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Posted by: Todd Simpson Jan 26 2015, 07:27 PM

Bless the Gods! Ibanez has brought back the 17mm necks from the original WIZARD and and made them available on what looks like a reissue of the much loved RG570. Also, they have a swath of MAPLE neck/fretboard combos which is great to see

These are not everyone's cup of tea to be sure, but I gotta say I"m way in it I hope to see some of these in music stores and I'm stoked to see how they play.

http://www.ibanez.co.jp/products/u_eg_page15.php?year=2015&cat_id=1&series_id=1&data_id=154&color=CL01

Posted by: Mertay Jan 31 2015, 03:19 PM

Argh this year I really wasn't thinking about buying a guitar I only hope models with these necks will keep coming!

Posted by: Todd Simpson Jan 31 2015, 06:48 PM

You and me both! Maple necks just like the original wizards. Nice!

Posted by: Kristofer Dahl Jan 31 2015, 09:49 PM

Excellent, and with maple fretboards! If only they could ship these with real dimarzios this would be a nobrainer for me! (In GAS-heaven that is)

Posted by: Todd Simpson Jan 31 2015, 11:44 PM

BINGO!!! I LOOOOOOOOVE mapel fretboards It seems somewhat more rare to find guitars with them as rosewood seems more common? I wonder if maple is more expensive?

I'm with you on the pickups. The INF need to be replaced IMHO if possible. They are almost there to just hold position until you select your actual pickups. The very old original ibanez V1 and v2 pickups are great sounding in these guitars with these woods IMHO and convey a very classic "Ibby" tone. They can be picked up on ebay cheap.

But of course, a pair if BAREKNUCKLE or HOMEWRECKER or "Boutique" pups wouldn't hurt either!

Posted by: Mertay Feb 1 2015, 12:22 AM

I opened an inf sometime ago to use its parts experimenting modding another pickup. The parts were so low quality (not very magnetically strong) I didn't use anything.

I can comment though for such bad parts it sounds decent, the neck reminds me of a paf pro only muddier maybe increasing poles on one side would make it sound better.

But I also must comment I'd prefer inf's and pay a little less rather than the dimarzios. I bought my guitar with the same set, now the tonezone is modified to an airzone (simply amazing, I'd say the pedal friendly and usable cleans version of tonezone) and the air norton is totally something else

Posted by: Kristofer Dahl Feb 1 2015, 03:00 PM

Btw I wonder if it's possible to do any scalloping on these kinds of thin necks without risking to break them..?

Posted by: Mertay Feb 1 2015, 03:44 PM

Can't guarantee but I wouldn't expect a problem, though must mention the scalloping shouldn't be over the top. Most DIY scallops I've seen were too extreme.

Posted by: Kristofer Dahl Feb 1 2015, 03:48 PM

Yes, even a light scallop makes a great difference!

Posted by: Todd Simpson Feb 1 2015, 05:56 PM

I"m guessing you could do a light scallop as long as you left some fretoboard for stability Also, the new necks have a stripe of Bubinga or some other strong wood to help stability. They learned that the hard way when the original wizards started to snap when folks put heavy gauge strings on

Posted by: Mertay Feb 1 2015, 10:43 PM

It usually snapped right below the headstock, I also believe this also happened cause of overtightening the floyd nut screws too. To fix that for a while now they leave some extra wood on the beginning of the neck, mine has that too (might be one of the first models that implemented it) and it feels nice besides preventing cracks.

Posted by: Todd Simpson Feb 2 2015, 02:16 AM

BINGO!! They snap like a twig right at that spot. Tighten up the lock nuts too far, use the wrong strings, too much dive bomb, etc. The necks were prone to warping/snapping. I'm very careful with my old rg560, as they are getting very rare! I hope to try one of these new ones!

Posted by: PosterBoy Feb 2 2015, 09:47 AM

Too thin for me, I find my American Std Tele too thing, I like my Tyler's neck. What is the thickest neck Ibanez does for the RG series?

Posted by: Kristofer Dahl Feb 2 2015, 10:40 AM

The original wizard was extremely thin, and I don't have such guitar.

I would like to have one though - because it allows you to do some stuff not possible with a thicker neck. Extreme arpeggios/stretching licks etc spring to mind.

Of course the opposite is also true, that kind of neck does not work well for some types of bluesier/Hendrixy stuff.

Btw it seems several RG models have the "new" Super Wizard HP Neck. I really like this one as well:
http://www.ibanez.co.jp/products/u_eg_page15.php?year=2015&cat_id=1&series_id=1&data_id=153&color=CL01

Posted by: Mertay Feb 2 2015, 11:58 AM

Probably you should check todays premium series rg's for a thicker neck. They seem to be a bit thick and rounder.

Thinking about all the Japanese rg's I played, the difference was usually felt from the shoulders of the neck. Since its where we place the thumb, it feels thicker when playing standing up.

Posted by: Fran Feb 2 2015, 08:32 PM

Nice, love Ibanez

Posted by: Todd Simpson Feb 2 2015, 11:12 PM

About 19mm at the nut is as big as the 6 string goes on the IBBY

BINGO!!!!! The "Super Wizard HP" is a throwback to the original WIZARD and is 17mm at the nut which is amazingly thin. If you get the chance, give one a try!!! My old RG is still my fave guitar, just for the neck

Here is a shot of my RG next to a HAMER SLAMMER. The Hamer also has a very thin neck and you can find them for a few hundred bux on ebay in decent shape. I liked the Hamer But I still prefer the RG.



Todd