Ibanez Prestige RGR762AH 7-String Review and 3 Reasons Why I Chose this Guitar

As I’m writing this, I look over and see this black, weathered-finished Ibanez 7-string guitar hanging on the wall (yeah, I’ve got those cool wall-hangers for some of my guitars). I just want to plug it in and jam. But first, let me tell you about this guitar, the Ibanez Prestige RGR762AH (RGR762AHBF), and out of all the 7-string guitars, why I got this specific one.

There’s a backstory here, and it’s more of a drama series about me and 7-string guitars. You see, I owned a premium 7-string for a few years. I even recorded an album with one. But I had this ‘love/sorta dislike’ relationship with. Bottom line, I just couldn’t get 100% comfortable playing it. It was me, not the guitar.

So I actually gave up playing 7 string for a while. Until I had this itch that would not go away. I was missing that extended range. I also have this project that’s been on the back burner for longer than I’d like to admit, and I’ve always wanted that to be created with a 7-string. As soon as these thoughts started brewing, I knew I needed to get my hands on one. This itch was not going away.

Why I Chose this Specific 7-String Guitar

That said, there were three things I had in mind. First, I knew the issue I had with my prior 7-string was the neck. Again, this was a ‘Jason-issue,’ not the guitar’s fault. Now, you’ve seen countless videos of me playing my Ibanez Prestige RG1570 on my YouTube channel, in my academy, and in live shows. The Ibanez Wizard necks fit my hands perfectly. So it made sense to go with an Ibanez RG series for a 7-string.

I prefer thinner necks, so the Wizard necks in the RG series are perfect. Some guitarists like the thicker necks; those have always felt kind of weird to me. Though I will pick up an S-shape now and then (like my Telecaster). But that shape clearly did not work for me for a 7-string guitar. It’s the Ibanez Wizard, all the way.

Box number one, checked. Secondly, I had been telling myself for the past several years that my next guitar is not going to have a floating tremolo. I love having access to a whammy bar, but I don’t use it that much, and when I do, it’s subtle. So this next guitar was going to have a fixed bridge. That’s not to say I won’t have a 7-string with a floating trem in the future.

The other thing is, I wanted a 7-string with passive pickups. The last 7-string I had came with actives. And I used to play primarily with active pickups. But over the years, I’ve come to prefer passives. For my style of playing and my approach, and that’s a big part of what makes up your preferences, passive pickups seem to have more character and clarity.

Jason’s YouTube Review of the Ibanez Prestige RGR762AH

Here’s the video version, where you can hear some tones. By the way, that intro mix is something I’m going to expand on. It came out of nowhere. Starts out melodic, but takes a twisted turn. You’ll hear what I’m talking about in the video.

Ibanez Prestige RGR762AHBF Specs

Alright, all three boxes are checked, and the Ibanez Prestige RGR762AH was the guitar that kept standing out to me in my quest for attaining a new battle axe.

Of course, there is much more to this guitar than just ‘what Jason wanted.’ Here’s a quick rundown of the specs with some sidenotes of my own.

• Wizard-7 5-piece maple/wenge neck – The ‘wenge’ blend is known to be rigid, protecting the neck from warping, and also just gives it a really cool look.
• Bound rosewood fretboard – This has a smooth, natural feel and complements the thin neck for effortless soloing and overall playability.
• Jumbo frets (24) with the Ibanez Fret Edge Treatment – This is a ‘done by hand’ process on the fretboard, basically making sure everything is perfect.
• Gibraltar Standard III-7 bridge – This is my first guitar with this specific bridge, but after reading up on Gibraltar, they’re known for their tuning stability.
• Gotoh locking tuners – I want to put these on every guitar I own, at some point. Also, this guitar has a reverse headstock.
• Ash body – I was pleasantly surprised by how light this guitar was when I pulled it out of the case; this is a huge plus for me because I’ll be playing this on stage.
• Weathered black finish – It just looks insanely cool, and no fingerprints!
• DiMarzio® PAF® 7 (Humbuckers), Passive/Ceramic (2 – bridge and neck) – Very happy with the clarity and punch I’m getting from these pickups. There’s also a 5-way switch, and the usual volume and tone knobs.

The Prestige RGR762AH also comes with an Ibanez hardshell case. It’s form-fitting and has upgraded heavy-duty latches (these are much easier to work with than the traditional guitar case latches). They also include the inspection card, which is a nice touch, and a multi-tool for working on your guitar.

Note: The RGR762AHBF originally came with 10s (D’Addario® EXL110-7, .010-0.59). These strings made the guitar play really tight, which is perfect for those low, B-string riffs. But since I’m used to 9s, I ended up with a hybrid approach for strings. I bought a pack of my usual Elixir Nanoweb superlights (.09-.042), and a .056 gauge for the 7th string.

This still gives me the tightness plus the ability to bend strings with ease. I may play around with this more, like put a .059 on that 7th string (sometimes a subtle difference can end up being a huge difference). I may also try the custom lights. Of course, I’ll share that experience on my YouTube channel if and when I make a change.

What’s Next in the Land of 7 String Guitar?

Some cool stuff has already happened in the first month of me having the RGR762AH. First, there’s an influx of new riffs and song ideas coming out. There’s a project that I’ve had in my head, and even started writing for this over a decade ago. It’s a bit darker while still melodic, and I had told myself this really needs a 7-string for it to have the impact I’m looking for. More to come on that.

I also just released a new course in my academy called 7 String Apprentice, and I created that course with this guitar. So, if you’re in the Jason Stallworth Guitar Academy, it’s there, patiently waiting for you to start it.

I also plan to include more 7-string riffs and content in the academy (look for 7 String Madness coming soon…this will be a growing library of 7-string riffs).

Of course, more YouTube videos for 7-string guitar are in the works, and you’re seeing those now. I’m just having a lot of fun with this guitar. It’s cool how a 7-string can change the way you write and the style that just organically comes out with that extra string. And I’ll be sharing that with you along the way.

If you want to grab this guitar, you can get it at my Sweetwater link here: Ibanez Prestige RGR762AH at Sweetwater

If this isn’t quite in your budget, I would look at the RG7420EX, and there are some cool 7-strings in Ibanez’s Iron Label Series, the Steve Vai signature UV70P, and several others. These are a bit more affordable. And you’ve heard me say this in many YouTube videos; you can’t go wrong with Ibanez.

So, that’s my thoughts on the Ibanez Prestige RGR762AH 7-string. This is only the beginning. Stay tuned for much more from this guitar.

Keep it Metal, and Keep Playing Music,

Jason