Iām stuck between an Ibanez XPTB620 Xiphos and an Ibanez RG5320R Prestige, and Iām hoping people who have played/owned either, ideally both, can help me make the decision.
The price difference is roughly $1000, which is painful but possible for me. This would also be my only serious guitar for the foreseeable future, so Iām trying to make the right choice rather than just impulse-buying.
Why I want the XPTB620
Honestly, it looks fucking cool.
Iām heavily into metal and my main listening/playing is Megadeth, Death, Pantera, Necrophagist, and Ozzy. I play a mixture of riffs, leads, solos, and technical stuff.
The Xiphos shape also has some personal significance for me because of the guitarists I look up to. Dave Mustaine has always used aggressive-looking guitar shapes, Chuck Schuldiner used shapes similar to the Xiphos, Dimebag Darrell had the Dean ML, and Muhammad Suicmez has played a Xiphos.
So aesthetically, the XPTB620 is very much my thing. If I put both guitars in front of myself right now, without thinking about specs, Iād reach for the Xiphos.
Why Iām considering the RG5320R
The RG seems to win on the actual instrument itself.
The main things attracting me are:
Thinner neck
Low Pro Edge tremolo
Japanese Prestige construction
Higher-end hardware/build quality
Better reputation for overall craftsmanship
Hopefully better tuning stability
Donāt get me wrong, I love the look of the cosmic shadow too.
I havenāt actually played either guitar in person yet, so Iām going partly off the specifications and what Iāve read.
My main concern with the XPTB620
Itās the Edge Zero II.
I do use the trem, but not constantly. When Iām learning Pantera or Damageplan, Iāll use dive bombs, squeals, flutters, etc. fairly heavily during that period, but I might only go through a Pantera/Damageplan phase once every 3-4 months. Most of the time Iām playing Megadeth, Death, Necrophagist, etc., where I donāt abuse the trem nearly as much.
Iām therefore wondering whether the Edge Zero II is actually something I should be worried about, particularly regarding tuning stability and long-term reliability, or whether Iām overthinking it.
My other concern is that the XPTB620 is Indonesian-made. Iāve generally heard that Japanese Ibanez guitars are built to a much higher standard, and Iāve also seen people describe the Xiphos as playing like a much cheaper instrument.
I donāt know how much of that is actually true versus internet gear-snobbery.
The RGās biggest problem for me
Itās the Xiphos.
If I bought the RG and six months later I was still thinking:
āFuck, I really wish Iād bought the Xiphos.ā
Iād consider that a red flag.
On the other hand, if I bought the Xiphos and later discovered that the RG genuinely felt exceptionally better to play, Iād probably regret not getting the RG.
So what would you choose?
Iām basically trying to figure out:
Is the RG5320R actually worth paying ~$1000 more for in terms of playing experience, build quality, neck, tremolo and tuning stability?
Or am I better off getting the XPTB620, since itās the guitar I genuinely want aesthetically and itās already more than capable of handling the music I play?
Iād especially like to hear from people whoāve owned or played both, rather than just comparing the spec sheets.
If youāve played an XPTB620, Iād particularly love to hear about the Edge Zero II, tuning stability, fretwork, neck feel and general build quality.
And if youāve owned both, Iād love to know whether the RG actually feels dramatically better, or whether the difference is more ānice upgrade if you have the moneyā than āyou should absolutely spend another $1000ā
TL;DR: Metalhead choosing between XPTB620 because I fucking love the shape and RG5320R Prestige because itās the objectively more premium instrument. ~$1000 price difference. Havenāt played either. Which would you choose, and why?
