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Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige
Ibanez RG2027XL Prestige
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Playability
75
Sound
77
Build
75
Value
66
Score
76
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Playability
73
Sound
81
Build
69
Value
69
Score
74
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Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige vs RG2027XL Prestige

Reasons to Get
Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige over RG2027XL Prestige

Decorative Top
Richlite vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Release Year
2021 vs 2019
From a more recent year
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
Luminescent Sidedots
Yes vs None
Assists you when playing in dark environments
Bridge
Fixed vs Lo-Pro Edge
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Scale Length
26.5'' (673.1mm) vs 27'' (685.8mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone

Reasons to Get
Ibanez RG2027XL Prestige over RGDR4427FX Prestige

Switch Positions
5 vs 3
More tone options
Tone Knobs
1 vs 0
More tone control
Bridge
Lo-Pro Edge vs Fixed
Intense vibratos with more features than a Floyd Rose
Scale Length
27'' (685.8mm) vs 26.5'' (673.1mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone
Value Score
69 vs 66
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige vs RG2027XL Prestige

Body Wood
Ash vs Basswood
Different Body Wood
Headstock
R7 vs 7
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Black Tusq XL vs Locking
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige vs RG2027XL Prestige

Bridge Pickup
DiMarzio Fusion Edge 7
Same Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
DiMarzio Fusion Edge 7
Same Neck Pickup
Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Ebony
Same Fretboard Wood
Strings
7
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
Number of Frets
24
Same maximum octave
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.75'' (19.1mm)
Same neck comfortability
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.83'' (21.1mm)
Same neck comfortability
Nut Width
1.89'' (48mm)
Same string separation at the nut
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Fretboard Radius
17'' (431.8mm)
Same fretboard comfortability
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Profile Type
Wizard
Thin neck for playing fast
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
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • 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 RGDR4427FX Prestige is probably the better product overall with its final score of 76 compared to the Ibanez RG2027XL Prestige's 74 score, although not by a lot.

The Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige wins when it comes to playability, build quality. On the other hand, the Ibanez RG2027XL Prestige has the upper hand when it comes to sound, value for the money.

If you got small hands, none of these instruments will make a big difference when it comes to comfortability.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige is the better choice.

The Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige meets 5 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 RGDR4427FX Prestige
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale

New Player Friendliness

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

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 RGDR4427FX Prestige Overview

  • From Ibanez's 2021 RGD series
  • Made in Japan
  • 7 strings
  • 26.5"'' scale
  • 17" Fretboard Radius
  • Richlite top
  • Ash 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 0 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Mono-rail bridge
  • Wizard-7 Bolt-On neck
  • 24 Jumbo frets
  • Gotoh MG-T locking machine heads tuners
  • Weight between 8.95lbs (4.1kgs) and 9.75lbs (4.4kgs)
  • Compare Specs >

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 >

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 Both

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

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.

Woods Used in the Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige

Ash wood pattern used for guitar building
Ash

Ash is a type of wood that Fender used almost exclusively in the 50s, and it's still used by many brands. It's a dense wood with a light color that works well for a transparent, natural finish because of its beautiful patterns. In terms of sound, it's known for emphasizing the mid and high frequencies, but with strong low end. Find out more about Ash.

Woods Used in the Ibanez RG2027XL Prestige

Basswood wood pattern used for guitar building
Basswood

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.

Winner: Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige.

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

The Ibanez RG2027XL Prestige gives you 5 switch options while the Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige gives you 3. This means that the Ibanez RG2027XL Prestige gives you more options to find the right pickup combination for the type of sound you want to achieve

Neither of them come with some kind of coil split or pickup mod option. This makes both lacking in terms of versatility.

Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige's switch options
Ibanez RG2027XL Prestige pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Ibanez RG2027XL Prestige'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 RG2027XL Prestige.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige
Pickups 85
Sustain 85
Versatility 57
Tuning Stability 80
Sound 77
Ibanez RG2027XL Prestige
Pickups 85
Sustain 80
Versatility 72
Tuning Stability 85
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 RGDR4427FX Prestige compares to the Ibanez RG2027XL Prestige.

