Good review! I don’t know why but I just think this guitar looks interesting. Thinking about getting one for my son. I liked fixed bridges and lean towards the Gibson type guitars and I like this take on the SG. I was wondering about the neck because most Ibanez I’ve played are pretty thin. I’ve heard good things about Yamaha Pacifica but I’m just not all that excited by them. I need to see one of these in person.
I play one, have recorded with one. My only gripe was the internals which can be easily replaced and after which turns the guitar into (in my oppinion) a racecar. Mine didn't have the shoddy conductive paint job like the one in the video, mine is nice and thick and the same color as my guitar. I use the stock AH1 and AH2 humbuckers still, they kinda make the guitar sound. This isn't a normal SG it has it's own tone all together. It handles both my tube amps and my SS amps well, but responded the best through high output high gain tube amps. Surprised the heck out of me, a friend said it has something to do with sound science that's way above my paygrade to even try and explain. Mine doesn't have the nice ergonomic neck joint, has a standard plate and bolt on like a strat. It's input jack comes loose more often than should be normal. It's a boring guitar but it's fast and sounds good after you fix the few electronic issues it has (in my oppinion). It kinda has a mind of it's own some nights. Can be JUST FINE 2 hours before when you clean it and make sure everything is good then for some reason get to the show and the output jack is FUBAR again. For a teenage kid it's a good guitar, it's not over priced, and if he messes it up trying to fix it or modify the insides it's not a big deal. Easily fixable. Mine is coming up on it's 25th birthday and I wouldn't give it away for anything. Even though it's been more trouble than it's worth sometimes lol. Good guitar to start on especially if your son is into seeing how things work and taking them apart and putting back together again.
If you decide to get one for your son, you'll probably want to get a pro setup done. I bought one about a month ago and I've had it to the shop twice, now, to iron out a few kinks. Now that's it's been set up and cleaned up, it's a great guitar.
I was thinking of selling mine, since I wasn’t really liking the sound of it, but maybe I should just try a better amp, cuz this video makes it sound great!
100%!! I have some Marshalls, a Supro Black Magick (the "Jimmy Page" style combo), and a Fender 68 Princeton Reissue, and some decent speakers (Celestion, old Peavey 15" Scorpions, Jensen), and I have to say, the amp makes such a HUGE difference. With a little knob turning, just about every guitar sounds great through a good amp and speakers!!!
It's notice something you ever notice how Ibanez guitars never have seconds or thirds you stamped on their heads. Their quality control is pretty damn good
Nice demo, Joe. You make it sound great. I just picked up one of these last week. But both pickups on mine are badly microphonic! Playing through a small 25 watt Fender amp, gain on 1 and volume on 1, 15 feet away from the amp and the pickups squeal like crazy. Not usable for me so it's refund time.
@@JoeHartRocks Yeah, I think I got a really bad one. In addition to the pickups, half of the frets were not even crowned! You can see horizontal grooves on some flat frets where it was leveled. I really like the looks of the guitar and I might try another one. Maybe one with naked pickups.
@@mudcreekblues Wow! That's crazy. Yeah, maybe they moved production to a different factory, or just a really bad one got out. The one I tried in the video wasn't bad at all!
Random question for everyone here, but does anyone know how I can replace the pickguard for the AX120? I like the tortoise, but I was thinking a mother of pearl or even straight black might be nice on mine. I have the forest metallic colorway!
You would probably have to send the original pickguard to a custom pickguard company that could copy it. I don't think there are any ready-made replacements for these guitars.
Thinking about getting one. Thx for vid. Where did you get your pick string holder?
www.pickslinger.com
Good review! I don’t know why but I just think this guitar looks interesting. Thinking about getting one for my son. I liked fixed bridges and lean towards the Gibson type guitars and I like this take on the SG. I was wondering about the neck because most Ibanez I’ve played are pretty thin. I’ve heard good things about Yamaha Pacifica but I’m just not all that excited by them. I need to see one of these in person.
