Ibanez RGD321: Regional availability

We've seen this guitar before; it's Ibanez RGD321, offered in the US market exclusively...

... until this (2011) Summer, of course. Ibanez is now making the RGD321 available in this region. Note the (slight) pickup difference there- this region's offering features the CAP version of the VK humbuckers.
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Obiter dictum: Transport cost to increase by 1%... Will the service quality also increase by 1%?

Ibanez RGD321: Duncanized

 

Seymour Duncans in my Ibanez RGD321:

• Neck: P-Rails
• Bridge: Dimebucker

 I have expressed my acceptance of the Ibanez VK humbuckers which were default units in this guitar (& my ex-RGD320) but in this fixed bridge setting, they sound deeper than I'd like them to be (especially with the detuned nature of the RGD & its extended scale length). I've messed around with EQ settings & pickup height but that excess growl was ever-present. So the VKs made way for the above pair which added more clarity to the mix while retaining the rich bottom end. Wiring is courtesy of Beez (as always).

Ibanez RGD321: Radius check

There wasn't any focus on speed when I spent the initial moments with my Ibanez RGD321. Each & every fretted note was a check for dead notes/ uneven frets; there weren't any of course. When the speed came, I knew something was amiss when I always fumbled coming to the B & G strings. A quick look at the string saddles revealed uneven action; there's an abrupt change in height moving from the D string to the G.

A slight adjustment here to observe a more regular curvature. Initially, I thought I had a bad Gibraltar (Standard) bridge but that's not the case.

RGD321- oranged!

I like everything about my RGD321 so there's no modding it, just an Orange Drop (capacitor) addition. You can see the Indonesia assembly here; things are kept tidy under the cover. Despite this quality put-together, people won't hold Indonesian craftsmanship in high regards. The mention of Made-in-Indonesia would probably be met by an obligatory sighing & maybe some snide remarks thereafter.

Ibanez: RGD321

As mentioned before, my fist guitar for 2011- Ibanez. This is the RGD321, one of the models which are not offered in this region. Thanks to Mr. Brendon of BGW guitars, its acquisition was made possible. 

The RGD series is one of the few RG models which doesn't say 'RG Series' at the headstock.

I'm very happy with Ibanez's in-house VK-DT pickups, I have no plans to replace them. I find the RGD321 more attractive, tone-wise, as opposed to my former RGD320 namely due to weight issues (which entail tonal differences). The RGD321 sports the Gibraltar Standard bridge which is hassle free & gives much palm placement comfort. Despite being lethargic, I managed to play this guitar for about 2 hours; it's too distracting to be put away & ignored till later.

PS: Thanks to BGW Guitars for making this acquisition very pleasant & hiccup-free.