RGR321EX Review

The Ibanez RG321 guitar is part of the Ibanez RG Fixed Series. The original RGs offered double-locking devastation only. But many metal adherents demanded the simplicity of a fixed bridge.

Features:	9
Sound:	9
Action:	8.8
Reliability:	8.3
Impression:	8.3
Overall rating:	8.7
Users rating:	9.1
Comments:	46

Featured review by: unregistered, on august 22, 2007

Price paid: $ 549

Purchased from: Thomann

Features: Okay I'm keeping all this simple, because I'm playing whilst writing this and am getting distracted easily. I don't know where it's made, but hats off to them. 3pc Wizard II neck. Basswood body. 24 jumbo frets. Fixed bridge. EMG/Ibanez pickups. Black piano finish. 1 tone, 1 volume, 3-way pickup selector. Locking tuners. Comes with gig-bag (kicks it waaay out of tuning), strap (still on from the day I got it, very durable), cable (unused, I use wireless). // 9

Sound: It suits metal primarily. But I've used it for punk, hardcore, blues, rock, grindcore, thrash and death metal. It's a very versitile piece of equipment. I run it through a Korg AX3000 into a Marshall Half Stack. I also use a Boss DS-1 for a boost in solos. I also use wireless from my amp to guitar. I never get any unwanted feedback, the only time I get it is when I run it through the amp distortion and control it myself. This guitar can make ridiculous ammounts of sounds. From a deep, warm blues tone. To a high, screaming metal. This can be a downfall, you have to take notes of your settings, one dial knocked will completely change your sound. // 8

Action, Fit & Finish: The guitar was an amazing set up. Perfect action. Everything in line. Nothing loose. Just how it should be. I did raise the lead pickup about 4mm up towards the high E. But that's probably just me Who likes it that high. It's Standard strings felt amazing and I want to know what they were, but nowhere can tell me. I had to replace them due to thembarely being playable in low tunings. Lowest I could get them was drop C. I play in drop B. So I had to change to Ernie Ball Beffy Slinkys. They play well, but I wouldn't mind the origionals in an 11. // 10

Reliability & Durability: Ibanez are well known for being very durable, and it is. But the piano finish on it is a bitch. It shows up every last scratch, finger print, smudge. It's easy to clean, but it needs it every time you play. The hardware is tough! And I mean you could throw this thing at a wall and pick it up, plug it in and play (my previous guitar, Les Paul, failed this test). However, the plastic cover on the pickup selector Switch seems to have gone missing. The strap buttons are beyond perfect. I have had the same strap on since the day I bought it, and I still strugle to take it off. Let alone put it back on again. I don't use straplocks, I don't feel the need. It's just so secure. The easily marked finished is a let down for me though. // 7

Impression: This is my sixth guitar and currntly my favourite. It plays amazingly, it sounds increadible, feels perfect and is just a great guitar. I play metal, along the lines of Slipknot, All That Remains, Killswitch Engage. And it matches it WELL! I've played for four years, comepletely self taught, so I have 100% my own individual style. This guitar will not be for everyone. Mainly due the the styling of it. It's a good looking guitar, no arguments about it. But it's function over form. This guitar has impressed me so much I'm getting a custom version of it made. The only difference will be mine will have just one knob (volume) and a pick up selector. Also it will have a thinner body and proper thru-strung bridge. When I bought it I was between this, an Epiphone Les Paul Standard and and ESP EX400. I think I made the right choice. All I wish was different was real EMG pickups, as opposed the the Ibanez/EMG versions on it. // 9

overall: 9.4

Reviewed by: wchurchill, on january 14, 2009

Price paid: £ 199

Purchased from: Merchant city music

Features: An rg series guitar with a fixed bridge, bass wood body, rose wood finger borad, reverse head stock and it best features is 2 EMG designed pick ups which will work great and the white strip that outlines the guitar which looks really fancey and nice.
This guitar is almost like mick thompsons singnature guitar as well. // 10

Sound: I'm using a line6 spider III 15w and this guitar can play a lot of things quite nicely the EMG designed pick ups (named infinity 1 and 2) work greatly bridge pick up gives you a light bright sound and the neck gives you a deep bassey sound. It plays clean very clear but can occasinly distort but very decent clean sound. it's best sound is in the over Drive, this guitar is like a monster a real shred beast. On an over note you can get a blues sound out of it. // 9

