Guitar of the Week 33: Checking out a "Premium" Ibanez (2024 Season Finale)

[@retropuffer2986]

Wow! That red is stunning! What a guitar to end GOTW for the year.

[@brianwilcox2543]

I love this series of videos. I'm happy to hear that you'll be continuing it into the New Year. Have a Happy & Safe one!

[@bozeeke]

Exactly what I personally like in any super-strat style guitar. Hot-rodded pickups, fast playing neck, great finish but NO Floyd Rose.

[@Lola_Santoro]

Same! I'm a HUGE fan of playing (and players) who can sound amazing without thinking we need a FR.

[@lostinpa-dadenduro7555]

I just got my first Floyd Rose guitar since a Kramer I had in the 80s. I’m having a blast but honestly if it wasn’t for KZbin videos teaching all the setup tricks it would extremely frustrating. Which is why I probably never got another one until now. My memories of it from the 80s were nothing but pain and frustration. 😂🤘🎸

[@bozeeke]

@@lostinpa-dadenduro7555 I am a Floyd Rose hater. But the other aspects of 80s style hot-rodded guitars (fast playing necks, cool graphics on the paintjob, over-wound hot pickups) are all exactly what I like.

[@Stephen_M.]

Way to finish out the year! What a beauty!

[@Austin_Westtt]

Hell yeah brother! Really enjoyed the series and I'm so amazed how we have people like you and our community to showcase all of these amazing instruments. Keep on rocking brother and hopefully one day we can collaborate! Have a happy holiday and let's rock into the new year!

[@hanovergreen4091]

31:50 from Crazy Train to The Mob Rules! Outstanding Nobody plays that tune anymore :). Best Regards and Best Wishes!

[@HRHPOW]

No doubt that rocks on the dual rig

[@manfredschwalenberg5819]

Amazing Steve how time runs away. Monday comes quickly, not complaining as that means your guitar review never ceases to amaze me!

[@jray5363]

Never had an Ibanez, but I could learn to love that! ❤ Beautiful finish & it sounds great!

[@megatodd707]

GORGEOUS guitar. The back looks cool too. ❤️👍😀

[@MikeyChampagne]

New subscriber to the channel! Always like the Ibanez however don't own one...like how you post the specs on the guitars! Will stay tuned (lol) for next years vids! Merry xmas Steve and viewers!

[@DannyRedCheeks]

I’ve watched u grow your channel over the last few years I think u had a few guitars back then You’re living every guitar players dream New guitars every week Best wishes for 2025

[@HRHPOW]

Cool as guitar of the week is absloute dope and dope to look forward to. Merry Christmas to the Steve from Boston family.🎄🇬🇧

[@judih.8754]

Big thanks to Zzounds for sponsoring this series!!

[@bmac6456]

Thanks! Love your show. Do you keep all those Monday guitars?

[@danriley5848]

Gorgeous guitar I would prefer it with a tremolo but either way very nice and ready to shred on for sure. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and your family as well Steve. 🎄🤘🏻

[@bozeeke]

Another great video Steve. Keep up the good work.

[@slimsantilli4476]

Great Review on the Ibanez. The tone is pretty great. The best guitar I bought this past year was from "Saito" a Japanese brand. Just amazing

[@christophervella386]

I love these “guitar of the week”❤

[@HRHPOW]

Def coolest series on the guitar freaks. Can't get better than what is going on here. Plus the dude is into specs and all that, which is cool.

[@j7cc]

Very nice guitar, always cool!!!🤘

[@deannafisher2658]

Oh my, that looks amazing

[@yetimatzenightcat8702]

But..but wait, it's noooot blue 😂

[@deannafisher2658]

@ 😂 I’ll make an exception on this one, lol

[@williammazzotta5595]

Alot of sound for the price point!! Merry friggin' Xmas to me!!🎄🎄🎄 Best to all for an upcoming Jingle Rock Year!

