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Ibanez RG2027XL Prestige
Ibanez MM7
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Playability
73
Sound
81
Build
69
Value
69
Score
74
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Playability
77
Sound
81
Build
85
Value
71
Score
81
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Ibanez RG2027XL Prestige vs MM7

Reasons to Get
Ibanez RG2027XL Prestige over MM7

Release Year
2019 vs 2018
From a more recent year
Neck Profile
Wizard-7 vs AZ Oval C
Thin neck for playing fast
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.75'' (19.1mm) vs 0.81'' (20.6mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.83'' (21.1mm) vs 0.89'' (22.6mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Nut Width
1.89'' (48mm) vs 1.85'' (47mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Bridge
Lo-Pro Edge vs Tremolo
Intense vibratos with more features than a Floyd Rose
Scale Length
27'' (685.8mm) vs 25.5'' (647.7mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone
Fretboard Radius
17'' (431.8mm) vs 12'' (304.8mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend

Reasons to Get
Ibanez MM7 over RG2027XL Prestige

Decorative Top
Flamed Maple vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Fret Material
Stainless Steel vs Nickel Silver
Best fret material that will last forever
Neck Profile
AZ Oval C vs Wizard-7
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Pickup Mods
Coil Tap vs None
Lowers output of humbucker coil to create a single coil sound
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.81'' (20.6mm) vs 0.75'' (19.1mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.89'' (22.6mm) vs 0.83'' (21.1mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Nut Width
1.85'' (47mm) vs 1.89'' (48mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Luminescent Sidedots
Yes vs None
Assists you when playing in dark environments
Bridge
Tremolo vs Lo-Pro Edge
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm) vs 27'' (685.8mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm) vs 17'' (431.8mm)
More curved fretboard helpful to play chords without muting strings
Value Score
71 vs 69
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Ibanez RG2027XL Prestige vs MM7

Bridge Pickup
DiMarzio Fusion Edge 7 vs Seymour Duncan Hyperion 7
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
DiMarzio Fusion Edge 7 vs Seymour Duncan Hyperion 7
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Basswood vs Mahogany
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Maple vs Roasted Maple
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Ebony vs Roasted Maple
Different Fretboard Wood
Headstock
7 vs 6
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Locking vs Black Tusq XL
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Ibanez RG2027XL Prestige vs MM7

Strings
7
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
5
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
Number of Frets
24
Same maximum octave
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Joint
Bolt-On
Allows you to detach and swap the neck
Type of Frets
Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut
  • High-Quality Frets
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Ibanez MM7 is probably the better product overall with its final score of 81 compared to the Ibanez RG2027XL Prestige's 74 score, although not by a lot.

The Ibanez MM7 wins when it comes to playability, build quality, value for the money. On the other hand, the Ibanez RG2027XL Prestige has the upper hand when it comes to.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel more comfortable playing the Ibanez MM7.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Ibanez MM7 is the better choice.

The Ibanez MM7 meets 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Ibanez RG2027XL Prestige meets only 3. This takes into account the type of frets, scale length, nut width, bridge type, fretboard radius, and neck profile to determine the easiest combination for new players.

New Player Friendliness

Ibanez RG2027XL Prestige
  • Comfortable shape
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners
  • Easy-to-use bridge

New Player Friendliness

Ibanez MM7
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale

Nevertheless, when it comes to choosing an instrument, you should pick the one more compatible with your personal style. Still, below we'll try you to give you our results as objectively as it's possible to help you decide.

Ibanez RG2027XL Prestige Overview

  • From Ibanez's 2019 RG series
  • Made in Japan
  • 7 strings
  • 27"'' scale
  • 17" Fretboard Radius
  • Basswood body
  • Maple/Wenge neck
  • Bound Macassar Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: DiMarzio Fusion Edge 7 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: DiMarzio Fusion Edge 7 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • Lo-Pro Edge 7 tremolo bridge
  • Wizard-7 Bolt-On neck
  • 24 Jumbo frets
  • Gotoh machine heads tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Ibanez MM7 Overview

  • From Ibanez's 2018 MM series
  • Martin Miller Signature
  • Made in Japan
  • 7 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Flamed Maple top
  • African Mahogany body
  • Roasted Maple neck
  • Roasted Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Seymour Duncan Hyperion 7 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Seymour Duncan Hyperion 7 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • Gotoh T1872S tremolo bridge
  • AZ Oval C Bolt-On neck
  • 24 Jumbo Stainless Steel frets
  • Gotoh MG-T locking machine heads tuners
  • Weight between 8.15lbs (3.7kgs) and 8.3lbs (3.8kgs)
  • Compare Specs >

Sound Quality Comparison

The wood used in an electric guitar or bass is not as important to determine the final tone. However, some people prefer specific wood types, so we'll take a look at those first. Then, we'll take a look at the electronics to determine the versatility and sound quality of each instrument.

