Ibanez 2022 discussion.

[Ibanez Rules]

I forgot about the AZ's. Kinda hard too but I did, probably because I haven't sold a 7, yet. They're putting too much focus on them IMO but I understand why.

I held onto those last 752RPB's just in case.

 

[Mathemagician]

The bushing is only needed for blade style switches, that are too tall.

All the Sabers that use a three way toggle are fine. They've done a bunch of Iron Label ones in that configuration.

Thanks for pointing that out. I feel like I may have seen that before but can’t place it. So TIL.

I forgot about the AZ's. Kinda hard too but I did, probably because I haven't sold a 7, yet. They're putting too much focus on them IMO but I understand why.

I held onto those last 752RPB's just in case.

Because they haven’t made a prestige 7 AZ in a super cool color. Pickups can be swapped but “matte brown burst” is just un-inspiring imo. Though I do respect that it’s a play on a classic strat finish.

 

[zimbloth]

I'd be more inclined to be hesitant about a dealer that claims a 55 point checklist and full setup but sends out a guitar with a bad switch, obviously high frets, and still needs a setup. Then again every indi hates Sweetwater.

Not sure where you're seeing any quality declining, I see tighter tolerances than ever.

I figured everyone knew their "55 point inspection" is a complete fabrication. We get brand new guitars brought in for setups/repair to us ALL THE TIME that clearly were never touched or inspected. Sweetwater is a great company with knowledgable staff and killer photography, but their guitars come no better setup than any other warehouse retailer (unless you pay them extra).

 

[zimbloth]

Wow, very frustrating.

Not sure if this is trolling or not. It's the LA Custom Shop - *the* place for high-end artist customs that the public can't even get their hands on.

Hes not trolling at all. Hes absolutely right. I've owned over a dozen LACS. Most of them could not stack up with even a basic Prestige, nevertheless a J-Custom or Sugi J-Custom.

 

[zimbloth]

Something else, and I don't have the answer. All the old AHM NGB's had the problem. I'd have to go over and go thru a stack of 20 to find 2 good guitars. I kept complaining, the buyers knew it, could see it, tech knew it, but the answer was "you're the only one complaining". This went on for years, started creeping into other 652 models but not with consistency. Finally they came out with the AWD color and the first container that came in HUSA rejected the whole batch for hump necks. Only then did the factory fix it, which was to the opposite extreme, you get hyperstressed necks where you'd have 1mm or more in relief with a loose truss and a tight rod to turn, but no humps.

We recently got a shipment of 10 RG565s. 8 out of the 10 had to be returned due to uneven frets and neck pocket cracks. MIJ Jacksons fair even worse. Theres major issues in QC spreading around the industry right now. I've even had $6000 custom shops come in issues. Its beyond frustrating.

 

[Ibanez Rules]

I figured everyone knew their "55 point inspection" is a complete fabrication. We get brand new guitars brought in for setups/repair to us ALL THE TIME that clearly were never touched or inspected. Sweetwater is a great company with knowledgable staff and killer photography, but their guitars come no better setup than any other warehouse retailer (unless you pay them extra).

Unfortunately way too many actually believe the hype. Sweetwater sucks as a company, I don't care what their reps know, I care what they ship out the door. And years ago they used to put up pictures of each guitar by serial number, forced many of the rest of us to follow. That was a wise move, but what happened to it? If they do it I haven't seen any. I still do it, it's only right a customer see exactly what they're buying. They also forced the industry to match their free shipping policies. It's nice when you're centrally located and ship a $billion worth of merch a year, the UPS discounts get stupid while you and I get hosed on shipping, especially west of the rockies.

I bought a JS25ART from them 7 years ago and begged them not to touch it. Except they did, they did a plug in test and flipped the cord out chipping the edge of the angled jack, and then used a sharpie to "touch it up" before they shipped it to me. It was only $6k. Then they tried to blame it on Ibanez where I know Mike is the one that checked every one in, his name in on all the labels as checker [he will be the one that checks every one of these LA and JP's] so of course I took it to him to have him hit it with the real black they use for touch ups.

The ONLY think Sweetwater is good for is payment plans.

Hes not trolling at all. Hes absolutely right. I've owned over a dozen LACS. Most of them could not stack up with even a basic Prestige, nevertheless a J-Custom or Sugi J-Custom.

That's why I said it depends on who built it. And always said I'd take a Prestige over an LACS anyday. But these were all built by Tak. I found it funny that the LA prices were far above the JP prices though.

We recently got a shipment of 10 RG565s. 8 out of the 10 had to be returned due to uneven frets and neck pocket cracks. MIJ Jacksons fair even worse. Theres major issues in QC spreading around the industry right now. I've even had $6000 custom shops come in issues. Its beyond frustrating.

Pocket cracks are always from shipping. I see one a year, maybe, because I pickup, I don't let them ship. My only complaint with current production is the sink lines in PIA's and JS's, and alot of AZ's. If they're bad I reject, if they're not horrible I'll put on a swap list and shoot .MOV files so the customer can see them. All the XB PIA's had them but with production halted they all sold out anyway. Every SLW had them except one I had that was perfect, but they're hard to see on white.

 

[Perge]

Unfortunately way too many actually believe the hype. Sweetwater sucks as a company, I don't care what their reps know, I care what they ship out the door. And years ago they used to put up pictures of each guitar by serial number, forced many of the rest of us to follow. That was a wise move, but what happened to it? If they do it I haven't seen any. I still do it, it's only right a customer see exactly what they're buying. They also forced the industry to match their free shipping policies. It's nice when you're centrally located and ship a $billion worth of merch a year, the UPS discounts get stupid while you and I get hosed on shipping, especially west of the rockies.

