8 out of 10
" Retro Ax with great sound, and a REAL Fred Gretsch[lic]Bigsby, Road House Special!!"
Feature:
I needed a knock around ax, with a Bigsby type vibrato. I HAVE a '66 Epi Casino, and a '70 Gibson 335, both with Bigsby's on 'em. You don't want to take these Classics to a "Bar Wars" gig. This Ibanez feels Indestructible, and sounds great. The earlier models had coil tap switches, and I wish this one had.- There is a routed space under the pickguard, to accommodate the tap switches.-- [It DOES NOW!!]
Quality:
The quality and fit/finish are very good. I would rather have a neck Plate instead of the ferrules,under the neck bolts-- but, it seems pretty SOLID. With the roller bridge, it holds a tune pretty well, as well as any trem ax. WHY didn't they give it a Trans Cherry finish, like an SG, the body is MAHOGANY???
Value:
This ax is for the player who Knows what he wants,this is not a Gear Snob's guitar.I used to OWN a good sized guitar shop, and I have owned/own every vintage revered ax there is/was. All the way back to Real Danos, an' Silvertones. This ax is as good as any "Paul" I've owned/sold/traded/gigged with, It's just Not AS Pretty!!
Desirability:
A good tremolo ax, if you don't like a Strat type. A Retro AX, body similar to Jaguar/Jazzmaster, sound more reminiscent of SG, or Paul, than a Strat. With coil taps, ya get a good strat single coil sound. With a Sunburst, natural mahogany, or trans cherry, finish it'd be a TOP SELLER! Heck, I own 15 guitars, and I LIKE this one.
Sound:
Sounds like a typical plank type ax, with H/B pups. Quality is as good as the better Squires.
Ease of Use:
This ax SUSTAINS forever thru my Digitech GNX 4, with a Tweed, or Twin [Patch] model setting, and a little bit of "Big Muff Pi" either through a full range PA, or into the Power amp input of my Roland Cube 30, or 'OL Peavey Black Widow Artist.
Support:
I special ordered this ax, cuz it was exactly what I was Lookin' for. Took about a week, thru a Local dealer.
Submitted: 07/20/2009
Style of Music: Classic Rock, Vintage Blues, Old Country.
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