{"product_id":"calypso-ibanez-rgdix6mpb-iron-label-2018-surreal-blue-burst","title":"Calypso! - Ibanez RGDIX6MPB Iron Label | 2018 | Surreal Blue Burst","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSome guitars have a nice top.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCalypso appears to contain an entire ocean.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBuilt in Indonesia in 2018, Calypso is an Ibanez RGDIX6MPB Iron Label finished in the wonderfully named Surreal Blue Burst. And frankly, the name is accurate.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThat extraordinary top is poplar burl, stained in shifting shades of turquoise, blue and green and laid over a layered swamp ash body. The natural timber remains exposed around those enormous sculpted RGD bevels, meaning the guitar seems to change depending on the angle and the light.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eUnderneath all that burl, however, is one of Ibanez’s more serious metal machines.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe RGD takes the familiar RG formula and stretches its scale from 25.5 inches to \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e26.5 inches\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, giving lower tunings additional tension and definition. Ibanez designed this model for \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eD-standard tuning from the factory\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, so Calypso was quite literally born to misbehave.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe extended-scale body is paired with Ibanez’s remarkably thin \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNitro Wizard RGD neck\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, constructed on this 2018 model from three pieces of maple and purpleheart. Turn her over and the purpleheart stripe runs visibly through the centre of the neck, because apparently the front wasn’t showing off enough.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThen there’s the fingerboard.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt’s \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ebirdseye maple\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, with beautiful natural figuring running beneath 24 jumbo frets. Luminescent side dots help with navigation on darker stages, while Gotoh MG-T locking machine heads keep things secure at the other end.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCalypso carries a pair of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDiMarzio Fusion Edge passive ceramic humbuckers\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, developed collaboratively by DiMarzio and Ibanez for high-gain instruments where clarity and definition matter, particularly when playing low, fast or both.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe controls are gloriously uncomplicated.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOne master volume. One three-way pickup selector.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThat’s it.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThere isn’t even a tone control.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIbanez clearly decided that anybody buying a 26.5-inch-scale Iron Label RGD with a pair of DiMarzios had probably already made their intentions reasonably clear.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAt the bridge is an \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIbanez Gibraltar Standard II fixed bridge\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, providing a solid and comfortable platform without introducing a floating tremolo into proceedings.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNo Floyd Rose. No locking nut. No collection of tiny springs.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNo changing one string and accidentally beginning a four-hour engineering project.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJust tune it down and get on with frightening people.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDespite looking like something designed exclusively to produce noises audible from neighbouring counties, Calypso is remarkably comfortable. Those exaggerated RGD contours aren’t simply there to make the guitar look aggressive. They remove considerable bulk and allow the body to sit comfortably against the player.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCalypso has been through our full rehabilitation process at The Stray Chord, including inspection, deep cleaning, fret levelling, crowning and polishing, fret-end attention, hardware and electronics checks and a complete professional setup.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe result is a discontinued Iron Label with an extended scale, proper DiMarzios, locking Gotoh hardware, an exceptionally playable neck and enough poplar burl to constitute a minor geological feature.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAnd after all of that, we’re still mostly staring at the top.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBecause look at it.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRescue • Restore • Rehome\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Stray Chord","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":58721826242824,"sku":null,"price":675.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1059\/2829\/4664\/files\/42301730-FE05-48E8-84E6-CD1C808CF78D.jpg?v=1789329746","url":"https:\/\/thestraychord.com\/products\/calypso-ibanez-rgdix6mpb-iron-label-2018-surreal-blue-burst","provider":"The Stray Chord","version":"1.0","type":"link"}