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 RGDR4427FX Prestige has 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).

On the other hand, the Ibanez RG2027XL Prestige comes with 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.

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.

Unfortunately, none of them come with stainless steel frets.

Winner: Tie.

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 RGDR4427FX Prestige's brige is a Fixed. It's a simple bridge that is very beginner-friendly since it doesn't require any set-up. You can swap strings easily. It might also give more sustain since it doesn't have complex moving parts that make the strings lose vibration. However, it doesn't have the same versatility as a tremolo bridge.

On the other hand, the Ibanez RG2027XL Prestige's 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.

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 RGDR4427FX Prestige 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 RGDR4427FX Prestige.

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 RGDR4427FX Prestige
  • Locking Tuners
  • Made in Japan
  • Expensive Wood
  • Black Tusq XL Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Luminescent Inlay
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
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

Final Build Quality Scores

Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige
Quality of materials 65
Features 65
Quality Control 95
Build Quality 75
Ibanez RG2027XL Prestige
Quality of materials 51
Features 65
Quality Control 90
Build Quality 69

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 RGDR4427FX Prestige Nut Width
Both Guitars Have The Same Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, both have a nut width of 48mm (1.89'').

This is considered a wide width for a 7-string guitar. It gives your fingers the extra space you need to play without muting accidentally, but this also makes bar chords harder to perform, especially if you have small hands.

Scale Length

Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige's Scale Length
Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige's Scale Length
Ibanez RG2027XL Prestige's Scale Length
Ibanez RG2027XL Prestige'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 RGDR4427FX Prestige is only 26.5" long. This is a 0.5'' (12.7mm) 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 RGDR4427FX Prestige Neck Profile
Both guitars have the same 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.

Both the Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige and the Ibanez RG2027XL Prestige have a Wizard-shaped 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.

Fretboard Radius

Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige Fingerboard Radius
Both Guitars Have The Same Fretboard 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.

Both the Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige and the Ibanez RG2027XL Prestige have the same fretboard radius of 17". This fretboard is one of the flatter ones you can find. It's 5 inches flatter than a Les Paul, and 7.5 inches when compared to a Stratocaster. It's a fingerboard made specifically for playing single notes fast on the fretboard (shredding).

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.

After taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that both in this comparison are balanced for most hand sizes.

Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Ibanez RG2027XL Prestige:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige and Ibanez RG2027XL Prestige 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 RGDR4427FX Prestige
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 50
Solo Playability 90
Playability 75
Ibanez RG2027XL Prestige
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 50
Solo Playability 90
Playability 73

Specs Side-by-Side

Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige vs RG2027XL Prestige
General Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige RG2027XL Prestige
Brand: Ibanez Ibanez
Year: 2021 2019
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 7 7
Made in: Japan Japan
Series: RGD RG
Colors: Natural Blue Blue
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Ash Basswood
Bridge: Mono-rail Lo-Pro Edge 7 tremolo
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Gotoh MG-T locking machine heads Gotoh machine heads
Fretboard: Bound Macassar Ebony Bound Macassar Ebony
Neck Material: Maple/Wenge Maple/Wenge
Decoration: Off-set Lum Off-set Mother of Pearl dot
Scale Size: 26.5" 27"
Shape: Wizard-7 Wizard-7
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.75'' (19.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.83'' (21.1mm) 1st Fret: 0.75'' (19.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.83'' (21.1mm)
Frets: 24 Jumbo Nickel Silver 24 Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 17" 17"
Nut: Black Tusq XL Locking
Nut Width: 48mm (1.89'') 48mm (1.89'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: DiMarzio Fusion Edge 7 (Humbucker / Passive) DiMarzio Fusion Edge 7 (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: DiMarzio Fusion Edge 7 (Humbucker / Passive) DiMarzio Fusion Edge 7 (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 5 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 0 1