Buy This NOT That | Jackson American Series Virtuoso vs. Ibanez RG5120M Prestige 

Ibanez Edge original and Lo pro bridge > any Floyd Rose bridge. They just feel better in my hand over any Floyd Rose bridge I've played. I have a bunch of Jackson and Ibanez guitars. Both are great but if I can only have one it's Ibanez all day.

The Ibanez wins for me, SS frets, flat neck and a much superior trem....and it's Ibanez.

The headstock on the Jackson wins for me. Even tho I've been drooling over the polar lights ibanez for over a year.

Heavily Jackson in this case, I own a 550 Genesis and the Virtuoso. And have owned multiple prestige Ibanez guitars. The Jackson is by far a nicer feeling guitars, and I prefer the hardware and pickups 🤷‍♂️

I got the 5120…i LOVE that guitar. Blows everything i ever played away even Jems

Lifelong Ibanez player here, bought an American SL3 Jackson (similar to this Virtuoso but neck-thru), and it is 50% more metal than any Ibanez I own or have played. Better quality, somehow too. So good.

virtuoso hands down. 9/10 guitar for me. second favourite in my line up after my lepsky custom

with the ibanez the pickups turn off when you unlug the 1/4" jack, no need to unplug the battery.

Good breakdown on both guitars, I would also go with the Ibanez. I haven't tried the Fishman pickups but Ive heard good reviews and seems to have some more tonal options. The clincher for me is the SS Frets, I wear down frets quickly so this is a no brainier.

I would pick Jackson 1.- I prefer the looking headstock, 2.- locking tuners just for quick string replacement, 3.- I prefer passive pickups, last but not least is more probably you get a better price for second hand on the jacksons than the ibanez

Concerning the Ibanez, you do not have to remove the battery. I have Fishman pickups in my Ibanez guitar. I've had it for three years and have changed the battery only once. Leaving the battery in place does not drain it.

I have the Ibanez RG5320C and the Jackson USA SL3. Couldnt decide between the 2.

Bought an American Soloist....way nicer than I expected....total killer guitar Cheers from Detroit

I was considering both these guitars. I ordered the RG5120m in polar lights finish based on the specs and only tried the Jackson at the store. What i can say is that both guitars are good for what they are - Shred guitars that can chug. Admittedly, since i play Thrash Metal most of the times, i actually preferred the sound of the Jackson with the SH-4. But some EQ is enough to make them sound somewhat similar that it didn't matter. Both guitars feel great, although the Ibanez has better specs on paper, an objectively cooler finish and a lower price tag where I live.

I actually played and fell in love with the Ibanez Rg5120M in frozen ocean color. The biggest thing that surprised me about the RG was the weight and just how beautiful the guitar was. it legitimately feels like an axe and the coolest part of the color is that in one light you can the grain of the Ash top but in another light it has a kind of frost effect on the color.

Nice vid. I would happily play either. Been more into LTD lately though and it seems like Ibanez's quality control hasn't been as good recently as it was in the past. Just what I hear though.

I actually have both guitars. Love both of them, but I;m still urked that jackson isn't doing stainless steel frets on the american series.

This is one of "the" comparisons I was waiting for, awesome😎🤘. And is actually confirming what I have been raving about for quit some time. Since Ibanez threw in that 5000 series prestiges I bought a lot of'm all killer axes especially regarding the price.

This video couldn't have been made at a better time for me. I'm so torn between these two but it looks like I might have to lean on Ibanez for this one since stainless steel frets and the flatter fretboard radius are must haves for me.

I have the Ibanez you are comparing in the video. Even though it's a birdseye maple board, the figuring it is pretty underwhelming. I keep tabs on Sweetwater's in stock guitars, and the ones they have pictures of are commonly pretty unfigured as well. Sucks, but if you get lucky and get a dope one, it would be a great value.

Nice comparison, thanks. Ibanez for me 100%. Jackson have really cheaped out on the finishes for those guitars. The satin colours just look cheap and will mark up really badly over time. They must have been done to cut costs. The Ibanez finishes for the 5120 are both awesome and look even better in person, and for that money a hard shell case is a necessityy. I also love maple fretboards, so the Ibanez is perfect for me, although I'm not sure how easy it would be to see those fret markers. If I were paying that money for a Jackson I'd definitely go for the MIJ Soloist. Gloss black, sharkfins, gotoh trem.

