One factor that makes Ibanez relatively unique and likable in the market is that it is willing to experiment with looks and style. There are few brands better out there for the musician who would like to find his or own personal style. One example of this willingness to take chances is the Ibanez RGR420EX. Let’s take a closer look at it to see if this experimentation works out well.
Features: The body of the RGR420EX is shaped more or less like a normal Ibanez. It takes the Fender Stratocaster style to new heights by thinning the body and deepening the cutaways on bot the top and bottom of the guitar. What makes it so cool though, in my opinion, is the finish. Ibanez terms it a “frost” look, but to me it looked like broken glass. The general colors available are basic glossy black and red, but the frosty affect really gives this guitar that extra “oomph” many other guitars today are lacking. The neck is made of three separate pieces, and has Ibanez’s trademark Wizard II finish. The fretboard is made of rosewood, and on it are twenty four jumbo frets with trademark sharktooth inlays. Additionally, the headstock of the guitar is reversed so that the tuning heads are on the bottom instead of the top. It’s a nice little aesthetic addition that helps with the hard edged look. The bridge is a tremolo, which means you’ll be able to do some sonic tricks like the dive bomb. Also, the tuning heads are Gotoh brand, which means your string won’t be going out of tune easily. Electronically, the RGR420EX has two Ibanez brand humbucker pickups, volume and tone control knobs, and a three way selector switch.
Playability: The tremolo bridge is starting to lose favor among newer Ibanez guitars. While once a necessity, it’s now kind of an extra feature. And it just so happens that this is an extra feature that I really like. Also, the Wizard II profiled neck means it’s thin and tapered to allow for excellent ability and ease to move up and down the neck. Ibanez is known for making their guitars very playable, and the RGR420EX is no exception.
Sound: It’s clear from the get-go that the RGR420EX is pretty unique among most mid-range Ibanez guitars. While most are designed solely for metal and really don’t sound all that great on clean settings, the RGR420EX’s humbucker pickups can perform with plenty of versatility.
Overall: If you have the money to spend and are looking for a guitar that can do it all, the Ibanez RGR420EX is a great choice. It has great sound, a very unique (and cool) aesthetic quality, is up with the best of them in the playability department. You can find the RGR420EX in music stores for about $600.