Action, Fit & Finish: When I got this guitar it was very good set up, may have to get a bit used to it at first but over all great, tuners are locked in pick ups are adjusted right no scratch marks on the guitar what so ever Also the string are a bit twangy but I start to get the hang of them now. // 9

Reliability & Durability: Ibanez are good lasting guitars, and this one is No Doubt, it will a long time I say and will use it at a gig with maybe no back up. You might want to change strings some times but it'll do the job and last for some time and the finish will may need a lot of cleaning (it will get dirty a bit to easy) // 10

Impression: I say this is a great guitar looks nice, pick ups are nice and alos has a very good feel to it. it's just a really nice guitar espically for the price but there may be a few minor flows... But nether the less quite a fanstatic guitar just all you have to do t get use to it at first. // 9

Reviewed by: unregistered, on july 01, 2009

Price paid: € 350

Purchased from: thomann.de

Features: This pinacle of Ibanez was made in Indonesia, don't know what particular year though. The guitar was fitted with d'addario nickle wound 10's which are very nice. It has a wizard II maple neck with a rosewood fretboard and has 24 jumbo frets. Neck is lovely and thin so its good for fast soloing. Scale lentgh is 648mm/25.5". Its body is basswood with a fixed bridge and 5-way pickup Switch. It has 1 volume and 1 tone pot. Its fitted with 2 EMG designed pu's and has a gorgeous piano black finish. Machine heads are unnamed and are not great but they get the job done. My favourite feature of this guitar is the reverse headstock which is just pure metal and also comes with a gig bag, strap, cable and allen wrenches. // 9

Sound: I play alot of metal and melodic hardcore, for example Thrice, Fightstar, bring me the Horizon, Funeral For A Friend, etc. and also play some blues and this guitar suits all styles I play. When I got it, I thought the EMG designed pu's were going to be crappy but were actually really nice considering the price of the guitar. I use a Fender Frontman FM 212 R amplifier with reverb and distortion but I have recently bought an MXR Distortion III and a DigiTech Metal Master pedals. The guitar sounds bright on the bridge pickup through the distortion, creating a great lead sound and super crunch for metal riffs and what not. The neck pickup is alot bassier then the neck pickup, giving a good deep rhythm tone, although I prefer to use the bridge pickup when in distortion. In clean, the guitar sounds beautiful with chorus put through it, especially on the neck pickup for a fantastic clean rhythm sound. The bridge pickup is much better for blues. The pickups give off almost no sound. // 10

Action, Fit & Finish: The factory set-up wasn't all that great. The strings were a bit too high for my liking and the pickups were lobsided, but these problems were fixed within a couple of minutes with the allen wrenches provided and apart from these problems, everything else was perfect. The finish does smudge very easily though which is noticable and doesn't look all that great. // 8

Reliability & Durability: This guitar can definately withstand Live playing, I have played a couple of very energetic gigs with my band so far and I have had no problems with this guitar so far and didn't had to resort to my back up. The hardware seems it'll last years and the strap buttons are better than any strap locks. I did bump the guitar off numerous walls and amps and things, resulting in the finish scratching slightly which left me depressed for days to look at! // 8

Impression: This guitar looks badass for the style I'm playing. I have been playing for three years now and this is my second guitar with a 3rd on the way. I would most certainly buy another one of these if it was lost or stolen and wouldn't buy anything else. The finish and reverse headstock are so god damn sexy and that is a big plus. I compared it with an Ibanez RG321MH and picked this one as it was better looking and supposably better to play than the RG321MH. It would be kick-ass though if it had a Floyd Rose, then it would be a complete, total and utter god upon man! I'm not going to give it nine for that though as it is still a Savage guitar without the Floyd Rose. Awesome guitar overall. // 10

overall: 7.6

Reviewed by: Kizzer00901, on february 17, 2009

Purchased from: Amazon.co.uk

Features: I think mine was made in 2007, and it was made in Indonesia, It has 24 Jumbo frets and a fast bolt-on neck (the wizard II) with a rosewood fingerboard. The body is Basswood and it has a cool piano black finish, it's almost like a black mirror lol, the body style is a bit like a Strat, but the edges are sharper and more metal! The bridge is a string thru fixed bridge which is good for sustain. It has 2 passive humbuckers that are designed by EMG. There is a 5 way toggle Switch and a master volume/tone. The tuners are just the basic Ibanez ones, but they are ok. // 8

