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Average Price: $1,012
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$1001+
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Description
The Ibanez RG560 is a testament to precision engineering and performance versatility, crafted for guitarists who demand both speed and power. A standout in the world of solid body electric guitars, the RG560 is part of Ibanez's iconic RG series, known for its sleek design and powerful sound. The guitar features a thin Wizard neck, which facilitates fast playability and technical precision, making it an ideal choice for shredders and players who thrive on complex solos.
Equipped with an HSH pickup configuration, the RG560 offers a wide tonal range, delivering everything from rich, warm tones to sharp, cutting highs. The responsive tremolo bridge ensures you can dive into expressive vibratos and pitch shifts with ease, while maintaining tuning stability. The body is crafted for comfort, allowing for extended play without fatigue, and the smooth, contoured shape provides easy access to higher frets for those adventurous leads.
The RG560's design combines aesthetic appeal with functional detail, making it a reliable companion for both studio sessions and live performances. With its high-performance components and classic look, this guitar is suited for a variety of genres, from rock and metal to blues and jazz.
Key Features:
- Thin Wizard neck for enhanced speed and playability
- HSH pickup configuration for versatile tonal options
- Responsive tremolo bridge for dynamic pitch control
- Contoured body design for comfortable playability
- Suited for multiple music genres, from rock to jazz
Product specs
| Brand | Ibanez |
| Model | RG560-BK Standard with Maple Fretboard, RG560-BK Standard with Rosewood Fretboard, RG560-CA Standard, RG560-CO Standard with Maple Fretboard, RG560-CO Standard with Rosewood Fretboard, RG560-FA Standard with Maple Fretboard, RG560-FA Standard with Rosewood Fretboard, RG560-GI Standard, RG560-JB Standard, RG560-LR Standard with Maple Fretboard, RG560-LR Standard with Rosewood Fretboard, RG560-PN Standard, RG560-VP Standard with Maple Fretboard, RG560-VP Standard with Rosewood Fretboard, RG560-WH Standard with Maple Fretboard, RG560-WH Standard with Rosewood Fretboard |
| Finish | Black, Carotene Orange, Five Alarm Red, Grape Ice, Jewel Blue, Lipstick Red, Purple Neon, Violet Pearl, White |
| Year | 1988 - 1992 |
| Made In | Japan |
| Categories | Solid Body Electric Guitars |
| Body Material | Basswood |
| Body Shape | S-Style |
| Body Type | Solid Body |
| Bridge/Tailpiece Type | Locking Tremolo Bridge |
| Color Family | Black, Blue, Orange, Purple, Red, White |
| Finish Style | Gloss |
| Fretboard Material | Maple, Rosewood |
| Model Family | Ibanez RG |
| Neck Construction | Bolt-On |
| Neck Material | Maple |
| Number of Frets | 24 |
| Number of Strings | 6-String |
| Pickup Configuration | HSS |
| Right / Left Handed | Right Handed |
| Scale Length | 25.5" |
| Series | Ibanez Standard |
| Wood Top Style | Opaque |
FAQs
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What type of pickups does the Ibanez RG560 feature?
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The Ibanez RG560 is equipped with an HSS pickup configuration, featuring a humbucker in the bridge position and single-coil pickups in the middle and neck positions, offering a versatile range of tones suitable for rock and metal genres.
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Is the Ibanez RG560 suitable for shredding and fast playing?
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Yes, the Ibanez RG560 is designed with a slim, fast-playing neck and 24 frets, making it an excellent choice for shredding and technical playing styles.
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What is the neck profile of the Ibanez RG560?
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The Ibanez RG560 features a thin, flat neck profile that provides comfortable playability and allows for quick, precise finger movements, ideal for fast playing and complex solos.
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Does the Ibanez RG560 come with a locking tremolo system?
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Yes, the Ibanez RG560 is equipped with a locking tremolo bridge, which helps maintain tuning stability during aggressive playing and dive-bombs.
