Ibanez RG550

1998 Jap SuperStrat
Basswood body
Maple board, superfast wide unbelievably skinny WIZARD neck
24 Jumbo Frets
Ibanez Edge Trem
H-S-H Bridge:V8, Middle:S1, Neck:V7 (Stock Ibanez PickUps)
Gotoh machineHeads

I got this Guitar with an Ibanez GigBag,Lead,Tool Set and Ibanez Strap

I play Metal and this guitar suits me and my style perfectly. I play it through Zoom effects and a Soldano amp. MEGA Sound, it blows me away when I listen back to live recordings.

I have to comend Ibanez on there factory setups. This guitar was perfectly setup when I took it out of the box.

I have owned this guitar for a couple of years and it looks like new. The only signs of wear are the black finish has worn off the pickup screws and there are very slight pick marks on the scratchplate nothing considering I have played it constantly since I got it. Basically there are no signs of worrying wear and tear at all.
I gig it at least twice a week and have never requires a backup. This guitar is rock solid and has never once let me down.

This is an absolute stunning guitar. I have not been able to put it down since I bought it. Compare this to any other guitar of a similar price and it will blow them all away.
I have played every guitar out there and barring a JEM7VWH this is the best guitar I have played.

1989, Maple fretboard, 24 jumbo frets, black body w/ black pickguard. It has the H-S-H pickup config. It had the original pickups when I got it. I think the body is basswood but I'm not real sure. It has the ever popular edge trem that most Ibanez guitars have. Typical double locking setup.

I played it in the store on a shitty amp but when I brought it home it sounded much better. Still, I hate the original pickups that were in it. I forget what they are at the moment, but I did not like them. Since then I've completely rewired the guitar. I put a Dimarzio Tone Zone in the bridge, which sounds really good. It makes this guitar very versitile musically. I kept the original neck pickup but that will be going also... I hate the sound of it. I rewired it with a stereo output jack. I took out the tone pot and put in a push/pull pot that I use for the neck p/u vol and the push/pull part I use to route the neck pickup to either the pickup selector switch or directly out the stereo output. I replaced the 5 wayt selector with a 3 way and disconnected the middle pickup since it always gets in the way and I never use it anyways. I also installed a kill switch. In stereo mode running through 2 different effects units you can get some really awesome tones out of this thing. I've even gotten a tone real close to Eric Johnson. This guitar definitely has a good natural tone to it. I am giving it a 9 now because I don't like the neck pickup. If I were rating it stock I'd say 6.5.

Well it was really screwed up. The bridge was all out of wack and I had to install a 4th spring in there. I then redid the action and still have yet to do intonation but since all of the strings are somewhat sharp and I have yet to do any real recording with it I never bothered with it yet. The fretboard was excelent. The neck was perfectly straight. I believe that it had a fret level and polish shortly before I bought it. I took off the 9's that were on it and put on 10's and they definitely make it VERY playable now.

I think so. Its built like a tank and now that I've gone through it with a fine tooth comb I feel comfortable with its construction. Still, its no US made Jackson King V.

never had to deal with them... the guitar was to old to bother and I wanted to customize it anyways.

I've been playing 2.5 years now and I definitely have realized that I absolutely hate most Ibanez guitars. I've played tons of different types, brands, and styles of guitars now and out of all of them I mostly prefer Jacksons. Even with that said, the RG550 definitely stands out of the pack. I think it has to do with the maple fretboard since every guitar I've played with a rosewood fretboard feels reall "cheap" to me. The natural tone of the guitar is pretty good and with my modifications it definitely sounds really good and is extremely versitile. Considering that I mostly play thrash/speed metal in a band called Last Will, I don't really NEED the versitility, but I wanted a guitar that I could hack apart and not care about. Overall I prefer my US Jackson KV over this guitar but if it were stolen I would be one ticked off mofo. I've grown used to it and I really enjoy playing it. I would definitely say get one of these if you can. They're a really good bang for your buck.

Made 1992 Japan, 24 Jumbo frets, Cherry red w/ black hardware
5 way selector with HSH pickups (factory INF1, INFS1, INF2)
Maple/Mahogany neck w/ swamp Ash body (so sez skuzzbucket at store)
Ibanez lo-pro trem floaty bridge
SOOOPER thin neck. I'm suprised 11's don't break it.
I have to truss it 3-4 times a year, but I'm in a Canadian basement...

