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For the more recent model with the same name, see RG421EX.
RG421EX BKF
RG421EX Black Flat (more images) Red copyright sprite

The RG421EX is an RG series solid body electric guitar model introduced by Ibanez for 2015. It was manufactured in Indonesia.

The RG421EX features a mahogany body with black and white multi binding attached to a maple Wizard III neck with a 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with binding and white dot position markers. Components include a pair of Ibanez Quantum humbucking pickups mounted in pickup rings, a fixed bridge, and die-cast tuning machines.

For 2018 the rosewood fretboard was replaced with jatoba. For 2019 the mahogany body was replaced with meranti. For 2020 the bridge was replaced with the F106. Two additional finishes showed up in 2020, Iron Pewter Matte and BPI (it's not clear what this finish code stands for); these were described as "prototype" finishes. For 2021 the RG421EX was introduced in the USA for the first time with a Transparent Crimson Fade Metallic finish exclusive to that market.

The RG421 is a similar model which lacks the body and fretboard binding and has cosmo black hardware.

The RG421EXL is a left-handed version. The RG420EX is a similar model with tremolo bridge.

This RG421EX was discontinued after 2023 and replaced with a new model with the same name which has direct-mounted pickups and a different output jack.

Specifications[]

Related content: RG series | Models-icon
Specifications for RG421EX
Model name: RG421EX
Year(s) offered: 2015–2023
Sold in: Americas & Oceania / Asia & Africa / China / Europe / Japan / USA 2021–2023
Made in: Indonesia
Price: MSRP: JP¥ 50,000 (2016[1]–2022[2]) / JP¥ 55,000 (2022[3]–2023[4]) • SMAP: €319 (2015[5]) / €365 (2021[6]) / JP¥ 39,800 (2022[7]) / €399 (2022[8]) / €409 (2023)[9]
Finish(es): Black Flat (BKF) / (BPI) 2020; Japan only / Iron Pewter Matte (IPM) 2020; Japan only / Transparent Crimson Fade Metallic (TCM) 2021–2023; USA only
Body
Body type:
Solid body
Body material:
2015–2018: Mahogany w/ binding
2019–2023: Meranti w/ binding
Neck joint:
AANJ
Bridge:
2015–2019: Fixed bridge
2020–2023: F106 fixed (10.5mm string spacing)
Knob style:
Knurled metal dome
Hardware color:
Black
Neck
Neck type:
Wizard III
Neck material:
1-piece maple
Scale length:
648mm/ 25½"
Fingerboard material:
2015–2017: Rosewood w/ binding
2018–2023: Jatoba w/ binding
Fingerboard inlays:
White dot
Frets:
24 / jumbo nickel silver
Nut:
Black plastic (43mm)
Machine heads:
Ibanez die-cast
Electronics/ Strings
Pickup configuration:
HH
Bridge pickup:
Ibanez Quantum (H) passive/ ceramic
Neck pickup:
Ibanez Quantum (H) passive/ ceramic
Controls:
Master volume / master tone / 5-way lever pickup selector
Output jack:
¼" mono (side mounted)
String gauge (factory):
.010/.013/.017/.026/.036/.046 (D'Addario EXL110)
Factory tuning:
1E,2B,3G,4D,5A,6E (E Std.)

Images[]

Other finishes
2020 RG421EX BPI
BPI
2020 RG421EX IPM
Iron Pewter Matte
2021 RG421EX TCM 1P 03
Transparent Crimson Fade Metallic
Additional details
2021 RG421EX BKF 1P 03 back
Rear of body
HH 5-way parallel-neck
Pickup switching
Controls VT5
Controls layout

Sources[]

  1. 2016 Japan catalog (p. 26)
  2. RG421EX product page, Ibanez Japan, archived January 2022
  3. RG421EX product page, Ibanez Japan, archived May 2022
  4. RG421EX product page, Ibanez Japan, archived January 2023
  5. RG421EX product listing, Thomann (German retailer), archived February 2015
  6. RG421EX product listing, Thomann (German retailer), archived September 2021
  7. RG421EX BPI product listing, Guitar Selection/ Shimamura Gakki (Japan retailer), archived September 2022
  8. RG421EX product listing, Thomann (German retailer), archived July 2022
  9. RG421EX product listing, Thomann (German retailer), archived December 2023
  • 2015 Europe catalog (p. 18)
  • RG421EX product page, Ibanez Europe, archived June 2016
  • RG421EX product page, Ibanez Europe, archived November 2017
  • 2017 Europe catalog (p. 20)
  • 2018 Europe catalog (p. 19)
  • RG421EX product page, Ibanez Asia, archived January 2018
  • RG421EX product page, Ibanez Europe, archived January 2019
  • RG421EX product page, Ibanez Americas & Oceania, archived January 2020
  • RG421EX IPM product listing, Guitar Selection/ Shimamura Gakki (Japan retailer), archived September 2022
  • RG421EX product page, Ibanez USA, archived January 2021
  • RG421EX product page, Ibanez Japan, archived May 2022
  • RG421EX product page, Ibanez Japan, archived January 2023
  • RG421EX product page, Ibanez Asia & Africa, archived January 2023
  • RG421EX product page, Ibanez USA, archived January 2023
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