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What materials are used in the construction of the Ibanez RG560?
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The Ibanez RG560 features a basswood body, a maple neck, and a choice of either a maple or rosewood fretboard, providing a balanced tone with good sustain and resonance.
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Is the Ibanez RG560 a good choice for heavy metal music?
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The Ibanez RG560's HSS pickup configuration, fast neck, and locking tremolo make it well-suited for heavy metal music, offering powerful tones and stability for high-energy performances.
Videos
Steve from Boston
1991 Ibanez RG560 in Grape Ice
Reviews
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Ibanez RG560.
Setup and maintenance
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Owners often need to address moisture exposure; soaking the tremolo in WD40 for days and brushing is a common remedy.
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A professional cleaning of the fretboard can address dirt accumulation and prevent lasting marks, though fret corrosion might require more intensive care.
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A cost-effective painting option involves using a local auto body shop, potentially keeping refinishing under $100 if opting for a single color.
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Mods and upgrades
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Some owners seek luthiers for repainting, but face difficulty finding professionals willing to refinish due to prep work.
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Replacing the neck could be a viable option, with many compatible alternatives available on eBay if the original is too damaged.
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Some users replace the volume knob with a plug and utilize a stacked volume/tone knob in the tone position for improved ergonomics.
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User experience
Comparisons
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The RG560 is noted for its HSS configuration, which some users prefer over other RG500s from that era.
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Value and pricing
Other
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The RG560 series likely ended in 1992, after which headstocks were color-matched to bodies in the subsequent R5 series.
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Build quality
Critic Reviews
5.0 out of 5
Based on 0 Reviews and 7 Ratings
Artist usage
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In this picture, taken at the Knotfest Slipknot Museum, Mick's self-titled-era RG560 can be seen. This can be seen in the Wait and Bleed music video, and most Slipknot performances from 1998 and 1999.
In the early 90s, I saw Dave Navarro playing an Ibanez RG560 White live with Jane's Addiction. In the Moshcam video "Jane's Addiction - Mountain Song | Live in Sydney," he plays a similar guitar, visible at timestamps 0:20, 1:20, 1:44, and 2:06. I believe it was equipped with Seymour Duncan Quarterpound pickups.
The Ibanez RG560 was the guitar that convinced Reb to sign up to Ibanez for an endorsement deal in the early 90's. Following the success of the first Winger album, several companies approached Reb with endorsement offers, but it was the RG560 that swung it for Reb.
The following quotes are taken from the October 1990 edition of Guitar World magazine. Reb's guitar tech, Dave Lewis, talks about the RG560 - "Reb has 2 versions of the 560. The Black one is the guitar that made him decide to go with Ibanez. It's fairly Strat-shaped, with a mahogany body." The pickup configuration, consisting of 2 EMG SA single coils and 1 EMG 85 humbucker in the bridge position, offers a smooth, fluid, flat frequency response. "Reb likes to get a lot of crunch, but he doesn't like too much bass or treble. This combination is almost like a Les Paul in the rhythm mode".
This left-handed silver Ibanez RG560 was used by Blake Schwarzenbach at the very beginning of his career with Jawbreaker - i.e. circa March 1989 - to the recording of their debut album "Unfun", their first tour in support of "Unfun" - "Fuck '90 Tour" and eventually to their brief breakup. The most distinctive feature of it were stickers plastered all over the body. Most of the parts (if not all) have remained stocks. It is not known what has exactly happened to this guitar after Blake switched to Gibson.
Jamie has a ibanez rg560 in his collection. He likes this guitar because it’s similar to the one mick thomson used to play. The pickups were changed to legendary pickups. He also added fu tone springs to the back
In this YouTube video Paul Wright can be seen using the Ibanez RG560 (black). It was his main guitar during the dusseldorf 1991 gig.
Genre Usage
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Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Ibanez RG560, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
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