Ibanez RG565R-EB

Ibanez RG565R-EB review

The Ibanez RG565R-EB is a Japanese-made electric guitar with the familiar RG outline and a specification aimed at players who value a fast neck and a stable, responsive tremolo. This reissue has a basswood body, a five-piece maple and walnut neck, a rosewood fingerboard, and a high-gloss Electric Blue finish. It has been available since May 2025, with a listed price of 1044.

Its design recalls an RG model from the late 1980s, while the hardware and practical details make it ready for contemporary playing. The supplied specifications list two humbuckers, an Edge tremolo, a locking nut, Gotoh tuning machines, and 24 jumbo frets. There is no bag or case included. An Allen key is included for adjustments.

Neck and playing feel

The five-piece neck combines maple and walnut, attaches to the body with a bolt-on joint, and has a matte polyurethane finish. Its Super Wizard profile measures 17 mm thick at the first fret. The fingerboard radius is 430 mm, or 16.9 inches, with a 43 mm nut width and a 648 mm scale. White sharktooth inlays mark the rosewood fingerboard.

Those dimensions help explain why players describe the neck as especially quick and comfortable. One owner, who already had several RG guitars, called this the most playable guitar in their collection. Another compared its Wizard neck favorably with other superstrat-style instruments. These are individual impressions, but they line up with the thin profile and broad, flat fingerboard specified here.

The 24 jumbo frets provide room for upper-register leads, and the long scale is suited to standard electric-guitar string tension. One buyer received an instrument that was well tuned after a two-day shipment. Another needed to make a bridge adjustment and perform a minor setup after delivery. That variation is worth keeping in mind: a guitar may arrive in good shape and still benefit from a setup matched to its strings and playing preferences.

Pickups and switching

The RG565R-EB uses an Infinity R humbucker in the neck position and a V8 humbucker at the bridge, controlled by separate volume and tone controls and a five-way switch. The V8 drew strong praise from one owner for hard rock and classic metal, though that player did not consider it a natural fit for modern metal or metalcore. Another reviewer found the bridge pickup serviceable but planned to replace the neck pickup, describing its sound as less compelling than the rest of the guitar.

That split response makes the pickup set a personal-fit question rather than an obvious strength for every player. One owner praised the range available from the five-way switch, including a thinner, more single-coil-like option. The supplied specification confirms the five-way layout, but does not detail the wiring for each position. Players who need a specific coil configuration should check the switching behavior themselves before buying.

Edge tremolo and construction

The Edge tremolo is a key part of the package. It works with the locking nut to help keep tuning stable during tremolo use, and one owner specifically praised the Japanese-made bridge, comparing it favorably with a Floyd Rose 1000. Another buyer advised checking the small height-adjustment screws inside the bridge posts, since loose screws affected that guitar's setup. It is a useful inspection point, not evidence that every unit will have the same issue.

Owners generally reported strong finish and build quality. One described the Japanese craftsmanship as exceptional, while another noticed a minor tooling mark near the fingerboard binding and called the overall work very close to perfect. The Electric Blue finish also received favorable comments, with one player finding the color warm and appealing. The body has no separate top, and the finish is polyester lacquer.

Verdict

The RG565R-EB has a clear appeal for players who want a slim, fast-playing RG with an authentic Edge tremolo and Japanese construction. Its neck dimensions, jumbo frets, locking nut, and 24-fret layout support lead-focused playing, while the five-way switch gives the two-humbucker setup more tonal options than a simple two-position arrangement. Feedback on the V8 is positive for hard rock and classic metal, while the neck pickup is a more divisive part of the package.

At a listed price of 1044, it is worth considering if the neck feel and tremolo are priorities. Buyers seeking a case will need to budget for one separately, and players with precise pickup preferences should try the guitar or verify the switching details first. Overall, owner reports point to a fast, well-made instrument with a strong bridge pickup and a few setup and pickup considerations to weigh.