My buddies say I'm a wanker, but I play alot of stuff that's not VAI
Very versiatile sounds from squealing distorted harms on the bridge
to FAT FAT THICK tones on the neck. Not all that noisy. My volume dial came out of the factory kinda messed up. Later I went at 'er with the electronics skills and cut the POTS in 1/2 (a la STEVE VAI) and added a resistor somewhere to make the VOL dial like a noise gate type of thingy. Putting vol to 0 is like an "off" switch otherwise it's very subtle. I reccomend all people who play VOL at 10 all the time to do this. Use the dial for SOMETHING.

...Like I said, the Volume dial was funny, but the finish and set up was great. I was very impressed.

My outlet has gone on me 3 times. It pisses me off. I'm tired of fixing it and one day when I got 80$$ to blow I'm gonna get one of those dimarizo power source active outlet thingys with the batteries, but for now it's ony caused frustration and time (and about 4$ worth of silver solder) I've dropped it and my nephew peed on it, and it seems very durable.

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Overall I would like to say this guitar rocks and contrary to popular beleif the stock pickups DO NOT suck and it was not made SOLEY for wankers, although they seem to like it. Fruity "Hootie and the Blowfish" type people and old, smelly "Eric Clapton is GAWD" people and sullen intellectual "Jazz is happenin'" people and unwashed, trailer-dwelling "Krokus and Winger will tour again" people will enjoy it. It is truly a guitar for all seasons (...ROSEBUD...)

2000 Japanese Ibanez RG 550. Black solid Basswood body, black scratchplate and hardware, maple wizard neck with maple fingerboard and 24 jumbo frets, Licenced Floyd Rose trem (Ibanez Edge), 2 Ibanez Humbuckers (V8 & V7) and 1 Ibanez single coil (S1), Gotoh tuners.
Gig bag, lead, set of allen keys and full instruction manual included.
What more can you ask for?

With the HB/S/HB arrangement and the Ibanez split-5 switching system I can get any sound I want out of this guitar. I play it through a Marshall 100w combo and I use Digitech effects. I play mainly heavy rock music and this guitar is perfect for this genre of music.
The Ibanez pickups sound great and are not excessively noisy. They really suit this guitar. One of my friends has an RG as well and he has tried Di-marzios and Seymour Duncans in the guitar but he has gone back to the original picups as they sound much better and give the guitar more variety.

I played the guitar in the store and it felt great. The factory set up was fantastic (as every Ibanez I have ever played has been). Super low action with no rattles or buzzes. The pickups were properly adjusted, the tuners were smooth and tight, the Edge trem was set up well, locking nut cut and seated well and the frets were perfect in fact I'd go as far to say that the fret job was the one of best I'd ever seen. Ibanez must have very good quality control.
The finish on the guitar was Ok and still is although it could have done wih another couple of coats. The hardware has not rusted or oxidized yet and shows no signs of doing so.
The wizard neck has got to be one of the best guitar necks around today. It is so fast and easy to play.

I have had no problems at all with this guitar. I have played this guitar constantly since I got it and it shows no signs of wear and tear. I have giged it since I got it and it has never ever let me down. I dont own another electrice guitar and with this guitar I dont need too. I gig it all the time without a back up.

Never needed to get in touch with them.

I have played guitar for 5 years and have owned a Charvel, a strat and a B.C. Rich but I have played most popular guitars out there and the RG 550 blows them away.
If it were lost or stolen I would definitely get another one but I would try hard to get this one back. If I were going to buy another guitar I would DEFINITELY buy another Ibanez. They are very well made, great looking and sounding guitars. I dont think there are many other guitars out there that are as good value for money as an RG 550. Ever since I got this guitar I have played a lot more than I used too and my playing has got so much better, It is a pleasure to play.

Typical RG550, exactly the same as all the other RG550's reviewed here
As far as features go an electric guitar can't really have anymore than this guitar

MUSIC STYLE: Metal
AMPS USED: Anything and Everything
SOUND: The widest range of sounds on any guitar I've ever played

ACTION: Low
FIT: Perfect (For me anyway)
FINISH: General wear & tear but nothing out of the ordinary

INDESTRUCTIBLE!

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I got my first guitar in 1971 and have owned enough guitars to fill a large shop since then. You name it I've owned and thi guitar tops them all. Anyone out there looking for the most versitle and playable guitar out there then get an RG550.

1989 Japanese built RG550, vomit yellow/green in colour with maple neck and fingerboard, 24 Jumbo frets (25.5in scale length). Solid Basswood body, Ibanez Edge locking Tremelo, 1 volume, 1 tone, Gotoh machine heads and split-5 way switch.The pickup configuration is H-S-H, Di-Marzio PAF Pro in the bridge and neck and standard Ibanez S1 in the middle. The neck is the ultra slim wizard style which joins the body with an all access neck joint system.
How can this guitar or any guitar have any more features?

