Ibanez RG550

Mine is a 97 made in the Fujigen factory. It has 24 jumbo frets and a maple fingerboard. Black with the 3 ply b/w pickguard. V7,S1,V8 pickups. Japanese tuners and an original Edge bridge. I love this bridge!!!!

It suits me just fine, I like it a lot, especially since I got it for $10. YES 10. The girl that sold it to me said it didnt work and didnt want it. I took it home and after I blew out the electronics and adjusted a couple wires and fiddled with it BLAM. It has some chips and mostly paint damage but the frets and the neck are perfect. As for sound, I like the pups but I'm the kind of guy who cant leave anything alone. I'm considering changing the pups but I cant read enough about them bad to do it. I'll play them for a while since I think that these pups are gonna be scarce some day.

When I got it it had been set up by a blind man or something. It was terrible. But I'm working on it and it will be perfect in a day or two. It's a diamond in the rough. And I'm not selling this one. I sold my last 550 cause I thought I could do better. Moron.

This guitar could already tell stories i'm sure. It will withstand anything, it already has and still looks damn good.

They are always cool.

I'm 44 now and have been playing on and off since I was 16 years old. Cant seem to just stay with it for whatever reason. I'm a quick learner and didnt appreciate that at a younger age. I'm sorry for that now. But live and learn.

I think this one was made in 1989. 24 frets etc. This one is black with a rosewood fingerboard, black scratchplate etc. It had the original Ibanez pickups in it when I bought it so, I changed those for a complete set of Dimarzio Evos. That changed the guitar sonics quite a lot. A vast improvement I think. Bridge is the original Edge bridge. I think these are the best bridges Ibanez have made personally. I bought this one second hand on ebay for ??200. You can pick them up for about this price (maybe bit more) and, trust me, they are worth every single penny. If I'd bought this guitar with the Evos installed, It'd have a 10 rating

With the Evos, this is every bit as good as my 2 Jems and the PGM100 I have. I'm not sure what the neck configuration is but its fast and slim. I prefer the neck on my PGM but, this one is similar to the JEM BRMR I have. That has a prestige neck I think and the RG and the JEM are very similar in this respect.

No comment, bought 2nd hand

This guitar was made 20 years ago and is probably just as good as it wwas when it rolled out of the factory (better actually since it has a set of Evos in it)

Never dealt with them despite owning 5 of their guitars

This is a very solid, professional instrument. I was looking at buying a new RG anniversary thing but, when I saw how much these old ones go for on ebay, I thought I'd get a better guitar than the anniversary if I changed the pickups. All in all, I've spent 400 pounds or thereabouts on this guitar (200 for the guitar and 200 for the pickups) and, I think this guitar is easily as good as the JEM BRMR I have.

It's an Ibanez RG 550ex sd, made in Japan, Fujigen factory in 2002. it has 24 frets, H/S/H pickups (V8,S1,V7), 1 tone and 1 volume knob, 5-way switch, Edge tremolo system, Gotoh tuners, Superwizard neck, basswood body.

Just because the crappy stock pickups (mostly those humbuckers, because single coil is quite good) I can't give it a 10.

I play all kind of music (all kinds of metal, hard'n Heavy, folk, medieval, rock, experimental, etc) and it definitely suits some of those styles (there is no instrument that suits everything!)

I'm using Peavey bandit 112, bunch of pedals (Boss DD-6, Boss DS-1, Boss MT-2, Behringer US600, Danelectro Milkshake Chorus, EHX Metal Muff, Dunlop Crybaby Classic, MXR Dynacomp, MXR EVH 117 Flanger and some more not worth mentioning)

This guitar is great!the guitar itself sounds so rich and nice, that I'm wondering why Ibanez chose these pickups - they're muddy and sound just poor. Even Infinity pickups sound better (try them - Inf4 in neck position shines! and infs1 has got great vintage tone). But that isn't a problem - buy some Dimarzios and put them in - you've got a brilliant guitar! I think that is the reason why Ibanez chose to put those crappy V pickups - because otherwise RG550 is built just like prestige guitars (and they sound just like and even better then the newest models) and would cost at least double as much as now.

Back to the sound - I wasn't expecting so "dark" sound of basswood - it definitely is a metal axe. Comparing with my previous owned basswood guitars this one sounds much better and has got much more variety of sounds. I can achieve brutal distorted tone and get a bluesy, jazzy tone just turning down the pots a bit. And also clean it sounds great and definitely not "thin" as some Ibanez guitars do.

I give it a 10, because it is a great guitar. the stock pickups are crap, but they can be removed any time I want - the most important is how the guitar sounds itself.

This guitar is made like a tank and is finished without blems. Although it has more than 7 years, it still plays and looks like a new.

Fretwork is great - no buzz at all.

everything is the TOP quality.

This guitar is one of my main guitars and that says all. I can always trust on this baby - it has never let me down. the hardware is still in perfect condition.

I couldn't gig without at least 3 guitars no matter how good they are, because if one string breaks (which is not guitars fault), I don't want to loose even 5 minutes of the show, while replacing the broken string. Second thing is that most of the time I gig with at least 2 different tunings so the guitars need to be set up differently.

the finish is great - it has got just few scratches (not like most of my other guitars). It has also 3 small dings made by the previous owner, but you cant blame guitar if you throw the guitar in drumset while on stage or you let it fall of 2 meters high.

I have never dealt with Ibanez customer support - that is definitely a good thing. I haven't had any reason to do that. I can say that I have never seen a bad Ibanez guitar! everything works perfect everytime I get one of them.

If I haven't had any reason to contact them, that definitely is the best customer support!

I've been playing for a while and I own and have owned a LOT of guitars. I sell them and also repair and make my own instruments.

I knew that this guitar is GREAT, so I was very happy to get it and since then it has been one of my favorite guitars. I will never sell it and will try to get some more.

The Edge trem keeps in tune for ages, Superwizard neck plays incredibly great, the tone is wonderful - what more could you wish! just throw there a pair of Dimarzio pickups and you've got the best guitar in the world!

The Ibanez rg550 is a fantastic guitar. I believe mine is a 89, but lets get to it. 24 frets, 5-way selector volume and tone knobs, Passive pickups, basswood body, floyd rose, and a very thin neck. I bought mine off of ebay with ohsc

I currently play through a mesa dual rectifier, with only a phaser, tuner, and the pedal belonging to the mesa. This guitar sounds incredible, i play progressive music, a lot like Dream Theater, and it is perfect for this style of music. For some reason i do get a very quiet ticking nose about every 2 seconds, but it does not affect the sound and can not be heard if you are playing or standing outside of 10 feet of the amp. Although the original pickups are not the best, they are very good, clean, full sound and very versatile. However, i will replace the pickups for the hell of it. Also, this guitar is very versatile, and can be played with many styles and achieve a bunch of sounds.

The guitar was set up very well when i got it, the only problem is that it had a few fairly big dings on it from the last owner. But the finish is still very tough, for me it has worked like a tank. I have bumped it into just about every thing and have not added a ding to the list.

Thsi guitar definitley will withstand live playing, it has for me, ad im sure it will for you. The hardware is very well made and installed, it has lasted almost 20 years without problems so im sure it will go on a lot longer. Another nice feature is it has huge strap buttons that are very nice especially when playing live, no need for strap locks. Even after all this, i dont think i would play it without a backup, but i wont ever play a shw without a backup, any guitar can have something go wrong.

have not had any problems-.

I have been playing for about 9 years, i also play a ibanez pgm, epiphone les paul standard, and a ltd dave mustaine signature, and i probably like and play this guitar the most of all of them. If it were stolen or lost, my guitar collection would have a hole in it. I would definitley buy it again.

1987 RG550, I emailed the serial number to Ibanez a few years back for verification. It's still all original, 24 frets, stock H/S/H, Edge trem, 5-way switch, 1 vol, 1 tone. White finish (now more of a nicotine color) black pickguard with a maple fretboard.

I purchased this guitar in 1988 after eyeballing it on the wall of a local music shop for about 10 months. There were 2 of them, the one I own now and one with blue finish and a black pickguard. I flipped a coin.....turns out a friend of mine bought the blue one a few weeks later.

The stock p/ups have never let me down, I know that there are better choices in the world, but these work fine for multiple styles of music. Everyone says that this is a great shred guitar but it's good for so much more beyond shredding. The bridge p/up screams, the neck p/up is creamy....there are a few sweet strat-like tones in between. Cleans up nicely with the roll of the volume pot.

It's a rather boring standard white finish, but the years have aged it and given it a lot of character. There's some hairline cracks in the clearcoat and of course there's a lot of dings and scratches that I put in it over the years. I was 16 when I purchased this beauty, I was a lot more wreckless then and put this guitar through a shitload of abuse.

The thing that I love the most about this guitar is the neck. The Wizard neck......slim and smooth but a little wider than most necks. My drummer says that switching stings on this guitar is like crossing the street......he's exaggerating of course, but I see his point.

Like I said, I was 16 when I bought this beast so I don't remember how good the factory set-up was.....I'm not sure that I would have know a good set-up from a bad one at that age. I'm lucky enough to live close to what you would call a "guitar guru"....it's been set up by him many times over the years and plays like a dream every time. It holds a set-up well too, this guitar doesn't need to be pampered.....it's a work horse.

