EXR170 Review

Neck with a rosewood fingerboard, which features 22 jumbo frets. Body made out of agathis, though the sustain would make you swear it was basswood. H/S/H pickup configurations, pickups are Ibanez's own Powersound pickups.

Features:	9
Sound:	9
Action:	7
Reliability:	8
Impression:	9.5
Overall rating:	8.5
Users rating:	7.6
Comments:	5

Featured review by: unregistered, on april 21, 2006

Price paid: $ 195.3

Purchased from: EMI

Features: Made somewhere in Japan in 2002. Neck with a rosewood fingerboard, which features 22 jumbo frets. Body (Strat-style) made out of agathis, though the sustain would make you swear it was basswood. The neck has a nice satin finish, the body has a nice metallic finish, which makes it look great. Bridge is features a non-locking floating tremolo. H/S/H pickup configurations, pickups are Ibanez's own Powersound pickups. Came with noting more then was needed, a cable and some tools to adjust the guitar. // 9

Sound: The sound of this guitar totally blew me away. I had played on some Gibsons, Fenders and Mavericks before, but I never expected to find something that'd come even close to their sound for this price. I was out shopping for a nice guitar to replace my Strat copy (too cheap Stagg thing), and I had played many a guitar that day, including many midrange products of Ibanez, Cort and Epiphone. I tested them all on the same Vox AD15VT amp, and this thing just sounded so much better than anything I'd played on that day. It has both a very nice, warm, clean sound, as well as that genuine "guitar from hell" metal sound, and with some tweaking on your amp, it can basicly be used to play anything (though I have no clue what this thing would make of slide blues). I myself like to play punk, metal, some blues and old-school stuff (70s and earlier) and it really suits me, expecially when combined with the Vox AD15VT amp I bought with it. The humbuckers are noiseless, and I mean completely, the singlecoil is a little noisey, but they're supposed to be, besides, the noise quickly vanishes once you begin playing. So far I have tested this thing with a Wah, Phaser, Flanger, Compressor and Chorus and it preforms up to my expectations. Long story short: I think it'd be very hard if not impoissible to find anything in this price range that will sound as good as this guitar. // 10

Action, Fit & Finish: Guitar set-up was horrible, but what'd you expect? I mean for the money I payed for this guitar, I wouldn't have expected it to be set up. Guitar contained no flaws other then a missing strapholder. // 7

Reliability & Durability: The guitar feels pretty darn solid, even though the neck is of the thinner variation of thin. I wouldn't hesitate to gig this guitar if I'd have to, and since I have no backup, I think you know what I am trying to say. Both the hardware and body come across as really solid, and I expect it to last quite some time, same goes for the fninish, it too looks really sturdy. // 8

Impression: As stated above I play punk, metal, some blues and old-school stuff, and it suits me. I have been playing for almost a year now, so I am not quite the expert yet. Besides this guitar I own a Vox AD15VT, Peavey Rage 158 and a Stagg Strat copy (crappy). If this guitar were stolen/lost, I'd really hate the guy Who stole it, or myself for losing it, because I am quite certain I will have a very hard time finding another one for the price I payed for it. I would still buy another one, cause even for the usual retail price this thing rocks. // 9

overall: 8.4

Reviewed by: Gumke, on may 14, 2007

Price paid: $ 351.54

Features: // 9

Sound: The guitar sound great; and because of 3 pickups it fits lots of music styles. The middle pickup (single) buzzes, but I only notice it when I use distortion/overdrive. But when I'm playing with distortion/overdrive I always use the humbuckers so that's not a problem at all. The humbuckers don't buzz btw. I use a Korg AX3G effect-pedal with it, wich allows me to get almost any sound I need. // 8

Action, Fit & Finish: The guitar was set-up quite good from factory. The only problem was/is that the lower E-string was too low (touched the fretboard when jamming it hard). I've raised the bridge a bit wich solved the problem. The control for adjusting the tone was loose, but the shop fixed that for me. Unfortunately the tremolo is not lockable. Bending strings was almost impossible with the original tremolo setup (only 2 springs are used for the tremolo). When I bent a string the tremolo was pulled down. I added a spring wich solved the problem. With a few little modifications it's a very nice guitar. // 7

Reliability & Durability: I use this guitar almost every day about 1-2 hours. The tremolo arm is starting to get a bit of free-play. I replaced the strap holders with strap-locks because the strap came loose sometimes. Overall I think it's a quite reliable guitar. // 8

Impression: When I bought the guitar a half year ago I didn't have much guitar experience so I trusted the shop owner that this guitar was the best guitar for that kind of money. I currently play for about 1 year and like to play lots of music styles (fast/slow, loud/quiet), everying goes on this guitar. It's my first electric and I really like it. Very good guitar for the money it costs! // 10

Comments

[madisv]

OK, I decided to order that guitar and a vox AD30VT with it

[Knightofcydonia]

Good guitar for low cost!!!

[madisv]

The guitar is indeed good for its price. Amd i even had no problems with the factory settings. The guitar was perfect to play when i took it out of the box.

[Raoulbanez]

I've this same guitar, and i think it sounds very great, so beginning or even playin live?? this guitar is very ok:P (my english isnt...)

[ZC3rr0r]

The thing just plains rocks.
I wrote the original review, and now, 1 1/2 years later I am even more conviced that it's prolly one of the best things I ever bought.

I recently upgraded the guitar with locking tuners, a roller nut, a tremsetter and a PAF Joe in the neck and a Mo'Joe in the bridge position, and I am absolutely certain this thing sounds as good as, or even better (due to not having one of those tone-killing Floyd Rose systems) than the Ibanez JS1000 this thingy was based on.

All in all, I spent 165 euro's for the guitar, about 400 euro's on replacement hardware, and for only 565 euro's, I've got a guitar that'll do full shred to blues to whatever else I can come up with, and sounds good or better than 1000+ euro's guitars while doing it.

Absolute killer job Ibanez!