. Substitute it if you can. Otherwise it's a wounderful instrument. // 7

overall: 8

Reviewed by: royals_rocker, on april 09, 2007

Price paid: $ 545.34

Purchased from: Music Produktiv

Features: This guitar is new for 2007. It has 24 jumbo frets on an Ibanez Wizard II flat neck, and edge 3 double locking bridge with tremelo, a basswood boday, and it has a textured matt black finish, which Ibanez name roadrage black. it's a Super Strat style guitar, with passive pickups designed by EMG for Ibanez. It has two of these EMG humbucker pickups, and a 3 way selector Switch. The tuners are also locking. // 9

Sound: Readng up on the Ibanez website, it says that the RG series of guitars is designed for metal music. I play all sorts of music, Heavy metal, blues, rock, classic rock, and this guitar hasn't failed me in matching any of those styles. I have a Laney HCM30R amp, and this guitar sounds quite good with this amp. On the treble pickup, it does sound a lot brighter and better than my previous guitar, which was a Les Paul Copy, and the rythm pickup also soudns very good.; Thier is hardly any noise produced on either pickup, and the pickups are still extremely responsive. By using the tremelo arm on the guitar, it is possible to make a whole range of extreme, wacky and breathtaking sounds, but the whammy bar does occasionally make the guitar go out of tune while using it, but a slight knock in the opposite direction sorts out that problem. // 9

Action, Fit & Finish: Now before I got this guitar, I didn't know all about set ups, so igot the guitar, and played it for a few days, then decided to tune down to drop d down 1 step. the whole bridge sunk, and the strigns wer touching the pickups and it needed all to be raised. I raised it up and had numerous problems and took it a shop for a set up. The man told me it wasn't set up at all and that it was in a bad conditon. Before it is set up also, it WILL NOT tune. I got it to the right note and then it went flat so I tightened the string again and again, and this ended up lifting up the bridge, so it is absoloutely essential that this guitar is set up properly before use, but other than that, now it is fine, the action is good, and everything is staying how it should. // 5

Reliability & Durability: Since I tuned it a week ago, the guitar hasn't gone out of tune, so it holds it strings very well. It al lfeels sturdy, and like it was built to last, so I don't have nay worries about hardware problems and the strap buttons feel solid, so I won't worry about my strap flying off while I play it. At the moment, I can't depend on I. I had a school concert before the guitar as set up, and I brought a backup and I was right to as the guitar went completely out of tune, and wouldn't tune, so untill I am sure the guitar is fine, I will always bring a backup if I'm gigging. The finish seems very good, and I haven't scratched the guitar amazingly, it does leave finger prints though. // 8

Impression: Overall impression of this guitar is that it is very good. It suits all my styles of music, so that part is good. I have been playing electric guitar for around 3 years now, I own many guitar pedals (mainly Behringer) and this guitar works well with all of them. Before I bought the guitar, I do wish that I was told about how it would need a set up, as that would have saved me a lot of money and bother. If I lost the guitar, I would definatley buy it again, because of the sound. The EMG pickups are amazing, and I am sure that if I wanted to replace them for EMG actives, they would work very well with the guitar, and wouldn't alter the looks. My favourite feature on the gutiar is tremelo, but that is also my least favourite feature at the same time, as it is a hasstle, especially as I didn't expect it to be. I compared this gitar to an Ibanez RG370DX, and I had to choose this one because of the pickups, which was definately worth the £40 price difference. In short this gutiar is very good, but yopu have to know what you are doing before you buy it. // 9

Comments

[tdrules]

wen u tuned it down, did u realise that u cant jus tune it down on a locking tremelo?

[royals_rocker]

no i didnt realise that. im 14, this is the most advanced gutiar ive ever palyed, i unlocked he things on the top, and thought it would be fine. i'm told it will be fine now though for tuning down. just lack of set up

[schecter4183]

not a need of setup, but need of knowledge

[Jawkster]

^pistol owned!

[copet]

Nice, I wish my RGR521 had a whammy :P

[BuCkFuTT]

rgs kick ass

[chiliwillifreak]

HAHAHAH, you have to adjust the spring tension if you change the tuning, also the intonation. I suggest you get someone to show you to save 80 bucks next time. It's not rocket science... i don't think the tuners are locking in this case. He prob meant a locking nut.

[Pabli7o]

U think if i put some original floyds will make it work...as in..solve the problem with the crapy edge 3?

[royals_rocker]

i would do that, but i cant afford it, spent all of the money on the guitar, does any1 know if the whammy bar sneeding to be moved the other way to get it sounding right, is that normal?

[Lone_Star]

Well, first of all thank you for the review, it hepled me a lot.

But I think it's a bit obscure to write a review about a guitar with a whammy bar without having experience with it.
I bet if you would have really locked the locking nuts, the guitar wouldn't get out of tune while using the tremelo.

[royals_rocker]

the reason why the guitar got out of tune was simply because the bridge was no where near parrelelll. that is all sorted out now though, and the guitar is absoloutely amazing. a divebomb sounds great on it, and i now have no complaints about any part of it i dont think

[royals_rocker]

Can i just say that now ive had this guitar a couple of months and got used to it, its absoloutely amazing!

[Hanger 17]

hows the paintjob?

[royals_rocker]

the paint job is pretty good. its mnatt black with many lumps on it.

[royals_rocker]

but the lumps r meant 2 b ther, srt of like a tarmac road surface finish

[triviumbrap]

im thinking of buying one of these so would u recomend it and how much did it cost u to get it set up?

