Ibanez XPT700 as a first guitar?

bloodofthescribe · #1 January 12th, 2008

Hi here's the deal,

I'm just starting to play guitar and came across this magnific beauty and asked at my guitar shop if I could order it.The guy told me for 1000$(can)I have the guitar plus the hardcase.
I know this guitar has a lil fret buzz problem for some people and the weight is not distributed properly because of the odd shape of the guitar.Is it a good choice anyway?I mean it's my first guitar I want a nice one but is it worth it?

I want your opinion

fly135 · #2 January 12th, 2008

Based on the prices on the web it's a ripoff. List is $866USD. And nothing sells for list.

JessThrasher · #3 March 9th, 2008

Its ok for a first. If its something you like atleast you will be more motivated to play. My RG370DX was my first and I strummed (thrashed acually) my first chord on it. its my one and only to this day.

ThunderForge · #4 March 9th, 2008

I would try out an Ibanez in the shop with the same type of neck before you commit to buying it. Just to make sure you like the way it feels. I know that may be difficult just starting out, but you may like the way the neck feels on a different brand better. I myself prefer the B.C Rich necks. Personally I can't stand Ibanez. But that's just me. It all comes down to comfort. If you don't like the way a guitar feels, you won't want to play it much. That said.... Never buy a guitar without trying it first.

allthumbs · #5 March 9th, 2008

You have a huge range to pick from in that price range. Why don't you buy something far less expensive. learn what you like in terms of feel and sound. Get a better guitar when your knowledge base is large enough to refine what you need a guitar to do for you.

ThunderForge · #6 March 9th, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by allthumbs

You have a huge range to pick from in that price range. Why don't you buy something far less expensive. learn what you like in terms of feel and sound. Get a better guitar when your knowledge base is large enough to refine what you need a guitar to do for you.

Excellent advice!

JessThrasher · #7 March 22nd, 2008

I can't really stand anything other than Jacksons or Ibanezs. When I try to play them, they dont' feel right. Even when I used to help out at a music shop, I would go play with the guitars at break time and anything that's not a Jackson or an Ibanez doesn't feel right. Schecter's barely made it into my "comfort" range.

Hey, also I learned the hard way that unusual shapes (V's, X's, other "tribal" shapes) may be awkward to play while sitting down. V's being notorious for that. Balance is key.

By the way, I don't even own a Jackson, but I can't really feel the difference between a Jackson or ibanez.

SprayTech · #8 March 22nd, 2008

dont forget neck shape is only half , you still have fret board radius too , some like a strat radius , I like a flatter 14" radius myself .

I second the answer of sitting down and putting many brands in your hands , you may find yourself liking something totally different .
Dont get in a rush to buy one , let one "talk" to you as they say

Stratrat · #9 March 23rd, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by SprayTech

....I second the answer of sitting down and putting many brands in your hands , you may find yourself liking something totally different .
Dont get in a rush to buy one , let one "talk" to you as they say

I couldn't agree more. All the talk about neck contour, fretboard radius, fret size, etc. is basically meaningless to a beginner - either it feels good or it doesn't. Buy a guitar that 1) plays good, 2) feels good, and 3) looks good to you and makes you want to pick it up and play it every time you see it. Then play the frets off that thing. Once you're familiar with the feel of your guitar, play other guitars every chance you get and compare them to how yours feels. As you gain experience, play more guitars, read/research and suffer GAS pains, you'll start narrowing down technical details that you like - different fretboard radii, neck contours, fret sizes, body shapes, etc. When you upgrade to your next guitar, you'll have a much better idea of exactly what it is you're looking for.

FWIW, I have an assortment of guitars with different neck profiles, fret sizes, fretboard radii, nut widths, pickups, tuners, number of frets, string gauges, etc. While I do have favorites, and I do notice the differences when switching between guitars, none of the differences cause a total meltdown in my playing (maybe just because it's bad enough that it can't possibly get any worse!)

Everybody's preferences are different and everybody is comfortable with different guitars, so it's difficult to get an objective opinion. That's the reason there are so many different guitar models on the market. The bottom line is that if YOU like the guitar, it doesn't much matter what anybody else thinks of it. I'm most comfortable playing a Telecaster-style body with a big ol' fat "baseball bat" neck - but that's just me.

As far as buying a radically different-shaped guitar, I'd never do it without playing one first....unless I was completely prepared to accept the fact that I may absolutely hate it and have to sell it at a loss to buy something else.

JessThrasher · #10 March 30th, 2008

I remembered when I used to help out at the music store, people who worked in the guitar department (I was working at the front desk transfering calls mostly and listening to metallica while waiting for it to ring) they could just literally pick up any guitar and play it. I asked them about it, and they say that they're the most familliar with their own, but they could just play any one.

Any of you here are like that?

Keep in mind with pointy guitars, that they're not that versitile. They're made for metal, and not really anything else. I learned that the hard way trying out for the community jazz band with my RG. I mean its ok to own a "shredder" guitar, but are you just going to stick with metal for most of the time? I thought I would, so thats why I got the RG, but untill I realized that I would be into jazz, blues, swing type stuff, I realized my RG would kinda be unsuitable.

Dagger3000 · #11 April 7th, 2008

I just got my first guitar and it's an Ibanez,I must say I no nothing at all about a guitar. I purchased the I banez AEG20E from guitar center for 300.00, all I can tell you is that my friends who play it say it is sweet but for me I have know clue at all. I can only say that it was three hundred not 3000.00 I am just leaning. good luck

bezerdog · #12 April 7th, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by bloodofthescribe

Hi here's the deal,

I'm just starting to play guitar and came across this magnific beauty and asked at my guitar shop if I could order it.The guy told me for 1000$(can)I have the guitar plus the hardcase.
I know this guitar has a lil fret buzz problem for some people and the weight is not distributed properly because of the odd shape of the guitar.Is it a good choice anyway?I mean it's my first guitar I want a nice one but is it worth it?

I want your opinion

look at the 700 iceman. i have the Icx 220 and it rock. Im looking to buy the 700.

JessThrasher · #13 April 7th, 2008

I just ordered my S470DX 2008 model from Sweetwater. They said it will be arriving soon as its not in stock.

My second ibanez! My next will probably be a jackson.

I heard some sad news about the Xiphos from a friend who owns a jackson warrior (same shape). He says that the neck always tends to tilt towards the ground because of the unbalanced shape. To compensate for that, he has to lean abit to the right when he's standing up playing. And when you're playing it sitting down, he told me its better to play it like a V than a normal strat shape.