K I L L E R S O U N D ! ! ! I play minly Heavy Rock/Metal. I have played nearly every popular make of guitar and this guitar would blow them all away. The Di-Marzio pickups sound fantastic, I don't really use the single coil very often. With the Di-Marzio's this guitar is so versatile. I cant really comment what it was like with the original Ibanez pickups but as it is just now it can be used for anything from a nice mellow clean sound right to the ultimate metal distortion.

The first thing I did when I got it was respray it. I could not handle the vomit coloured paintjop. I rubbed it down and sprayed it metallic purple and if I say so myself it looks rather good. I spent a long time cleaning the hardware when it was removed for the body painting so it looks nearly new. The person who had it before me obviously either never use it or really looked after it.
Once I put the guitar together I set the action, the pickups and the trem so it suits me down to the ground. There are no rattles or buzzes and the action is as low as it possibly could be.

I have owned this guitar for over 2 years and I have never had a problem with it. I have gigged since I got it and there have been no problems so far. I totally depend on it! I don't have a backup guitar and have never needed one so far. I just stick the Ibanez in its gig-bag and off I go. I painted it two years ago and the finish is still in great condition. The thing stays in tune no matter how much abuse I give it.

I bought the guitar second-hand so I don't now and probably will never find out.

I have been playing the guitar for nearly 10 years. I have owned so many guitars I can hardly remember half of them but they include ESP, Charvel, Kramer, Gibson, Fender, Hamer, B.C. Rich and Westone. I currently use a Boogie combo and use a variety of BOSS pedals and a Jim Dunlop Crybaby Wah-Wah.
If anything happened to this guitar I would be well pissed off! I have been looking around for about 6 months to get another one the same as back-up just in case anything does happen and I haven't managed to find one yet but I'm going to keep looking. At present I can not see myself moving away from the RG550, it is perfectly suited to me and to my playing style, the neck is lightening fast and so slim. A lot of people probably won't agree with me but this is the best guitar I have ever owned and I don't think I would ever sell it. It's most definitely the best #200 I have ever spent.

I'm not sure when it was made but I bought it new so it can't be that old. Basically the same shape as Steve Vai's Jem series minus the carry handle. The guitar was manufactured in Japan.
Solid Basswood body, wizard skinny neck with a maple fingerboard and 24 jumbo frets.
Ibanez edge floyd rose licensed locking tremelo.
Pickup configuration: H-S-H. Ibanez pickups: V8(bridge)-S1-V7(neck)
Passive electronics with one master volume, one tone and a 5-way selector switch.
Black body, Black scratchplate, Black hardware and Black headstock

I play anything and everything - Classical, Blues, Rock, metal whatever sounds interesting and catches my attention.
I play the guitar through a Marshall JMP-1 Pre-amp and I sometimes use my BOSS GT-3 multi-effects box thingy but not very often.
The guitar sound great! I am really happy with the overall sound and the variety of sounds I can get.
The guy in the shop said that it would be difficult to get a decent clean sound from the guitar but I have had no problems so far.
The pickups are not noisy and initially I was tempted to stick in some Di-Marzio's, I'm not going to bother now.

The guitar seems to have been set up quite well from the factory.
The action was VERY LOW which is the way I like it and there are no annoying buzzes.
Factory fitted with 9-42 guage strings.
The Edge tremelo and the pickups were also well adjusted.
The neck is absolutely unbelievable, it is so fast. I'm not sure what finish if any is on the neck but it is very well manufactured.
The frets are well seated and filed very evenly.
IF ONLY Ibanez would spend as much time painting the guitars. Every Ibanez guitar I looked at in the shop had a dodgy paint job! Mine could have done with another couple of coats of paint at least. There also seem to be some marks underneath the paint work as if the body was not finished properly prior to painting and there is one spot right on the bottom horn where the paint has reacted very slightly.

This guitar is indestructible. The guitar will withstand nearly anything.
I carry it about everywhere in a gigbag and have never had any trouble at all, its been on planes, boats and cars and still stays in tune.
I have gigged it since I got and I depend on TOTALLY, I don't have a backup guitar at the moment and it has never let me down. I have not even snapped a string.
The paint job is still in pretty good nick and has not deteriorated at all.
The hardware is still black! and working perfectly

Never had to deal with them.