[@angusorvid8840]

Sweet ax. The Tone Zone is one of the few pickups I've used that can make a mediocre amp sound usable. It's great.

[@craigparse1439]

Love the hardtail bridge!

[@Okay-George]

i love all my ibanez rgs and rga's great guitars!

[@werdna_sir]

That's a great looking axe. I've always wanted to try those pickups, too.

[@frosty_de_hitman5406]

In my world, that's the "Guitar of The Year".

[@bigkidband911]

I have this guitar in the thin body S style. Very nice guitars.

[@StephenCameron]

Nice looking guitar, with that color, and those inlays, sort of reminds me of an RG that's trying to look like an SG.

[@gomary2837]

A Request, would you play Eddie Van Halen's eruption again.

[@blackhatjester]

These are great guitars. I have the predecessor of this one, the RGIT20FE-TGF, with the same neck construction but with ash wings instead. I put the EMGs H4 and H3 in and it sounds absolutely killer. I haven't touched them since, they'll stay in that guitar forever.

[@buck7477]

Do one on the fender Japan Aerodyne

[@davidmcgough4076]

Guitar of the year, we have a winner!

[@nottommythao]

Hey Steve, are you going to do an end of the year holiday song rendition again?

[@yetimatzenightcat8702]

I'm definitely hoping for Rudolph the red nosed reindeer 😅

[@guitarfool3881]

Great looking Guitar !!! I want a Purple one 😎😎😎😎

[@FilleIceRises]

I love my RG! ❤ Mine has got the same pickups as this one but it’s one of the mid range ones so it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles. Can’t beat the wizard necks for playability. Hoping to get my hands on a premium or prestige one sometime this year!

[@jamiesmith1151]

Yes it is a coil split coil tap you would have to unwind to pick up introduce a new wire for the output coil tap

[@tonyhao9344]

Nice!

[@optimusminimus-v3d]

The MIJ Ibanez range of guitars has the finest build & QC in the world. BTW that guitar looks small in your hands Steve, one question: How do acrylic & abalone inlay's work?

[@yetimatzenightcat8702]

Good looking guitar🤩 ..let's call the factory if they can find the floyd for that thing 😂

[@shredenvain7]

Love Ibanez premiums I just wish they would expand the lineup to other models like an Iceman, a destroyer and bring back 7 string premiums.

[@Scottocaster6668]

I had a '82 Destroyer II (Adrian Smith) back in the mid '80s. Got stolen, great playing guitar too🤬

[@sweetnsourchick1761]

Hey, Steve! How many of the "guitars of the week" do you keep? This Ibanez should definitely stay in your collection. Very nice!

[@SnowdriftBoy]

Nice guitar!❤

[@angryheb1]

Beautiful twanger bro!! Whoa!!

[@Robbie28]

I also LOVE the tone ya get. I know you have probably explained it in videos, but what do ya use?

[@lostinpa-dadenduro7555]

I like the neck inlays.

[@gearhead2017]

Wow! What tones that ibanez has

[@1div2PIfc]

32:11 Nice rendition of Mob Rules.

[@TheTactical6string]

no matter what everyone should have a neck thru. Myself i cant pull the trigger on a no trem rig, I've got an Evertune guitar but it isn't really the same now is it..... I played a Premium Jem in Portland Me GC last week, it was white and tempting but not at the price. The steal was the RG920 line before 2020, they were gettable for under 5-6 hundee. I think were all going to look back and regret not getting the MIJ RG's now just like the reissue USA Charvels back in the 2010s

[@johnnyrkramerthemusicmovie3147]

pretty sweet guitar steve nice neck threw

[@OrbiterElectronics]

What are those uber bright picks you're using please Steve?

