Ibanez RGIXL7-BKF

I love the overall package with the RGIXL7 - but it took three attempts to get a solid model.

27 inches and seven strings opens up so much range and potential - and the matt black finish throughout the body and hardware looks stunning.

I ordered my first RGIXL7 via another retailer and had to send it back because the frets were lifting off the fretboard. My second came via Thomann and (again) had to be retuned - this time because of a snapped screw.

Finally, the third RGIXL7 is perfect - everything about it is crisp and well-finished. As if it came from a different factory.

The pickups are 'fine' but will probably get switched out. I'm not stoked about the plastic nut. It's hardly expensive to add a Tusq XL - but a lot of work.

Overall, I'm delighted with the guitar that I've ended up with - but it took quite a lot of pain to get here!

Out of the box, the guitar has finish issues; there are lines and marks in the satin finish that have rubbed against something and ended up gloss, such as a parallel line on the upper horn edge, etc. One of the recessed bolt holes for the neck was missing finish inside the recess, showing bare wood underneath. The fingerboard edge has tearout instead of a consistent smooth edge.

Soundwise, the guitar was not lively or responsive. The pickups sound dull and have no bite. Whether the stock strings were dead or not isn't the issue....the guitar just doesn't feel like it has any energy or excitement to it.

The build of the instrument is fantastic as I would expect from Ibanez; the neck profile is comfortable and thin-flat, the taper is appropriate and the extended scale the correct length for a 7-string.

All in all, a by the numbers guitar from Ibanez that is let down by poor sounding stock pickups, poor finishing that should be flagged by QC and a high ticket price that it does not deserve. I would still question it paying half of the price.