I have been playing seriously for 16 years and presently own a couple of YAMAHA APX acoustic guitars, one nylon string and one steel string.
I have managed to work my way through just about every type of electric guitar and the IBANEZ RG550 in my opinion is head and shoulders above the rest.
I didn't even intend to buy it. I went to buy an Epiphone Les Paul Standard and for some unknown reason had a shot of the Ibanez and it was love at first play.
I probably would not have bought black if there had been a choice but seemingly that is the only colour they produce that model in and I really liked the maple fingerboard.
I played nearly every guitar in the shop and none really matched up to the RG for overall playability and sound (In that price range anyway). I played Epiphone Les Pauls, Jacksons, other Ibanez'z, Fender Strat's, ESP LTD's and a YAMAHA Pacifica.
The colour has grown on me now and If it were stolen I would definitely get another BLACK RG550.
My favourite feature has got to be the neck. It is the fastest and skinniest neck I've ever played.
The Ibanez RG550 is outstanding value for money and if I were going to buy a backup giotar I would buy another one.

Re-issue of the classic late 80's super strat. Ibanez 'Edge' licensed Floyde Rose locking tremelo system, HB-S-HB (with 5-way switch)the pick-ups are standard Ibanez V8 in the bridge, S1 and V7 in the neck.One volume control and one tone. The neck is a ultra slinky wizard neck with maple fingerboard (it has a bubinga skunk stripe ont the back which is meant to strengthen the neck) and 24 jumbo frets. The body is solid basswood and has a glossy black finish and a black three-ply scratchplate. The hardware is all black as well.

I play mainly rock/metal, anything from Slayer and Sepultura to Stuck Mojo. Basically anything I like the sound off. Prior to buying the guitar I had read a lot of reviews stating that the stock Ibanez pickups were crap but I really like the sound I get from them. I use a BOSS ME-8 through a Marshall JCM900 (fitted with Boogie tubes) and I love the sound I get. My other guitar I regularky use is a Patrick Eggle Berlin Pro fitted with Seymour Duncans and I rather the variety of sounds I can get from the Ibanez.
With the HB-S-HB arrangement it is very easy to get a wide range of sounds. I would say this is a very, very versitile guitar.
I have had no problems to date with pick-up noise or from the 5-way selector switch.

The guitar was set up perfectly from the factory (or by the Shop). Normally I fiddle about with a guitar when I get it home but with the Ibanez I didn't have too.
The action was super low and there was no buzzing at all. The neck was straight and the frets were well seated and expertly finished. The tuners were fine, the selector switch worked perfectly, the nut was cut and seated well and the Edge tremolo was perfect.
The only gripe I had was the finish (I am a perfectionist) They could really have done with spending a wee bit more time sand the body prior to painting it as there are a few marks I can see under the paint. But only if I look closely. Although saying that no one else can even see the blemishes.

I have gigged this guita regulaly since I got it and I have had no problems whatsoever. I have not gigged my Patrick Eggle since I got the Ibanez (It has turned into an expensive ornament!). I have never snapped a string on this guitar and it stays in tune no matter how much abuse I give it.
The hardware is still in good condition. The hardware is all still black and there is no sign of rust or the black finish wearing off. The Edge tremelo system is the best Floyd Rose type system I have used.
The finish is still in excellent condition. I really try to look after my guitars and try to keep them out of harms way! The strap buttons are still solid.
I have got really lazy lately and have not taken a backup guitar to my gigs and the Ibanez has never let me down.
This guitar is so reliable and durable. I have played this guitar solid since I got it and there are no signs of fret wear at all or for that matter any wear anywhere.

Ibanez have a pretty band name when it comes to customer support but I have never had to contact them so I wouldn't know. What I have been told is that the British distributors of Ibanez are HEADSTOCK and they seem very helpful indeed. But since I have had a need to contact either myself then I can not comment.

I have been playing for nearly twenty years and have owned a lot of guitars in that time . I have owned strats, les pauls, an ESP M-1 (one of the very first ones) etc.etc. and I currently also have a Patrick Eggle Berlin Pro which has been put to the side a lot lately in favour of the Ibanez.
The Ibanez RG550BK is a stunning guitar, the neck is a dream and it sounds great. I can honestly say that this is probably my favourite guitar of all time (at the moment anyway!!!). It has the best neck I have ever played, it is so fast. If it was ever stolen I would be GUTTED. I would head straight down to the nearest guitar store and buy another one.
This guitar is a classic and I would definitely recommend it to anyone. Guitarist magazine (in the UK) voted it No. 8 in the 10 greatest guitars of all time feature thst they did recently!!!