Sound: I play all sorts of music, from classic rock to heavy metal, and so far it has held up well, it has a wide variety of tones to it, and although it is made for metal, it is an extremely versatile piece of kit. The amp I am using is a Roland Cube 30 and when I first plugged in the guitar, I put it on the clean channel and I nearly came, The sound was perfect for my ears, and when I went to the distorted channel, it sounded great aswell. // 9

Action, Fit & Finish: The guitar was well set up out of the box, the action is really fast and is set the lowest it can go without getting any fret buzz, the only time I ever get fret buzz with this guitar is when I put it in lower tunings, but even then it's hardly noticeable, the pickups were adjusted fine and everything was in place, there wasn't any flaws with it. // 8

Reliability & Durability: I haven't had this guitar long but I would say that it would easily be able to withstand Live playing and the hardware could last ages, the strap buttons so seem pretty solid but if I was going to play Live I would invest in straplocks just to be safe. For the price it's a good investment for anybodies guitar collection. // 8

Impression: I think this guitar is very good and it suits the styles of music I play, I have been playing for over 4 years. The neck in this guitar took a while to get used to because it has a broad flat area on it, and I am used to the neck being one smooth curve, but now I am used to it it's good and helps with the fast solos I am trying to learn. If it was stolen, I would probably cry because it took me over 6 months to save up for it, but I would probably buy something else because I want to broaden my guitar collection into different brands. I love the paint job on it and the reverse headstock could kill someone, so that's always a nice feature. To anyone Who is thinking about buying this guitar I would say, Try it out first!! It might have really good reviews but to you it might feel horrible. // 5

Comments

[LoW]

First! Yeah, I tried this at Ibanez guitar shop at Helsinki, and this one was pretty good! The Rosewood fingerboard is pretty sticky though... :/

[Eshan]

I got mine a short time ago and I'm loving it this far. Great sounding and great playability. Good review, everything you pointed out is true!

[kila_smile]

i got this guitar a wk ago, and this is pretty good, considering the price. the emg designed pickups are ok, although its a bit messy due to the very high tone output. overall, you can't say it's a crappy guitar. im going to change to real emg, but till then the emg designed would do.

[dodz07]

i tried this one and the RG370DX at a store and i bought the 370 as i think it suits metal guitarists better but however they both sound the same and r extremely strong and have sharp sounds but this one also has a fixed bridge which is one of the reasons y i didint get it

[fallenyouth]

i just got this last weekend for 500 and went for some setup and changed the default 'designed by EMG' pickups to dimarzios paf(neck) airzone(bridge) - bought these 2 at around 300 here in singapore.

this guitar totally owns.

[sikheadzraf]

shiny shimmerin! just bought this axe.. it's really really GOOD!!

[Lukeydoodly]

Yeah and im getting it

[Whiskky]

Lukeydoodly wrote:

Yeah and im getting it

That makes two of us.

At first I thought of getting this guitar's sister, the RG321MH. But then I looked at this one and it seemed exactly the right guitar for me. Only a little more expensive, I'm picking this one.

[black-wolf434]

i played this guitar at Mansons in exeter and i didnt think it was praticly gd

[Feliix]

i have the same problem as thoman, lp standard or this ibanez. I wonder if its white around the guitar?

[Feliix]

as thomann had*

[Tias]

damn you paid ****ing much
I paid 319 euro's for it

[oliver105]

If you're more into metal, you should pick the RGR320EX

[guitarcraig]

oliver105 :
If you're more into metal, you should pick the RGR320EX

its got a rubish edge III trem on it which is just crap.
and some players prefer hardtails
i love my rgr321ex

[Whiskky]

Yeah, I dind't even consider the RGR320EX because of the hassle it would be to have that Edge III for a bridge.

[linkinparkboy58]

This is an absolutley great guitar, it has a good tone and is excellent for metal and hard rock. Great for begginers.

