Ibanez RGDIX6MPB Iron Label

I'd dreamt of it for a while, and here we are: Ibanez finally releases fixed bridge models aimed at prog/metal/djent players.

Just as I was about to order from Skeversen (which are specialists in that genre and make sublime guitars), I came across this small 7-string Ibanez by pure chance on NAMM 2016 videos and prayed for them to release a 6-string version of it... Here it is! Thank you Ibanez (though it's a very limited run, apparently only sold at Ibanez Prestige dealers at least in some countries).

In brief.

Specs-wise, it features a swamp ash (sandwiched) body with a thin (even very thin: what a pity) burl poplar top in a mesmerizing blue/green color.
The maple/bubinga neck is very comfortable and features a sublime birdeyes maple fingerboard. I frankly didn't care a bit about that detail until I saw it, but mine really has a beautiful fretboard! ^^
The "nitro" neck is reportedly thicker than a traditional wizard, but I for one can't feel a real difference, anyway it's almost lacquerless and thinly sanded, making it very comfortable to play (tha hand slides quite freely).
26.5" scale, making it a little longer compared with a standard strat but the difference can't really be felt in my opinion, it never caused me any trouble playing, except for the strings that were harder to bend due to the shop tuning them in a standard eadgbe while RGD series guitars are precisely designed to be tuned in... D, of course! The guitar comes with a set of 10-46 strings and with such a long scale the strings stay tense and keep in tune, even in D/drop C which is quite practical.

The chosen woods are very beautiful, and the guitar il lightweight and well manufactured. Two cons eventually come to mind: the painting not always precisely done, and the awkward way the frets were set as you see some white glue stains here and there (the fretting itself is fine though, no buzz or anything).
What a pity! Of course, it doesn't hinder the way you play, but such a beautiful fingerboard would have deserves more caution.

Regarding the hardware, we have a low-profile gibraltar bridge, not too bad (at least way more comfortable than the old version with right angles), a simple, sturdy and well-placed 3-way switch, Gotoh locking tuners (which are not bad at all, although perhaps not as precise as Schaller M6s but they do their job well and keep everything in tune). Finally, 2 Dimarzio "Edge Fusion" pickups, which are real "made in usa" Dimarzios - not cheap versions, to my utmost surprise (see picture).


These pickups can be split, they have all the necessary wiring. So, I added a push-pull pot and wired it myself, it perfectly works but split sounds are REALLY "spanky", almost Telecaster-esque- which may be logical considering the wood/neck/bridge combination this guitar offers.

Soundwise, the original pickups are really, really good.
(I use Bias FX by Positive Grid)
Very versatile, they offer beautiful-sounding cleans and razor-sharp distortion sounds.
A bit too screamy/edgy to my taste, they remind me of seymour duncan SH6s or bare knuckle painkillers.
I had a set of bare knuckle nailbomb in camo battleworn finish set aside, I thought of using them with another guitar but finally thought they would look well with the poplar's woodgrain and color.

Compared with the dimarzio edge fusion, these bare knuckle models sound rounder and less sharp. They lack a bit of punch compared with the original pickups so I'm not sure I'll keep them on this rgd, time will tell.

Overall, I'm quite happy with my purchase. Of course, €/$800 ain't that easy to spend, but otherwise wor something in this style you'd have to go and see a custom guitar shop such as Blackmachine, Skervesen, Kiesel, Mayones... And their waiting list is terribly long! :/
Except for the paintjob that lacks precision here and there and the glue marks on the edge of the neck, this is a really great job, versatile, lightweight and comfortable. My only regret is how shy they remain regarding Ibanez Prestige guitars... How I wish that kind of models would some out from their Japanese Fujigen factory!

I REALLY can't wait to see what Ibanez is up to for next year, hopefully they will keep in that direction and and get inspired by it for new Prestige models.

*EDIT*

I finally was a bit disappointed by the bare knuckle nailbombs, so I put the original Dimarzio fusion edge pickups back in place as they're more accurate and in the kind of sound I was after. So, I seized the opportunity to record the guitar in its original state just for you!