Ibanez RG1520G

A lot of people are looking for ways to explore music differently, and Roland has a pretty cool system for enabling MIDI with guitars. The problem is that it requires a lot of fabbing for the thing to work, so buying a guitar with it already equipped is probably the better idea. The guitar has a basswood body with a maple neck, rosewood fretboard with 24 frets, dot inlays, an Ibanez Double Edge Pro tremolo, HH configuration, all access neck joint, one volume, one tone, one balance, two mini toggles and a five way switch.

UTILIZATION

The guitar's fretwork was really good. I was able to get some super sick action with the thing without any issues at all, although the neck did need to be shimmed a touch as the trem was a bit too sunken in the cavity for my liking. It was a simple fix, though. The ends were nice and round, so no issues there. The bridge on this is a very good tremolo, and I especially like the extra features that came with the guitar. I'll describe those more in detail in the sounds section.

SOUNDS

The guitar had some bland pickups in it. They're the standard pickups that Ibanez puts in most of their guitars, and they kinda suck. They're good for lower gain things, but once you start adding a good amount of gain, you start to lose clarity. By installing some nice DiMarzios in this, you'll get much more bang for your buck overall. The coolest feature about this was the versatility once you hook it up to one of those Roland Synth module things. I was able to get all kinds of wacky tones out of this thing.

OVERALL OPINION

I really hate heavily modifying guitars, and I would never install a Roland MIDI device into my guitar. Thankfully, we have companies like Ibanez that are willing to install them in their guitars, so it's much cleaner. This is the guitar you want to buy if you're looking to do that crazy Roland Synth stuff. Just be sure to replace the stock magnetic pickups as they're pretty bland and weak. Aside from that, it's a crazy solid guitar.

NOTICE original post on 20/05/2007 at 01:46
Update date visible in the header of this post.

<p class="bbcode-cite"> Quote: <span>- In which country was it made? (United States, Japan, Mexico, France ...)</span> Japan, in factories as 80% CORT guitars IBANEZ ... And yes, z&#39;avez perhaps never noticed, but there is no factory stamped IBANEZ ...
<p class="bbcode-cite"> Quote: <span>- How many frets, what kind of micro as well as their configuration?</span> -24 Cases
Jumbo-Frets
Micro-V7 (Neck) and V8 (Bridge) a few shorts in attack, but friendly enough.
-Road by a 5-way switch:
1 Pos. Humbucker in the neck
2 Pos. the two parallel coils of neck
3 Pos. the two humbuckers in parallel (Miam!!)
4 Pos. both mic and parallel splits
5 Pos. Humbucker in the bridge
<p class="bbcode-cite"> Quote: <span>- What type of bridge (Floyd, Wilkinson ...)?</span>
Double Edge Pro for Roland ® GK with integrated Piezo bridge and each connected to a Roland GK pickup is built into the guitar! That is the peculiarity of the model 1520 which is designed to work directly with a MIDI device or requiring the use of this type of sensor.
<p class="bbcode-cite"> Quote: <span>- What are the settings (volume, tone, micro switch ...)?</span>
VOLUME 1
1 TONE
A 5-way switch
1 knob ASSIGNABLE GK (depending on the machine connected to the guitar, it can be used to manage the volume of the synthesizer, modulation, or whatever you want)
SWITCH POSITIONS 1 3 MIX (used to select the source from one electric guitar, GUITAR + SYNTH, or synthetic only)
1 POSITION SWITCH 3 ON / OFF / spring. It&#39;s actually a push to replace the two mini-buttons named S1 and S2 found on pickup and are intended to scroll default sound banks.
<p class="bbcode-cite"> Quote: <span>- What type of race?</span>
WIZARD is a sandwich of three pieces lengthwise. Very nice, but really, I can not understand why Ibanez continues to appoint its curves sleeves because I own several guitars of the brand, and among those supposed to be equipped with a handle WIZARD, which I have no m ^ m has the profile. Do not get it ...