[Ryan 9359]

Amazing guitar for the price i payed, £200
Action and playablity is excellent and sound is great too. I wish it came with real EMG's though. I have had only 1 issue with this guitar and it has an awful amount of fuzz/hum coming through which is stopped if you touch the bridge or the strings. I think this is down to the fact the RGR i bought was ex-demo and its soon to be repaired. Something wrong with the soldering i think. I was MEGA gutted when i realised it was the guitar not my amp haha. i was easily willing to risk my marshall but not this baby. tis' a shame but should be back as good as new soon. Anyways. Buy this guitar if you wanna play anything heavy. In the future i shall be replacing the "Designed By EMG"s with EMG-HZ's or a passive version of EMG's.

[Captain Edd]

I agree an excellent guitar for an amazing price! i also own a vintage fender telecaster £600.00 and id still use this for indie and blues ha ha perfection at its best!

[Lukeydoodly]

Had it for 3 months now and its AWESOME

[beeboshain]

what a guitar...what a price and all ibanez's should come with the upside-down headstock

[sikshred43]

sikass axe

[atomicslug]

All i can say is: OMG! I'm a guitar newbie (only been playing for around 4 months) and this just blows me away. I've had a B.C. Rich Warlock Bronze (agrhrr) for about 4 months and today it broke. Got reccomended this particular guitar to me by a guy working in the music store. I went for it. Oh my god, until now i had no idea how bad my Warlock was! Ibanez = value for money. Love it!

[sidjustis]

Love this baby.

[sidjustis]

Btw - Like the reviewr,I run this one thro a korg 3000g too.Can the reviewer or others who use the same setup share some settings and tweaks for this combo ?

[Gaffey]

I have one and they are great

[rayq78]

i love the tuning head... its like ESP KH series.

[kristoffer1992]

This guitar is great. the wizard neck is fantastic

[condork]

I'm getting this soon

[BackDoorEntry]

its either this, or an RGR321,

[BackDoorEntry]

its either this or a rgr321. HELEP

[Overdosed]

Does anyone know where is it made??
What's the best, this or Schecter Omen 6?

[wchurchill]

Great guitar , i fought the pick ups would suck put there acattly quite good

[charlietabman]

In reply to Thomann there made in Indonesia, well thats what mine says anyway, very clever people, an unbelievable guitar!

[GlitterPaws]

Is the guitar that is reviewed above this guitar:

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Ibanez-RG2EX1-Electri c-Guitar-103382115-i1167867.gc

Just wanted to make sure.

[charlietabman]

no its not

[charlietabman]

does anyone know what the original strings were and where they 9's???

[Scoundrel0307]

I have the same problem with the plastic cover on the pickup selector, it has been loose since the day I bought the guitar.

[axeofoc5249]

Ibanez Fuckin Rules hands down.

[PopPunkPotHead]

Fixed RG's rule the earth, I miss mine more than anything.My Damn ML that i traded it for just isn't as fast feeling.
I recommend an RG321MH just for its mahogany body.

[Metallica1554]

I've got this axe for £200 and this truly is a legendary guitar when plugged into a good amp.

to anyone wondering what the original strings were: they are D'addario gauge 10 strings, and they were really good!

[hotrats57]

I saw this in my local guitar shop, had a jam on it, thought it was pretty good, when i asked how much it was, i had to get it. I managed pick up one of these bad boys for £170, and i gotta say, its the best buy of my life. great value, great guitar.

[drop-b-alex]

ive always been loyal to the rg series but ive not tryed an rg fixed yet so ill need to give this a bash =]

[deep_reaper]

PLEASE A LITTLE BIT HELP ; Hello to all , i buy this guitar last week , it is AWESOME but the frietboart is not perfect right, so i want to modificate it, i know how to , i need special tool for the trus rod - the hole on the neck , i try with standart one with 6 sides but it not pass , any ideas what kind of tool i need??? please writte to me a message - [e-mail] Thank you very much guys;

[metalriff735]

im getting this guitar, looks and sounds awsome

[Bando227]

IS this a bolt on neck??
also are they passive or active pickups?

[ichakanabin]

This guitar is amazing. I think it's one of the best in its price point. I replaced the stock Infinity pickups with a Rockfield Fat Ass in the bridge and a Rockfield Mafia in the neck. Check out my 4-part review on these pups.. www.youtube.com/user/ichakanabin