[iShred92]

Originally Posted by zimbloth

Good news, the photo you linked is just a result of cheesy camera flash. With the naked eye it never looks like that, such as with my pics.

In pics/videos of me playing it live it doesn't look like that either. It's a gorgeous guitar, no worries.

Great thanks, im considering getting one of these ...How do the stock pickups sound? and IF u did replace them, with what?

[zimbloth]

Originally Posted by iShred92

Great thanks, im considering getting one of these ...How do the stock pickups sound? and IF u did replace them, with what?

The stock DiMarzio D Activators sound very good, I did not feel the need to change them. However, after installing a Bare Knuckle 'Nailbomb' pickup in my other guitar tonight and being absolutely floored with the tone, I'm going to be replacing all the pickups in all my guitars with BKPs.

That said, the DiMarzios sound great in that guitar, I had no desire to change them until today. I think you'd love how it sounded stock, assuming your amp was a good match for the pickups.

[Slayer24]

very nice one... same as Dino from Divine Heresy uses,great guitar...

[Xaios]

Originally Posted by iShred92

REALLY nice guitar... i have one question about the finish though. I was looking at some other photos http://www.portlandpercussion.com/2008ibanez/XPT04.JPG

Is that really what it looks like to the eye or did they just use a shitty camera/lighting/? (no offense to the photographer lol)
I have NOT seen this guitar in person thats why i hope u could answer this

I want it to look the way it does in your pictures if u know what i mean...

Ironic, I would love it if it looked like that.

[Cancer]

My kingdom for one of these in an extended scale ...that would just kick so much ass.

[PlagueX1]

I agree about the extended scale. Would be so brutal then.

[zimbloth]

Originally Posted by PlagueX1

I agree about the extended scale. Would be so brutal then.

It's brutal as is IMO. I like baritones but the tension and tone on mine is perfect. I wouldn't really want the frets to be further apart, it plays great as is. Nor would I want the guitar to be brighter/twangier (it already is). The reverse headstock also adds more 'perceived' tension (yes I know it's not actual tension, but it does make the low strings play stiffer).

[digitalpig]

Originally Posted by zimbloth

It's brutal as is IMO. I like baritones but the tension and tone on mine is perfect. I wouldn't really want the frets to be further apart, it plays great as is. Nor would I want the guitar to be brighter/twangier (it already is). The reverse headstock also adds more 'perceived' tension (yes I know it's not actual tension, but it does make the low strings play stiffer).

The more often I look at these pics, the more I like this one... (I started with "hell, no!" and now I'm more like "Niiice...", if you know what I mean...) I love this reversed matching headstock

I had two normal-scale 7's (RG7-620GN, UV777PBK) and my beloved RG7-680 LTD1 baritone, and I just have to say that baritone is the real thing. Especially when you play low (well, that's what they're made for!), you hear so much more definition in the sound, it's awesome.

It's an interesting thought that the reversed headstock has the described effect, I hope I can test one of these in the near future.

Greetings from Berlin!
Felix

[zimbloth]

Originally Posted by digitalpig

The more often I look at these pics, the more I like this one... (I started with "hell, no!" and now I'm more like "Niiice...", if you know what I mean...) I love this reversed matching headstock

I had two normal-scale 7's (RG7-620GN, UV777PBK) and my beloved RG7-680 LTD1 baritone, and I just have to say that baritone is the real thing. Especially when you play low (well, that's what they're made for!), you hear so much more definition in the sound, it's awesome.

It's an interesting thought that the reversed headstock has the described effect, I hope I can test one of these in the near future.

Greetings from Berlin!
Felix

Felix,

While I agree baritones are cool and do assist in definition & twang, it is my opinion that you could achieve equally good results from a 25.5 assuming you had the right pickups & strings in place. It's also possible your RG7680 LTD1 has different specs and tonal properties than your UV/RG7620 which could contribute a lot to the tone you're so happy with now.

I'm a big baritone fan. I've owned and swore by many. I absolutely adored my RG1077XL and ESP SC607B. My main point I'm trying to say is, if the scale alone is solving all your problems, I believe it's reasonable to say that the 'problem' lied with your previous guitar's makeup more so than it's scale. Pickups, strings, and tonal properties would be my guess. Just as an example, in my opinion basswood Ibanez guitars sound bland to me. The RG8 for example is a baritone 27" scale guitar, and while it sounded good, I didn't find it sounded nearly as clear or brutal as the Xiphos does despite the scale. That tells me it has more to do with the pickups and tonal character of the guitar than the scale.

I just can't imagine the XPT707 having any more attack or snarl to it than it already does. If it was 27 I think it may be even too bright and twangy. I guess I just prefer the easier playability of the 25.5, and I don't' think I'm sacrificing anything in the tone department due to the pickups, amp, etc I'm using which keep everything tight, articulate and brutal.

Anyways bro, I respect your opinion, and I'd love to see some pics of your RG baritone. I don't think I'm familiar with that model. Regarding the Xiphos though, I'm fairly confident you'd like it as is. IMO it has far superior tone than any UV or RG7 I ever owned, it's just built so much differently.

Cheers.