Ibanez 1527 or 7620?

[shadowlife]

I'm going to be getting myself a new 7 soon, and it's most likely going to be one or the other of these.
Which would you rather have, if they were both in the same condition, no mods? Is one significantly better than the other?
Thanks in advance for any help!

[I_infect]

Very similar, but I vote 1527, because of newer trem and 5 piece neck.

[Samer]

If you want a maple board go for the 1527,

other wise i would say go with a used 7620 and save some $$$

[BigPhi84]

I vote for RG7620 (since I love the Lo-Pro). The two guitars aren't much different, but since the Rg7620s are older and going for a lot less money, you can turn around and used that "saved money" to spend on upgrades instead.

EDIT: Samer beat me to it.

[shadowlife]

Thanks for the replies!

[Stealthdjentstic]

7620 + new pups


I just don't see why anybody would buy a 1527 for 1200 (or w/e they are now) and then be forced to swap the pups out because they come with shittastic pups.

[BigPhi84]

Originally Posted by Stealthtastic

I just don't see why anybody would buy a 1527 for 1200 (or w/e they are now) and then be forced to swap the pups out because they come with shittastic pups.

I agree, they should come with Stealthtastic pickups. (Phi's bad attempt at humor )

[xtrustisyoursx]

I'd go 7620 and upgrade the pickups, buy a case, and a few six packs with the money you save

[cyril v]

+1 on the 7620's... use leftover money to buy a new S7420... seriously though, I could never justify the price of the 1527.

..and to answer your question, "is one better than the other"... Popular opinion would say the neck on the 1527 is sturdier and probably more accomadating to huge ass strings/high tension. Though, I can't say it's ever been an issue for me. Another thing that gets mentioned a lot is the trem, most people consider the lo-pro 7 (7620)to be the best trem 7 string trem outside of an OFR7. Besides that, I can't confirm if it's true but I've heard the neck is slightly bigger on the newer 1527's (maybe someone else can confirm/refute that statement), eitherway not a huge difference.

No matter which one you end up getting, you'll probably at the very least.. need to replace the bridge pickup, as they're pretty terrible compared to their 6-string counter parts.

[MaxOfMetal]

If you don't mind buying used, go for the RG7620. It's a far better value.

[guitarjitsumaster]

Originally Posted by cyril v

+Besides that, I can't confirm if it's true but I've heard the neck is slightly bigger on the newer 1527's (maybe someone else can confirm/refute that statement), eitherway not a huge difference.

Yeah I have a newer 1527m and while the neck isnt really much thicker than the 7620 the shoulders are way beefier and make the neck feel bigger. Its not like dealbreaker bigger but its definately noticeable.

Personally I would go with the 7620. Just as good a guitar as a 1527 for a lot less money and many would argue it has a better neck profile.

As was said earlier both of them have horrible stock pickups. So I would figure at least a bridge PU change into your budget.

[snowblind56]

Originally Posted by shadowlife

I'm going to be getting myself a new 7 soon, and it's most likely going to be one or the other of these.
Which would you rather have, if they were both in the same condition, no mods? Is one significantly better than the other?
Thanks in advance for any help!

You stand a better chance of finding an RG1527 that is in better condition than an RG7620. It takes time to find an RG7620 that doesn't look like a dog chewed it's edges, and occasionally when you do find one in great condition they are asking almost as much as a used RG1527 goes for.

That being said, I prefer the RG7620 over the RG1527. The neck is a little bit more comfortable, the trem is a lot better, and the stock pickups are somewhat better. But you won't be disappointed with either guitar.

[Emperoff]

I didn't like the neck on my RG7620 so I can't tell much about it, but the bridge was way better and more comfortable to me that the one on the 1527. They're basically the same guitar with some minor differences and price tag three times bigger.

The RG7620 comes also with better pickups, which even though they don't sound any good in basswood, they sound good in mahogany AND the neck pickup is actually very nice, there's plenty of people that only swaps the bridge pickup.

[Adam Of Angels]

If you want "both", get the original 1527 - its basically the 7620 but with an Edge Pro and a Prestige logo on the headstock. The neck carve is the same and everything.