[@ryant3600]

when I ordered my Genesis Rg570 in jewel blue back in like 2018 I think, it came in a prestige box. I contacted Ibanez and had questions, basically I was told They're considered Prestige just don't have the after market pups and no case to keep the price point at a grand. Made sense, but was told they are made with the same QA, etc as the Prestige guitars. Not sure if that's still the case with the Genesis 550's but I thought for a grand I can get a case and put in a set of Seymours for an extra few hundred bucks which I did. (Actually, I had a set of Seymours laying around that I took out of a guitar that came with them, so basically 200 for the case. Also I wished they offered this color with the Edge Zero II trem.

[@user-Brianvh5150bp]

Hey man,great show like always I live just north of you up in NH you do a great job like the sound you have.I would like to know what solid state amp would you recommend really like EVH sound in the Hagar years his last 4 albums.Should I just get the Boss 3000 EVH and use his sounds that they put in The Wet Dry Wet sound I know it has the special Delay and Chorus set in there but $599.00 Is alot of cake.What would you suggest Thanks Brian..

[@mkrj2576]

Would dig a guitar like that but made to play less grainy stuff. Like same guitar with vintage sounding humbuckers. Beautiful unitary.

[@papablue3015]

Nice! 🤘

[@patrickgiles2700]

Gorgeous guitar! I almost bought one recently but found the Ibanez necks don’t work for me. I have large hands but the super thin profile is uncomfortable between the thumb and index finger.

[@NiqScott]

That top looks like it's out of focus. Beautiful guitar though Steve. I love a nice RG as much as you, especially without a pickguard. Incidentally, I've just looked at my RG770FM, and the flamed top isn't cut off where the elbow bevel is, so I'm curious why they'd do that with this one.

[@boddumblues]

power tap could be controlled/partial split.

[@lancelucifer4851]

Tone Zone was the pickup EVH would have used but the deal with DiMarzio fell through, I believe it's when he switched to Music Man. Hard to beat the TZ, except for the Norton or AT-1 . Alnico 5 makes a difference in harmonics kids, don't let em tell ya otherwise.

[@LiesThatBind]

There is also the entry level GIOs

[@dennisellis968]

Nice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@angryheb1]

I love Ibanez guitar names they give them.. RGT12PB? It rolls right off the tongue.. lol 😎🎸

[@Mcchubz]

Cool RG

[@reyflorenzo3644]

I'm sticking with my Kramer.

[@bradleyberdahl6148]

Ibanez4life

[@Lola_Santoro]

Ooooh. (I don't need another guitar. I don't need another guitar. I don't need another guitar . . .) Damn, I want one!!

[@lonnieo4676]

i think that guitar was made for you, steve, you def. sound best on an Ibanez...

[@gg-dw1yq]

Can you do a video of the effects you are using .. are you using Kemper or ???

[@pierrelorthios851]

wa wa wa wa....... WOW!

[@bc454irocz89]

steve teach me some licks man you rock

[@brianwilcox2543]

Isn't the RG5nn series made in Japan, too?

[@bucknasty69]

The RG 550 reissues are made in Japan. Phenomenal guitars for the money.

[@GaryBertolo]

Sorry, I'm tuning in late 10:50am Steve

[@ThrashMetalStudio]

Reminds me of a carvin!

[@astropillars5252]

Are these made in Japan?

[@bucknasty69]

The Premium guitars are made in Indonesia, but the workmanship is very nice. I’d put it nearly on par with the Ibanez MIJ stuff. I own one of the Premium series Universes and it’s a fabulous guitar. Owned it for three years now and haven’t any issues with it.

[@curtisc9350]

18:37

[@bjstein4242]

Ibanez neck throughs get a bad rap for not having low action due to neck angle and no ability to shim obviously.. can this one get below 1.0mm as our beloved bolt on can do with those flat radius boards?