It sports the Edge tremolo.....a finely balanced and very stable unit. One of then best locking trems ever as far as I'm concerned. The only problem that I've had with the trem is breaking the arms......I'm on my 3rd and I don't use the tremolo that often!!

Very fast, low action. easy to play

Will this guitar withstand live playing? YES

Does the hardware seem like it will last? YES

Is the finish good enough to last, or does it seem thin and easy to wear off with lots of playing? It seems to wear slowly but age quickly (if that makes sense)

Are the strap buttons solid? Yes....I replaced the originals with strap locks....I have the originals in a zip-lock in the case (the case is also original)

Can you depend on it? Yes.....I've depended on it for 20 years and plan playing it for 20 more.

Would you use it on a gig without a backup? NO.....the edge trem seems to break strings at the saddles.....most locking trems do that. It's easy to fix a broken string but you'd be better off bringing a back-up....fix the string on your set break.

never had to call. I ordered new trem arms from the local music shop.

I've been playing for around 25 years. I'm a Strat man, I own 4 of them, but this RG550 was the first "good" guitar I bought so it holds a place in my heart that NO Strat could ever fill. I saved for a long long time to buy this axe by washing dishes, waiting tables and cooking at Ponderosa. Ahhh....to be 16 again....not that I miss working at Pondo...I miss not having anything to worry about besides saving for my new guitar.

This is my favorite guitar for sentimental reasons.....I'll never sell it. If it's ever stolen I'll be devastated.

I love everything about it except the fact that it LOOKS like an 80's hair-guitar. I out-grew the hair metal many many years ago but I still play this guitar despite the looks because I love the way it feels.

Standard black finish, stock V7/V8 pickups, standard maple fretboard, standard 3 layer b/w/b pickguard, standard edge tremolo, etc etc etc etc. everything does what it's supposed to, and nothing less.

my other main guitar is an eighties fender strat, made in japan. when i first got this ibanez, it felt tinny and weak in comparison, but the more i played it the more i realized that it was more sonically even than anything i had played before - completely transparent, in other words, in regards to the personal style of the guitarist. amazing! my fender makes even the freshest of amateurs sound like they know what they're doing, but it is sort of a one-trick pony. the ibanez's tone is so evenly balanced that nearly any sound imaginable - les paul, tele, strat(obviously!) - can be instantly had with the proper picking technique and pickup combination. of course, it definitely helps to have a good overdrive pedal and amp to plug into.

low action, perfect intonation, everything can be easily and precisely adjusted if you just take the time to do it. frets and such are all flawless, minus the obligatory wear and tear that comes with used instruments. no noisy pots or switches, no buzzing except for the single coil middle pickup. but they all do that. the top of the guitar has a couple of huge wounds where it hit pavement when i forgot to lock up the case. :( always make sure your instruments are secure.

it has not failed me yet, aside from the occasional broken string. my playing style directs a lot of abuse towards the edge tremolo, and it never goes noticably out of tune during a jam session. over time strings will drift out a little bit, but that's what fine tuners are for. on average, i unlock the nut and fully tune it about once a month. all those people out there who complain about how hard floyds are to maintain are full of it!

never dealt with them.

considering the price i paid for this guitar, i would have had to've been completely insane to pass it up. ownership has no downsides whatsoever, except for putting up with my bandmates making fun of me for playing with an eighties shredder machine. but this is a classic guitar of the future, and only a fool wouldn't be able to see its charm.

Got this baby in '92 or so (can't remember exactly) new at a local shop. Slightly embarrassing but, the LOOK of this beauty is what initially attracted me. It is the (rare & now-coveted) 'purple neon' finish with matching headstock & purple mirror pickguard. Its actually a 550DX model officially and came with the high end ibanez pro case (better than my Jem 7DBK)...

Ever had an experience where you see the axe hanging on the wall and you just say 'OH MY GOD'? Where you pick it up for the first time and just KNOW that it's destiny and yours are one? That's what happened with this one (and I've NEVER regretted it for a second - I still feel like I STOLE this beauty @ a little over 500 bucks).

Finish was INCREDIBLE! The purple neon changes colors in different lighting conditions & combined with the mirror purple pickguard, it's truly something to behold IMHO. I also love maple fretboards so that was also a huge plus. This guitar truly means the world to me and has remained my main axe for years.

Feature-wise, nothing to be desired...

I could just go on and on but there's more to type...

I'm still floored by the sound. Typical V7, V8 pickups are the best I've heard in the stock RG lineup. Using it through high-end Mesa's and line-6 vetta help alot as I'm a firm believer that even a crappy guitar can sound great through the proper amplification (doesn't usually work in reverse though, just my opinion). I'm a rock guitarist and this axe has done everything I've asked it to tonally. No gripes about the pickups at all and never had the urge to change them. In fact, the only thing I added was a trem stabilizer (which it didn't need but being an engineer professionally, overkill/overbuild is part of my credo). Sustain for days especially from a bolt on, but again having proper saturation at your amp is key.

Action was set up adequately from the shop. I've made small tweaks here and there over the years but haven't needed to mess with anything for the better part of 10 years. This guitar is a workhorse and is obviously made to be played (although very easy to admire as well). One very small chip, almost unnoticeable inside the trem cavity was the only flaw cosmetically. No flaws in function and the action is still perfect for me after many years of playing it.
The edge lo pro is complicated for the average player, but so are all floyd's...Once you learn it's ways, its quite simple to deal with. It's VERY stable especially with the stabilizer I added. Again, once you learn it's ways it easy to use. If it DOES go out of tune (rare) after the dive-bomb or pull-up, I've found that just manipulating the arm in the opposite direction will usually pull it back closer to pitch. This takes some finesse and feel and after using it for awhile, it's very predictable and repeatable. A solid unit.

Gets a nine only because the finish has faded (fairly gracefully) over the years. The paint has lost some of its shimmer and prismatic quality but still looks quite good. The hardware is great and the typical oxidation on the top trem and neck plate (AANJ) are apparent here. It's not bad considering the usage and age and I can live with it. Can I depend on it? I have and it's served me very well. Strap buttons are solid. But no, I would never use this in a gig without a backup. If you break a string on stage with ANY double locking trem, you're screwed, end of sentence...

Have contacted Ibanez customer support a long time ago with questions (not service related) and they answered them knowledgably and professionally. No experience with service level stuff, never needed it (a testament perhaps to the instruments they build?)

I have been playing for over 20 years now. I've either played or owned everything that I have ever desired. Gibson LP's, PRS (Not a fan overall), Fenders, Carvins (now there's an awesome company!), Kramers, McNaught (if you don't know, then you just don't know...), Hamers, Jacksons, Charvels, Schecters, Parkers (I don't like these either), Guild, VHT, Mesa/Boogie, Peavy, Line 6, Marshall, Bogner, Engl, Fender, Hughs&Kettner, Carvin, Soldano, Randall, Roland, Rivera (I would buy the 'right' Rivera)...

My current lineup that never changes is 2 Fender strats, 2 Ibanez (soon to be three) RG & Jem strats, Carvin Claro Walnut TL60, Guild Acoustic cutaway and a bang-up Ovation acoustic. Amps are Mesa T-verb, Mesa Mark4, Mesa 2X12 & 4X12 recto cabs, Line 6 Vetta (unbelievable!), Carvin AG1000D acoustic/PA, and an original vintage Fender Deluxe Reverb.

My RG is truly one of the best guitars I've ever played, at any price point. The only thing I've played that actually plays better is the Carvin (their neck-throughs are incredible!). The Carvin can't hold a candle to the RG in terms of usage - it's much heavier than the RG and therefore much more fatiguing to play for long periods and the electronics (particularly the knobs) are very stiff comparably. The RG550DX is a pleasure to play, it's ultra fast, ultra light, and sounds great with lots of sustain for a bolt on axe.

For the money, I don't know if there's a better value than the RG line for heavy rockers. If you're a strat kinda dude especially, you should own one of these and it's pretty easy to find one that suits you. I'd rather buy American, but in this case...Go Japs!

If it were lost or stolen, I would weep profusely. Then I would grab one of my Glocks & go find the prick who stole it and end his/her miserable life. For REAL! Bullets are still cheap enough...and I have PLENTY.

make: Japan RG 550-A(?)
neck: 25.5", 24 fret, thin, maple (fret/fingerboard), dot inlays, jumbo frets
body: JEM type, 1pc basswood
finish: red, 3layer black pickguard
pick-up: Ibanez stock, bridge(H, split-type), mid(S), neck(S)...yes, you read it right. its a single coil neck pick-up
hardware: black, gotoh tuners, Edge trem (the arm was missing..*@#^!)
controls: 5way selector, volume, tone (push-pull)

With this guitar I play everything from rock, jazz to metal. The single-coil at the neck and the split-type humbucker allow me a lot of flexibility in terms of style.

Its an old guitar so the neck and body have aged..magnificently. You can get a very warm sound with the correct settings. SWEET. I love the tone of the stock neck single coil.

I got this second hand and very batterd so I had to have it reconditioned and it underwent a major makeover. And I mean MAJOR as there was even a crack at the headstock joint. Thank God for my luthier Jun Castro (roadtone<DOT>tk). He's heaven sent.

Im sure this baby would drop my pants if I saw it brand new. I have no doubts about it.