[shadowlife]

Can anyone elaborate on the difference in the neck carves? Is one more rounded than the other? I prefer more C shaped necks to the typical Ibanez D shape, although i can use either.
Thanks again guys.

[Samer]

The 1527 is more C shaped, i really like both necks.

[TMM]

I personally prefer the 1527, mostly because of the neck. You may want to try the search function, though, as this exact question has been posed numerous times.

[leonardo7]

I want a 1527M! I used to have 2 7620's that had different shaped necks by a slight margin. Im not sure if the 1527's vary slightly cause Ive only owned and played one. 1527 has a nicer finish on the neck. But if the 7620 is mint, Id jump on it. If we are talking strictly unmodded then the 7620 has much much better pickups so unmodded the 7620 gets my vote. But if you will switch out the pickups regardless then Id say the 1527 gets my vote. The 1527 has a newer and better reinforced neck build but perhaps a slightly wider feel to it which never bothered me. Its all been metioned. The trems are slightly and only slightly different. Amongst many, I have played a 7620, 1527, Apex1, 2127X, J Custom, 8527z, and even one of Munkys hardtail LACS 7 strings. While the LACS has the nicest playing neck and while the J Custom has the nicest feeling finish on the neck I actually dont really have a preference for which neck I like the most. The are all different but still the same in a way. For me its more about how the instrument is set up.

[kmanick]

Originally Posted by Stealthtastic

7620 + new pups


I just don't see why anybody would buy a 1527 for 1200 (or w/e they are now) and then be forced to swap the pups out because they come with shittastic pups.

^ this

[Valserp]

Originally Posted by I_infect

Very similar, but I vote 1527, because of newer trem and 5 piece neck.

This. I just scored a 1527 on the Bay for much less than a used 7620.
Envy me

[Xherion]

I don't know if it's so much as comparing the two (since they are similar), but the fact that I've yet to see a mint/near mint 76XX. I don't think I would ever buy a guitar with tons of chips like the vast majority of RG 7XXX's out there unless it was hugely discounted and I was looking for a beater.

The only new old stock 7XXX's are nearly as expensive as a new 1527 which defeats the whole purpose of getting one.

[snowblind56]

Originally Posted by Xherion

I don't know if it's so much as comparing the two (since they are similar), but the fact that I've yet to see a mint/near mint 76XX. I don't think I would ever buy a guitar with tons of chips like the vast majority of RG 7XXX's out there unless it was hugely discounted and I was looking for a beater.

The only new old stock 7XXX's are nearly as expensive as a new 1527 which defeats the whole purpose of getting one.

This is true, but deals are out there if you look for them. I picked up my black RG7620, in basically mint condition for $300 off craigslist. The deals are out there when someone bought them new, never played them, and then want to get rid of them. You just have to be patient and search for the deals. But the majority of the RG7620's out there for sale are over $500 and tend to have battle scars.

[Stealthdjentstic]

Originally Posted by BigPhi84

I agree, they should come with Stealthtastic pickups. (Phi's bad attempt at humor )

It's OK, I cant count the times on one hand that I've repped you for making ....ing hilarious ass jokes. Especially the one about the 110 pound chick

[BigPhi84]

Originally Posted by snowblind56

This is true, but deals are out there if you look for them. I picked up my black RG7620, in basically mint condition for $300 off craigslist. The deals are out there when someone bought them new, never played them, and then want to get rid of them. You just have to be patient and search for the deals. But the majority of the RG7620's out there for sale are over $500 and tend to have battle scars.

Dude, the RG7620VK I sold you was pretty mint except for that gash on the headstock. That was quite a feat as the basswood+paint that Ibanez uses isn't all too durable.

BTW, I envy the red RG7620 you have.

[PeteLaramee]

I have a few of each. Not only are the necks slightly different in shape, but also the width of the fretboard is different. The 1527 is 2mm wider at the neck joint than the 7620. It doesn't sound like much but that means the low B and high E are almost 2mm farther away from each other compared to the 7620. I notice a difference while sweeping and string skipping.

I love the feel of the 1527, but the 7620 is a good value. I recently bought a near mint 1998 7620 on CL for $300.