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Captainibanez
Username: Captainibanez

Registered: 01-2004
Posted on Friday, August 05, 2005 - 9:57 am:   

Ok Gang, this weekends question is.................

What are your top 3 guitars from the Ibanez Prestige 2005 range and why ?

I don't care wether your hoping to own 1 of these guitars or if your input to this thread is mearly by what you saw in this years catalogue...speak up you !

Cappy :-)
Ibanezfreak1960
Username: Ibanezfreak1960

Registered: 03-2004
Posted on Friday, August 05, 2005 - 10:05 am:   

Mine would be the SZ2020FMTKF because I like the SZ I have already and ca assume that with the extra's (MM1 bridge and the USA made Duncans it's got to be a great guitar for money

2 the JSM 100VT because its one of the last classics still in production.

3 JEM7VWH because I played one of these and it was fantastic. Perfect action and tone response. Not a fan of trems but could deal with this guitar easily.

Now here s my question Cappy, do ya think they will come out with a Prestige acoustic line ever?
Cmangeot
Username: Cmangeot

Registered: 04-2005
Posted on Friday, August 05, 2005 - 10:09 am:   

RGT3020, bottom line
Ibanezfreak1960
Username: Ibanezfreak1960

Registered: 03-2004
Posted on Friday, August 05, 2005 - 10:10 am:   

Thats one what about the other 2?
Ibanezfreak1960
Username: Ibanezfreak1960

Registered: 03-2004
Posted on Friday, August 05, 2005 - 10:26 am:   

Excuse some of my typo's
Cmangeot
Username: Cmangeot

Registered: 04-2005
Posted on Friday, August 05, 2005 - 11:54 am:   

RGA321

Rg3120Fdam

Both nice,
I would like to see some more custom rg's with vine inlays, those are really nice.
Funkle
Username: Funkle

Registered: 12-2001
Posted on Friday, August 05, 2005 - 1:16 pm:   

Here we go! I didn't even see this post when I made my Prestige post.

Out of the 2005 range, it's tough, because I think the best ones have come and gone.

1. SA2020. The combination of features looks awesome: set neck, H-H pickups and SAT Pro bridge, and the finish looks cool. The verdict is still out on how it compares to a MIJ prestige until I get my paws on one.

2. SA1260. I just got one a few weeks ago. Nice guitar, if a little understated. This is the "working man's guitar" of the range. The neck is superb - Fairly narrow at 1 5/8". Jumbo frets. Now for my criticisms; The S1 pickups wreck the tone on this guitar. The magnets are so strong, there is a huge improvement when you lower them all the way down (but then the single coils become useless). And non-locking tuners on a trem equipped guitar - what were they thinking??? One touch on the whammy and the whole thing goes completely out of tune. The locking tuners was something that Ibanez got right 17 years ago, why are they ditching them? Luckily both of these things can be remedied. I have 2 Dimarzio VV 2.3 PUs and a set of Gotoh Delta locking tuners an the way.

3. Um, I'll go with the RGA321 because the fixed bridge is very cool. And I did get a chance to play one at a shop. Nice guitar with a great top. But I'm not much of an RG guy.

As for the discontinued models :-)

The SC1620 has surpassed my expectations for what a guitar could be. The neck is wonderful, It plays better than anything else I've touched. And the tone - it has an amazing resonance unplugged, and plugged the tone is to die for: clear and warm, with just enough raunch. It looks gorgeous too.

The SZ2020 looks beautiful too. I love the exposed natural maple around the edges and cutaways.

-Sven
Funkle
Username: Funkle

Registered: 12-2001
Posted on Friday, August 05, 2005 - 1:22 pm:   

I'd like to revise my ranking and put the SZ into the lineup. I was looking at the japan site which does not show the SZ, but it is on the US page. The SZ2020 looks killer! love the top, love the bridge, and I think I would love the neck. This one could very well be the best of the lot.


Freak, Sorry to rain on your parade, but technically, the JEM and the JSM are Signature models, not Prestige models.
Ibanezfreak1960
Username: Ibanezfreak1960

Registered: 03-2004
Posted on Friday, August 05, 2005 - 1:56 pm:   

Well they carry the Prestige neck according to the 2005 catalog so I was assuming that they are included in the line up.
Guitartim
Username: Guitartim

Registered: 04-2001
Posted on Friday, August 05, 2005 - 4:11 pm:   

1. AR3000 since it's final, very limited run (1 year?)ended in 2005 and will surely be the EBay favorite in the future...and because it's one bad , high class guitar;

2. JSM because of its compound radius neck profile. (Very cool!)

3. AR2000 since it only ran for about 5 years(?) as Ibanez' 'reissue' model...and since it's my personal favorite bargain-priced PRS and Les Paul killer.
Mr_roadstar
Username: Mr_roadstar

Registered: 06-2002
Posted on Friday, August 05, 2005 - 5:43 pm:   

None of them. Why? Because the extra money for the Prestige neck is of no value to me. I can easily detail the neck and frets on a less expensive model.

