A Replacement for a Ibanez RG320 FM

Stev_o

Well i got a RG 320 FM bout two years ago and was pretty much using it as my main guitar (Have a Ibanez GSZ which i use for rhythm and tuning changes) but recently after buying my pod x3 and doing bits of recording i havent been impressed with my RG compared to my GSZ it just seems very flat with nearly every tone like it has no life in it while the GSZ seems to power through everything very crisply.

Im wondering would it be time to get a replacement for the RG and if so does anyone have any suggestions? Id like to replace it with a similar kind of lead guitar but maybe with hopefully more life in it!

Karl Hungus

What pickups does the guitar have? The stock Ibanez pickups have always been poor in my opinion, so this should be the first thing you should look at sorting out. Makes absolutely no sense to replace an entire guitar when a change of pickups could work wonders.

Stev_o

Karl Hungus wrote: »

What pickups does the guitar have? The stock Ibanez pickups have always been poor in my opinion, so this should be the first thing you should look at sorting out. Makes absolutely no sense to replace an entire guitar when a change of pickups could work wonders.

Infinity 4 humbuckers =/ maybe thats the root of the problems. If it is what pickups would you recommend?

Karl Hungus

Stev_o wrote: »

Infinity 4 humbuckers =/ maybe thats the root of the problems. If it is what pickups would you recommend?

Yep, those pickups are pure muck. Get 'em out!

As for what I'd recommend, you could try a DiMarzio Evolution and Air Norton set. The Evo is a very balanced bridge position pup, very clear sounding, plenty of midrange and enough bite for some heavy rythms. AN is a great match for it, very warm and really singing kinda sound that's perfect for lead work.

Of course, it really depends on what kind of sound you're after, but I think that's an excellent well balanced and versatile set of pickups there, and they're not too expensive at all.

Stev_o

Karl Hungus wrote: »

Yep, those pickups are pure muck. Get 'em out!

As for what I'd recommend, you could try a DiMarzio Evolution and Air Norton set. The Evo is a very balanced bridge position pup, very clear sounding, plenty of midrange and enough bite for some heavy rythms. AN is a great match for it, very warm and really singing kinda sound that's perfect for lead work.

Of course, it really depends on what kind of sound you're after, but I think that's an excellent well balanced and versatile set of pickups there, and they're not too expensive at all.

Well id like some pick ups that have some life in them =P Ill get looking around to see if i can find those pickups in some of the music shops in Dublin and compare prices.

Thanks for the help mate!

Karl Hungus

Yeah, the stock Ibanez pickups (even on their mid to higher end models) are just woeful. Absolutely terrific guitars, but they just cannot seem to get it right with the pickups. The DiMarzios will breathe a whole new life into your guitar, that's for sure.

darrenw5094

A Dimarzio Fred or Satriani's other choice of Dimarzio's are savage boy!!

Voodu Child

Stev_o wrote: »

Im wondering would it be time to get a replacement for the RG and if so does anyone have any suggestions? Id like to replace it with a similar kind of lead guitar but maybe with hopefully more life in it!

If you like your RG, why not just replace it with a better (Japanese) RG?

The trem on the Jap RGs is miles better than what you've currently got. The prestige necks have fantastic craftsmanship, they're great necks altogether. The Dimarzio/IBZ pickups are quite good and don't need to be replaced (you might still swap them anyway, but that's a matter of taste).

You could pick up a new one, or a used one from the last few years and you'd be laughing, great guitars if you're into that style.

-=al=-

the low end edge pro's feel like plastic they're cheap and tacky feeling... evo's paired with evos are great but 1 evo is a little hot paired with a diff pickup can be slightly overkill

Ive a Fred and paf pro in my rg and its a very nice sound indeedy, Airnortons, tone zones, steves specials, they're all good, use the pickup picker on dimarzios site

and the stock ibanez v7's v'8 arent to bad, the infinity pickups suck a lot more, but 80% of people with rg's probably swap for dimarzio pickups

A7X

I have the exact same guitar and ive been having pretty much the same problem! the pick ups are muck tbh

Voodu Child

There's a nice RG770FM on the u-box, going pretty cheap (€250+shipping&customs)

Its a Japanese made guitar, with a lovely lo-pro edge trem (as good as it gets in terms of locking trems). Its not a high-end guitar (basic pickups), but for the money its a nice Jap-made flame-topped RG, with a great trem. Should be a solid, quality guitar.

I would sooner put good pickups on that, than waste money putting expensive pickups on your RG320.


Pic link will go dead as soon as the guitar is sold, sorry, cba re-hosting it :pac: