Enyidah

This is a bumped thread I changed the title and want opinions on my decision on my new guitar. Thanks!

I am deciding between the Ibanez rg321 and 351dx and would like opinions if possible. Personally, I like the way the 351dx looks much more, but I'm not basing my decesion purely off looks alone. I appreciate any feedback.

For a bit of context, I plan on playing metal and rock and jazz/jazz fusion. Pretty much all of my favorite guitarist are instrumentalist/"virtuosos" such as Vai, Abasi, Govan, Buckethead, etc. So I will be playing (or rather, attempting) many of those styles and tones.

This will be an upgrade from a low-end ibanez gio

Thanks again in advance for any posts

Enyidah

I assume maybe links may increase my chances of feedback. So, here is the rg321
http://www.ibanez.com/ElectricGuitars/model-RG321MH
This is the 351dx
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guit...electric-guitar

DarthV

Don't think you're going to see any difference in quality or playability, they are pretty much the same guitar (neck, frets, fretboard, body, bridge, 2 humbuckers). Personally, I don't like pickguards or middle pickups, so I'd probably go with the rg321. The white sharktooth fret markers do look pretty snazzy on the DX, though!

__________________
Fleet of MiJ Ibanez
Fender HM Strat
POD HD500
Kemper KPA

Enyidah

Thanks for the feedback. I currently own an ibanez gio something (I forgot the exact model number) but it was $179 retal and now sells for about $150. So basically where I'm getting at, is the rg321/531dx a sufficient upgrade from gio, or is there barely a diff in quality?

Robbie-G

Never played an Ibanez GIO so I don't know what they're like. I would imagine these are a slight upgrade from that but probably not as noticeably if you went further up the Ibanez catalog.

If it were strictly between these two I would go with the 321, don't much care for basswood or middle pickups myself, or pick guards a whole lot for that matter.

t1mman

Both are realy almost identical, with the exception of the RG321 being Mahogany.

Mahogany will be more of a difference if you'll drop the tuning, but for standard, I think you won't get much of a difference. As for the rest, same pickup (minus or plus the middle single), same type of neck, same bridge. It's mostly look TBH.

And standard line ibanez are realy fun to play, fixed bridge are, IMHO, a steal!

Enyidah

Okay sounds good. I have a $450 budget, not really any more than that. I plan to use the guitar for a few years or indefinitely. I can always upgrade pickups in the future. So would Schecters be a better choice? Are $350-450 mid range?

romeozdistress

you should def go used. look for a ltd 400 or maybe even a 1000 series. you could use it for years no doubt.

__________________
2008 LTD EX-400
Agile Al-2000
Peavey Vypyr Tube 60
Peavey Vypyr 15 (eminence alpha 8a)
Boss NS-2
Electro Harmonics Big Muff

DarthV

For $450, you might be able to find a used MiJ Ibanez. I recently picked up a paint challenged rg2550e, with the prestige hardshell case, for $440. And bought a mint rg1570 for $550 this summer. Might be a challenge to find a MiJ RG hardtail at that price, the RGA121 would be vastly superior those 2 that you've listed.

Where are you located? I'd check your local craigslist to see what's floating around.

__________________
Fleet of MiJ Ibanez
Fender HM Strat
POD HD500
Kemper KPA

Enyidah

I'm in the Frederick MD area. I'll def take a look at the guitars suggested.

DarthV

Did you only want to consider hard tail bridges? Or are you going to want some whammy bar craziness?

These all have floyd rose bridges and a little more $ than you want to spend. You might be able to get them to sell lower.

http://baltimore.craigslist.org/msg/3443276592.html

http://baltimore.craigslist.org/msg/3468519619.html

http://baltimore.craigslist.org/msg/3465125354.html

__________________
Fleet of MiJ Ibanez
Fender HM Strat
POD HD500
Kemper KPA

romeozdistress

goto guitarcenter.com and just put in used and whatever guitar you are looking for.

__________________
2008 LTD EX-400
Agile Al-2000
Peavey Vypyr Tube 60
Peavey Vypyr 15 (eminence alpha 8a)
Boss NS-2
Electro Harmonics Big Muff

Enyidah

I'm just worried used guitars may have a bowed neck and/or worn frets. But as for the bridges, I heard lower end guitars usually don't have good bridges for whammy

romeozdistress

guitarcenter has a 30 day return policy. its a win win situation. no questions asked.

__________________
2008 LTD EX-400
Agile Al-2000
Peavey Vypyr Tube 60
Peavey Vypyr 15 (eminence alpha 8a)
Boss NS-2
Electro Harmonics Big Muff

DarthV

Most new < $500 guitars won't have quality floyd rose bridges. The exceptions would be the Ibanez S series (s420) guitars with the ZR tremolo.

__________________
Fleet of MiJ Ibanez
Fender HM Strat
POD HD500
Kemper KPA

t1mman

It's easy to see for bad bow on the neck, just bring the neck up at sight level. You can look on youtube, there's plenty on "how to" there!

Also, if you consider any other brand, I'd advise to try em out first and for more than 15 mintes. Ibanez's has slimmer neck than most of the other brands, might fit you as well as not at all.

And for 450$, you should realy look in the used market, you'll get a lot more bang for your buck! Like an RG550 / 570

gorgthemeatpile

I used an RD370DX for years as my main guitair before I could afford something better. It played great but sounded "meh". It was fantastic for practicing and learning (as it was very comfortable to play) but until I upgraded the pups I was never satisfied with its sound.

I would definitely try to hit up the used market, as others have suggested. Otherwise a new RG351 will be a great guitar to practice with.

__________________
Guitars:
ESP Eclipse II
Ibanez S540
Ibanez RG370DX
Ibanez RG7321
Pedals:
Fulltone FB-3
GFS Greenie OD
Crybaby Wah
Vox Satchurator
Amps:
Peavey 6505+