Old School Classics: Looking Back At The Ibanez RG570 

We take a look back at the iconic Ibanez RG570, looking at what made it so special and who played one back in the day…

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The Ibanez RG570, a gem in the world of electric guitars, has carved a unique place in musical history. Introduced in 1997 and crafted meticulously in Japan by FujiGen, the RG570 featured a thin, fast neck, hot pickups, and was an obvious choice for metal guitarists the globe over.

Even today, interest in the Ibanez RG570 is still a thing – shredding is very much back in vogue and this guitar was a shredder’s dream.

It didn’t cost too much (relatively speaking), the build quality was brilliant, and the neck was so, so fast.

Ibanez makes a slew of killer guitars but it is guitars like the RG570 which helped the brand cement itself as one of the most beloved and trusted guitar brands on the planet.

I never owned the Ibanez RG570 but I know people that did and they loved it. In fact, my good buddy Troy still has his OG Ibanez RG570 and he says it sounds just as good today as it did back in 1998 when he picked it up (although he did swap out the pickups for a set of Seymour Duncan’s JB Model).

Who Played the RG570?

The Ibanez RG570, while not tethered to a single legendary figure, was a popular choice among a wide range of guitarists, spanning genres and styles. This section delves into some of the notable musicians who have wielded the RG570, showcasing its versatility and appeal across different musical realms.

Dexter Holland

Dexter Holland, known for his work as the frontman of the punk rock band The Offspring, is an artist who needs no introduction in the world of rock.

Holland’s dynamic playing style, characterized by rapid strumming and energetic riffs, found a perfect match in the RG570.

The guitar’s robust build and responsive electronics allowed Holland to create the high-energy sound that The Offspring is famous for, making it an integral part of his musical arsenal.

Richie Kotzen

Richie Kotzen, a guitarist known for his eclectic style blending rock, blues, and jazz, also chose the RG570.

Kotzen’s playing, marked by its technical proficiency and soulful expression, benefited greatly from the guitar’s versatile pickup configuration.

The combination of the V7 and V8 humbuckers with the S1 single-coil in the RG570 provided Kotzen with a wide sonic palette, allowing him to effortlessly transition between smooth, bluesy tones and harder rock sounds.

John Ster

John Ster, perhaps less known but equally proficient, made the RG570 his guitar of choice. Ster’s playing, often characterized by complex rhythms and a keen sense of melody, was well-supported by the RG570’s balanced basswood body and the precision of its Edge tremolo bridge.

This allowed Ster to explore creative musical landscapes, from the intricate passages of progressive metal to the more melodic aspects of hard rock.

Legacy and Replacement

The RG570’s production ran until 2002 in the USA and briefly in Europe. It was replaced by the RG1570 in 2003, part of Ibanez’s expanded Prestige line. Not familiar with Ibanez’s Prestige line? Here’s the skinny:

The Ibanez Prestige line is built on three foundational principles: Precision, Performance, and Playability. This line represents a seamless blend of advanced manufacturing methods and traditional Japanese artisanship, aiming to achieve groundbreaking advancements in both design and build quality.

FujiGen, the manufacturer behind the Prestige line, brings over 60 years of electric guitar craftsmanship to the table.

Its reputation for precision and quality craftsmanship is well-earned and evident in every guitar they produce. The attention to detail is legendary, especially in the fretwork, and has been perfected by artisans with decades of experience.

The hardware of the Prestige line is consistently top-notch, featuring premium Gotoh components and, typically, DiMarzio pickups. The fit and finish of these guitars are almost always flawless — finding a Prestige with a factory defect in finish or playability is a rarity.

So, yeah… Prestige is more than just a branding gimmick.

RG570 Specifications

Feature	Description
Body Type	Solid body
Neck Joint	AANJ
Scale Length	648mm/ 25½”
Fingerboard Material	Rosewood
Frets	24 / Jumbo
Pickup Configuration	HSH (Humbucker/Single/Humbucker)
Bridge	Edge Tremolo
Hardware Color	Cosmo black (1997–2000), Powder cosmo (2001–2002)

Wrapping Up & The RG570’s Successor Model…

In 2003, Ibanez unveiled the RG1570, an evolution in their RG series of solid body electric guitars. Crafted with precision in Japan by FujiGen, this model became part of the esteemed Prestige line, renowned for its high-quality craftsmanship.

Replacing the classic RG570, the RG1570 brought with it a notable enhancement: the introduction of the Edge Pro tremolo.

This new feature marked a significant upgrade from the original Edge tremolo found in its predecessor.

The RG1570 showcases a basswood body, known for its balanced tone, connected to a laminated neck. A 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with simple dot position markers adds to its elegant design.

In terms of components, the RG1570 is equipped with Ibanez pickups, consisting of a pair of humbuckers and a single-coil in the middle, providing a versatile sound range.

The Edge Pro double locking tremolo bridge, combined with a locking nut and Gotoh tuning machines, ensures excellent tuning stability and precise intonation.

In 2005, Ibanez further refined the RG1570, introducing a five-piece neck and a new neck profile for enhanced playability. Visual updates were also made, including changes in hardware color and inlays, adding a fresh aesthetic touch.

The years 2006 and 2007 saw the release of the RG1570E, an identical model to the RG1570 but with a unique twist. This ‘spot model’, which didn’t feature in any catalogs, matched the regular RG1570 in specs but was offered in black – a color not available for the RG1570 during those years.

Wanna know more about Ibanez guitars? Here’s a complete beginner’s guide to getting started with Ibanez guitars.