The following six paragraphs provide an introduction to why and how I got a new guitar. Afterward, I have a few questions. If you do not feel like reading the introduction, just skip to the bottom.
Getting bored with my ESP F-2005 that I have been using for about the last two years, I began researching and trying out different guitars for about the last month. I have asked many questions on forums, read reviews, and tried out some of the guitars in the stores. The majority of the guitars I tried were Ibanez and Fender. Without buying a PRS, I was looking for a dynamic guitar that would be suitable for metal, but also provide good, strat-like clean tones. Additionally, as an extra, I wanted a locking tremolo.
Many of the Fenders I tried had the s/s/s setup and did not seem like they would offer the dynamics I was looking for. I tried one s/s/h Fender, but I did not really like the humbucker tone, and the action didn’t seem that great.
Most of the Ibanez guitars I tried seemed low quality and less of an upgrade than my ESP. The action on one Ibanez in Guitar Center was really bad and the other Ibanez guitars that were of better quality had the h/h setup (while I was more interested in the h/s/h setup). I tried an SA and I thought it was pretty good, but it did not have a locking tremolo (which I much rather preferred).
Out of all the guitars I tried (and I tried more than just Ibanez and Fender), I liked the Ibanez S Prestige the most. It offered the most dynamics, had the best clean tone, was of an over all better quality, and had nice action. However, it was over my original price limit; it was selling for about 1200, and I had originally planned only to spend about 700.
Later I decided the price did not matter; I wanted a new guitar, and the best one I had tried was the S Prestige, so it is worth spending the extra money. I called the store (which is about an hour or two away from where I live) and they said it had sold. At this point, I sort of just gave up. I could have ordered it from Musician’s Friend, but I was afraid I would get a fluke. I decided I would just save up and wait (what would seem like) forever to get a PRS.
To my surprise, on Christmas morning, in a similar fashion to A Christmas Story, after I had finished opening my initial presents (which were not very many; I did not ask for much because I was planning on getting a guitar), my parents said something like, “What’s that over there?” I couldn’t see anything at first, but there was a box under the dinner table about the size of a guitar. At this point, my first thought was my parents just bought me a low quality Fender or something. Opening up the box, I found I misjudged my parents; before my eyes was the Ibanez S2170SE Prestige. I must say this is the best surprise – and I am hard to surprise – my parents have ever pulled off. If you did not notice, my parents bought it behind my back, and that is why when I called the store the dealers said it had sold. Additionally, they got a very good deal. They were able to get the dealer to bring it down to about 900, but I also had 100 dollars credit at the store, so total, I got it for about 800. That's an extremely good deal!
Anyway, after that long rant, I have a few questions.
First, I have never purchased an Ibanez before. Is there anything I should do to get the guitar into tip-top shape? What should I do to set it up?
Second, the Low E string is buzzing a little bit. I'm wondering if this is just because I am not used to the guitar yet, the strings are smaller and of a lesser quality than what I usually use, or the guitar needs to be adjusted.
Lastly, what can I do to keep my guitar in top shape?
If there is anything else you think I should know, please tell me!
By the way, later today I will post some pictures of it.
