What to buy? Ibanez RG Standard vs. RG Prestige - Part 1

Link to PART 2: • Ibanez RG Standard vs....
In this video I am comparing an RG421MSP-TSP Standard (Made in Indonesia) with an RG652AHM NGB PRestige (Made in Japan) guitar, which is about 3 times more expensive. Is that upcharge warranted or not?
From craftmanship to sound, so stay tuned until the end and leave your feedback in the comment section. Don't forget to give it a like.
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Of course, there are countless variations amongst the various models and ranges. This merely aims to compare the general differences in make and features, and particularly my set of guitars.
Sorry that it's not completely in sync. Seemingly impossible to do.

[@gram440a]

I've been playing budget Ibanez stuff for decades. I gave up waiting for someone to make factory guitars the way I like, and custom shop stuff is too expensive, so I just get something cheap that's about 80% right and bang out the last 20% myself. By the time I install EMGs, rearrange the controls to my liking and iron out the frets, I don't find much difference between my budget Ibanez and USA custom shop stuff, except the price. Plus, I worry less about it getting stolen. What I REALLY want to hear is that "The expensive guitars INTONATE so much better!" I'd be willing to pay extra for that, but it doesn't seem to be the case?

[@loserfur]

🧢

[@garonmartin1756]

Thanks for making this video! I’ve really been eyeing that standard in that crazy green sparkle finish, and there’s not a lot of videos out there about it yet. Looks like a pretty good guitar for someone on a budget such as myself.

[@Alienadin]

You are welcome. I love it. Too bad we don't have the tremolo version available here in Europe, as I'd get one of those for sure.

[@joshmuz9018]

Wow they sounded so different from each other glad I sat through the whole 15mins to get to hear it in action!

[@18nomah]

Great video. To the point and factual.

[@sukadukaku]

I Planned to Buy Ibanez Prestige RG652AHM, You change the Tuning and tremolo turn to gold makes that guitar looks so Cool and luxurious

[@wodenoftheangles3339]

You speak very good English for a non-native speaker.

[@Alienadin]

LOL Good one, mate.

[@wodenoftheangles3339]

@@Alienadin Huh?

[@bojangles4704]

Steve Vai guitar necks actually aren't that thin at all, they are nothing like the super wizard for profile which was a surprise to me, great video man !

[@Alienadin]

Well, I guess it depends on the model and era. I have played some of the white ones with the gold hardware from the early 90s, and the neck was really thin, as was the case on the 30th anniversary JEMs (green/yellow/pink). But the guy does have freakishly huge hands and fingers, so it wouldn't surprise me.

[@greekfreak1980]

Joe Satriani´s models also don´t have super thin Wizard necks,they´re more like a C-shape.

[@bojangles4704]

@@Alienadin Hey good to know , thanks man !

[@RedZeroSpeedFactory]

What red super strat model is that on the top right behind you?

[@Alienadin]

It's exactly that: A super strat. Namely, a Fender HM Strat from '89. The most progessive and innovative guitar Fender has ever produced since the invention of the Sratocaster. 24 frets, HSS DiMarzios, super thin neck and 16 inch fingerboard radius. Here is my latest video with it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/q6Gzp2Ofrs-Bes0

[@antonwilding9744]

great comparisson video , but the sound output could be a little bit higher \m/

[@Alienadin]

Agreed. Sorry for the inconvenience.

[@Leo_ofRedKeep]

Very interesting comparison. The "piece of wood vs piece of art" statement sumarises well that a lot of the price difference goes into a nicer object, not in a better instrument.

[@Alienadin]

I have to disagree with you there. The Prestige plays better, is better made, and has more versatile sounds. It's a no-brainer, if you ask me. The RG421 is pretty great for its price though, but it's not Prestige.

[@asherfranklin6456]

Does RG STANDARD have a tremolo? In Amazon I didn't see a whammy bar

[@Alienadin]

The US iteration of this one does come with a trem, and other versions do too, but this one sadly didn't.

[@keysofthekingdom4444]

Thank you for the video brother

[@Alienadin]

You are welcome, mate.

[@TheSunMoon]

I really wanna get an RG421AHM, shame the headstock is not matching with the body. RG652AHM is way out of my budget range lol.

[@Alienadin]

I undertand your concern. However, I would worry more about the practical differences than the aesthetic ones, such as the inferior tremolo, which is hugely important. I would go the middle way and get the new RG656 reissue, which is kind of in-between those two in terms of price. As I would definitely get one with an Edge tremolo. Save yourself years of hassle with an inferior trem.

[@jakeblair8876]

@@Alienadin I've been playing a RG470ahm with a standard double locking tremelo and it stays it tune great I dive bomb and flutter and it returns good with no bad sound or give in the tremelo. I may replace it in the future but as of now don't see any reason to. I see people hate on the cheaper tremelos but if set up correctly and maintained correctly they will do exactly what the others do. I haven't had to tune mine for 3 months. Only thing to worry about is if the blades go dull in a couple years I'll probably drop a gotoh tremelo or a edge trem if I can find one

[@troyguinn303]

So if one were to try and give the standard RG the "prestige" neck treatment; how would that go? Obviously rounding thr fretboard, setting action and intonation as "performance oriented" as possible. But how would you go about finishing the fretboard/neck?

[@Alienadin]

I am not a luthier, but satin finish is the way to go. I hope you meant rounding the frets, not the fretboard, which would be a terrible idea.

[@troyguinn303]

@@Alienadin I don't mean to sound like I'm taking a bunch of material away, just using micromesh to soften the edges of the fretboard. I've seen several reputable luthiers do so, as well as smoothing fret edges. Was just curious as to how one would go about diy finishing a prebuilt neck

[@BOBANDVEG]

@@troyguinn303 use a green and yellow scotch bright on the neck. Get $4 needle files off ebay for the frets, use the side of a screw driver shaft to round the feet board sides.

[@DarruHando]

I like ibanez indonesia

[@Alienadin]

Good on you, mate.