The Ibanez Red Pearl Finish RGT42 Neck-Thru electric guitar caught my eye this last Winter NAMM Show and the $800 MSRP tripped me up. The RG Series has been around for 15 years with the RGT42RP in Red Pearl finish and the RGT42FM-DR in Deep Red ($899.99 MSRP) with flame maple top (shown) the newest additions. Of course you can always get the guitar in the original finish of the RGT42BP Black Pearl. The RGT42 has a basswood body and a five-piece maple and walnut neck with a 25 1/2-inch scale and 24 jumbo frets.

There are also pearl dot inlays on a bound rosewood fingerboard. You'll like the Ibanez INF 1 humbucker pickups in both the neck and bridge positions. All 2003 models feature the new Edge Pro II tremolo system, a significant upgrade to the LO-TRS II trem found on the 2002 RGT42s.

You should protect this one with the M100C case at $129.99 MSRP extra. For more information, contact Ibanez, Box 886, Bensalem, PA 19020. Web to: www.ibanez.com