imho just get those Ibanez guitars that are equipped with Edge or Lo-Pro Edge FR bridges if you are into heavy whammy-ing stuff. they are known to be the most stable FR bridges around in the market. its better than splashing a few hundred on a guitar and spending another $300 just to replace the bridge with a more stable one.
if you manage to find a Japan made Ibanez ( excluding signature series, J Customs and Prestige models ) and you are looking for a guitar below a budget of $1000, I say grab it. it would most definitely be a player's guitar. Ibanez guitars are currently made in Korea and Indonesia so yeah.
Ibanez has always been good and affordable. I used to swear by my MIA Fender stratocaster before I layed my hands on an RG550. honestly speaking, the Ibanez guitar's basswood sounded louder than the stratocaster's alder body when I strummed them unplugged. after that experience of owning both guitars before, I can safely conclude that Ibanez uses good wood to make their guitars.
oh by the way, if you dont like slim necks, do no even bother with the RG series :lol: .
if you have around $3000 to spare, I say aim for a J custom. the killer looks and neck feel is to die for. more than $1000, get the prestige series. less than that would be your regular RGs and Ss. oh by the way, the prices that I've stated are more towards the 2nd hand market prices.
after straying all the way out of point, its back to the topic at hand. in terms of specifications I would say RGT42 would be the wiser choice. it is updated with the more stable Edge III bridge. of course, the 2nd hand market is still the best place to scout for better deals. my advice is, just be patient and keep your eyes peeled on the classifieds.