I really like your review and comparison videos because of your presentation of the facts we actually want to know when considering which guitar to buy. You let the facts stand, let your subjective stance be clear, and state an opinion based on your preferences. Thx dude. I like your channel and think you are a good guitar player.

i recently bought a prestige rg652ahm and i really like it a lot, besides the price

I went with the 5120M blue one over the Jackson, can't stand FR bridges. The low pro is much better on ergonomics compared to any FR, although it's not flawless on it's own either. I love active pickups compared to passive, they sound so much better to me. Either one is nice though and really can't go wrong!

Great comparison video. It’s really a tough choice this time, since those guitars are so similar. I would take the Ibanez as well. Mostly because of the trem. The Floyd Rose fine tuners tend to stick into my arm. I also think locking tuners serve no real purpose with a double locking trem except for making string changes more convenient.

5120 weights 3.9 KG's. That's why I had to return it 3 years ago... I wish that Ash on it was thicker so weight would be awesome about 3.5 - 3.6.

I drove 160 miles round trip twice in the past week. My original intent was to try out a 2023 E2 ESP in red. Beautiful guitar, however the neck profile is just too thick for my taste (I would call it a very deep U). I spent an hour yesterday playing and comparing an Ibanez RG5120m and 2 different Jackson Virtuosos (Blue & Black). My thoughts... 1. Jackson neck is by far its best attribute. Very comfy, and thin profile. That's where it ends for me. The finish/body does not look/feel like a 2000 dollar guitar. I don't care who/where it's made. The floyd 1500 is basically a 1000 with SS upgrades. Pickups are fine. The black almost looks like a matte finish, very dull. The Ibanez feels more like a 2k guitar. Fit/Finish is extraordinary. Even down to the detail on the luminlay markers. Pickups are fantastic (if you like actives). Electronics are top notch. Needless to say I purchased the Ibanez, which is now my 3rd Ibanez and 2nd prestige. I'm sorry if this peevs the Jackson crowd. I have 2 other jacksons and I'm in the Jackson group on FB. I like them and certainly appreciate what they bring, The virtuoso is just not at the same level to me as this specific prestige model. Just my .02.

I’ve had that same exact Ibanez for about a year now. It’s by far my favorite of any of my axes. I’ve got a few other Ibanez guitars but this one just feels faster .

Do you own either one of these?

really enjoyed this video

Hello you forgot to mention 3 important things. You have to use a hex key on the FR1500 to hook/release the trem arm. And it’s really a pain in the ass. It’s one of the main reason I don’t use that much my Charvel Jim Root. Second thing the Jackson comes with a shitty foam case (I had 4 four of them which came stock and I sold them all to grab 4 Jackson/Charvel hardcase but it cost me few bucks more) Moreover the Jackson comes with only 3 hex keys when the Ibanez comes with an Ibanez multi tools hex/wrench keys. Regarding standard guitar (not custom shop order) I don’t think USA made are better than Japanese made guitars. It depends on the brand mostly. and Ibanez prestige and ESP E-II MIJ are really, really really well crafted guitar. I have a Charvel Select San Dimas and a Schott Ian M-1000 2H Select which are both USA made in Jackson/Charvel custom shop. And I have two ESP E-II and the ibanez 5120 and the quality of all those axes are gorgeous. USA VS JAPAN or VS the rest of the world seems to be a matter for US people only. For a European like me, if I want to buy a new axe or a new amp, I try to buy a model that is made in the brand's country of origin. Why a USA made stuff should be better that an Italian made Amp or a Japanese made Guitar. Is that means that Mezzabarba is less good than a Mesa, because I can assure you that Mezzabarba amps are certainly among the best-built amps in the world.

Thanks for the comparison... For me it's the Jackson, no contest... The feel of the neck, the Jackson headstock, the passive pickups... It's all there!

Got the USA soloist in blue and it’s so good. Ibanez has amazing quality too but for some reason the prestige neck is just so flat and thin it hurts my hand after a while. I am going to trade in some of my Schecters for the made in Japan Jackson dinky (ice blue color 🤤)

Buy a Vola instead. They are more affordable by a large margin when compared to the equally spec'd, also MIJ Prestige Ibanez. And because they're direct to consumers, they are close to 1/3 the price, and their QC is top. The legacy brands have had their time.

Jackson for me. Prefer their necks and I’m gonna change pickups regardless.

Ibanez all day. Caramelized maple is NOT roasted maple. Also, the Lo Pro Edge is lightyears beyond any 1000 series floyd rose.