Simly beautiful.

There were battlescars all over the guitar when I bought it. After the repairs it went through, I cant imagine what else this baby cant withstand.

SOLID. SOLID. SOLID.

Ive used this guitar on so many gigs without back up and never had any problems. But i'd rather bring a reserve tho. Its just me.

Duh?

I love the way the volume and tone controls are located on the body. It gives me easy access to the pick-up selector especially on very fast songs. My picking hand doesnt have to jump over the volume knob which I do with my Jackson DK2. Also I love it that the output jack does not protrude from the body.

I wish I had it brand new.

I wish they carved it a little at the bottom cutway for better access to the higher frets.

I wish this model is still in production. I'd definitely buy it again..this time BRAND NEW. :D

Its An RG550 , bought 1989 and owned by me from then to now , white finish with black pickguard , still totally standard

I play mostly 80,s shred and heavy rock , vai , malmsteen , ozzy , etc , the stock pickups are ok but id love to replace them with something more hi-gain maybe Dimarzio tonezones but at the same time this is almost a classic guitar now and id hate to spoil her

Gotta set it up yerself aint ya , if yer not a dummy lmao

Whole things held togeher well , the finish has suffered over the years but im more carefull now than when i was a young gun and shell not suffer anymore , a few minor chips are all that shows the abuse i gave her in years gone by ..... all that matters is she still plays like new

Theres Support?

Owned several superstrats over the years but nothing compares to an early edition RG550 , if it was stolen id find another one or go and steal someone elses , the stock pickups arent great but thats an easy fix , if youre sick of todays shit music and want to join the ressurection of shred youd be hard pressed to find anything this side of a 1000 dollar jem that would play better

Finish-Gold
Hardware-Black(Gotoh Tuners,Lo-TRS trem)Locking bridge
Body-1 piece Basswood
Style-Superstrat/JEM ><'
Paid AUS$550 inc.case(A BARGAIN I reckon!!!)
Built-Japan( around early 1990s)
Neck Profile-Maple and Rosewood Frets/RGprestige(but its seasoned so it feels even better)
i think the older necks have a smoother feel but its just personal

Pickup:H/S/H
selector:Strat 5 way
Tone and Volume Pots<<<the easiet config & my favourite

i'm a fan of Satriani, Vai, PaulGilbert,Eric Johnson other shredders so u get the picture

very bright and pleasant tone in my view thats the way i like mine
it has a good balance of bass and treble but not chunky enough for chording like LP or YamahaAES series cause of body shape and wood choice but it does satisfy me cause i'm a balance of lead and rhtyhm player but prefer playing shred

after changing the crap V7 and V8 to Dimarzio PAFPro and FREd, the sound is near perfect. the new pickups gave me the sustain and clarity i need (credits to Satch's choice. this combo in my view is the best, it allows the guitar to play almost all types of music inc. blues,jazz(not the best but ok), rock,progressive and shred metal>>this PUP combo is not for heavy metal(try DiMarzio EVOs instead)


Amps used for it Peavey Blazer15w, Marshall JCM2000, Yamaha hybrid100w(solid state and Tube combo)

i got this 2nd hand so u get the picture
it's ok >>just minor dings and paint cracks but the chipped neck was frightening
as soon as i got it i sent it straight to a technician for setup+installation of DiMarzios

i love bending with it>>easy and stays in tune pretty well thanks to Gotoh tuners and the neck is a dream(wax smooth back and seasoned rosewood, what more can i ask for)the whammy bar is the best!!!smooth and 90% pitch perfect after abuse. Ibanez did a great job with Lo-TRS but sadly they not in production anymore

after having MODs in it, it's my dream guitar(till i get a JS1200)
i wish the finish wasn't gold though

Gigged, Jammed, abused and still rocking!!
i played it often in church and my own instrumental band

just don't follow Vai's footsteps or it moight end up like EVO(vai.com)
light abuse is ok>>i really treasure all my guitars

pretty tough considering it survived 3 owners before me and its almost as old as i am!!!! just don't chuck it around like VAI. not worth the irony of a guitar slowly coming to pieces

always have backup guitars u wankerz!! unless u play punk/indie(which sucks anyway)

Ibanez are slow in this area despite their achievements in guitar construction

they really should invest more in this area

Been playing for 3 years but ppl think i've been playing for 6 years LOL
other gear is BossME-50, and Ibanez RG320FA<i retired this after getting the RG550 cause its got Satriani's signature

90% of all i wished for in a guitar is in this baby>>love it to bits><' but i'll still look 4ward to my JS1200

if stolen i think i'll go into depression cause she brought me so much joy in just 5 months owning her>will cherish her unlike her previous 3 owners
compared with RG prestige and found them inferior hahahaahh!!/gg(><)

probably wish i had a whammy bar with it but the owner lost it and thats y i gave Ibanez a 3 or 4 for their customer support

if anyone's got more questions regarding this guitar and my thoughts about it, just e-mail me

I bought this used off of Ebay and I'm not sure exactly what year this model was made. It is definitely an older one, at least 10 years old.

-24 Fret Maple Neck
-Floyd Rose/Edge Tremolo
-H-S-H configuration
-5 way p/up selector
-One volume, one tone knob

I bought this so it could be my "beater guitar", but I got a little bit more than I thought I would for $300. The pickups are not Duncans or DiMarzios, there's no real sustain to speak of but for me they will do fine for now until I replace them. There doesn't seem to be a huge difference in sound between the bridge and neck pickups, they both sound pretty bright, maybe even harsh. Not bad though. I'm currently playing in a metal cover band, so this includes Iron Maiden, Megadeth, Metallica, Guns 'n' Roses, Ozzy, etc...this guitar gets the job done! I like the split position with the neck/single coil for my clean tones, very sparkly and full.

I have a Duncan TB-4 neck p/up and a DiMarzio Evo single coil that I would like to install at some point, I will update my review when I do so. Once I get the good pickups in there this will be an awesome axe!

It was used but the setup was good for me - low, not buzzing, with the bridge floating just a bit so I can raise notes with the whammy bar as well as dive. The intonation is excellent all over the neck, and it stays in tune very well.

I am not a fan of the "pop in" whammy bar, however. I would like to replace that with one comparable to a Jackson Soloist for a more sensitive tremolo.

I liked the look of this guitar, even though it was beat up, which is why I bought it. The body is a light blue and it has a blue-ish mirror pickguard. I plan on replacing that and also the volume/tone knobs to get a little wild color-coordinating thing going on here. :) I'm thinking neon yellow or green...

I've only had it a couple months but it's seen several 2 hour nights at gigs and held up far better than I thought it would!

I am really surprised at the overall quality and playability of this guitar. It's no secret that the pickups aren't top of the line DiMarzios or something to that effect, but they aren't noisy and they have a pretty decent bite to them. Like I said, this was to be my beater guitar, but it's replaced my USA Jackson Soloist (SL2H!) as my MAIN guitar! Yeah!

I can't wait to customize it with the pickguard (maybe a nice swirl will do!), volume/tone knobs, good pickups and improve the tremolo system...it's going to be a killer axe! :)

01' Japanese RG550 by Ibanez
24 fret Maple Neck and Maple Finger Board.
Solid Basswood body
H-S-H Pickup config. (Five way Switch)
Black Finish with a three ply Black Pickgaurd.
Ibanez Edge Tremolo (The best around)

This is the best cheap guitar I have ever played, It very much rivals my expensive ESP.
I put a DiMarzio Evolution in the Bridge position. This guitar have so much attack that when you are playing fast every thing stays very clear and concise.

When do guitars ever come setup good from a factory?! Ha!

I had to do some tweeking, but there were no flaws.

I expect this guitar will last until I get bored with it in approx. 3 years.(I go through guitars like people go through shoes)

Ibanez has always been good to me, their support staff is very friendly.

I have been playing for 13 years. I prefer playing through Carvin Legacy Amps and JCM800's. I have a few other guitars: Fender Strat, ESP Mirage, Gibson Les Paul, Schecter Blackjack (that's getting returned today!).
The thing I hate most about this guitar is that Ibanez doesnt make it anymore. I want another one.
My favorite thing about the RG550 is the bridge. The Ibanez Edge Tremolo is hands down the best tremolo out today. I think its much stabler and more comfortable then the Floyd Rose.

1990 Sangria Japanese model with the usual specs. I wont get all technical on my review because everyone has already said what needs to be said in regards to specs .Ok here comes my story lol, I was a professional muscian for about 10 years have had so many guitars and equipment and done so many gigs I got burnt out. Sold all my stuff didnt even keep 1 guitar. Fast foward 6 years later I walk into a pawn shop see a guitar behind a bunch of shitty guitars
wasnt even looking to buy a guitar, but the RG550 caught my eye didnt like the color at the time asked the sales guy to let me see it and then BAM instantly with out even playing I felt the electricity run threw my fingers LMAO Believe or not this RG550 ressurected the guitarist in me and guess what, got it for $190.00 lol

I dont know what people are talking about when they say its only for heavy metal and rock, I was a teenager in the early 80`s when the Heavy Metal Guitar Godz ruled the music scene and those of us who were influenced from that era know how to shred, but this guitar is versatile my tastes in music have chnaged so much from those days and Ive done every kind of gig imaginable I only wish I would of had this guitar back when I played professionaly.

