{"product_id":"smaug-ibanez-rga42fm-2020-dragon-eye-burst-flat-seymour-duncan-jb-upgrade","title":"Smaug! - Ibanez RGA42FM | 2020 | Dragon Eye Burst Flat | Seymour Duncan JB Upgrade","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThere are guitars that look vaguely dragon-ish if you squint.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAnd then there is an Ibanez that is literally finished in \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDragon Eye Burst\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe really didn’t have a choice.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSmaug is a 2020 Ibanez RGA42FM, built in Indonesia and finished in the frankly spectacular Dragon Eye Burst Flat. Beneath that finish sits a flamed maple top over a meranti body, with the figuring glowing gold and amber through the centre before disappearing into dark, smoky edges.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHe looks less like somebody painted him and more like somebody found him underneath the Lonely Mountain.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe RGA takes the familiar RG formula and gives it a dramatic makeover. Rather than the flatter, sharper-edged RG body, Smaug has a beautifully sculpted and contoured top, creating an instrument that looks aggressive while remaining remarkably comfortable to play.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAnd unlike his namesake, he’s surprisingly comfortable when sitting on a large pile of treasure.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe body is paired with Ibanez’s fast \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWizard III maple neck\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, a jatoba fingerboard, understated offset dot inlays and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e24 jumbo frets\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e across the familiar 25.5-inch scale.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt’s thin, quick and extremely difficult to blame when you miss a note.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe tried.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThere was, however, one area where a previous keeper apparently decided the factory specification didn’t contain quite enough fire.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSmaug originally left Ibanez with a pair of Quantum humbuckers. The \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eQuantum remains at the neck\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, but the bridge pickup has been upgraded to a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSeymour Duncan JB Model\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBecause apparently the dragon needed more output.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe JB is something of a rock and metal institution, delivering a hot, punchy and aggressive bridge sound without simply turning everything into noise. Combined with the Quantum neck pickup and five-way switching, Smaug can do considerably more than breathe fire.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAlthough he is understandably rather good at that bit.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAnd there is no floating tremolo.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNo locking nut. No balancing springs. No negotiations with the bridge because you dared to change string gauge.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eInstead, Smaug uses Ibanez’s \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eF106 fixed bridge\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, providing individual saddle adjustment, a solid playing platform and straightforward string changes.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOne does not simply walk into Mordor.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOne can, however, simply change Smaug’s strings.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWrong book, we know.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe regret nothing.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSmaug arrived at The Stray Chord in good overall condition, but being a perfectly serviceable guitar has never saved anybody from Jordan and his tools.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHe has been stripped down and thoroughly cleaned, with his hardware and electronics checked and his frets receiving our usual level, crown and polish alongside fret-end attention. Everything was then reassembled, adjusted and given a complete professional setup.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe result is an RGA that plays every bit as quickly as it looks.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThere are a handful of small cosmetic signs of his previous adventures, but nothing remotely significant and nothing that detracts from that glorious flamed maple top.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSmaug would make an excellent companion for somebody wanting the speed and ergonomics associated with the RG family without a floating tremolo, somebody looking for a modern rock or metal guitar with a genuinely useful bridge-pickup upgrade, or anybody who believes their current collection contains an entirely unacceptable shortage of dragons.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAnd unlike the original Smaug, £325 is all the gold we’re asking for.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNo Arkenstone required.\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":58721896694024,"sku":null,"price":325.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1059\/2829\/4664\/files\/22743044-9C43-4167-A806-B9328E59C6E1.jpg?v=1789330356","url":"https:\/\/thestraychord.com\/products\/smaug-ibanez-rga42fm-2020-dragon-eye-burst-flat-seymour-duncan-jb-upgrade","provider":"The Stray Chord","version":"1.0","type":"link"}