Calling bullshit on this. The Ibanez Trem is light years better than the 1500. It's not even in the same ballpark. If you have a 1500 and like it; that's great. I have played both trems on many different guitars and the 1500 has never stayed in tune. The Edge and lo-pro's never seemed to go out of tune no matter how much I abused the bar. Both guitars are great but putting a FR1500 on a $2000+ guitar is cheap AF. Come on Jackson!

Jackson no stainless steel frets at this price point, is a no go for me.

Jackson, no comparison, Jackson has their own sound and soulful almost alive guitars, its the feel, character and sound, the parts are good on both, Ibanez is great but , Jackson definitely

They should have installed OFR Germany made l or Schaller Lockmeister on this Jackson guitar. The FR1500 is inferior to this Japanese made Edge bridges.

If we are just talking bang for your buck, it has to be the Ibanez. I don't know if I missed the mention in your video but it is worth pointing out that the Ibanez RG comes with stainless steel frets and the Jackson does not. Also, Lo-Pro Edge / Edge are just the best stock vibrato systems on the market. Nothing wrong with the FR1500, though. To me, Ibanez MIJ just have the best necks. Skinny, but very strong, plus 17" fretboard radius - *chefs kiss*

I'd still pick the Jackson. I hate active pickups. Fishman is just the new EMG. Just a difference in the cocked wah tone. Lame.

I hate the pop in arms, they really do my head in! The bushs always become loose, and drop down. I replaced my trem in my original Ibanez RG550 with a Schaller lockmiester trem, its much better, and the arm stays where yoj want it.

i used to have an rg, i hated the liscensed floyd, i have a seven string gio with a hard tail and even though its a fraction of the price i swear its a better guitar

As a die hard Jackson fan I say that Ibanez Prestige wins in every category. It's almost dumb to compare these 2 (I'm not saying that you're dumb or that the video is dumb by any means). It's a far better made guitar, in fact I would say that Ibanez Prestige has even better craftmanship than Jackson USA Select. The American Virtuoso Series are a joke.

It would be interesting to see a comparison between the new Jackson Japan guitars and the Ibanez RG Prestige line. The American Virtuoso are a joke.

I own an Ibanez Prestige 1570.I think the neck is subjective depends on the player we can't say this is better than that.I own a Jackson as well and i prefer the neck of the Jackson and the tone of the Jackson as well.So I don't think we can say the Ibanez is better than the Jackson.I feel the only place where the Ibanez wins is the term system of the Ibanez.Rest I prefer the Jackson.

Maple fretboard on the Jackson would have been a deal breaker.

People that actually think american made is higher quality than japanese made is funny :D

Quick sidenote: They made the Genesis models the way they are with the heel because they wanted to pay homage to the WAY EFFING HUGE DEAL that was the RG550. I hope you knew that.

on a floting trem bridge set up it makes no sence to have locking tuners... specialy if you string it with the balls at the headstock which all the cool kids do....

lol! I also prefer Fishman, but your arguments about the fact that mahogany somehow improves the sound are bullshit!!!!

Like everybody didnt know you would choose anything over jackson.

I feel like USA made guitars is just a brand name. Sure they're good, but every high end Japanese, and even korean have felt better to play for me. Japan REALLY knows how to make quality guitars. I'd pick the Ibanez if that didn't come across (edit. okey JUST a brand name might be a stretch but it sure is a HEAVY premium to pay for)

Wow, an Ibanez with stainless steel frets? Easy winner. I don't even look at guitars without ss frets anymore. If you ask for more than 600-800 bucks, I'll expect at least stainless steel frets, if not a graphtech or bone nut as well.

i like metal but i dont play metal that much so I'm team Jackson

Cool shirt man even though u cang see it 🤘

the jackson would be my perfect guitar if it would have sst frets and a fixed bridge xD i rly dont get the point of guitars with fr systems, every company is thinking that we want that shtty sytsem but i never wanted that xD

I'll make it easier if you like fender strats buy the jackson if you don't by the Ibanez. There easy.

Ibanez for me.

Say "native" again , and Imma send Jules thru the screen to sort ya' out! 😆 Lol. Jk! (I'm "old" , I don't get it!) * _Pulp Fiction_ reference...

I think I like the mj dinkies better. That gotoh trem is amazing.

Ibanez prestige not like it once was

No comparison , Ibanez all day

stainless frets, gimmick, not worth extra, i dont even know which of my guitars have stainless frets anymore, stainless probably better for vintage or smaller frets, i have never worn out big frets

🥇🏆 First

I think the Jackson wins by a land slide

that Jackson is insanely better than any ibanez, this is gay