Ibanez Expands Metal Guitar Offerings

ART100 (Click for a close-up)	Additional Images (Click for a close-up)

At the 2007 January NAMM Show in Anaheim, Ibanez declared a renewed focus on its offerings to metal-minded players, adding a slew of new guitars, spearheaded by its RG 20th Anniversary models.

The onslaught continues unabated at the Austin NAMM this summer, with three different all-new reverse headstock RGR320 with Arctic Frost finishes, the first RG Prestige with a reverse headstock, a gloss black X-shaped Xiphos and an ART single-cut, which could easily fit into less fearsome genre gigs when needed. Let's take a look….

RGR320EX in Three "Arctic Frost" Finishes Perhaps the "most metal" offering of the Ibanez summer metalfest is the reversed-headstock RGR320EX. Because of the process used to create the Arctic Frost finishes, no two guitars are alike. Every owner can be assured that his or her axe is one-of-a-kind. The RGR320EX features a slim 3pc Wizard neck adorned by sharkstooth inlays, IBZ Designed By EMG pickups, and the Edge III double-locking tremolo. Three different Arctic Frost finishes are available. The list price is $799.99

Model: RGR320EX
List: $799.99
Available Finishes:
GAR Gold Arctic Frost
SAR Silver Arctic Frost
RAR Red Arctic Frost
Body Material: Basswood
Neck Material: Maple 3ply
Neck Scale/Type: 25.5"/Wizard II
No. Frets/Type: 24/Jumbo
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Inlay: Sharkstooth
Bridge: Edge III
H/W Color: Black
Neck Pickup: IBZ Designed by EMG
Bridge Pickup: IBZ Designed by EMG

Controls: One Tone/ One Volume
Case: RG140C
Case List: $109.99

RGR1570SDB Reversed-Headstock RG Prestige
Also on display at 2007 Summer NAMM is the first Ibanez RG Prestige with a reverse headstock, complemented by Ibanez's new Suede Black finish. The RGR1570SDB features the famous flat and fast Ibanez Wizard neck, powerful Ibanez V7/S1/V8 hum/sing/hum pickups on a basswood body, and the Edge Pro double locking tremolo. The $1066.65 list price includes an Ibanez Prestige hardshell case.

Model: RGR1570SDB
List: $1066.65
Available Finish: SDB Suede Black
Body Material: Basswood
Neck Material: Maple/ Walnut 5ply
Neck Scale/Type: 25.5"/Wizard
No. Frets/Type: 24/Jumbo
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Inlay: Pearl Dot
Bridge: Edge Pro
H/W Color: Cosmo Black
Neck Pickup: V7 Humbucker
Middle Pickup: S1 Single
Bridge Pickup: V8 Humbucker
Controls: One tone/ One Volume
Case: Prestige Hardshell
Case List: Included

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XIPHOS Is Black By Popular Demand
Right after applauding the addition of the radically-shaped Xiphos to the Ibanez metal pantheon, music store owners immediately told Ibanez, "Now you need one in black." Well, black it is. The Xiphos features a 5pc Wizard II neck that's perfect for precise and rapid runs, the Edge III double-locking trem, and a mahogany body for fat tones and massive sustain. DiMarzio's D Activator pickups provide the tones favored by metalheads without the need for active circuitry.

The Xiphos is now available in red and blue "Chameleon" finishes and, now, black. The list price is $866.65

Model: XPT700
List: $866.65
Available Finishes:
BK Black
BCM Blue Chameleon
RCM Red Chameleon
Body Material: Mahogany
Neck Material:
Maple/ Walnut 5ply
Neck Scale/Type: 25.5/5pc Wizard II Neck-Thru
No. Frets/Type: 24/Jumbo
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Inlay: Sharkstooth
Bridge: Edge III
H/W Color: Cosmo Black
Neck Pickup: DiMarzio D'Activator
Bridge Pickup: DiMarzio D'Activator
Controls:One tone/ One Volume
Case: XP100C
Case List: $169.99

ART100 Silver Single-Cut
Having already achieved best-seller status since its debut in January, the ART100 is now available in silver. Some may argue that the very affordable mahogany-bodied, single-cut axe shouldn't be included in a press release about metal guitars, but the ART100 wouldn't be out of place, visually or sonically, on a metal stage. Plus, you could take it on gigs where reversed-headstock axes with their dark metal association might get you some odd looks.

Model: ART100
List: $399.99
Available Finishes:
SV Silver
BK Black
Body Material: Mahogany
Neck Material: Mahogany
Neck Scale/Type: 24 3/4"/ART set-in
No. Frets/Type: 22/medium
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Inlay: 12th Fret ART
Bridge: Gibraltar III
H/W Color: Chrome
Neck Pickup: ACH1-S Humbucker
Bridge Pickup: ACH2-S Humbucker
Controls: One tone/ Two Volume
Case: AR100C
Case List: $129.99

For more information, visit their web site at www.ibanez.com.