Woods Used in the Ibanez RG2027XL Prestige

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple
Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony
Basswood wood pattern used for guitar building
Basswood

Maple is one of the most popular necks for good reasons. It is a strong wood that is relatively cheap to make and looks beautiful. The highest quality maple is the hardest that comes from North America. Find out more about Maple.

Ebony is a high-end wood, so it is not cheap. It's only used for fretboards because it's also very heavy. It does an excellent job as a durable material while looking elegant. Find out more about Ebony.

Basswood is a lightweight type of wood that isn't as expensive as other popular choices for guitar building. It gives more power to the mid-range frequencies. Its color can vary from pale white to light brown. Find out more about Basswood.

Woods Used in the Ibanez MM7

Roasted Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Roasted Maple
Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany

Roasted Maple is just maple without a finish. It's technically cheaper than regular maple, but it doesn't have any extra disadvantages because of this. The color is darker, and it's lighter weight and very stable even when there's a lot of humidity.

Mahogany is a fairly rare wood nowadays. It's used mostly for bodies due to its relatively lightweight. Gibson popularized it with their Les Paul guitars during their golden years, so this wood has a lot of good reputation behind it. The most expensive type comes from South America and it's still used by Gibson even today. Find out more about Mahogany.

Winner: Tie.

Pickup Configuration

Both pickup configurations are HH. Double Humbucker (HH) is the choice for people who want a fuller, more round sound with tons of mids and lows. Humbuckers also get rid of the hum noise that plague single-coil pickups. They can work out for almost any genre going from Djent to even Jazz.

Pickups Quality

Both come with very good pickups from at least one of the specialized brands in the market. With pickups like these, you probably won't need an upgrade anytime soon.

Both use Passive pickups. This is what's used for most music genres. They have a regular output and will serve you for both high-gain and clean tones. The alternative (Active pickups) offer a higher output that is mostly used for heavy music.

Winner: Tie.

Versatility Comparison

Some instruments offer you more ways to explore your creativity than others. Below you'll find how both compare when it comes to versatility.

Switch Options

Both are equal when it comes to the pickup switching option.

Only the Ibanez MM7 comes with some kind of pickup modification: Coil Tap.

Coil Tap is similar to Coil Split but it works a bit differently. Instead of completely cancelling one of the coils of the humbucker, it only cuts part of the output once activated. Some people believe this gives the split pickups a more real single-coil sound.

Ibanez RG2027XL Prestige pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Ibanez RG2027XL Prestige's switch options
Ibanez MM7 pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Ibanez MM7's switch options

When evaluating versatility, we also take into consideration bridge and neck joint type, number of frets, switch options, amount of pickups and more.

Winner: Ibanez MM7.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Ibanez RG2027XL Prestige
Pickups 85
Sustain 80
Versatility 72
Tuning Stability 85
Sound 81
Ibanez MM7
Pickups 85
Sustain 80
Versatility 82
Tuning Stability 75
Sound 81

Build Quality Comparison

When it comes to build quality, we like to take into account everything used to build the instrument. This includes materials, hardware and the quality control expected depending on the country where it was built. Let's see how the Ibanez RG2027XL Prestige compares to the Ibanez MM7.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. Both in this comparison where made in Japan.

Japan has a long history of high-quality guitar building. Little has changed in terms of their manufacturing and quality control over the years. Many guitars made in this country can be compared—and even beat—others made in the US.

Winner: Tie

Nut Material

If you want your guitar to stay in tune and sound good, you need a well cut nut. Nut quality can be inconsistent even when comparing two copies of the same model. The best way to make sure you're nut will be well done is by getting a nut made by an expert company like TUSQ or Micarta.

The Ibanez RG2027XL Prestige has a Locking nut. Instead of a regular nut, this guitar has a locking system that will lock down the strings at the nut, preventing it from getting out of tune. It removes one of the disadvantages of tremolo bridges, tune stability.

On the other hand, the Ibanez MM7 comes with a Black Tusq XL nut. TUSQ nuts are usually the highest quality you can get. Black TUSQs are made from a special slippery material that helps the strings get back to its original position (one of the keys to tune stability).

Winner: Tie.

Fret Material

Most fret wire is made of nickel silver. This material eventually wears down after a lot of use and most instruments end up needing a complete fret replacement. However, some expensive models come with stainless steel frets. This is what you should aim for if you can afford it.

In this comparison, the Ibanez MM7 is the only one that has stainless steel frets. These frets will basically last for the entire life of the guitar. They will never need polishing nor replacement. And not only that, but some people also notice that bending and vibratos are much easier to perform when they upgrade to stainless steel.

