Author Topic: Ibanez RT series (Read 14537 times)

Bird · « **on:** November 28, 2005, 01:03:30 AM »

Anyone familiar with the RT650, an older Ibanez model :?:

HJM · « **Reply #1 on:** November 28, 2005, 06:04:08 AM »

They're great, trem could do with changing for a Wilkinson, and the pickups. The necks are the same as a JS series I've heard. I picked one up no so long-back, the RT450 I think without the maple veneer top. Solid alder body, so a different tone to most Ibanezes.

indysmith · « **Reply #2 on:** November 28, 2005, 09:16:37 AM »

Looks like Ibanez' take on the more classic strat. It's HOT i wan't one! :lol:

Bird · « **Reply #3 on:** November 30, 2005, 05:44:42 AM »

Thanks for the feedback guys :D I'll have to see if I can get them to bring the price down a bit, it's been in there a while.

HJM · « **Reply #4 on:** November 30, 2005, 08:37:06 AM »

They go for about £250 in the UK when they come up, the RT250s and 450s are even cheaper and only need a set of locking tuners and new pickus, then they sound really good. There's more meat on the neck than a wizard and they're really comfy. Mine cost me £100! People confuse them with the cheap RX series.

Bird · « **Reply #5 on:** November 30, 2005, 01:47:56 PM »

If you scroll down this page to the RT it's the blue one on the far right of the 2nd panel. I'm going to try and get him down to $200, I'll tell my wife Santa brought it. :D
http://www.ibanezrules.com/catalogs/us/1993/index.htm

indysmith · « **Reply #6 on:** November 30, 2005, 05:15:02 PM »

wow are they really that cheap?! where were they manufactured? they sound like a bloody good deal!!

HJM · « **Reply #7 on:** November 30, 2005, 09:00:43 PM »

They're Jap made, but they came out the same year Ibanez made the cr@p decision to move RG production to Korea, until '92 all Ibanez branded guitars were Jap made, and the Korean ones had a large EX logo and a small Ibanez logo, rather like the Squire/Fender thing. So back then you could tell the entry level stuff from the good stuff!

So back to the plot - the RTs are thought of as being Korean and kind of got lost, I think they were only on the books for a year, the RG guys didn't want them because they were retro, and the retro boys didn't like them 'cause they were too modern.....They were retailed from about £300-500 depending on the model. In the UK there was also an RT240/250, like the 450 but without the magnum tuners, just regular Gotoh ones.

The necks are great - very much like the feel of a JS series. I stripped the finish off and oiled mine using the same procedure as musicman do, now it's super fast and I've put Dunlop 6000 on too - it's a wolf in sheep's clothing - just need to decide which BKPs to put in it!!

They're good guitars but keep it quiet...if any body asks tell them they're no good!! A RT150 went for £60 on ebay - I found it in the completed listings...grrrr

indysmith · « **Reply #8 on:** December 01, 2005, 04:44:36 PM »

can still tell the entry-level stuff from the good stuff pretty easy - isnt only the "Prestige" series made in japan now? plus better stuff is more expensive generally!

bmulroney · « **Reply #9 on:** March 06, 2008, 04:41:31 PM »

I have just got an Ibanez RT650 on ebay for $400 from the US. My BKP's arrived today. Have got a calibrated pair of Nailbombs and an Irish Tour in the middle. Also got a 5 way switch and new pots and capacitor from BK at the same time. Will almost certainly replace the trem with a Wilkinson/Gotoh unit and replace the tuners with locking staggered Sperzels. Will be an awesome axe once this work is done.

Adam.M · « **Reply #10 on:** March 06, 2008, 08:11:07 PM »

hot damn, this is my perfect strat type!

im going to have to hunt one down

Nolly · « **Reply #11 on:** March 06, 2008, 08:32:14 PM »

Quote from: Bird

If you scroll down this page to the RT it's the blue one on the far right of the 2nd panel. I'm going to try and get him down to $200, I'll tell my wife Santa brought it. :D
http://www.ibanezrules.com/catalogs/us/1993/index.htm

Anyone else smitten with the Frank Gambale model?!?!

noodleplugerine · « **Reply #12 on:** March 06, 2008, 09:36:58 PM »

Quote from: Nolly

Quote from: Bird
If you scroll down this page to the RT it's the blue one on the far right of the 2nd panel. I'm going to try and get him down to $200, I'll tell my wife Santa brought it. :D
http://www.ibanezrules.com/catalogs/us/1993/index.htm

Anyone else smitten with the Frank Gambale model?!?!

Saw it and loved it.

Scott674 · « **Reply #13 on:** March 06, 2008, 10:27:10 PM »

Quote from: Nolly

Quote from: Bird
If you scroll down this page to the RT it's the blue one on the far right of the 2nd panel. I'm going to try and get him down to $200, I'll tell my wife Santa brought it. :D
http://www.ibanezrules.com/catalogs/us/1993/index.htm

Anyone else smitten with the Frank Gambale model?!?!

Not at first, but after reading about it, it sounds kinda neat. Pickups flush with the body, the neck is recessed a bit... I like the sound of it.

FELINEGUITARS · « **Reply #14 on:** March 06, 2008, 11:06:41 PM »

With respect to Gambale's yellow guitar
Anyone realise that yellow is the national motor sports colour for Australia?

In the same way that British racing cars were Green , Italian ones red, French were Blue and German ones silver - in the days before sponsorship took over.....