I put only 9 this section of the opinion, as well as this guitar is already very well equipped, it is unfortunate Ibanez did not make an extra mile by adding a push-pull or a stereo jack that would giving the user the option to use Piezo for electro-acoustic sounds. It&#39;s not very serious, of course, but I wish I had that kind of sounds in addition to all those already offered by the use of a MIDI guitar as my AXON AX100 MKII.

UTILIZATION

<p class="bbcode-cite"> Quote: <span>- The handle is it fun?</span>
Yes, totally. I have a JEM 7DBK whose handle is narrower and longer than the Minch 1520, and I confess to prefer (small hands inside), but I must admit I did not take long to get used to profile the WIZARD of 1520. I really like.
<p class="bbcode-cite"> Quote: <span>- Access to acute (recent freight) is it easy?</span>
The question does not m ^ m. It&#39;s an RG, so access to acute is exemplary. It is better, for sure, but should not be allowed to grow hair in the hands huh ... No problem to access the 24 cases.
<p class="bbcode-cite"> Quote: <span>- Ergonomics is it good (in terms of shape, weight ...)?</span>
M ^ m response. The RG is very balanced. This is a "superstrate" So, it benefits from the advantages of his rank. However, it is a bit heavier than my other guitars. But m ^ m time, I am not a reference because I usually light enough guitars: Washburn N2, IBANEZ JEM 7D, RGXA2 YAMAHA.
That said, when it is m ^ m heavier than my old B & W. Petrucci JPM100 So ...
Probably due to the presence of the GK system in the body of the guitar and the Double-Edge vibrato that seems a bit heavier than the Low Pro Edge and other newer models (Edge Pro III, etc. ...).
<p class="bbcode-cite"> Quote: <span>- Gets it easy to sound good? ...</span>
As for the GK part, we do not talk obviously not to the extent that it depends on the machine to which it connects 1520. We can just mention the fact that the GK system is royally served by the introduction of piezo sensors directly into the bridges that greatly improves the quality of tracking compared to traditional GK to install on a standard guitar.
But in terms of pure electrical part, no problem notorious.
This is, again, an RG of all that is standard in most settings and controls. You just have the right Fingers go well ...

SOUNDS

<p class="bbcode-cite"> Quote: <span>- they are suitable to your style of music?</span>
One can fool this issue. Z&#39;en you know many people who buy a guitar that does not fit their needs? ...
Well, joking aside. I am a guitar player a little "experimenter" and my poor command of the keyboard logically led me to a guitar + Converto noon. And, I&#39;m having!
<p class="bbcode-cite"> Quote: <span>- With what (s) amplifier (s) or effect (s) do you play?</span>
Uh ... Might be better take a look at my profile, passque it might be a bit long ...
But for large online: Boss GT-Pro Rocktron Piranha + + Micro Modular Clavia.
It&#39;s really for the outline, because in fact, my system is included in a 20U rack packed flush with the face. ...
[updated from 08/08/08 (Uh, yes, it can not be invented as the date ...): My system has changed since the filing of the notice. I went on an AXE-FX Ultra, and I sold off a large part of my pedals and rack effects. My Micro Modular has been replaced by a Nord Modular G2 Engine I just with the driver of the GK AX100MKII through 1520.]
<p class="bbcode-cite"> Quote: <span>- What kind of sound you get and with what settings ("crystalline", "bold ",....)?</span>
A little every style of his actually. From warm to stratabound without going to extremes because the microphones are V7 and V8 of all m ^ m a bit tight. They are friendly enough, but they lack a bit of resentment for my taste. I might change later to a pair of DiMarzio. But hey, there&#39;s no urgency. It&#39;s not disastrous either. On the contrary. Rather, it is correct. In any case, no microphones or Feedback unwanted and uncontrollable. So it is moving. For identification, for sure we will have to change the set, but ...