Winner: Ibanez MM7.

Bridge

The perfect bridge for you will depend on your playstyle because they all have advantages and disadvantages. However, some bridges are more expensive—like Floyd Roses and Evertunes—and thus add more value to a guitar.

The Ibanez RG2027XL Prestige's brige is a Lo-Pro Edge. Similar to the original Edge bridge design by Ibanez, but with a lower profile (more discrete and less likely to interfere with your picking). It comes with the same improvements over Floyd Rose tremolos as the Edge: push-in arm, replaceable knife edges, more sustain, smaller saddles, and more. These bridges offer tons of versatility, but they also require more work than simpler tremolos to set up.

On the other hand, the Ibanez MM7's is a Tremolo. Tremolo bridges give you more versatility than fixed bridges. They let you perform the intense vibrato effects that would be impossible with a fixed bridge. However, since the bridge floats and there's less contact with the body, the strings lose sustain slightly faster. They can also be a bit harder to restring and set up correctly than fixed bridges.

Since we need to be objective, the most expensive type of bridge will be the winner of this section. In the end, this doesn't matter if you're not going to use the bridge for its original purpose, so choose the bridge that fits your playing style better.

Winner: Ibanez RG2027XL Prestige.

Tuners

The Ibanez MM7 has the best tuners of the two because they are locking tuners. They'll help to keep your guitar in tune because they allow you to tune it without wrapping the strings around the posts. This avoids variations in the tuning due to the strings changing position at the post after a bend. They come at the disadvantage of being slightly heavier than regular tuners. Also, it makes it a lot easier to restring.

Nevertheless, the Ibanez RG2027XL Prestige has a locking nut, so it should have even better tune stability and doesn't need locking tuners.

Winner: Ibanez MM7.

Neck Joint

Contrary to popular belief, the difference in sustain and tone that some neck joints give to a guitar is simply unperceivable—if they're all well built. However, some of them do have advantages over the others.

Both have a Bolt-On neck joint. This neck is joined to the body by 4 bolts that you can simply unscrew. This allows you to replace the neck or take it off for travel. It's the most common and cheapest way to build a guitar.

Winner: Tie.

Here is the list of features that were considered when choosing the winner in the Features subcategory:

Strengths & Weaknesses
Ibanez RG2027XL Prestige
  • Made in Japan
  • Expensive Wood
  • Locking Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Retainer Bar
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Ibanez MM7
  • Stainless Steel Frets
  • Locking Tuners
  • Made in Japan
  • Expensive Wood
  • Black Tusq XL Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Coil Tap Pickups
  • Luminescent Inlay
  • Tremolo
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Ibanez RG2027XL Prestige
Quality of materials 51
Features 65
Quality Control 90
Build Quality 69
Ibanez MM7
Quality of materials 85
Features 75
Quality Control 95
Build Quality 85

Playability Comparison

Let's now compare their playability. Bear in mind that the instrument will feel different depending on your hand size and play style. That's why you should always test before buying. But if you can't or want a second opinion on it, we can still take a look at each of the important measurements of the instrument for you. This way, we can predict how easy a guitar might be to play, or how different it will feel compared to the other.

Remember that, even though the difference might seem small, every inch counts when it comes to feeling of the instrument in your hands. Any variation can completely change how comfortable a guitar feels in your hands.

Nut Width

Ibanez RG2027XL Prestige Nut Width
Ibanez RG2027XL Prestige Nut Width
Ibanez MM7 Nut Width
Ibanez MM7 Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Ibanez RG2027XL Prestige has the wider nut with 48mm (1.89'') vs 47mm (1.85''). This is a 1mm (0.04'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Ibanez RG2027XL Prestige, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

Ibanez RG2027XL Prestige's Scale Length
Ibanez RG2027XL Prestige's Scale Length
Ibanez MM7's Scale Length
Ibanez MM7's Scale Length

The scale length is one of the things that influences playability the most. This is the distance between the nut and the bridge and will affect everything from low action allowance, difficulty to perform bends, fret separation, and even tone.

The Ibanez RG2027XL Prestige has the longest scale: 27". The Ibanez MM7 is only 25.5" long. This is a 1.5'' (38.1mm) scale length difference.

This longer scale means that the strings need more tension to get in tune. This is good if you want to avoid fret buzz, which can happen when the strings are too loose and touch the frets while vibrating. This is especially important when playing in lower tunings. This will also let you reduce the gap between fretboard and strings (low action) to make them easier to press down. However, this higher tension will also make it harder to perform bends and vibratos as the strings will feel stiffer.