Japanese-made. 24 Fret. Single tone control. 5-way selector. H/S/H Pickup combination. 1-peice maple neck - TRULY GORGEOUS! Fairly broad, but about as shallow as it gets. Jumbo frets to make up for the lack of natural sustain beautifully. White w/ black Scratch & Hardware. Genuine USA Floyd Rose Double Locking trem (not Edge or Lo-Pro as most 550s have).

Believe it or not (and you probably won't), this guitar is simply stunning for my hybrid of Aerosmith/G'n'R/Bon Jovi style rock (proving that not all RG players simply plug into the biggest distortion pedal possible and go chugachuggachuggaRAAAAAAA!!! I WANT TO BE PLAYING A BASS!!! RAAAAAAchuggachugga etc in the way that only those most anal of metal bands can do.). On the bridge pickup and put through a 100-watt Fender Stage and a Marshall Guv'nor Plus with the gain on max and the deep and midrange conrols down I get a warm, roaring distortion without sounding thrashy and nonsensical, or horribly under-driven. With the right compressor it can be good for clean, funky rhythm too (I work with a lot of other musicians, so I have to be sonically versatile).

I bought the guitar second-hand and can't really comment on the factory settings, but the shop I got it from had tweaked it to perfection. Against my usual on-stage attire of flowing black leather trenchcoat, black t-shirt and black combats, the white body stands out beautifully. It's a nice chance from the black w/ white scratch scheme that Clapton has made so cliched. The guitar's action is pretty flawless. alowing for both flawless bends and high-speed legato playing. The neck hasn't aged very well from an asthetic point of view, and much heavy playing has worn off all the varnish and left a dirty look (although this means that it is even more wonderful to play!!). Not at all impressed with the plastic tone and volume pots. Even my old Blazer (yes, it's official, I'm an Ibanez endorsee) had better ones than that (gold plated).

Apart from the plastic tone and volume post, this guitar seems to be built like a tank! I've been happilly bombing around the floyd for ages now, content in the knowledge that it can go all the way to the scratchplate and suddenly up again without the tuning going even slightly out. The original DiMarzio cliplock strap has been excellent, but was a butt-ugly shade of green so that's gone (now black), but I have no doubt that it would have lasted if I was into the whole 'bogeyman' look. I have no problem in using this guitar without a backup - in fact I occasionally do spur-of-the-moment guest numbers with bands I know around the pub & club circuit, and simply whip the RG out, plug it in and go. It's flawless every time (even if I'm not after a few too many).

Ibanez customer support is simply terrible from all I've heard, so I wouldn'y even bother trying. HOWEVER, the shop I frequent (Imaginatevly named 'The Guitar Shop' offers absoloutely wonderful, freindly service. That's not credit to Ibanez though - DOWN YOU GO!!!

I would have no hesitation in buying this guitar again, but next on my hit list is a JEM of some kind (those monkey grips are simply essential - ok, so what if I'm an egomainac! lol). The only real other feature I would could ask for in this guitar would be METAL POTS!! I mean, it's a killer guitar, would it really do Ibanez THAT MUCH HARM to just put on some decent pots? I doubt it. Thrash metal sucks. Vai is an anal, nonsensical asshole. Paul Gilbert is the new god, after Stevie Ray (may his memory live forever in the fingers of those he inspired). Richie Sambora rules, Jon Bonm Jovi is a pompous dickhead.

1987 model, 24 frets v7/s1/? pickups in H/S/H configuration, Edge tremolo, Gotoh tuners, maple 1-piece maple wizard neck, basswood body. Desert yellow finish (I've never seen a desert like that colour)

I bought this second hand and the guy had taken the v8 bridge pickup out and put something else in (even worse than the v8). I popped this piece of crap out and dropped an Evolution in, and it sounds great. I have used various effects with it and it always sounds sweet, except with the neck pickup (v7) which is much too noisy. Single coil is a waste of time.

The action has been spot on from day one even though the previous owner abused it. All the flaws were caused by the guy's cigarettes and the odd drop. I'll have to give it a nine just because of the quality of the neck. Amazing!

I have had this guitar for 7 years and it's the best #250 I've ever spent. I hate the colour and I wish the guy had treated it better, but then I'd have had to pay #350 for it. This is my first guitar. I probably wouldn't own two at once, but I think I'll always own a 550.

Never needed it.

I've been playing about 13 years and this guitar has served me well for the past 7. When it finally dies I'll definitely buy another, but in a better colour. The neck is fantastic, but the stock pickups are pretty ordinary. Some day I'll swap the neck pickup for a PAF Pro.