Ibanez RGD7521PB-DSF

Ibanez RGD7521PB-DSF – User Review

I’ve been playing the RGD7521PB-DSF for a while now, and it’s a solid 7-string that feels better than it looks. I keep mine in Drop F# with a .074 low string, and it handles that perfectly, a bit issue that the nut did not like it that much but it fixed itself. The scale feels ok and it keeps the tension tight, even when tuning low. The guitar feels stable, no neck dive.

The pickups are surprisingly versatile. They’ve got so much diversity, and the coil-tap gives enough tonal variation that I honestly don’t miss having a tone knob.The controls are minimal but they work. I’d rather have fewer knobs and more usable sounds then just a whole lot mid.

The neck is exactly what you’d expect from an Ibanez: fast, comfortable, and reliable. The finish feels smooth and solid, and the fretwork is clean all around.

Visually, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. The poplar burl top looks great in pictures, but in person, the finish seems to vary from one guitar to another. Mine doesn’t look quite as flashy as some others I’ve seen, but it’s still neat and well-done. The matte finish doesn’t pop as much as a gloss would, but on the plus side, fingerprints and smudges don’t show at all. The painted headstock isn’t as striking as the body, so there’s a little mismatch in style, but that’s just a small aesthetic thing.

Overall, the RGD7521PB-DSF is a reliable, tight-feeling, modern 7-string. It does exactly what it’s supposed to — no gimmicks, no complications. It feels right for anyone who would like to go into 7 string territory with no genre in sight, simple controls, and clean playability.

Once took it out from the box, I was amazed by its look. Guitar came in a perfect condition with no scratches or smth - it really felt like a solid, beautiful Ibanez.
I was planning to buy some guitar for Djent, Thall and some heavy distorted tones and didn't expect a lot from PAF 7 pickups, though they actually made me feel like they're worth keeping them.
Tuners are solid and precise - good enough to keep, but you might want to upgrade to locking tuners. I think that both options would be fine.
Gibraltar bridge is something I really love about Ibanez guitars - the look and feel are amazing. It's really comfortable for my playing style and my right hand is much happier than if I'd play some Fender guitar with screws that would cut it off.
Volume knob feels smooth and nice. Switches are solid and sound is crispy - just the way I love it.
I am not gonna talk a lot about Wizard II neck - I just love the profile and it's comfy as hell. Guitar also came with a low string action set up with no buzz, just the way I love it.
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Conclusion:
It overall is a great guitar and is decent enough to play without feeling that something is off. Long scale and good pickups will give you an option to record some low stuff without worrying about anything else but your ideas and creativity.
9/10 (I wish it had black tusq nut and locking tuners, but everything else is great)

Let's start from the end.
This is a kickass guitar. Great value for money. Sounds great, especially in genres it was supposedly designed for. I don't have any second thoughts and would buy it again :)

Now, for some negative points.
1. My guitar has some finish problems - a streak of blue color from the top coat was transferred to the non-painted part of the body. I got a discount from Thomann because of that so no problem here.

2. It has EXTREMELY simple electronics so it works best on humbuckers on a full volume.
The guitar has no tone control and no tone shaping inside. It loses high end significantly when the volume knob is turned down. Also, there is a prevalent "spike" or a resonance in the sound spectrum when switched to single coils - nothing that some EQ wouldn't fix, but it's there.
It is therefore somewhat sonically limited and some electronics mod might be in order to remove this limitations.

BUT if you need a bone crushing metal machine that stays in tune perfectly, handles drop G# on 10-62s well and looks amazing - then it is perfect out of the box - you won't need anything else.

The Ibanez RGD7521PB-DSF is a seven-string electric guitar with an original design and high specifications, created for guitarists who play heavy musical genres. Here are a few key features of this guitar:

Construction and Materials: The guitar features a maple lined body with a spectacular glossy finish. The maple provides a balance between brightness and warmth of sound. The fingerboard is made of five pieces of maple and elm for stability and reliability.

Fretboard and frets: The guitar features a 15.75-inch (400mm) rosewood fretboard with 24 jumper frets for comfortable playing and good accessibility to the top fret.

Sustain: The guitar is equipped with two DiMarzio Fusion Edge active pickups, specially designed for Ibanez. They offer a modern, powerful and clear sound with excellent articulation and a high degree of detail.

Fixed bridge: The RGD7521PB-DSF features a fixed bridge that provides stable tuning and excellent sound transmission.

Ergonomics and Design: The guitar has an elongated body, making it more ergonomic for playing with a low string. The design, with its spectacular linings and original details, gives the instrument a modern and aggressive look.

Overall, the Ibanez RGD7521PB-DSF is a high-quality guitar with a distinctive design and modern features that will suit guitarists who play in heavy music genres and appreciate a powerful and bright sound.