Second NGD in a week (I have a problem) - polar opposite to my Raygun DC Junior

Bucket

So here's the story. My beautiful Raygun arrived on Friday and is amazing, I love it. But on Saturday, my dad and I took a trip down to Andertons in Guildford because he was planning to buy a Rockett Archer, which he did. But while he was doing that, I went round all the electrics, pretty much having a quick unplugged spin on as many as I possibly could

I was very taken by the gorgeous USA Jackson DK1 they had, and I ended up plugging in a Prestige-series Ibanez RG655, which was absolutely wonderful and which I would probably have sold a kidney for. But I also had a quick go on another RG, a cheaper model but one that I thought to be quite remarkable... so I did some thinking, and only a couple of days ago did I hit upon the idea of trading in my seldom-used Ibanez 7-string for it. After some emails and a phonecall, the trade was arranged and I put down a 10% deposit of £33.90 on the guitar, because it's a discontinued model and this was the last one in the shop (their second-to-last having sold while I was corresponding with the shop!)

So my dad and I went down again today, this time accompanied by @Hertz32, and I gave them my 7-string, they gave me £120 for it and then I paid the remaining £187, and walked out of the shop with a box. Here is that box:

http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/af347/ConnorF1995/Ibanez RG550XH/20150603_151948_zps0tc5j90m.jpg

Bucket

Here's the inside of the box:

http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/af347/ConnorF1995/Ibanez RG550XH/20150603_152056_zpsbwdm5e0j.jpg

So... what's inside the white sheet thing? Well, prepare to be amazed, stunned, or possibly just to laugh out loud, because it's bright red, it's sparkly, it's got a locking trem, and... well... let's say it's got a little bit of extra range:

http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/af347/ConnorF1995/Ibanez RG550XH/20150603_170947_zpszdnfb1wz.jpg

Yep, that's THIRTY frets, the highest note of course now being a Bb (not sure what octave... 6 perhaps? Can someone clarify?) And you know what, access is brilliant. I've played one of these before and hated it, because the setup was pretty rubbish and it was difficult to play the highest notes, but this one's set up pretty nicely and it's a breeze to get up there. One of the best things is actually what it does for the access to the 19th-24th frets, which are usually super-cramped on normal 24-fret guitars but are easy to get to here.

http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/af347/ConnorF1995/Ibanez RG550XH/20150603_171333_zps5erhzxlq.jpg

Bucket

Insanely complicated-looking trem, but it has a feature to block it so it can only dive, which is a feature I intend to find and use pretty much exclusively, because that's how I prefer locking bridges. And those extra little holes? Those are to do with the active circuitry that's supposed to simulate a neck pickup, because obviously there's no space for an actual pickup

http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/af347/ConnorF1995/Ibanez RG550XH/20150603_171148_zpsnvzukmhw.jpg

The neck is very thin, but still a little thicker than many other Ibanezes I've played. Very shreddable though, what else matters on this?

http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/af347/ConnorF1995/Ibanez RG550XH/20150603_171505_zpsk4l9oens.jpg

Playing-wise... it's just come out of the warehouse, it's got brand new strings that are still stretching in, so I'm leaving the nut unlocked and avoiding the trem until they're settled. Plays great out of the box though - nice low action, intonation's pretty good and it shreds like hell on wheels. If I was a twat, I'd say it plays like butter.

Sound-wise, I haven't had much of a chance to get to grips with it because my sister's revising for A levels and goes mental when there's the slightest bit of noise, but from what I can gather so far - it's very high-gain and shouty (but what else could one reasonably expect). The neck pickup simulator's not bad either. I'm sure it'll work just fine. Dunno about replacing pickups because of all the complex circuitry, but if I can then I might slip some DiMarzios in at some point... not that the stock pickups won't do the job for now.

And just look at it, it's so sparkly:

http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/af347/ConnorF1995/Ibanez RG550XH/IMG_20150603_170331_zpsbwlmt9rg.jpg

So yeah... I really, really really do need to stop now.

MrSwanson

Seen those a couple of times and wondered who'd buy one

Seriously though happy NGD! Whens the next demo gonna be out?

Bucket

MrSwanson said:

Seen those a couple of times and wondered who'd buy one

Seriously though happy NGD! Whens the next demo gonna be out?

I'll do one soon.

And yes, it takes a special sort of person... I am that special sort of person who thinks the current craze for extended range guitars would be better if the range was extended in the other direction

FelineGuitars

I'm sure there are players who are taking this model and dropping the tuning to B or drop A and the highest frets are sounding the same as a normal tuned guitar.

jd0272

Lush finish. No use at all to me, but lush finish.

speshul91

FelineGuitars;657123" said:

I'm sure there are players who are taking this model and dropping the tuning to B or drop A and the highest frets are sounding the same as a normal tuned guitar.

Don't tempt me, I'm saving up for a car, don't give me gas you bad bad man

markslade07

Bugger me! 30 frets! That's 27 more than I'd have any use for!

usedtobe

Prefer the Raygun, but hngd, anyways!

mike_l

Bucket, you are forgiven for letting the green bastard go.

Nice work.

stickyfiddle

Well I lolled

jd0272

mike_l;657211" said:

Bucket, you are forgiven for letting the green bastard go.Nice work.

Eh? Planet? On?

Deijavoo

I admit I added a LOL, only due to me struggling with 10 frets let alone 30. HNGD though dude!

usedtobe

Is that a Trailer Park Boys reference, Bucket?

breakstuff

Ooops wrong thread

mike_l

jd0272 said:

mike_l;657211" said:

Bucket, you are forgiven for letting the green bastard go.Nice work.

Eh? Planet? On?

He selled his green bastard Jackson. I've forgiven his sin.

jd0272

You forgive too easily. (I know what He did do).

57Deluxe

do a clip of the DC if you could...

OilCityPickups

That's really striking mate ... always fancied having a super extended dusty end myself (fnar fnar)! Love the finish. I'm so not a shredder myself ... but that's cool.

Philly_Q

Gosh.  Well, it's not my cup of tea but it's certainly striking.  I had no idea Ibanez made such a thing.

Made me think of 1980s Washburns: