Ibanez RG550

1989 model RG550.. Body is pinkish with white pickguard, Wizard maple neck w/ maple fretboard.. Pickups came stock V7, S1, V8. Only visible flaws were a few shallow chips on fretboard that did not affect playability. standard "Edge" tremelo (better than a real Floyd in my opinion)..

You can see the modifications I've made to mine in a few pics at www.dreamwater.org/rockguitar (first 2 pics)

I mostly play rock influenced / instrumental music, ala Jason Becker, Greg Howe, George Lynch, Paul Gilbert, etc. In my opinion the RG550 is the STANDARD for technical rock guitar music - the stock pickups are OK until you hear what others can do - I replaced the neck pickup with a Dimarzio Air Norton (AWESOME for really clear sweep-picking) and replaced the bridge pickup with a Dimarzio Super 3 (ala Greg Howe - gives smooth mids similar to a Screamin' Demon, but with a little extra upper end 'bite')

guitar was used by action was nice and LOW, just the way I like it... This guitar was VERY little trouble to setup to my taste.

well it's already over 10 years old, and I think it's the best guitar made. Edge trem works like it was new (the only thing I reccommend for them is adding a little teflon tape to the little plastic washers every few years to make the bar fit 'tight').. Finish is still great

I've had to deal with Ibanez once... I bought an RG450 new from an Ibanez dealer - I was convinced the fret buzzing was a defect - Ibanez happily replaced the neck within a few weeks at no charge... However, I've heard that are hard to get in touch with, and not timely in most cases.

I've been playing for nearly 14 years, the same style of music.. I have yet to see a guitar with this high of quality features, especially at the price you can find one on eBay.

Usa made. 24 frets. 1 volume 1 tone.You know guys, it's the same guitar you all have!!!!

I play metal, rock, pop, blues, nu metal, grunge.... whatever comes to my mind. The guitar sounds great for metal sounds, but for clean is definitely not good at all. Bad tone. Still a great choice.

It came prefectly well.

Great for live gigs. I recorded an album with my band with this guitar and definitely the sound was killer.

I have not tried it.

It's a great guitar, very easy to use and very comfortable. Great metal soundssssss

My latest axe-quisition (HA!) is a 1989 Ibanez RG550. Made in Japan out of basswood with a 24 extra-jumbo fret maple neck (w/maple fretboard) attached by 4 bolts. Pickup configuration is H-S-H (Ibanez stock passive V7,S1,& V8) controlled by a single volume and single tone controls. Mine is a green (with matching green headstock) model with a black Ibanez Edge whammy bar. The original green mirror pickguard was replaced by the original owner with a proper Ibanez style white pearloid job. Body style is strat with some improvements. Tuners are Ibanez grover-style (non locking). The "Wizard" neck is extrememly thin.

I play hard rock guitar-based music in the style of Vai, Satch, Gambale, Van Halen, etc... and this guitar works just fine for my tastes. Good Ibanez guitars have a sound all of their own...they're a different animal altogether from the Strats/Les Pauls that everyone and their brother are buying these days. I had originally planned to replace the stock pickups with some PAF-Pros like my Ibanez Jem had, but the V-series pickups don't sound that much different. The Ibanez sound isn't everyone's cup of tea, but I sure enjoy it.

This was purchased used and while it was in excellent playing condition, the finish had some damage that I really don't give a shit about. It's a player's guitar. I can't comment on the factory setup and finish, though.

This guitar is a veteran of many live performances. I don't play live so that's not really a concern. Everything is professional grade and of high quality. No worries.

Bought used. Ibanez doesn't give a shit about it and probably shouldn't.

I've been playing 20 years. My other guitars are an '84 Japanese Squier Stratocaster (a victim of another review on this website), a Danelectro reissue 6-12 doubleneck, a Tacoma DM-9 acoustic and a Jay Turser 5 string bass. I had owned a Jem previously that had collectors value and because of that, I was scared to death to play it for fear of damaging it. This guitar is almost as nice as the Jem and I don't have to worry about dinging it because it's "Pre-dinged". HA! If it were lost or stolen, I'd buy another one. These guitars are a super bargain on the used market right now...they aren't the flavor of the week guitar at the moment, so it's easy to find a good deal. I would avoid the Korean made Ibanez guitars and stick to the Made in Japan models.

2000, Japan, 24 Frets Maple fingerboard, Solid Bass wood Black, H/S/H,
Edge Trem, added birdseye maple pickguard, and replaced stock bridge pu with Bill Laurence XL 500, wizard all access neck

This thing sounds GREAT... very versital. I mostly play Very Hard Rock,with the XL 500 I can get all kinds of pick harmonics, controled feedback, and a GREAT CRUNCH.....it really has a distinct voice all its own.....love the maple fingerboard. The maple board gives it a little more bite and is able to cut through the mix VERY WELL. Roll back the volume and or tone and and I can blues it up, and clean up well too.

Well I was the first to open it out of the box straight from the factory. It was pretty much in tue! The high E was a little flat...but it was set very nice. I have since tweeked it more for my needs ie set up with 10s and set the action just a little higher. When I took this thing apart...all the routing was percise...the wireing was clean, and the finish was flawless. Frets, fingerboard and neck are all well done.

So far so good.. so what... Yea I can't see why this wont last a very long time. I would not want to drop it though...the very thin neck and glued on head stock might snap????

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Ok this is the second one of these that I have had. The first was an ealry 90's and a lot of people say those were beter. I would have to disagree! I loved the old one ...and missed it until I was able to get the new one...well it blows the old one away. First off this has an all access neck that is satin finished. The old one was very hard to get up past the 15th fret and it was finished in a poly that was thick like my old Fender. The trem is more heavy duty and is a dull mated gray color VERY COOL! I have been playing for 21years now. WOW. I have had all sorts of gear..but have settled to keep what I have now..the above mentioned 550, an 88 Les Paul Standard(now collecting dust) PRS CE 22 and a guild D4. my amp is a Mesa Boogie Tremo Verb with a matching 4x12 cab. various pedals and recording gear...these days I pretty much my 550 or PRS straight into the Boogie...and of course a WHA. Yea if were lost or stolen I would want to replace it ..I really do love everything about it...my friend made me a custom birds eye pickguard to replace the stock plastic one..(I hated the b/w/b stripe it had) I feel the wood pickguard and xl 500 pu are the perfect match. I can't think of anything I don't like about it. Looks cool, sounds great, and STAYS in tune. I would very much like to add a good strat to my little collection...but they don't stay in tune for me....maybe I will splurge someday and get a Melancon!!!!!!! Can not beat the Ibanez RG 550 for a Metal/Thrash guitar in this price range!!!!!!

1998 Black basswood Japanese SuperStrat, 24 Jumbo frets, 'WIZARD' Maple neck and fingerboard with Bubinga strip, HB-S-HB and 'EDGE' Floyd-Rose licensed tremelo.

After I changed the HB's for Breed's then it totally changed the sound of the guitar. It really is such an all round great sounding guitar.

Super low action straight from the factory, no finish flaws. A sexy looking guitar.

In all the time I have had this guitar I have done nothing but change the strings, clean it and a few small minor adjustments. It has never caused me any problems. I depend on the guitar as I dont have a backup and it has never let me down.

S H O C K I N G ! ! ! Don't even bother trying too get in touch with them, you will probably be dead and buried before they bother to get back to you.

I could not live without this guitar. I dont think there is a guitar availabe today that offers better value for money than an RG550. Th RG is a quality guitar and offers such great versitility. My playing has improved beyind all recognition since I bought it.

Bought it in a pawn shop, standard RG550, red, black hardware, maple neck. Dont know the age but I've had it for 6 years so its quite old.

With the HB/S/HB combination I find that I can get any soun I want. I play a bit of everything and find the RG very versitile.

The thing was a dog when I bought it but after a couple of hours of major surgery it was set up the way I like it. That was 6 years ago and I havent done anything apart from change the strings and clean it since then.

I dont know how many people have owned this guitar before me but it is great, stays in tune no matter what I do. This has got to be one of the most rugged guitars around.

bought it S/H so I dont get any

I used to change my guitars all the time but since I got the RG 6 years ago I have not bought another guitar and have no intention too.

1990 Jap Shocking Yellow Metal machine..........Basically a standard RG550

The best Metal guitar available for under $500

Ibanez have got outstanding quality control. My RG was setup amazingly well at the factory and I played it straight out of the box

11 years old and still going strong. My No.1 guitar

Never had to contact them

I will never part with this guitar. I have bought many a guitar since I got the RG but I always go back to the RG. I think it is one of the greatest guitars ever made. The wizard neck is just so slick. You have not lived until you've tried an RG550

24 fret, fire alarm red, floyd rose, sharp cut away 1991 rg 550.

I bought it NOS -- im not sure the rg550 is manufactured anymore.

Really hot brige pickup. Very low noise, nice pick up set up -- 2 h/b's and a single coil. Great unfinished maple neck. Managed to get a great low-action setting with no fretbuzz. Very fast neck - too thin and narrow a neck for my tastes, but I have huge hands.

Great light weight, very dependable floyd rose tremolo. Dive bombing done fearlessly. Locking nuts are all the same to me, and this one did the job. Great technical versatility in performance.

Again, very hot rear humbucker. Looked at upgrading (just cause I had the cash and I could), and my guy at musicplex said Id have to spend a pretty penny to get anything hotter. Left em stock. Used it with my marshall mosfet half stack (one of the best non-tube amps ive heard), and would like a little more warmth and bottom end, but thats usually lacking from Ibanez guitars, and solid state amps alike.

Ibanez's tend to be sharp 'shreddy' guitars with not a lot of thickness. You have get some kind of over-the-top boogie rectifier to get ballsy low end out of these guitars. I pick up this guitar to screw around with overkill modal soloing, but when i want to do something with a little soul, its over to my strat or my Gibson LP. Twang, pop, crispiness or sizzle on the strat, Balls, thickness or cool smoothness on the Lespaul. These two have sound versatility. For my clear, hot, fastfingeredfretboard, pinch harmonic, squealing solos, nothing beats the performance of my Ibanez. But sound versatility? Absolutely not. Anyone who thinks Ibanez is versatile is usually doing Creed style stuff -- cranked up, then clean. Thats not sound versatility -- thats just distortion all on or all off. Versatile is giving you voices on settings inbetween. And i never turn to the Ibanez for that.

The fastest, low-action guitar ive ever played. Awesome. Cant think of a thing id do to improve the handling except maybe binding the fretboard. An unfinished neck is a little slower than laquered i find, but I hate the feel of rubbing my fingers against laquer. I wanna feel wood.

Technically brilliant guitar for the price

Never a problem. I kept taking it to the shop for a professional set up, cause I hate setting up floyd rose tremolos. But otherwise a trouble free guitar.

Never contacted them

If you want a metal guitar for technical noodling, few guitars offer the performance and value of Ibanez products. PRS is offering guitars of the same wieght, better sound, and better playability, but for double the price. This is a great low/intermediate priced metal guitar.

But dont delude yourself into thinking it can do anything... NOT a versatile guitar like most kids leaving their 2 cents here. You gotta pay into the thousands for versatility and performance level. Only PRS and such will do many sounds well. Ibanez does one/two sounds well.

1998 model made in Japan.Black Basswood body, Maple board, H-S-H, Edge trem, 24 Jumbo frets

Immediately stuck in a couple of EVO's and it sounds MEGA, play it through a Legacy amp and use a variety of BOSS pedals

I set it up to perfection when I got it. Mega low action and Buzz free

The thing seems as if it will last for ever its as good as new

Do Ibanez have any ? ? ? ? ?

OUTSTANDING GUITAR. I COULD NOT LIVE WITHOUT IT. I'D GET RID OF THE WIFE BEFORE I'D GET RID OF MY RG!

Go to Ibanez.com and click on RG 550 and they can describe it better than I ever could

The RG sounds immense and it is so versitile. I though it was a pure METAL machine but I can get anything from a great clean sound right through to deathly mega distortion

I dunno who set it up but it was perfecto!
Ive never played a guitar with action this low and buzz free before

Its been bounced about and hammered senseless and still looks great. I totally depend on it as Im too lazy to cary a backup to gigs and It has never let me down

I dunno never contacted them although I have heard that they are pretty invisible if you need to get in touch with them

For some reason I always used to HATE Ibanez guitars even although I had never played one. It probably had something to do with tossers like Vai, Gilbert, Petrucci and Satriani using them. But then I won the RG and my opinion totally changed ( I still think Vai, Gilbert, Petrucci and Satriani are tossers) This guitar is so good to play and sounds totally immense. I would DIE without it