My Action is a little high for an RG and need to get it set up Ive had for about 3 years now but I have no complaints I got is used but I can still shred on it.

The Paint is chipped and cracked in some places, I think whoever owned it before me didnt really take care of it but to me it has character I was thinking about having it repainted but the color is so unique Im gonna leave it as is.

wouldnt know

I would give this guitar 9 1/2 I will admit it doesnt have signature sound like a Fender strat,Les Paul or a PRS but yet its a bit of a chameleon and can be used for alot of different situations. I know own a couple of other Guitars such as a Fender Strat Deluxe and a Fender American strat but the RG550 is the one dearest to my heart and if it got stolen or it got lost I would be devistated. Im definetly gonna get my hands another one I usually play on necks with rosewood fretboards and my rg550 has a maple neck thats the only thing I wish I could change other then that this Guitar is going to the grave with me :)

I've got an Ibanez RG550 which I bought new in 1989. I'm pretty sure its an '89.

I have heavily modified it over time - it still is basswood, is jet black, Indian Rosewood fretboard/maple neck, Floyd Rose which I have blocked with some Brazilian Mahogany so it only goes down (and doesnt $%^& itself when you break a string), I have installed a DiMarzio FRED in the neck pos and a Seymour Duncan SH11 Custom Custom in the bridge which along with the standard single coil I have mounted directly into the basswood body. I have sanded the satin finish off the neck and oil it with lemon oil (like my woflgang).

Im about to create binding on it after seeing this dudes axe at projectguitar.com, by sanding down to the wood.

It came with a custom hardcase which has seen unbeleivable amounts of stuations as it has been giged thousands of times in Melbourne and in London. Its had beer spilt on it, its survived the baggage handlers amazingly (ive had a guitar destroyed by those arseholes), its been knocked over by a drummer, Ive hit cymballs with it, the floyd has been worked so much I broke the whammy bar, the list goes on. The case now understandably is now held together with gaffer tape. I really need to replace it, but as I am now 9-5, married with kids it doesnt really matter.

It suited me for well over 10yrs, now its is enjoying the good life and being rested, hanging in my guitar room.

I use a Marshall JPM1, ART DXR Elite delay, and a Laney Linebacker 100w. The delay is in the effects loop of the jpm which runs directly to the effects return on the laney. This setup rocks. I can dial in almost any era marshall, and the ibanez delivers the goods. The SH11 is great.

I can do a good earthquake on this, look, on this axe you can make any sound you like. It doesnt have a good single coil sound unless you really tweak your amp, so it falls down there, but I really dont care!

Sound is like a slightly suped up vintage distortion and has incredible character.

Perfect now, but requires constant adjustment if floating trem is not blocked

Neck is too thin! It increases fatigue. The board is flat, which is fine but a compound radius 12-18 would have been perfect.

Trem is superb, stays in tune even when abused. No flaws, Ibanez are proud and do it right.

Say no more.

10/10, as I got my replacement whammy in 14days.

Unfortunately for the ibanez its competition is my Peavey Wolfgang EVH Standard, flame maple top, birdseye maple neck, stop tail (i love that bridge). The EVH is one of the best sounding guitars that I have ever heard, bar none. The ibanez holds its own, but the neck irritates me. Its too skinny, I have big hands and it actually tires me out. The evh neck is SUPERB and I will be replacing the neck soon. I am also raidiusing the board (which will be put on the new neck), so really its almost not an ibanez its a simonez :)

24 frets, volume and tone control, 5-way selector for h/s/h (Ibanez v8s passive)
Basswood body, maple neck and finger board, black superstrat body, lo pro edge vibrato system (slight nusiance in this being older model with the pegs behind the fine tuners) with locking nuts . Has all the features i require in a guitar.

Sounds fantastic. Zero noise - first time in a long time. I can get wicked vibrato from this guitar. This neck plays better than any rock guitar I've tried (although only on a par with jems) although of course this is subjective. I play metal and shred a lot, but like the 'feel' and tone of the vol rolled off for raunchy blues stuff. Probably seymour duncan or emgs to replace pickups may improve metal sound slightly (maybe even dimarzios). I also like to jazz up by playing clean with tone control rolled off to 3 or less - sounds lovely although jazzers may despair at the thought!
I practice and teach through a bandit 112 (old model with out the scoop features) - lovely response to transistor distortion. Live i play through a mesa boogie triple rec. Superb sound.

Set up was fine. retuned immediately to Eb and swiched from ernie ball super slinkys to hybrid slinkys. Seems the extra tension of these strings counteracted the overall reducd tension caused by de-tuning and remarkably the intonation remained perfect too. Won't have to set this up for a while!
Lowered middle pickup for picking purposes.
Everything was mint, only needed to lossen tuning pegs a little.

Used twice live. Difficult to judge durability at this stage but am optimistic.

I NEVER use a guitar without back-up. Its a pain keeping two guitars gig ready all the time, but you can guarantee you'll snap a string on the gig you don't!

n/a

This guitar may have been the last brand new Ibanez rg550 on sale in the uk! If anyone now different let me know - it was purchase dec 15 2005. The 1550 is the newer incarnation (I don't like the new metal vol and tone pots on these newer models. In fact i switched back to the old style plastic one on my Jem SB aswell). However it is exactly the same spec otherwise. I believe they don't do a maple fingerboard anymore for 1550s, so I was glad to find this. I'd love to get hold of another and see what they're like scalloped.

I had a try of an RG550 which is currently advertised on Ebay. It is a Black one with a Maple neck WOW, it is the best playing guitar I have ever handled. better than my Jem!!! Trouble is, the guy who is a pro musician with a studio wants about #500 for it, I just cant afford it. If you want a 550 forget the shops buy this one, it's AMAZING.

Cant believe the tone, not a crackle just pure rock.

Perfect set up, has been done by a professional. A proper Pro's guitar

Cannot see this guitar EVER going wrong it is too right, a 1993 without a mark on it!

He has great feedback, I met him and he is solid, he goes under the name malaki, on E-bay he is backingtrax, his website is cool too www.malaki.org

Been playing 20 years, I am a professional, I would buy another one of these if I could find one as good! I have tried a lot of the modern ones, theyare not a patch on this one.

I recently aqquired this RG550 from eBay. It was made in 2001 by the Fugijen factory in Japan.

- Basswood superstrat body with All Access Neck Joint (AANJ)
- 3-piece Japanese Wizard neck
- 25.5" 24-fret maple freboard with jumbo frets
- Sangria finish (dark red, metallic, glossy finish)
- Ibanez Edge trem
- Cosmo black hardware
- H-S-H pickup config, Ibanez V8/S1/V7 (bridge/center/neck)
- 5-way blade pickup selector, 1x volume pot, 1x tone pot)

I guess the features are rather basic. Just a regular superstrat, although the features are a bit more advanced than your average 80's Charvel (OFR bridge, single H pickup). So I'll give it an 8.

I play mostly shred (Racer X, Vai, Cacophony, Satch, Gilbert, Lane, etc etc). The stock pickups aren't bad for shred, I guess, but they aren't particularily good either. The IBZ V8 bridge p/up is very harsh, too much treble, and a bit muddy for my style. The neck pickup is pretty much the same as the bridge pickup, just slightly nasal in comparison, a bit more mid range too. I haven't tested out the center pickup enough to come to conclusions though. I am playing through a Laney GH50L loaded with a JJ/Tesla E34L matched pair, and hi-gain matched 12AX7's. The electronics on the RG550 are very quiet, though, the pots and selector are nice and clean. Swapping the pickups for a DiMarzio ToneZone/BlueVelvet/AirNorton combo helped the sound alot. The tone is still a bit bland though, must be the basswood, which is standard issue on most superstrats. Surely it wouldn'tve cost Ibanez much more to use alder. But that's what you get with a production RG. If you want exotic woods, you'll have to go for a J-Custom.

With the stock pickups, I give it a 6. They are versatile, but aren't to me liking really. With the DiMarzio's, it deserves an 8. With a more toneful body wood, it would get a 9. Although I would never give it a 10, since a floating trem kills off all of the sustain, and chokes the tone. I'll go with the DiMarzio score, and give an 8.

I don't know how the factory setup was like, since I bought this second hand, but I own 2 new Ibanez guitars (an RG1570 and a JEM), both of which had a decent factory setup, it was more than playable. But being a perfectionist I redid the whole setup to get everything just exact.

The setup it had when I recieved it was awful. The pickup height was completely off, and the trem angle was unusable. Plus, the trem posts threads had been stripped. The previous owner probably attempted to set it up himself, without any knowledge and slowly damaged the threads with over tightening. After I sorted out the setup, everything was fine. Plays really well now. The finish had a couple of small chips on the corners, but nothing compared to what I have on my other guitars. The routing was superb. All of the hardware was perfectly mounted too, Ibanez' Fugijen (Japan) made guitars are superb quality (I own 3 guitars from that factory, including the one in question).

With the setup I recieved it in (NOT factory setup) it deserves a 1 here, but with my setup, it deserves a 9. But I'll base my score here on the factory setup of my other 2 Japanese made Ibanez guitars. 8.