[NoNameLess]

I have This guitar. Its my second Guitar, but my first with floyd rose. But i read and watched vid's on how to tune so it whas no problem. It is Extremly good. Love it. It's very good for Any type of metal and is easy to play

[NoNameLess]

Anyone know what pickup is used when the switch is down, middle and up?

[royals_rocker]

triviumbrap :
im thinking of buying one of these so would u recomend it and how much did it cost u to get it set up?

i would reccomend it, and it cost me £25 to get itset up, but it was a bad set up, usual price would be around £50

[J.J.G.]

Anyone know what pickup is used when the switch is down, middle and up?

down bridge, middle both, up neck, simple 3 way

[erithlon]

Is it true that the bridge pick-up gives a Heavy-Metal sound?

[royals_rocker]

i would say it is quite a heavy metal sound, but i think its a matter of opinion

[kradamek]

this sounds like a good guitar and im thnkin of buyin one and the main thing i hear wrong wit it is hte bridge. is there another ibanez like this for about the same price with out the edge 3?

[royals_rocker]

for the same price u can gget a guitar without a trem, with the same poickups, but a diff finish and neck inlays

[kfong03]

the new 2007 RGR320EX have some gorgeus finishes on them...check them out...great stuff

[brush200400]

yeah im about to buy this guitar in silver artic frost finish

[brush200400]

got it. great guitar. the only problem is it isnt set up.

chiliwillifreak wrote:

HAHAHAH, you have to adjust the spring tension if you change the tuning, also the intonation. I suggest you get someone to show you to save 80 bucks next time. It's not rocket science... i don't think the tuners are locking in this case. He prob meant a locking nut.

they are locking tuners

[b-rentt!]

i wana do alot of drop tuned stuff but do alot of divebombs whammy etc. is this a good guitar for that, i mean, with the whole floyd rose thing going on?, i mean, i know its a b i t ch to tune it and re-string it but once i get used it yea but, would you reccomend this guitar over just a standard bridged guitar for my purposes?

[J.J.G.]

if you set it up this guitar will be great for whammy bar harmonics, pinch harmonics, etc. the emg's can take on the most high overdrive you can imagine.
hint: when droping down to C try to tune the lower strings first and then the other strings. if you tune the higher ones first the others will make them go out of tune in the end.

[oliver105]

I bought this guitar a couple of days ago, and it's one of the best guitars I've ever played. If you're into metal, this is the thing. The looks are perfect, easy to play.. Simply kicks ass.

[oreo181]

i bought it at guitar center and they didnt give me wammy bar those bastrds
the guitars so tight tho i luv it
damn sexi is what it is

[cutter222]

i just bought this guitar and its my first and i love the look and feel of it but with the cheap VOX amp i bought i cant get a decent heavy metal sound out of it... ie metallica tunes or ACDC, just cant get that raunchy sound, can anyone recommend a good amp thats at a reasonable price. thanks in advance

[IbanezRoadRage]

i own one of these guitars ... its an awesome guitar however you should not buy this guitar because its got emg's, i've heard too many cases where someone buys a guitar because of the pickups...pick a guitar thats sweet for you...you can change the pickups later...don't be fooled, these pickups are actually ibanez pickups designed by emg...you actually LOOSE sustain...and the pickups have quite a bit of buzz aswell...i recently changed them for dimarzio evolutions and let me tell you...it sounds like a JEM...gorgeous, showers you in harmonics and amazingly crisp sound that drives a punch...they are ...i buoght this guitar mainly because i can play like lightning on it...neck is extremely comfortable...the jumbo frets are awesome...im not a huge fan of the edge III bridge, but that can be easily upgraded...this guitar is going to be a collectors item because its the only RG ibanez with an inverted headstock...really rare...anyways...you wont be dissapointed with this guitar...gives me everything i need for playing anything from vai...to satch...to metal...eric johnson...anything in the heavier genre...and it gives me the harmonics ive dreamt about since i was a kid...

[Beefstew]

I bought this guitar a couple months ago and absolutely love it. the speed and sound i can get out of it is amazing. Now I've only been playing guitar for about 3 years, and my old guitar was a POS that i just tuned and played. I've heard the bridge on this guitar is not of great quality, can anyone explain why? I havent had any problems with it and it feels, and sounds fine to me.

[tjhome28]

I have this guitar, and have had for just under a year now.
I don't see why everyone is complaining about the edge pro 3!
If set up properly, it works an absolute dream
Brilliant guitar, would recommend it to anyone =]

[Ekima]

i have a prob, i don't know if i will buy this guitar or a PRS custom with Duncan pick ups, it is my brothers guitar and it has a pretty sweet sound, better than this one i can bet, my style is not just metal so theres the deal, will this guitar let me play blues or classic rock and Vai stuff too?.. i know that the PRS will not let me all that, will this guitar?..

[Ekima]

i have a prob, i don't know if i will buy this guitar or a PRS custom SE with Duncan pick ups, it is my brothers guitar and it has a pretty sweet sound, better than this one i can bet and he will sell it to me for 500 dlls aprox, my style is not just metal so theres the deal, will this guitar let me play blues or classic rock and Vai stuff too?.. i know that the PRS will not let me all that, will this guitar?..

[Seanold]

I have the rgr, i think it would be ok for vai and maybe some classic rock but i dunno how good it would be for blues, cuz i just play power metal and symphonic metal anyway

[xXMyEpiLpEbXx]

thanks for the review when i decide to buy another guitar im definitely keeping this one in mind.