[Trepan]

So I did get my RG7321 as I reported in another post, and I had to ship it back because the bridge was not entirely painted black. I was concerned with it rusting out early in life, and the retailer said it takes a year to order just the bridge for some lame reason.

So anyway, I have shipped it back and now he says it is going to be until the end of Feb before I get a new one because they are all backordered.

My concern is this. The one I sent back was a 2007 and the quality of these are known. When does Ibanez start shipping the 2008 models? Does anyone know of any changes they may have made between the two years? It would suck if I got stuck with a newer model that had even more problems. Since I've heard the 2007 models are pretty well made, and I can attest that besides the bridge not being totally painted the guitar was awesome.

Any ideas on this anyone?

[HaGGuS]

just a guess......
ibanez have good quality control..so thats not an issue as far as i see it...
i dont think there will be a difference between 07 and 08..

and the 08 guitars wont ship just yet me thinks....

[Stitch]

'08 models won't be out for a while. i don't foresee the specs chaging tbh. Sucks about your problem - first I've heard like that. Ibanez aren't always setup great out the box but the actual quality of the instrument is generally good.

As for the year long parts order that sounds a bit daft, but Hoshino ship out spares maybe twice a year. The RG7321 bridge isn't exactly a common part, so...

[Trepan]

Thanks for the replies guys,

I was surprised too when I saw the missing paint. It certainly wasn't a scratch but it just looked like the paint was missing completely. There was also a chip in the clearcoat back by the low B's string holder on the back, which I didn't care about so much.

The neck was amazing other than the 1st fret buzz but I was considering getting it professionally set up with a fret polishing etc. The fret wood was awesome too.

I had a custom guitar built several years ago (6 string) that was NOT cheap and I just have to say that the neck on the RG is way better in so many ways. It is an amazing guitar for the price and I am like a kid on Christmas Eve waiting for the new one to come back After playing it I feel like I wasted my money back then when I had the custom 6 built

[Apophis]

I hope Ibanez quallity won't start suck and I doubt you will have 08 model like the others.

[Beta]

Originally Posted by Stitch

As for the year long parts order that sounds a bit daft, but Hoshino ship out spares maybe twice a year. The RG7321 bridge isn't exactly a common part, so...

I'm not so sure that the year wait thing wasn't just the retailer trying to BS you into keeping the guitar.

I own a 1999 GWB2 bass. Those haven't been made for several years. But when I called Hoshino USA looking for a replacement ramp (in Trans Black Flat, a color that also hasn't been used on the Gary Willis sig basses for several years) I had the ramp on my bass in about a week.

That makes it hard for me to believe it'll take a year to get a replacement bridge for a common, currently produced guitar.

[Trepan]

Originally Posted by Beta

I'm not so sure that the year wait thing wasn't just the retailer trying to BS you into keeping the guitar.

I own a 1999 GWB2 bass. Those haven't been made for several years. But when I called Hoshino USA looking for a replacement ramp (in Trans Black Flat, a color that also hasn't been used on the Gary Willis sig basses for several years) I had the ramp on my bass in about a week.

That makes it hard for me to believe it'll take a year to get a replacement bridge for a common, currently produced guitar.

Yeah I wouldn't be surprised if you are correct about that. But instead of shipping me a bridge now he has to ship me a whole new guitar so if that was his intention, it backfired

[idiottv]

I'll always be a fan of Korean made 7321s(05' and earlier). They have smoother necks than the Indo made ones.

[ibznorange]

Originally Posted by Beta

I'm not so sure that the year wait thing wasn't just the retailer trying to BS you into keeping the guitar.

No, take it from someone who regularly orders Ibanez parts. it takes fucking forever.
anything you dont order off the store website, or anything through a dealer that isnt a tremplate will take forever. Im waiting since early may for a metal jackplate for my rg . Hoshino ships the guitars with WAY more priority than parts. nothing backfired on the guy. he can rely on getting that in a few weeks generally, faster if he has another order coming. The bridge, not so much. I'd be willing to put down some cash that it would take at least 4 months. took me 8 months to get my trem

[Stitch]

Originally Posted by Beta

I'm not so sure that the year wait thing wasn't just the retailer trying to BS you into keeping the guitar.

I own a 1999 GWB2 bass. Those haven't been made for several years. But when I called Hoshino USA looking for a replacement ramp (in Trans Black Flat, a color that also hasn't been used on the Gary Willis sig basses for several years) I had the ramp on my bass in about a week.

That makes it hard for me to believe it'll take a year to get a replacement bridge for a common, currently produced guitar.

Dude, I work as a retailer.

What you had was luck - I'm well aware of the part you are talking about and it sounds like luck that it happened to be in stock at Hoshino USA. All parts are made in the appropriate country and shipped to the Japanese HQ. From there they are sent out with orders to the national distributors of Ibanez. I mean, headstock have fine tuners for obsolete Edge trems because they ordered them in as spares when they were new - it was jsut luck your part was in stock - I assure you it didn't come from Japan to your local shop in one week.