The RG550 is pretty durable. It's survived 3 gigs with me now, no problems yet. I put a change of strings on the morning of the gig and stretch them out all day to get them ready. On stage, it never goes out of tune (unless I do something stupid). I have an Ibanez Backstop tremsetter installed anyway, so if I break a string pissing around with the trem, it stays roughly in tune, enough to finish the song. Although, I do worry about chipping the finish, it seems rather thin, but I've yet to chip it, and I've been using it heavily for weeks now. I use it for gigs without a backup, all the time. Even if the bridge goes horribly damaged on stage, I'm a trained tech. I've replaced entire trem units on stage during songs when things have gone wrong with my other guitars.

The thin finish aside, it deserves a 9.

Never dealt with them.

If it weren't a Sangria finish, I probably wouldn't care if it got stolen. Besides, RG550's are for sale 2nd hand all the time. But this finish is quite rare, and the guitar already has some sentimental value. So if somebody stole it, I'd hunt them down and castrate them with a rusty chainsaw and brutally murder them shortly after. Except from a few picky things (the choice of body wood, the stock pickups, the fact that the finish chips easily), it's perfect. I've been playing for over 13 years, own many expensive guitars (Ibanez RG1570, Ibanez JEM "Bad Horsie", Customshop 2003 Jackson USA Soloist, and a few others), yet the RG550 is still my favorite guitar. The neck is frictionless, perfect for shredding. The trem is one of the best availible (it sure beats an original Floyd, and kicks the crap out of the new Edge Pro bridge). And the finish is certainly unique, it's kinda cool. It deserves a 9. With fixes to the above mentioned dislikes, it would easily get a 10.

No idea the year of this one... But it's a Japanese made, 24 jumbo fret, volume, tone, and 5 way controls. The big selling point is the Floyd Rose Trem. That thing never goes out of tune. Once it's set it's set!

Sounds great for metal and soloing if your into the maiden sound! Not bad for clean sounds. A little low end hum, but god knows how old the pick ups are. I'm a third generation owner and the thing still sounds great. You can bend the strings right off the neck if the mood hits you and it comes right back into tune. The floyd rose set up is kinda tricky to set up (took me 2 1/2 hours the first time). I switched out my strings for .009 Fender bullets (they make a VERY clean set up.. just string the bullets through the neck and trim them to length) It helped alot with the hum. I use a Crate amp and a "crap" pedal. The between the 5 way and the amp you can get almost any sound you like without having to pump a whole lot of money.

This thing is nearly bullet proof. I can't lie... This one is my battle guitar. It's probably seen more abuse than I would like to imagine. Lots of scars but is still straight and the controls are tight. In fact I do believe that the volume knob is one of the most sensitive ones I've seen. I can't say enough about the Floyd Rose... Just have to adjust your playing so you don't go sharp if you rest your hand on the bridge.

I can't say enough about this guitar. I don't believe I've seen a more durable guitar. If you could see some of the chips in mine you wouldn't believe how thick that finish is! The oversized strap buttons are very nice. I still suggest locks though. Unless you break a string you can't bust this one. It plays every time! Always in tune. However... If you change your tuning during a show I would suggest taking another one to switch out with. It takes a bit of time to set this up!

I've never had a problem with it and from the looks of the finnish no one else has either!

I've been playing off and on for about 8 years. I got in the Army and moved about 3500 miles away from my others. This is one of my favorites! If it were stolen I would get another RG! I'm kinda looking into the RG2550EGK (it sounds/looks outstanding! I think it's about $1200... If it's as good as this one I'd buy it in a heart beat!). Ive got a Skynnard 30th annaversary Epiphone (low cost Fender, best for clean sounds), a Harmony electric (my first back in '85), Epiphone acoustic (got it from my dad). Nothing shreds solo's like the Ibanez.

Insanely orange(yes, I've shocked a few) with black pickguard, maple neck. You all know the details by now... It has got everything I need.

I play through a Marshall avt50/YJM-308 pedal - setup, and it rocks! It took a while to find the right settings, but now I know how to produce any sound from Zeppelin to Malmsteen, and I mean it. Well, actually I'm limited to the 60's-80's, my setup doesn't sound very modern, but I can get any sound I want. The pickups can be a little noisy sometimes, but that is not that big of a deal. How should I describe the sound? Quite twangy, jangly and funky clean on the middle pickup, jazzy, but not very thick/deep clean on the neck, With full distortion it sounds like... Iron Maiden actually, wich means what, slightly middy?

I've just bought it, but it's over 15 years old, and still, there are no greater flaws. Few chips and scratches have appeared on it, other than that, it hasn't been used that much over the years, so it's a bit of a find. It's in better condition than my 2-year-old Jackson Js30, wich is nice:)

I bet, that with proper maintenance, this guitar will last forever. Apparently, the previous owner's kid had run into it once, and it fell from its stand and all the strings flew of. After hours of inspection, I couldn't tell that something like that had happened.

I have no idea about this.

What can I say... I came, I saw, I fell in love. This guitar is fantastic, and it fits me perfectly. Actually, I like it so much, that I'm no longer interested in any other guitar, no matter what the price is. If it was stolen, I'd kill myself!:D Now this doesn't mean it's a perfect guitar, I just love it. For instance, I might change the pickups someday, probably the middle one first, because it's noisy.

1990 Japanese made model , standard RG550 but with seymour duncan humbuckers, neck+bridge added

great variety of sounds from this guitar, as always dependent on the quality of amp/effects unit your using....i use marshalls and BOSS GT6 effects so no problems for me whatsoever

bought this second hand in 2005 ....15yrs after it was made.... it has been re-fretted, and still no other problems

ive been playing guitar for 17yrs and used to own a RG550 years ago which i foolishly sold due to buying a Les Paul.....nothing wrong with the les paul but after a month i regretted getting shot of the RG550, coz you always need a dive bomb or two when the mood takes you !!

Early nineties, made in Japan. White with black pickguard. V1, V2, and S1 pickups. Edge tremolo. Gotoh tuners. Wizard neck with jumbo frets.

Capable of convincing Metal, Classic Rock, and surprisingly Country sounds. Have thought about upgrading pickups to Dimarzios or Duncans, but I'm afraid I'd lose the nice, ratty distortion that the stock pickups are capable of.

Incredible playability with the jumbo frets. Intonation is more precise over the whole neck than any Fender. Stays in tune forever. The neck does not move.

Bullet proof.

For the money a used RG550 is hard to beat.

1999 USA, 24 FRET, Ibanez design pickups, blah blah.

It's an Ibanez! Full locking, low-profile, Floyd Rose trem system.
Jumbo frets, shallow neck, sounds more like a laser gun than a guitar.

I was given an amazing offer on purchasing the guitar, spend #500 on this guitar-shaped lump of butter and get an Ibanez hard case for only #90. Where's my wallet.

Forget brands and small names which make things better, this isn't a guitar, it's an Ibanez.

It sounds like a laser gun battle when playing lead, using any effect you want because the pickups are super high gain, and there is little resonation to speak of. Less wood means faster playing, and that's why you want one isn't it?
The guitar can make 2 sounds, 2nd rate Satriani lead or scratchy, tinny......deadness.
Guitars are guitars, I know. But good pickups, nice resonance and sustain, and a good solid sound do matter.

Action, as low as you can get it - It's for Satriani and Dream Theatre fans (nothing wrong with a bit of Satch, but you're not him. Stop it.)
Very well made, well put together, but for #500 I want Semour Duncans on there, not Ibanez S8 or whatever they are.
If you don't know how to setup a guitar (action, intonation, truss) don't get one. Ibanez guitars like the RG are expensive hobbies. If you exhale whilst using the Ibanez, the heat from your breath will melt it. Then you'll have to spend a couple of hours re-setting everything and getting rid of the buzzes. If you take it back to the store, they'll take it away, set it up, file down the frets (every time I took it back because I did have time to fix it, they said, "Oh, the frets need filing down.") which will cost up to #30.
I spent more time getting it set up than playing it.
This is what will happen, I guarantee. But of course, action, fit and finish. Perfect.

If you manage to keep the guitar set up with no buzzes, in tune, for more than 2 hours, yes, you can play a gig with it.
You could keep your Ibanez for a hundred years, they are very well made and have excellent parts. They also feature oversized strap pegs so your strap doesn't fall off, causing the guitar to swing to ground and break it's brittle neck.
The paint is very thin. I had to recover a patch on the edge of the guitar where it had rubbed against various cotton shirts.

Ibanez are a very friendly and helpful company (in my opinion). It is very costly to get the guitar repaired if it's not under warranty.
If you have spent a lot of money on the guitar, when you come to ask for spare parts they'll send them for free (even a tuning head!) or at least, they did when I sent for them.

