Mayones or upgraded Ibanez?

[lyonk55]

It was my 21st yesterday and between birthday money ad selling a couple of guitars, I'm looking at getting a nice 7 string. So far I've narrowed it down to two, slightly different choices:

First is a Mayones Setius 7 GTM. Tried out the Floyd Rose version today and really liked it, but would rather have the (slightly cheaper) fixed bridge version. Mahogany body + neck bolt-on super strat with a maple top and Seymour Duncan JB/Jazz set. Gonna cost around £1400.

The alternative is an Ibanez Premium RG (forget the model number). Your usual basswood/maple super strat, Edge trem, etc. Just been reduced to £679.

Now, overall, the Mayones wins. Better general quality, looks nicer and better stock pickups. It'll also be a fixed bridge, which I would rather have. But I also really liked the feel of the Ibanez. Most of the not so good bits can be upgraded and it would still clock in <£1000. I'm just not sure if the difference in price (and the 3 month wait if I don't want a blue or black Setius) is worth it for me.

So to sum up: Mayones Setius 7 GTM as is or Ibanez Premium + BKP, block trem, etc?

All advice welcome, including alternate suggestions if people have 'em.

[Madsakre]

ibanez

[tekbow]

yup, i mean yeah like you say the mayones is probably better build etc, but something i learned over the years is the feel is second only to the sound. Now which sound better to your ears. and by that i mean not plugged in. give it a good hard strum and seem how the body resonates, seem what the basic tone of the wood is like, see how it sustains. If you still prefer the ibanez then there's no point in spending the oney on the mayones.. Most of the time i decide on my guitars based on what they sound like unplugged. barely plug em in anymore in a shop if im buying/. all that stuff that happens after the wood can be tweaked or changed.

[Jonny]

Don't waste money making the Ibanez fit your specification of a guitar. If you want a fixed bridge guitar, and are willing to throw £1400 for such a guitar then there is no competition against a Floyd Rose guitar.
It should automatically be removed from your choices.

[Loomer]

I've never tried the Mayones, or any Mayones for that matter. However, they don't seem to have the "whispering in the corners" about shoddy builds, subpar quality and "rushed" feel that some of the other new, trendy builder have. From what I've heard though, Mayones have been at this for decades.

That said, although their rep is good, I can't say anything about them, and by default I'll have to go for the Ibanez. Ibanez is nothing if not consistent. An RG may be a fairly bland guitar, but they really do get the job done and the Premium series guitars I've played so far have been stellar instruments. I've heard some of the uber-nerds over at sevenstring.org moan about minor cosmetic flaws, but that's really all I've heard about them. And who gives a toss about cosmetics anyway!?

[lyonk55]

Don't waste money making the Ibanez fit your specification of a guitar. If you want a fixed bridge guitar, and are willing to throw £1400 for such a guitar then there is no competition against a Floyd Rose guitar.
It should automatically be removed from your choices.

The main reason I'd rather a fixed bridge is so there's no faffing about with tuning. But from the guitars I've played, I find Floyds to be more comforable for palm mutes than a TOM. So I would't see sticking a Tremol-no or something in as a compromise. Although, the Mayones has a fancy recessed TOM...will be a few weeks 'til they have one to try.

I don't know. In my warped head it's just not quite that simple.

Thanks for the responses so far guys.

[Alex]

Depends a lot on whether you like those super-thin Ibanez necks. I don't.

[Madsakre]

You could also take a look at a APEX-2. Nicer wood, if you want my opinion. Its not pricy. And all the copies i've tried of it have been uber nice!!





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Still those Premium specs sounds so neat!!! the only thing i dont really dig is the basswood body.

[Telerocker]

Depends a lot on whether you like those super-thin Ibanez necks. I don't.

+1.

If you have tested the Mayones, you can for yourself how decent it is build. I heard a lot of people rave about them, but never tried one, cause not my kind of axe.

[lyonk55]

Neck wise, I liked both. The Mayones had a bit more chunk, but not as much a a Schecter or something.

Build wise, the Mayones was better, but that's expected at more than double the price and there was nothing wrong with the Ibanez.

I've played both, but can't try side by side unfortunately. The only Mayones dealer is Guitar Guitar in Edinburgh and the only places with Ibanez Premiums are Guitar Guitar and Merchant City Music in Glasgow.

[tekbow]

You could also take a look at a APEX-2. Nicer wood, if you want my opinion. Its not pricy. And all the copies i've tried of it have been uber nice!!





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Still those Premium specs sounds so neat!!! the only thing i dont really dig is the basswood body.

Why the basswood hate? its probably a personal pref thing for you, fair enough. but as a wider issue, people seem to have this idea it's a cheap option or inferior wood, seems to be a lot of urban myths about it, softer wood, cheap etc etc.. I'll be honest, I've owned a fair amount of guitars, made of various woods, and i've yet to own a bad sounding basswood bodied guitar. It's one of the most even responding woods out there and it's never failed to sound lively and dynamic. I get that it's common and therefore cheap but thats not the same as poor quality or inferior sounding.. No i wouldn't have a strat made out of basswood, but thats because then it doesn't sound like a strat, dittoa les paul. But for all out rock or metal guitars, i think it can be a great choice.

Great sounding basswood guitars i have owned:

Axis
Peavey wolfgang (opaque black, solid basswood)
Ibanez JS1000
various other ibanez's
Couple of MIJ contempory strats
am sure an ESP MKII deluxe i owned which they dont make anymore was basswood and that was metal as f**k

Sorry.. am a grump over woods sometimes.. I here so many kids in music shops loving a guitar they played and then asking wat its made out of, hearing basswood and turning their noses up.. If it sounds good and feels good, then it is good..

[Madsakre]

You are right!

But i still prefer mahogany.

[tekbow]

 :lol:

A fine choice of wood also, i myself have a preference for Ash or Alder.

[Madsakre]

Ash is my fav too. Its just rare in production models :P I need a custom some day..

[tekbow]

Ash is my fav too. Its just rare in production models :P I need a custom some day..

depending on what you're looking for, check out fender japan, they have more than a few ash bodied guitars, but all very "traditional" styles. Schecter japan have some sexy ash guitars too