Ibanez RGA42EX-BAM Black Aurora Burst Matte

The guitar was well packed, well adjusted and delivered quickly. The coloring is a bit lighter than in the photo. This makes it look not so high quality. The workmanship and string action is very good. The sound sounds a bit too thin but maybe that's just due to strings. The low weight is pleasant.

Since my RG 370 became too heavy for practicing in the long run, I bought the RGA 42 FM-DEF.
Criterion for the purchase was the low weight, the same neck and the usual playability to my RG 370.
The guitar is impeccably processed but in the choice of maple veneer more than disappointing. Two different textureless veneers were haphazardly put together here. The varnish does not match the pictures at all! I feel the color scheme in the photo quite stale and boring. After that I would never have decided for this lacquer finish. On the internet it turned out to be a completely different look.
A bright honey yellow with a rimless transition to dark brown - just the way I wanted it - and so is mine (except for the screwed up top veneer).
I have made the experience that Ibanez generally have very large color variations within the models and the illustrations!
The pickups could have been given a little frame (matter of taste).
Otherwise, the part does what it should - good playability, versatile sounds, top price.
Since you get the guitar in the DEF version quite difficult, I have waived a return and am happy!
For my use it is exactly the right guitar, which is why I would buy this again.

Am super happy with the guitar! Everything is top :) And the delivery was also very fast. I can only recommend!

This is my sixth guitar (including 4 Ibanez, 1 Gibson and 1 Fernandes) and I'm absolutely thrilled with this one. I became aware of this guitar by the beautiful finish in blue (has always been my thing) when Ibanez announced its novelties for 2017. But a budget guitar for under 400,- Euro? With Ibanez, you don't have to shy away from cheaper models since the introduction of the Quantum humbuckers in 2015, because the pickups actually sound very good, clean as well as in high gain. The times of the controversial Infinities are over. The guitar has really good attack and bite, but can also quiet and always sounds differentiated and clear. The workmanship is Ibanez-typical top. But can such a cheap guitar be so good and so much fun? With this model yes. Not only for beginners, but also as a replacement or fun guitar for longer-serving guitaristos. Delivered in original packaging with allen keys and manual on only the second day after ordering. Excellent Kirstein. This guitar is hardly inferior to my 1992 Japan RG. I am enthusiastic. Quite clear purchase recommendation.
Greeting from Leo0815

I received the 2017 model with Mahogany/Rosewood, the newer ones have been replaced with Meranti/Jatoba wood. The guitar arrived in perfect mint condition with no scratches or any signs of use.

What pleasantly surprised me was that the guitar was already set up for me. The strings were tuned, the action was low to the factory standards, the intonation was perfect and the frets were perfectly level.

The guitar looks and sounds phenomenal. The neck through body design really helps with that. Overall at this price point, you get way more than you pay for.