[@BAND-MAID-USA]

What a trip it doesn’t have a Floyd. That’s actually cool imo

[@Ibaneddie76]

Great guitar, it bugs me when a manufacturer sands through the top on the arm contour. There is no reason to do that all you need to do is rout some relief cuts in the back of the top so it wraps over the arm contour when glued to the body, I've done it a bunch of times on my builds. I understand it's extra steps and big companies are all about cutting as many money saving corners as possible but really it's not difficult to do and would cost 0 with 0 need to set a machine or CNC up, a worker could use a small trim router and a straight edge and do it in less than a minute! To me it's worth it to have a cohesive looking top, specially when the fancy hippy wood tops are one of the major selling points! I still think Ibanez are one of the great guitar companies.

[@yetimatzenightcat8702]

Monday Monday doo doooo dododoooo be good to me 😅

[@mlj1111]

Let’s not forget free shipping!

[@NiqScott]

Some people say there are better pickups than Dimarzio. That's ok, you're allowed to be wrong.

[@hanovergreen4091]

Always ToneZones and AirNortons as stock. Would be a nice change of pace if they had others. Best Regards and Best Wishes!.

[@NiqScott]

@@hanovergreen4091 Personally, I'd just slap a Super Distortion and a PAF in everything.

[@hanovergreen4091]

@ I’ve got a SA420, cheap guitar, with a Super, a cool railn and a Lil 59 all together for $279 on Reverb. The thing is a freaking Monster. I could not agree more with you! Best Regards and Best Wishes!

[@Scottocaster6668]

For a $1,000 guitar you should get a case, not a cheap gig bag. Along with that box being all banged up. Terrible QC. Gig bags on 4-500$ guitars jmo. Altho I LOVE The finish, color and its a Hardtail!

[@cebjr]

Nice

[@lilguapo899]

I need this in 7 😭

[@yetimatzenightcat8702]

Hmmmmm, i want you to check out a new chair 😂

[@AlaskanRockstar]

🤘

[@Robbie28]

The only thing i get tired of with Ibanez is there pickup combo. almost always Tonezone and Air Norton. THey are not bad at all, but sometimes something different can be a nice change

[@Sigma77-n2u]

No whammy 😢but still nice

[@dennislydon-dt4mq]

That thing is Cherry

[@very5ick112]

for 1500 i would like genuine mop and mahogany not basswood

[@jbrad9040]

Looks like a decal on top of the maple. Has no movement at all.

[@wills8705]

Sad market when we're calling an Indonesian made guitar premium.

[@guypierce6323]

Nice try, but it is not a Schecter Super Shredder Red Reign, which is what it is designed to compete against, not even close.

[@davidfaustino4476]

Right. The Ibanez is a better guitar in every way.

[@bigkidband911]

😂

[@rikardocarvalho]

19mm Ibanez thin neck ? Wizards are 17mm

[@solidus317]

This is a Wizard III (19mm) as stated in the video.

[@rikardocarvalho]

@@solidus317 I know, but ibanez is famous for the 17mm original wizard.

[@solidus317]

@ yea for sure. I love the thinness on my various RGs that I own. Just wasn’t sure if you caught the Wizard vs Wizard III difference. All good, rock on brother.

[@scarfaceurb]

First! ; ))

[@clintwilson6380]

A headless....

[@GaryBertolo]

Is that a keeper? Nice!!! ¡¥¡

[@robertspreitzer8126]

I love Ibanez guitars but meh you can do away with that switch…just give me a Tone Zone and a volume knob, that’s all you need.

[@GaryBertolo]

2025 reviews of new guitars... not the same old same old??? Try some other builders/brands. Like US builders; Struner Hazzard; Buzz Feiten; PureSalem; Eastwood; Artist, etc. "would be nice. ¡¥¡ Peace ya'll

[@GaryBertolo]

I wish you a super... holly-days etc ¡¥¡

[@martinhuband4773]

Pretty but no thanks, gotta have a gotoh edge or zero

[@TheDrunkenScoundrel]

Seriously, Bro? I came here for trumpet reviews. One star. Cannot recommend.