That's why I said it depends on who built it. And always said I'd take a Prestige over an LACS anyday. But these were all built by Tak. I found it funny that the LA prices were far above the JP prices though.

Pocket cracks are always from shipping. I see one a year, maybe, because I pickup, I don't let them ship. My only complaint with current production is the sink lines in PIA's and JS's, and alot of AZ's. If they're bad I reject, if they're not horrible I'll put on a swap list and shoot .MOV files so the customer can see them. All the XB PIA's had them but with production halted they all sold out anyway. Every SLW had them but one I had that was perfect but they're hard to see on white.

They definitely still list all their guitars by serial. The rest whatever, but that part is you just not paying attention. Could just be because stock has been low, but you can tell if it's a generic photo or not because the first photo will not show the full guitar if it's not in stock.

 

[Jeffrey Bain]

Off topic but that feature of Sweetwater happens to be my favorite, especially when ordering something with a veneer top of the company has a history of putting out shitty tops. It's a unique shopping experience tbh and super useful for guitars.

 

[Ibanez Rules]

They definitely still list all their guitars by serial. The rest whatever, but that part is you just not paying attention. Could just be because stock has been low, but you can tell if it's a generic photo or not because the first photo will not show the full guitar if it's not in stock.

View attachment 103436

I don't know where you find that. Here's RG652AHMNGB

Ibanez Prestige RG652AHM - Nebula Green Burst

6-string Solidbody Electric Guitar with Ash Body, Birdseye Maple Neck, and 2 Humbucking Pickups - Nebula Green Burst

www.sweetwater.com

I don't see any compare, I see one guitar, a very nice slab of ash, that looks like a 1 in 5;. Where are the rest? Where's the serial number? Maybe I just don't know how to navigate the site, I don't shop there obviously.

I now see they're sold out, let me go see if I can find something in stock.

 

[Ibanez Rules]

OK, found something in stock that shows pictures

Ibanez Prestige AZ2204 - Ice Blue Metallic

Solidbody Electric Guitar with Alder Body, Roasted Maple Neck and Fingerboard, 1 Humbucking Pickup, 2 Single-coil Pickups, Gotoh T1802 Tremolo, and dyna-MIX9 Switching System - Ice Blue Metallic

www.sweetwater.com

 

[shpence]

The ONLY think Sweetwater is good for is payment plans.

This is almost entirely why I use it and I personally have had great customer service. Granted, it's them repairing things they shouldn't have sent out the door so maybe that cancels out the good customer service haha.

 

[Ibanez Rules]

This is almost entirely why I use it and I personally have had great customer service. Granted, it's them repairing things they shouldn't have sent out the door so maybe that cancels out the good customer service haha.

That's customer retention, not customer service.

 

[Jeffrey Bain]

That's customer retention, not customer service.

Rich I mean this with the utmost respect for what you do but have you ever considered updating the website to a more user friendly/commercial layout? I know I personally struggle finding my way around sometimes

 

[MaxOfMetal]

Rich I mean this with the utmost respect for what you do but have you ever considered updating the website to a more user friendly/commercial layout? I know I personally struggle finding my way around sometimes

It's ugly, but how can you struggle to find anything? It's literally a single page with every model listed with pictures.

 

[Jeffrey Bain]

It's ugly, but how can you struggle to find anything? It's literally a single page with every model listed with pictures.

Maybe struggle to interpret is the better phrasing? like if something is pending/has been sold/is available. Maybe I'm just not well versed in how the site works

 

[Ibanez Rules]

Rich I mean this with the utmost respect for what you do but have you ever considered updating the website to a more user friendly/commercial layout? I know I personally struggle finding my way around sometimes

Nope, and never will. I've been told by so many it's nostalgia to them, don't ever change a thing. Every guitar model is on one page so they're not hard to find. Parts is just a list of SKU's that gets updated only twice a year to add more sku's and show what's been discontinued. I'll admit that's not user friendly but you have no idea how many times I catch people ordering the wrong parts for their guitar that would end up with returns otherwise. And 50% of the time they have no idea what the name of the part they need is, which is why it just says email and tell me what you need. It's just easier.

And I have at best 5 years left anyway, what's the point after 22 years. I'll leave that to the next owner.

 

[MrWulf]

Cant you just CTRL+F it given its single page?

 

[Jeffrey Bain]

Nope, and never will. I've been told by so many it's nostalgia to them, don't ever change a thing. Every guitar model is on one page so they're not hard to find. Parts is just a list of SKU's that gets updated only twice a year to add more sku's and show what's been discontinued. I'll admit that's not user friendly but you have no idea how many times I catch people ordering the wrong parts for their guitar that would end up with returns otherwise. And 50% of the time they have no idea what the name of the part they need is, which is why it just says email and tell me what you need. It's just easier.

And I have at best 5 years left anyway, what's the point after 22 years. I'll leave that to the next owner.

Thanks for the explanation! Guess I just need more practice lol

and for those asking it's really not a single page lol

 

[MaxOfMetal]

Maybe struggle to interpret is the better phrasing? like if something is pending/has been sold/is available. Maybe I'm just not well versed in how the site works

It says right by the model, next to the price, if he or his distributor has it in stock or if it's on order, etc.

 

[jaxadam]

Rich I mean this with the utmost respect for what you do but have you ever considered updating the website to a more user friendly/commercial layout? I know I personally struggle finding my way around sometimes

I'm so used to it, I can't even use other formats anymore. That's why I only still buy from Rich.