This also means that the frets have a longer separation between each other, so this will make it harder for people with smaller hands when playing some chord positions.

Another characteristic of a longer scale is that it makes the guitar sound 'snappier' or brighter. This is due to the extra separation between harmonics and overtones produced by the tension. This influences tone more than any other factor (except the pickups).

Lastly, remember that you can also affect the tension of the strings by changing your string gauge. You can use a thicker gauge for more tension and a lighter one for less tension.

Neck Profile

Ibanez RG2027XL Prestige Neck Profile
Ibanez RG2027XL Prestige's neck profile
Ibanez MM7 Neck Profile
Ibanez MM7's neck profile

No single neck shape is better than others. However, most people tend to prefer a thinner necks because it doesn't get in their way when playing fast and most hand sizes can adapt to it pretty well. However, some people still prefer thicker necks for a better grip, especially if they have big hands.

In this case, both have different neck shapes:

The Ibanez RG2027XL Prestige has a Wizard type of neck. This is thinner than most C-type necks. It won't get in your way if you want to play fast solos. It's not as slim as 'Super Wizard' necks, so it might fit you better if you don't like ultra-thin necks.

The Ibanez MM7, on the other hand, has a C neck. This is what you'll find in most modern guitars. Most people feel like the thickness of a C neck is simply the less intrusive one for playing fast, while at the same time allowing you to grab the neck easily for resting if you want to.

Fretboard Radius

Ibanez RG2027XL Prestige Fingerboard Radius
Ibanez RG2027XL Prestige's Fingerboard radius
Ibanez MM7 Fingerboard Radius
Ibanez MM7's Fingerboard radius

Most guitar fretboards are not flat; they usually have a curve or arc across their width. A curved fretboard will make it easier to perform chords without muting strings, while a flatter one will make it easier to play single notes, which is good for bending and soloing in general. The best fretboards have a compound radius that varies across the fingerboard, but they're not common since they take a lot more work to build.

In this case, the Ibanez MM7's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Ibanez RG2027XL Prestige's. This extra arc will make playing chords easier in this model. You won't be as likely to mute the strings, especially if you have big hands. However, playing single notes and bending will be easier on the Ibanez RG2027XL Prestige.

Still, both tend to favor soloing over chords, so if you're looking for a guitar for playing rhythm, you might want something else with a radius closer to a Stratocaster's 9.5''.

Hand Size Comfortability

Everyone has a different hand size, and that's why it's recommended to try a guitar before buying, even if others tell you that it's comfortable to play. However, we can know whether a guitar favors small or large hands just by knowing its exact measurements.

And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the Ibanez RG2027XL Prestige favors large hands more than the Ibanez MM7.

Ibanez RG2027XL Prestige:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Ibanez MM7:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Ibanez RG2027XL Prestige and Ibanez MM7 Frets Size
Both have a similar Jumbo fret size

Both have a Jumbo fret size. This is one of the tallest frets you can get. You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings. It will give you the best sustain and all types of chords will be easier to play. However, you can end up changing the pitch of your notes if you press too hard, which is something people used to feeling the fretboard do when trying Jumbo frets for the first time.

Final Playability Scores

Ibanez RG2027XL Prestige
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 50
Solo Playability 90
Playability 73
Ibanez MM7
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 90
Playability 77

Specs Side-by-Side

Ibanez RG2027XL Prestige vs MM7
General Ibanez RG2027XL Prestige MM7
Brand: Ibanez Ibanez
Year: 2019 2018
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 7 7
Made in: Japan Japan
Series: RG MM
Colors: Blue Blue
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Basswood African Mahogany
Bridge: Lo-Pro Edge 7 tremolo Gotoh T1872S tremolo
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Gotoh machine heads Gotoh MG-T locking machine heads
Fretboard: Bound Macassar Ebony Roasted Maple
Neck Material: Maple/Wenge Roasted Maple
Decoration: Off-set Mother of Pearl dot Abalone dot
Scale Size: 27" 25.5"
Shape: Wizard-7 AZ Oval C
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.75'' (19.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.83'' (21.1mm) 1st Fret: 0.81'' (20.6mm) - 12th Fret: 0.89'' (22.6mm)
Frets: 24 Jumbo Nickel Silver 24 Jumbo Stainless Steel
Fretboard Radius: 17" 12"
Nut: Locking Black Tusq XL
Nut Width: 48mm (1.89'') 47mm (1.85'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: DiMarzio Fusion Edge 7 (Humbucker / Passive) Seymour Duncan Hyperion 7 (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: DiMarzio Fusion Edge 7 (Humbucker / Passive) Seymour Duncan Hyperion 7 (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 5 Way 5 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: None Coil Tap
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1