Steve
Ibanezfreak1960
Username: Ibanezfreak1960

Registered: 03-2004
Posted on Friday, August 05, 2005 - 6:03 pm:   

Guitartim I think the original question from Cameron was the 2005 Prestige line up.
Funkle
Username: Funkle

Registered: 12-2001
Posted on Friday, August 05, 2005 - 7:37 pm:   

I think if this thread has proven anything, we like the older Prestiges better then the new ones. AR3000, AR2000, SC1620 are real winners.

Maybe the SZ2020 is a contender, but it may be an imaginary guitar, because they don't seem to exist :-) Have you played one Captain?

-Sven
Captainibanez
Username: Captainibanez

Registered: 01-2004
Posted on Saturday, August 06, 2005 - 3:09 am:   

Steve....you have to be kidding.
Johns
Username: Johns

Registered: 02-2001
Posted on Saturday, August 06, 2005 - 8:16 am:   

Funkle:

I played an SZ2020 at a Sam Ash store a couple of weeks ago. I liked it a lot. The MM1 bridge is like a space-age version of the Gibraltar I bridge, complete with metal sustain block underneath. I could feel and hear a definite difference from my SZ520. I like the understated fretboard cosmetics. For me the minuses were the color (not a fan of anything gray) and the satin finish...just my personal preferences, really. I believe the sticker price was around $899. I would have expected it to be more.

Anybody have a first hand report on the S2075? The Poplar top is certainly a departure from the normal figured maple and mahogany we're use to seeing on the upgraded Prestige guitars.
Mr_roadstar
Username: Mr_roadstar

Registered: 06-2002
Posted on Saturday, August 06, 2005 - 10:22 pm:   

Nope, not kidding at all. There is nothing in the Prestige line that I would buy. For the money, I'd rather get an American Fender.

Steve
Funkle
Username: Funkle

Registered: 12-2001
Posted on Sunday, August 07, 2005 - 9:25 pm:   

I own both the SC420, and an SC1620 Prestige. They have the same pickups and hardware, and very similar construction, and I can say the difference is more than just a great neck. The Prestige sounds better. It is richer and fuller sounding. The 420 is more nasal and edgy. Of course, the 1620 is a much more beautiful guitar to behold.

John, thanks for the heads up about Sam Ash. Did they have an SA2020? I'll have to plan a visit next time I'm in LA.

-Sven
Mr_roadstar
Username: Mr_roadstar

Registered: 06-2002
Posted on Monday, August 08, 2005 - 1:19 am:   

If you need to spend the extra money to be happy, Sven, that's okay by me.

Steve
Funkle
Username: Funkle

Registered: 12-2001
Posted on Monday, August 08, 2005 - 12:57 pm:   

I don't think I ever mentioned how much I spent :-)

-Sven
Johns
Username: Johns

Registered: 02-2001
Posted on Monday, August 08, 2005 - 1:26 pm:   

Sven:

I don't remember if they had an SA2020. I did take down an RG Prestige model, but wasn't impressed with it enough to plug it in (could of been one of the RGAs). I really don't gravitate toward matte or satin finish guitars. They feel and look unfinished, to me.

I like the look of the RGT320Qrbb.
Funkle
Username: Funkle

Registered: 12-2001
Posted on Monday, August 08, 2005 - 2:57 pm:   

"I really don't gravitate toward matte or satin finish guitars. They feel and look unfinished, to me."

They don't age well. After a while, parts of the guitar would start to get more glossy with use.
Psychoshredder
Username: Psychoshredder

Registered: 07-2004
Posted on Tuesday, August 09, 2005 - 4:47 am:   

1. RG 3120 natural finish.
2. RG 2570 E VSL
3. RG 2620 Cubbed blue

why..??
1. I'm an RG freak.
2. honestly, there is nothing from 2005 line up that impressed me enough, but if I have to choose, there you are..
3. I always love natural wood finish, so that's why RG 3120 is top of the list.
4. RG 2570 because it has sharkteeth!!! but color is suck.
5. cubbed blue ..i thought it was one of a kind, maybe we won't see it anymore next year.

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