For the price, these are great guitars. There's a model with a "drop D" thing by the bridge. That's a pretty cool feature!!
I play one, have recorded with one. My only gripe was the internals which can be easily replaced and after which turns the guitar into (in my oppinion) a racecar.
Mine didn't have the shoddy conductive paint job like the one in the video, mine is nice and thick and the same color as my guitar. I use the stock AH1 and AH2 humbuckers still, they kinda make the guitar sound. This isn't a normal SG it has it's own tone all together.
It handles both my tube amps and my SS amps well, but responded the best through high output high gain tube amps. Surprised the heck out of me, a friend said it has something to do with sound science that's way above my paygrade to even try and explain.
Mine doesn't have the nice ergonomic neck joint, has a standard plate and bolt on like a strat. It's input jack comes loose more often than should be normal. It's a boring guitar but it's fast and sounds good after you fix the few electronic issues it has (in my oppinion). It kinda has a mind of it's own some nights. Can be JUST FINE 2 hours before when you clean it and make sure everything is good then for some reason get to the show and the output jack is FUBAR again.
For a teenage kid it's a good guitar, it's not over priced, and if he messes it up trying to fix it or modify the insides it's not a big deal. Easily fixable. Mine is coming up on it's 25th birthday and I wouldn't give it away for anything. Even though it's been more trouble than it's worth sometimes lol. Good guitar to start on especially if your son is into seeing how things work and taking them apart and putting back together again.
If you decide to get one for your son, you'll probably want to get a pro setup done. I bought one about a month ago and I've had it to the shop twice, now, to iron out a few kinks. Now that's it's been set up and cleaned up, it's a great guitar.
Very nice review, what device are you using to hold your guitar pick?
It's a Pick Slinger. Google it!!
@@JoeHartRocks Thanks Joe. I will. I never heard of it before!!
I was thinking of selling mine, since I wasn’t really liking the sound of it, but maybe I should just try a better amp, cuz this video makes it sound great!
100%!! I have some Marshalls, a Supro Black Magick (the "Jimmy Page" style combo), and a Fender 68 Princeton Reissue, and some decent speakers (Celestion, old Peavey 15" Scorpions, Jensen), and I have to say, the amp makes such a HUGE difference. With a little knob turning, just about every guitar sounds great through a good amp and speakers!!!
I recommend the Ibanez ax120 a good guitar for two hundred bucks you can't beat it
It's notice something you ever notice how Ibanez guitars never have seconds or thirds you stamped on their heads. Their quality control is pretty damn good
Hey, nice review.
Thank you. It's a great guitar for the price!!
Nice demo, Joe. You make it sound great. I just picked up one of these last week. But both pickups on mine are badly microphonic! Playing through a small 25 watt Fender amp, gain on 1 and volume on 1, 15 feet away from the amp and the pickups squeal like crazy. Not usable for me so it's refund time.
Yeah, well, it is a lower-priced guitar. :-( But your issue seems excessive. Maybe just a bad one??
@@JoeHartRocks Yeah, I think I got a really bad one. In addition to the pickups, half of the frets were not even crowned! You can see horizontal grooves on some flat frets where it was leveled. I really like the looks of the guitar and I might try another one. Maybe one with naked pickups.
@@mudcreekblues Wow! That's crazy. Yeah, maybe they moved production to a different factory, or just a really bad one got out. The one I tried in the video wasn't bad at all!
Random question for everyone here, but does anyone know how I can replace the pickguard for the AX120? I like the tortoise, but I was thinking a mother of pearl or even straight black might be nice on mine. I have the forest metallic colorway!
You would probably have to send the original pickguard to a custom pickguard company that could copy it. I don't think there are any ready-made replacements for these guitars.
@@JoeHartRocksthanks so much I actually did just that! WD music is creating a custom guard with custom print for me. Thanks for the reply!!
You can't beat the x 120 for 200
It's a pretty cool guitar!!!