I bought this guitar as a young, foolish, lead guitarist.
Ibanez do make great guitars, but this isn't one of them. I have an Ibanez Performance Nylon strung electro-acoustic classical guitar which is beautiful, and I've just got rid of an Ibanez Artist (I regret) which was one piece, solid mahogany, vintage semour duncan humbuckers, fantastic chunky tuning heads, great sustain, solid as a house (a really good house), sounded amazing. I want it back. Buy one like that, not a Vai looking super guitar. You'll regret it.
Hey, I almost forgot the best part! The guitar comes with a little booklet showing you how to adjust your guitar (if you're learning from the booklet, you can't do it, don't do it) and a couple of Allen Keys, but if you use them and try and do it yourself (as instructed) they'll try as hard as they can to void your warranty. I had to get a fucking letter from Ibanez before the store would touch it....again.

yr2000 made in japan.
24 Frets
it has a volume and tone knob, and a 5 way pickup selector
H/S/H pickup config
Ibanez S1 single coil and V7 and V8 Humbuckers
Ibanez edge trem bridge
its got a maple neck and fingerboard
basswood body.

this guitar sounds great, especially clean, overdrive is pretty good too, just a tad muddy, im thinking of replacing the stock bridge pickup with a dimarzio
I love basically everything about the sounds (I generally use a clean tone)
Its got a great variety of sounds, due to the pickup config.

the finish seems to be tough and durable, ive hit it against stuff by accident and it seems to still stay in perfect shape.
pickups were adjusted great when I got it, no need to change the position
everything seemed in perfect condition, and no need for adjustment.

This guitar is very tough so i think it would
the hardware, if treated correctly would last.
the finish is great, nice and thick
the strap buttons are one of the many high points on this guitar, they're really big in circumference so your strap stays on really well.
I could depend on it
I would use a backup definately, regardless of what guitar I used.

Never dealt with ibanez

Great guitar for rock/heavy rock, if it were stolen id get the police to find that moron and get it back.
It compares well up to my fender deluxe plus telecaster usa , just lacks a little on the overdrive front.
I wish it had a non-locking bridge, which I am going to get.
Great guitar.

I have a black left handed Ibanez 550 custom. Originally bought as Ibanez RG560 in 1991 in London. I had it customised with a humbucker in the neck position and a scratchplate built, so I believe it qualifies. It may well be one of the first batch shipped over to the UK. It's pretty much perfect as a rock guitar and has served me extremely well over the years. Sure the pickups aren't as responsive as Evolutions, but they're very powerful and produce that unmistakable Jem-like sound. Nothing has ever stopped working.. the Floyd Rose licenced whammy has never lost pitch.
My only reservation with these guitars is that they're so closely associated with Steve Vai (which was the idea at the time!) that they take something away from your own presence on stage.
Nowadays there's far more choice if you want a precision built rock guitar, but the 550's hold their own with some of the best mid price axes out there.
But if money was no object, you might want an Ernie Ball MusicMan, or one of todays Fender Delux Strats. I think the 550 is a young man's instrument. I'm 34 mow and since I bought my Delux Strat in 2003, I hardly play my 550. Nevertheless, it's a fine instrument and I cherish it.

Bought 2nd hand so I cannae be sure how old it is, though the guy who sold it to me said he'd had it about 10 years from new. Everything standard, Floyd Rose Tremelo, locking nut, etc. Body and headstock in royal blue and in good order - no scratches apart from a couple of knocks around the cutaway underneath, nothing off putting unless it's going to be decorative instead of fun. Maple neck with interesting grain patterns. Given 8 'cos I don't really use the tremelo too much, though everything else is superb.

Sounds great. Bright and crisp through bridge pickup, can thrash the hell out of it without losing any sound clarity. Lovely soft tones through the other pickups Good bluesey stomp with the tone and volume low through the neck pickup.

When bought it hadn't seen any attention for ages (from the look and feel of it) and the bridge had jacked itself up too high. After I'd changed the strings, used a little fast-fret and set the tremelo springs up it felt very comfortable. I also have a Fender Tele and the action is as good. The finish is excellent apart from the previously mentioned blemishes. Tuning stability is good and when I do use the wammy bar (not too often and only to piss off the missus) it holds its tune well. In fact I last tuned it 2 weeks ago and I play it every day, so not bad.

Never been gigged but it've never had to retune whilst playing it, even when practicing string bendy solo's for ages. The pickup selector was a bit unpredictable when set to the bridge pickup but some cleaning soon sorted that out.

Never had anything to do with them.

Been playing 8 yours and this is the best guitar I've played. I've also got the tele and an Ibanez SA160. They're both quality guitars too but this one for the age, price and quility is wicked. If stolen I'd consider getting another, though as I don't use the trem I might use the insurance money for that Epiphone Les Paul Standard I've had my eye on. Maybe that's just greedy?

Mine is from 1987-1988 production, made in japan. has a basswood body, V1(NECK) , S1 (MIDDLE) AND V2 *BRIDGE) PUP. IBANEZ EDGE BRIDGE, Orange finish (the original finish is PINK but it had changed onto orange ), Black hardware (GOTOH TUNER) and pickguard, matching painted headtsock. wizard neck (17mm). because i got it only spend 100USD then i give "10" to this rating =))

the souhd i heard from this guitar is more warm than the usual RG because maybe its maple fretboard or the V1-V2 PUP. i dunno exactly. and i've allready changed the pickup with seymour duncan distortion neck-bridge (SH6-TB6) . the sound is still warm but more muscular especially in mid and more bass.

i did some re-action to match it with my hand and playing. then the guitar is very comfortable. low action and still no buzzing.

i think the ibanez RG (esp. japan RG) is the very reliable guitar. 17years after used it still looks very "gentleman" and more "mature" because of its age . =))

my country has an ibanez distributor, but i think that ibanez costumer service is OK. very friendly with the costumer :)

i've benn playing guitar for almost 10years. i had a fender 70's strat which i already changed the pickup with seymour hotrails and dimarzio chopper.
my suggests for u all :
if u want the very comfortable guitar for playing shred, just buy IBANEZ RG-JAPAN

Rosewood fingeboard, maple neck, 24 fret, basswood body. Strat-ish.
All black finish, exept for neck (natural)
Floyd-Rose licenced trem.
97' Japan model.
Pickups as fitted, V7,S1,V8, neck-to-bridge, (for now).
5 way selector switch.
Came complete with new alligator hardcase and hex keys.
Only one volume ant tone control. For me this limits it's usefullness.

I use it for metal, rock, and plenty loud with distortion. Use thru pod at home, and pod/marshall gigs, with Digitec multi-fx.

The bridge pickup is a bit muddy and undefined at the low end, sort of 'wooly', and lacks real sparkle at the top end. You can't really use this for drop tunings, it sounds a bit too floppy. Palm muting is tricky, and not terribly satisfactory. Probably the V8 is not the best match for the basswood body. Which is a shame, cos' it looks like you should be playing it like that. I am hoping that putting an Di-Marzio Evoloution in the bridge will tighten this up.
The other pups are not too bad, and you can get quite a reasonable range of sounds, but as with the bridge pup, used clean they lack charachter, and with lots of distortion they 'muddy-up' a bit. But I don't use the other pups much anyhow, maybe I would if they were nicer. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that they are terrible, just not really quite there.
Having said all that, they are very quiet. Even with a lot of gain, the only noticable hum I get is when using the middle single coil pup, which is kind of expected. I think that the way the pickup swithing is arranged, for the 'mixed' switch positions (2 & 4) uses a single coil out of one of the humbuckers in a hum-bucking arrangement with the single coil, so not much hum there either. When using the bridge or neck pup I really have to get very close to hum sources before it gets nasty. It's a pity that the sound of the pups lets it down a bit.

Dunno about factory setup I bought it second-hand, but it was in very good nick when I got it. In fact it still had the plastic peel-off film on the scratchplate. (Mind you even with the case 'thrown-in', at the asking price, it would have to be pretty near perfect.)
I certainly can't say that I could find any obvious flaws at the time, and still haven't spotted any in two years. The action is as low as I can get it allowing for tremelo travel, and I get no annoying fret buzz, anywhere. The frets appear to be very well 'dressed', smooth and even all the way.
If that's the way they all leave the factory, then I have to say very good indeed good. I'd give it 10 if it was a fancy figured lump of wood, but it's jus plain black. (Shiny tho')


Overall I think the build quality is very good, only it's let down by that pesky trem.

Depends what you do with it. Drop it on its head, you willprobably crack the neck. That will happen with all wooden necked guitars.

Maybe the previous owner did'nt play it much, I don't know, but I still can't find any chips or scratches in the finish after playing it nearly every day for two years now. (And I do wear a buckle on my belt!)

The rosewood fingerboard might suffer a bit if you continually drip sweat all over it, but if you look after it, I can't see any particular problem there.
The finish seems to be tough enough. Like I said I can't see any marks on it, although right now it could probably do with a good polish.
The strap buttons are bigger than most. In fact I have had to cut extra slack into the leather of the new strap I got before I could get it on. Even now it can be hard work getting it on and off. I don't see that it is going to fall off in a hurry.
I would use it without a backup if a had to, but because of the floating trem, I would make sure I put new strings on it first. otherwise, I don't think it is likley to break under normal gigging conditions.

Never tried. I have had to replace the trem arm bushes a couple of times, but I can get those at my local music shop. (GAK in Brighton.) (The bushes I mean, make your own mind up about the shop.)
I got this guitar second hand from a shop in Crawley, so I only got the shops guarantee.

I've been playing for some 20 years or so now, and have owned quite a bit of stuff in that time and, this is one of the better guitars I have owned, or used in that time. Currently I have a Gibson Nighthawk, and a couple of Fenders, but I have in the past owned a couple of Les Pauls (not at the same time), the last one of which got stolen, and some other stuff (Rickenbacker, Sheregold etc.)

