Hello everyone.
For more than 10 years I've been playing an
Ibanez Prestige RG2570E , bought online as I was too shy to sit on a guitar shop to try different models, and based on the fact that some of my favourite bands used Ibanez, good reviews and features.
I already had an Ibanez GIO and wanted to "upgrade", spent around €850 (yes, I wasn't living in UK yet) thinking that was the right thing to do. I am not sure anymore as probably I could've spend less to achieve same or better results.
Since the first day, band members, friends, studio guys and whoever was listening or trying my guitar has been always
consistently saying "The pickups are bad", "the neck is too thin", "Ibanez aren't real guitars", "this guitar is a rip off", and even a band I played with saying "you should buy another guitar, to continue playing with us".
This has never put me off and I
continued to play regardless, also knowing its price, and they never attacked me or my technique personally, but the guitar as the sole fault I've never sound really good compared to others.
Today I am more towards the idea it is me that needs to improve playing, and I am sorta re-learning the basics, even if I've been playing in bands and gigs for almost 20 years.
I am also looking for a second guitar, and despite thinking for ages that my
third instrument would've been a more expensive one, I am now more towards the idea to spend way less (even half) than last time.
It has been shown clearly to me that big money don't make big guitar/guitarists.
I would like to know if this is something familiar with you and what's your opinion about it.
Comments
In fact it's a pretty high-quality guitar. If there's anything wrong with the sound you're getting, it's more likely to be down to the amp, pedals or set-up of the guitar.
Perhaps some of them should listen to someone like Steve Vai or Paul Gilbert playing an Ibanez and then say that they aren't real guitars...
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Would Joe Satriani or Steve Vai spend a whole career not playing real guitars? Or probably countless other top name players, especially in the metal world?
I wouldn't want to play with a band who tried to dictate what gear I used - God knows how they might try to dictate how I actually play. I'd also dismiss anyone who claimed Ibanez aren't real guitars as ignorant.
I wonder what kind of music you're playing? If it's metal, then those comments make zero sense.
If it's classic rock, blues or indie, I can kind of imagine the scenarios where those kind of comments might take place. Not excusing it, but I can imagine it.
But guitar music is full of people using incongruous guitars to really good effect, so I wouldn't let it worry you.
To be honest "The pickups are bad", "the neck is too thin", is the kind of insensitive sh!te I might come out with, not realising that it might upset someone,
but "Ibanez aren't real guitars", "this guitar is a rip off", and "you should buy another guitar, to continue playing with us" are just ridiculous comments that should certainly be ignored.
I am betting though that none of the people criticising your guitar are professional musicians with a proven track record and commercial releases.
Play what you like and be happy.
As ICBM says, some people are just dicks.
FWIW here in Asia I seem more Ibanez guitars than anything else.
They dominate so completely here and Fender and Gibson would love a piece of that action, let alone the boutique brands which do not even get a look in.
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Most of the flak being directed at you and your guitar sounds like puerile gobshite. Some guitarists, usually male ones, seem to appraise instruments according to price and what "designer label" components have gone into them.
Taking the pickups as an example. DiMarzio/IBZ pickups are a co-design, manufactured in SE Asia. To label snobs, this makes them "inferior". For what it is worth, my PRS S2 Vela has Korean pickups. They suit it perfectly. Whacking in a boutique humbucker would be no guarantee of achieving a "better" sound. In any event, better is subjective.
People with this attitude are poseurs not musicians.
In your position, I would enquire how many gigs they have booked. Tell them that this is how long they have to find your replacement. Act professionally but get the **** out as soon as possible.
is it crazy how saying sentences backwards creates backwards sentences saying how crazy it is?
On the other hand I went out last Friday to watch a pub band and in the second set they played 'Highway to Hell' into 'Enter Sandman' and whilst there was nothing technically wrong with what they did the guitarist was playing a Fender style guitar and it just didn't sound 'right'. There was nothing wrong with the guitarist or the guitar but the sound didn't have the punch that I think those songs need.
With all that said anyone who doesn't think Ibanez are 'real' guitars is probably someone who's opinion you shouldn't worry very much about.
You improve whatever you want. We all strive to be a better guitarist, always, but it doesnt matter what you play on man.
Hendrix had to use an upside down guitar whilst being black in the 60's and 70's. I bet he took some shit bless him.
Guess what I'm saying is, build your own confidence up too, that will serve you far better than any gear or skill can!
I get laughed at because I don't like Gibsons.
Here isJoe Satriani playing a cheap guitar ....still sounds like Joe
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