I NEED A GUITAR FOR METAL!!

[Blixa]

Hi I’m newly registered to this forum, though I’ve been a long time reader. This place is an excellent source on info, BK or otherwise.

I’ve got a load of the lower powered BKs in a number of my guitars (love them) but I recently decided to up the output and got myself a Warpig set (after hearing them in my mates guitar and being blown away).

However I’ve gone and got the pickups before having an axe to put them in. I’m not hugely familiar with metal guitars and was wondering if any of you who have been converted to the dark side could give me some advice. The only limit is that my budget is £500.

So far I’ve been looking at the Ibanez ICT700 (iceman) as I’ve always had a soft spot of the shape, but I have no idea if they are any good.

Any help would be great.

[AndyR]

Welcome :D

Not sure you'll help my GAS though! Like you, I have lower powered BKPs in guitars. I'm happy, contented, but occasionally thinking "are they Warpigs something a chap like myself would be interested in...?"

I have a feeling they are, but I have resisted so far...

And of course, the issue I'd face would be the same as yours, what would I put them in? This thread could prove dangerous... :lol:

[MrBump]

Have a look at my "£500" thread... there are some pretty good suggestions there.

Mark.

[Fikealox]

I'm in the same shoes as you, Andy. I have a Painkiller/Nailbomb set that's whet my appetite for high output BKPs, though. Honestly, I think I prefer the Mules, though.

[dave_mc]

what type of metal? do you have any preferences with woods, neck shape, radius, etc. etc.? EDIT: welcome to the forum, by the way. :)

[Blixa]

Thanks for the welcome everyone.

In answer to you questions dave_mc I guess guitar will be mostly used for Doom/heavy riffing and Sikth esque “oh no, I’ve just sat on my phone” style metal.

Woods wise I’d be hoping to go for mahogany, as all my favourite players seem to play some kind of Mahogany bodied guitar with rose wood FB. Though I wouldn’t say I’m aiming to nail any particular person/groups tone, I’ve heard/played the warpigs and they give the tone I’m after.

Neck shape wise I’m pretty easy to please, as I like virtually everything. Though thin and wide would be preferable for this guitar however as it is for metalz.

As for radius, 12inches and up.

There are only three things to bear in mind. That I’m not really looking for a trem (though I could be swayed on this). I don’t like any fancy woods (quilt, flame etc) and I’m not after any thing TOO pointy. Though I guess for some an Iceman would be too pointy.

The reason I’ve been looking at getting the Ibanez ICT700 is that it seems to tick most of my boxes.

Mahogany body

Thru neck w/ Rosewood FB

Thin/wide neck w/ flat radius

Bound neck+body

String through TOM style bridge

No fancy woods


My only worry is that I don’t think it’s made in Japan (probably Indonesia or something) and thought that it might be cr@p from a build quality point of view.

Hmmm.

P.S. Mr Bump, thanks for the heads up I’ll take a look.

[Ted 'N' Leo]

Maybe one of the Ibanez SZ series? I knew a guy who had one and i always thought it played pretty well, was reasonably priced. All it needed was a good set of pickups, and if you want warpigs anyway, that may be worth looking into.

[Spitfire]

the older SZs are amazing. the current SZR models are boring.

get a jap tokai LP!!! or one of thoes ibanez Flying Vs.. they look ok.

[Transcend]

or one of thoes ibanez Flying Vs.. they look ok.

Discontinued :(

[Blixa]

Yes, unfortunately the Ibanez flying V's have been discontinued. Though having looked at there spec's the Vs are actually identical in construction and hardwear to the ICT700. The only difference is the shape and the reverse headstock. So I guess the same quality questions/worries arise with Vs as with the ICT700.

Having looked at the "best guitar for under £500" thread I’ve become rather interested in the possibility of a Burny/Edwards/Tokai Les Paul copy. What would be a reasonable price to pay for one of these? Are there any specific models to go for/avoid? Where would be the best place to look?

Thanks again.

[hamfist]

Having looked at the "best guitar for under £500" thread I’ve become rather interested in the possibility of a Burny/Edwards/Tokai Les Paul copy. What would be a reasonable price to pay for one of these? Are there any specific models to go for/avoid? Where would be the best place to look?

For a new Tokai, look no further than Richtone Music. he sells a lot of Tokais on ebay too. Top seller !

[Philly Q]

Ebay's your best bet for an older Burny, Greco or Orville by Gibson.  For a new Edwards, eBay again or you can order from Ishibashi in Japan.  New Tokais are a bit easier to get hold of, as already mentioned - make sure you get a Japanese one (not that the Korean ones are rubbish, but they're not as good).

It should be quite easy to get a used MIJ LP for under £500.  Burnys and Grecos seem to sell for less than ObGs, which in turn sell for less than old Tokais.  A new guitar will probably be a bit more than £500.

[AndyR]

^ Yeah what he says :D

I can't praise my MIJ Tokai Love Rock high enough. I got it a couple of months back for £550 in Denmark street, not renowned for the best deals... (knocked em down from £590 just by saying "oh dear, that wasn't the budget I came out with...").

I was up there the other week, and I couldn't see any MIJ ones knocking about at the moment. But from the couple I played when I bought mine, I'd almost be comfortable buying a new one online (only "almost" because I've never yet bought without trying first!)

[Blixa]

So how do you know if a Tokai was MIJ? Or is it just that all "Love Rock" models are MIJ?

Philly Q, how do the Edwards and Tokai compare? Do you have a preference? if so, why?

Thanks

[dave_mc]

tokai, edwards etc. would be an excellent choice. i have an edwards les paul, it's very nice (though, to me anyway, it's more of a rock guitar than metal). i have an 80s tokai strat which is also great. only problem with edwards is that with the pound not doing so well, they aren't as good value as they used to be... richtone seems to sell some tokai MIJ LPs for £500, but i haven't tried those exact models...

if you're after something more metal, how about an ibanez rga121? made in japan, mahogany body, thin neck, no trem. it seems to tick most of your boxes, but you'd need to try one, and also the pickups could do with being upgraded. it might be slightly over budget, too (like £530, or £550, something like that).