I dont like the snap-in trem-arm. It sits in a plastic socket, and after a short period of use becomes very slack. This is after renewing the little plastic bushes twice. I like the trem to stay where I left it, not swinging about. What's more, this makes it 'knock' when you waggle it, or gargle the trem, which at high gains is quite audible. I have resorted do wrapping a couple of turns of dental floss under the bushes to keep them snug. I would have preferred a locknut on the trem to alow this to be adjusted.

Also I would have liked more knobs to fiddle with, it would be useful to be able to set the level of the two 'buckers separatley.

I think the pickups let also lety it down a bit. Now that's really a matter of taste, someone else may think that they really rock. But I find that they don't have enough 'character' to use clean, and haven't got the tight 'punchiness' to use heavily overdriven. They're not quite one thing nor t'other. They're not the hottest pickup I've come accross either. (But what the hey, just turn the gain up!) On a different guitar they might just decide what they want to be, but not this one. I am going to try fitting an 'Evo' into the bridge position to see what happens, just as soon as they can get me a purple one. (Hey, it needs something to set-off all that black!) I think that one of these might do the rest of the instrument justice, we shall see. If it does, then the neck pup might get changed-out too.

I would be tempted to give this an overall 7 the price tho, and given the exellent condition, setup, and finish (Ok shiny black isn't particularily hard.)I will go that one more than that.

Well,this guitar was made in Japan.Has 24 frets(Jumbo frets)
It has a volume and a tone and a 5-way selector.pickups r cool: H/S/H they are Ibanez V8/S1/V7 passive pickups
Body is made of Basswood.Dont know what the neck is made of!!
It is a Start.The bridg rocks i:its a liscenced Floyd Rose bridge.
I got this guitar used and it came with a case.

I play thrash and Death metal.This guitar is good for these styles but not the best!I dont have an amp but I use it with a Zoom 707 II.
The guitar aint noisy in fact I use it with lots of gain and boost and has no noise!The sound of Ibanez is a uniqe sound especially the Rg series because they are very versatile.somewhat rich but not very bright.It gives a good palm mute(not a great one because I like Jackson more!)But generallt i like the sound.

My guitar was a used one and didnt have any problems!

The hardware seems everlasting!The finish is good and lasting.The general thing is good but I wont use it with a gigbag!!

didnt have trouble!

I have been playing for 3 years and I owned an awfully stupid guitar.But if this one is stolen I would definitly go for a Jackson or ESP.I love the bridge it really rocks.I compared this to a Jackson Rhandy Roads and Rg370.The Jackson whad great pickups but 22 frets and Rg370 simply SUX!I wish it had EMG or Seymour Duncan pickups.

I have two of these guitars. You know all of the features. The two things that make this guitar THE SHIT are the maple Wizard neck and Edge trem. The first one is a 1989 Desert Sun Neon Yellow, the second is a 1990 in off white. Both are identical except for the pickups. Both have 100% stock pickups, but the 1989 550 has slightly different text printed on the pickups. The '89 reads IBZ V2, IBZ v1 and IBZ S1. The 1990 doesn't have the "IBZ" on them, just V1, V2 and S1. That's the only difference. I'm sure they just did this to mark the change over to a new decade in 1990. They're still the same pickups, just with a newer look. These pickups aren't the greatest, but they're fine if you're playing through a lot of effects. I'm purposely keeping everything stock on both of these. These were considered decent pickups back in the day, and I'm sure quite a few good shred guitar records were recorded with this guitar back then, stock pickups and all. I have EMG'S and Dimarzios on my other guitars. I want these 550's to remain completely un-fucked-with 100%. They were both made 15 years ago, and they still destroy all of the shit that's on the market today. I'm keeping them "frozen in time" so to speak.

Like I said, the stock pickups are still on both. I would compare the sound of these original pickups to today's "Duncan Designed" pickups. They're both in the same boat. They won't blow your mind with the greatest sounds on Earth, but they're definitely not total shit. I only play these 550's at home in the practice room, I currently use an ESP LTD Horizon with an EMG 81 with my metal band Enforsaken (www.Enforsaken.com shameless plug :),at home I play the 550's through an old Crate practice amp and a Boss ME 30 processor. Sounds good too me. I don't gig with the 550's, so I can definitely live with the sounds I get out of the stock pickups. After 15 years, the electronics/pots etc are still tip top. No scratching, dropouts, excessive noise etc. Compare that to the crappy out of the box "made in India" Jackson's you'll find in the stores today. They're fucked before you even get them home. If you want to define crappy stock pickups, get a new mid price model BC Rich or Jackson. Schecter too. Some use the Duncan Designed, but the ones with "BC RICH" Or "JACKSON" stamped on them are PURE SHIT. 2 conductor cheapness. The stock rg550 pu's are much better. I heard they're based on Dimarzio's anyways, so I'm cool with them.

My Yellow one is a little beat up, so I will base this review on my white 1990 model. The action is super low. Nothing compares to the nect on these guitars. Beautiful. It's got 11-49 guage strings on it, tuned to E flat. Very little fret buzz. The action is ultra low. Ridiculously low, actually. That's the only way the action should be on these. Having High or medium action on these defeats the purpose of this guitar. If you don't know how to properly set up a guitar yourself, try to find an experienced guitar repair shop that will set it up for you. You'll be happy you did. Both of these are used, i'm not the original owner. All of the hardware/electronics has held up just fine over the years. Well built in every way....except the paint. I do agree with the people that say it chips easy. Very thin coat on both. Not really Ibanez's fault...I'm the one who scraped up against a wall with it. It wouldn't of chipped off by iteself.

Solid as hell when set up correctly. I would play them live without a backup any day. I never play live with a backup anyway. Always fly by the seat of my pants. I just make sure to have new strings on my guitar before a live show. Haven't ever had a problem. Too lazy to be carrying around tons of guitars becuase I'm insecure of my main guitar. That's no way to live. ;-) If you break a string playing a Creed cover at the same dive bar you've been playing for the past 10 years, maybe it's a sign? Maybe you should take that broken string and just hang yourself with it. Haha!

Never had the need.

I can honestly say that I HAVE HAD THIS GUITAR STOLEN. I got a Desert yellow 550 off a friend in 1999 or 2000. I was trying to get him to sell it since 1995. He wouldn't do it...until he was broke one day. I can't remember what I paid or traded him for it, but I was happier than a pig in shit the day I finally got it from him. The first thing I did was take all of the hardware and neck off to repaint it. I was repainting it in a locked storage room at my dad's apartment complex. I would go in, put a coat on. then come back in 15 minutes tops. I always kept an eye on the door to make sure nobody went in and stole it. I went into my dad's apartment (25 feet away from the storage room) to take a leak before the 4th coat of paint was applied. Upon my return to the storage room, I found that my fucking RG 550 body was long gone. I was gone for two fucking minutes. I know who did it, but was never able to prove it. This was a locked storage room that nobody could get into without a key. Nobody ever went in there. A perfect place for a painting project if you live in an apartment. FUCK WAS I PISSED! I tried to get that guitar off my friend for 5 years, then not two days after I get it it's gone. I eneded up selling the neck and edge trem on ebay...So anyways, since that day I haven't had a 550. I've recently bought two new ones. I missed the low action, even though I'm not a fan of Floyd Rose's. One in desert yellow just like the one that was stolen, and a super mint white one. these two aren't leaving the house. They won't be stolen this time. I'm older and a little wiser than I used to be. Smart enough not to leave a guitar out in a storage room even for 1 minute unattended. Shit, I probably would have stolen it too back then myself. This guitar is worth the jail time.

I've got a laste eighties model(Japanese), left handed... I'm not sure what colour it used to be, but someone refinished it and did a horrible job, so it will soon be purple. the pickboard is black. I have to say the thign looks horrible, but that is due to the previous owner, so I'm not going to dock anything for it. The action was great!!

I've only got one of the original pickups in it, the Ibanez V1 right underneath the neck. I've got a fender single coil and an emg to fill in the other spaces. The EMG is greta for distortion, and the V1 plays great for clean, So I'm really happy with the sound.

Wow. when I first bought the instrument, it had first come into the store and one of the pickups didn't work. I brought it back and the owner of the shop put a new one in for me (the EMG) and replaced the singlecoil too, since that was apparently also not working. The action is fantastic, And everything else on it is good except one of the knobs fell off:)

Hah. If it lasted through the last person that owned it, it will ast through anything.

I <3 this guitar, my other one was bought new and I'm fairly afraid to bump it, so its nice to have one that I can smash up without being scared of hurting. Awesome guitar overall, I'm glad to have it :)

A fine 24 fretted instrument with 2 v7 v8 humbucker pickups and a s1 single coil. Flyod rose licencd trem. The cream fret board is an excellent touch which screams class and dignity.

A fine sounding instrument but lacks slightly when playing in a heavily distorted effect, best sound is acheived when played clean.

When i bought my guitar the tremlo was set slightly to high, this was easily ajusted by resetting the springs at the back.

This guitar can take quite a beating but the springs have a tendancecy to release the strings when the tremlo is being used excessivly but lets face it we cant all play like Steve Vai and those of us who can are more likely to own Ibanez Jems.

