Ibanez Q547PB-COL

I spent a solid month playing the Ibanez RC2720PR-DCR Prestige in a variety of contexts - bedroom practice, small rehearsals and a couple of recording sessions - and it grew on me fast. Coming from a background of both vintage-style guitars and high-performance modern instruments, I wanted to see if the RC2720PR could genuinely bridge classic P90 character and modern high-gain versatility without feeling compromised.

First Impressions

The first thing I noticed was how solid and refined the guitar felt out of the case - the Dark Cherry finish and acrylic block inlays give it a classy, somewhat retro presence, while the Cosmo Black hardware keeps the look modern. Neck profile and fretwork felt immediately comfortable - the RC maple neck with a rosewood board plays fast without feeling too thin, and the Prestige fret-edge treatment makes chord playing smooth and snag-free. The rotary switching for the Seymour Duncan P-Rails pickups looked clever on paper and I was eager to hear how usable the P90/Hot-Rail/single-coil combinations would be live.

Design & Features

The RC2720PR is a Roadcore-design Prestige with an alder body bolted to a one-piece maple RC neck and a rosewood fingerboard - a combination that gives the guitar a comfortable balance between brightness and warmth. The hardware spec is classy for the price point: Ibanez Tight-Tune string-through bridge, Gotoh MG-T locking tuners and Cosmo Black appointments, plus a hard shell case included - all contributing to the feeling that this is a properly finished Japanese-made instrument. The real headline is the pair of Seymour Duncan SHRP-1 P-Rails with a rotary switch - that single control lets you run P90, Hot Rails, or both together, expanding the tonal palette way beyond a typical HH setup.

Playability & Usability

Playing the RC2720PR felt intuitive from the first chord - the RC neck profile has enough meat through the lower frets to feel substantial but it still allows quick runs and bends up the board. The 22-medium frets with Prestige fret edge treatment are a small but meaningful luxury; I found myself playing longer without the fingertip fatigue or fret-snag I sometimes get on raw fret edges. The control layout is simple - master volume and tone with a 3-way pickup selector and the rotary coil/mode switch - once you get used to rotating the small switch you can quickly audition the P90, single-coil rail, or combined sounds in a live patch without needing pedals or amp switches.

Sound & Tone

Tonewise this guitar surprised me by doing more than I expected - the P-Rails are genuinely chameleonic. On the P90 setting the neck pickup has that mid-forward, chunky single-coil soapbar vibe that sings for rhythm and bluesy lead work, while the Hot Rails position delivers a tight, high-output single-coil-into-rail flavor that breaks up nicely with drive. Combined in humbucker mode the pair produces thick, sustainy leads that sit well in a mix; I used it on clean Fender-like tones, gritty crunch and heavier overdrive, and it responded very well to amp voicing and pedals. Acoustic unplugged resonance felt balanced thanks to the alder body and string-through sustain of the Tight-Tune bridge.

Real-World Experience

I used the RC2720PR on a few recorded takes and on a rehearsal where we jumped between indie-rock, bluesy sections and a heavier chorus. The rotary switch became an honest utility - rather than swapping guitars I could flip tones mid-song and maintain voicing consistency. In the studio the guitar’s sustain and pickup clarity made tracking fast, and the bridge humbucker-in-humbucker setting gave me thick rhythms without getting muddy; the P90-esque middle setting was perfect for a midrange-focused lead take that cut through without peaking harshly. I did notice that on some factory setups the action can be a touch high - a quick setup sorted that, but it’s something to check when you pick one up used or from a shop.

The Trade-Offs

No instrument is perfect - the RC2720PR's strengths come with a few caveats. The control layout is minimalistic which I like, but the small rotary switch can be fiddly to change quickly if you have large hands or under dim stage lighting. Build-wise the Prestige level is typically excellent, but I did read and keep an eye out for occasional QC inconsistencies reported by owners - cosmetic blemishes or setup quirks that require some attention from a tech. Finally, while the P-Rails are versatile, they're a different animal than classic humbuckers or P90s - if you are looking for a pure vintage-spec P90 or an ultra-high-output metal humbucker you might still prefer a dedicated instrument or a pickup swap.

Final Verdict

After a few weeks of real use I found the RC2720PR-DCR to be a compelling option for players who want a single, reliable instrument that covers a lot of ground tonally. It’s not a one-trick retro guitar nor is it a pure modern shred axe - it sits comfortably in the middle, offering true P90 character along with modern rail/single-coil options and solid Prestige-level hardware. I’d recommend it to gigging players who value tonal flexibility and a comfortable neck, studio players who want a multi-voiced workhorse, or collectors who appreciate a tasteful Roadcore Prestige aesthetic - but I’d advise checking the setup carefully at purchase and being mindful of the rotary switch ergonomics if you plan frequent on-stage switching.