Ibanez is one of the most famous guitar brands, used by countless talented guitarists throughout history. But Ibanez can also be one of the most confusing guitar brands owing to the vastness of the various sub-brands, series, and labels.
There are so many different Ibanez models and sub-models out there that attempting to understand your choices can become quite overwhelming. In this article, we’ll discuss how to identify the Ibanez RG. Let’s get right into it!
Ibanez RG Series Guitars
RG stands for Roadstar Guitar, and the RG series is the most famous Ibanez sub-brand category. It is also what the vast majority seem to identify Ibanez with.
The Signature Ibanez RG
The RG shape is famous, despite there being various RG models out there.
They all have a distinctive style and highlights, for example, 24 frets and an ultra-thin neck.
While the famous shape has been maintained throughout the years, there are various styles and component varieties to look at, such as the RGA and RGD series.
RGA Series and RGD Series
The RGA series takes the famous RG shape and adds some forming to the edges. The ‘A’ in RGA represents the ‘arched’ top these guitars provide.
The RGD series keeps the notable RG shape but includes a few intriguing changes to give the guitar a somewhat better feel while playing. The ‘D’ in RGD stands for ‘drop-tuning’, which is what this guitar was intended for (in spite of the fact that you can play in standard tuning). When you look at an RGD guitar, you will notice how it adapts the RG shape to form the cutaways.
How do I Know What Model my Ibanez is?
On the back of your Ibanez RG guitar’s headstock or neck plate, you will see a model number and a serial number (especially on some of the older models).
The serial number begins with a letter and is then followed by numbers. The model number will be a blend of letters and numbers.
How to Identify a Fake Ibanez Guitar?
As with other phony items, you can determine whether an Ibanez guitar found at a second-hand market or online is fake by looking out for a few common red flags.
For example:
- poor quality finishing
- the fretboard isn’t installed as it should be
- the wood cutting isn’t done correctly
- the shade of the paint simply looks wrong
- the guitar has the wrong body shape
By and large, when it comes to guitar equipment like, for example, tuners, these post-retail items have no ‘Ibanez’ logo on them. In this case, you are advised to check the particular model that you need to buy on the Ibanez site to guarantee the fittings are compatible or to the correct specifications.
Conclusion
You should now have an idea of the different types of Ibanez RG guitar models, how to identify the model, and how to tell if your Ibanez guitar and equipment is authentic or not.
Although as a beginner, it may take some time for you to learn about the RG; over time, you will come to learn and appreciate the uniqueness of these special guitars.