I have been playing guitar for four years and have found that the RG550 suits all my needs, my overall rating is 8 out of 10 due to the lack of quailty in distorted sound and the set up of the springs. A fine crafted instrument which will suit anyones needs.

I am the original owner of a 1990 white RG 550. The previous reviews have beat the specs up so we'll skip that. This was the first guitar I Purchased new. Being a beginning player, I didn't have a huge backlog of cash. I sat at the House of Guitars in Rochester, and must have played 25-30 guitars of all different makes and models. Many over $1000 dollars, out of my range. When I first felt the neck on this guitar, I had come home. I bought it the next week. One down side of any floating bridge guitar is changing string guage or tunings is a half day job.

The basswood bodies on these guitars sound big and warm without being mushy. The stock pickups, well that's another story. I upgraded to DiMarzio Evolutions, as soon as they came out, and the volume and sustain I get out of this axe is great. This guitar run the gamut from metal, to blues, to reggae, and responds well to all.

The guitar played great right out of the box, and stays in tune with very little tweaking. The neck on this guitar is what made me an Ibanez player from word one. It's fast, narrow smooth, and I love the unfinished maple fretboard, it's just silky for doing big in tune bends. The finish WAS flawless (it's got some mileage on it now).

13 of beating the piss out of this axe has not taken it's toll on the sonic end of it. It plays and souds as good, or better than it ever has. The knife edge pickup select tends to break knobs occasionally and needs to be cleaned frequently, but then I have that same problem with my Jems. Currently I string it with 11s, and use it for my half step down guitar (SRV, Aice in Chains, VH, etc.) and it sounds fat with the bigger guage strings, great sustain.

N/A I've never had a problem with this axe. I bring it in for an annual setup/checkup, and that's it.

13 years down the road and 4 guitars later ( RG470(Traded) Jem7VWH, UV7BK, Gothic Explorer) this guitar fits like an old pair of shoes you don't want to get rid of. I thought about upgrading to another Jem, but didn't want to get rid of the RG. So instead, I am shipping the old girl to Herc Fede for a facelift. The swirl paint job will hide years of abuse at my hands, and I will keep this guitar for a long time.

My axe of choice is a purple neon RG550 with a maple neck.A friend of mine picked it up at an auction for R600.00(South African currency).He swopped it with me for an acoustic(sucker).It has a maple fretboard, no skunk stripe and outfitted with standard h/s/h v7-v8 pickups.The neck joint is angled, pre all access design, thinner at the high "e".Made in Japan and doesn't have the RG logo on the headstock.Trem system is definitley "lo-pro edge" as i've owned a Jem.Purchased in ibanez case with all tools included.

I play in cover bands and the sound is tops. In a midi based band I use a Roland GP-100 and with a live band a Marshall V200 combo.My favourite clean tone is definitely the front humbucker and most rock tones come off the rear humbucker.

Well it's all been said before but the playability of this guitar is stunning.I had to set it up myself but when I got it I could not get it to feel good until I noticed that it had a factory installed shim under the lock nut. Once removed the "beast" softened up nicely.I find that the distace between the fretboard and bottom of the string at the nut should not exceed 1.4mm, if it does the guitar will never function at it's full potential.

This guitar is well up to gigging conditions but just look after it, nothings gonna last if you drag it to gigs behind the van. The "pots" are still very smooth. My only complaint is the wearing out of the chrome on the "e,a & d" bridge saddles.

Would like to replace the saddles and knife edges at some stage,but no-one seems to be able to assist me.

I've been playing for 15 years and this guitar does not take second place to either my E series American Strat or my Ibanez S1670FM Prestige except for the new ZR trem on the Prestige.

What could i say that hasnt been said before, you all know the features to this bad boy! I have a Ibanez RG550 Lake Placid Blue with a blue mirror pickguard and this thing is a monster. The only thing is the stock Vintage pus are a little weak but not enough for me to replace them.

Its night and day really, I was playing a tele for regular tuning and this thing ate its shit and soared over the fender. Like i stated before the stock pus allow a lot of sounds, but it lacks a little presence. But this guitar doesnt have any extra humming or anyting. Real quiet guitar

I have played a Gibson Les Paul Studio guitar, and in my opinion this thing kicks its ass if you know how to set the action. The edge trem gets down and dirty. The only thing i see in these guitars is that almost all of them begin a crack in the body where the neck bolts on. Yes, all of you check your guitars and stop that crack. But the finish on this guitar (if taken care of) is rock solid and very tight.

I ve been having problems with the bottom strap button. but other than that these guitars could take care of you. I m finally buying another back up now. its another Rg550!!

too old!!!

Final note: if you want an awesome guitar for your money, but an rg550 and nothing else, look at the prices, they sell cheap and these guitars use to sell for 700.00!!

Best guitar ive played , no contest. With a few mods... this guitar could be the best on the planet!!

1997 RG550BK,You all know the specs....Original pickups V8,S1,V7...Black finish,Original Edge Tremolo, Cosmic Or Cosmo black or smoke finish, what ever they were calling it back then...All acess neck joint Super Wizard neck with Bubinga reinforcement.Cam with Aftermarket Hardshell case that weighs a ton empty..and a $4.99 ErnieBall strap...HOw decadent...LOL

Works for the music I playe, Rock, to Metal, with influences of Jazz, blues and Clasiical...Works well with My Boss ME33 wich between the pickup selection and the FX I can get any sound (within reason...Still love the Edge, but I really love the LOPro edge on my RG 570...The 550 will get one of those soon ....

Guitar was used, and "Posed" with as far as I can tell, the frets and the neck are like new, seemes the previous owner was a open tuning I dont want to learn to ACTAULLY play type of guitarist...Its apparent that the guitar was assembled properly from Ibanez, OS thats not an issue...This was however teh period of time taht I beliee Ibanez got cehap on their paint jobs and the paint has not fared very well, lots of nicks and scuff all of which do not effect the payablitiy of the guitar at all...Bad paint give mes the excuse to get it painted in the color I want anyhoo..LOLTypical Bubbling of the Tremolo, PU selector works perfect, and guitar guts are quiet..

The guitar will withstand just about any abuse dished out to it, thats what most Ibanez RGs are known and loved for, besideds the good looks and grat sound..Hardware has many years of use left..Finish is rough, but Has no bearing on the sound or the play of it..Strap buttons are in original place, and are tight..DEPENDABLE AS ALL $%%$ (well you know)I NEVER GIG with out a back up...To do so is asking for a red face of humiliation...Now DO I thin the guitar would perfom and not leve me high and dry, YES...But there must always be a back up , even during Studio time, You gots to have reinforcements...LOL

Never needed them, but Im sure they would do what they need to if ya have a new or still waranteed instrument...

Playing since 1985.Knew waht I was buying , no questions asked..Would always rather replace and Ibanez WITH an Ibanez...NO comparison needed..Previous Ibanez RG ownership...Favorite features of the Ibanez..The Ibanez Edge and LoPro edge..Best tremolo setup EVER MADE!!!!!

Hello, I think we all know the main features here from great trem to wizard neck etc.My main one is a 92 model purchased from the music store I worked at.I have owned many right from the start of their production.Japan of course. The others are no better or worse than other off shore models.

As far as tone goes the original pickups in my opinion will cause high end hearing damage.Sorry guys.However if you spend some money on Duncans or EMGs you will be more than happy with this instrument.There is no question if you set this guitar up correctly it smokes most others for playability.It's hard enough being proficient without fighting the damn guitar.I can play all night without experiencing fatigue.By the way I am a touring musician see..thejdproject.com...so I have put these guitars through their paces.I play Jazz/funk/fusion and work with some heavy cats.This is not to brag but to lend some legitimacy to this review. note(6) is prior to changing out the pickups.

This guitar is now famous for it's low action and playability see:Satriani, Gambale, and Vai etc. My two main 550's are canary yellow believe it or not.My jazz buddies think I am nuts but it has become somewhat of a trademark.If they don't remember me they certainly do the guitar.Only major complaint...high fret access is hampered by the neck joint. They have since solved this but I like the old ones.

These guitars are bullet proof.From stupid me letting people use it on jam nights in the past to broken stands and clumsey roadies they are still ticking so to speak.Local gigs are gig bags and planes are road cases and they have withstood both modes. (excuse the spelling here and there as I skipped that class for guitar practice)I just played a huge outdoor festival in Michigan as a headliner and used only the yellow beast all night. Quick story....when these instruments first hit the market I sold them.I bought one right away after years of out of tune trems struggling. Once I became really good at setting them up I used to hand them to the customer while holding only the trem system bar.(don't try this at home,the bar is a pull out)The customers could not believe this guitar would play in tune right after this display of seemingly disrespect.Anything for a sale huh lol.

When I was in retail I had no major problems with the Canadian distributer. They were great. As a player I have never had a issue come up so I can't really speak to that one.

Overall this is the ultimate workhorse guitar for me.

Everybody knows the specs on this guitar by now, for Gods'sake; it's been in the lineup for years now! The only diffrence between this model( a 2002 ) and the original ones from the 80's is the "All-Access" neck joint, and bubinga reinforcement in the neck itself.
Everytime I look at this guitar I get a woody, and I haven't even done any mods on it yet! Seriously; it's the best-looking RG Ibanez makes! I love the maple fretboard; maple just feels better to my fingers than rosewood. I also seriously dig the pickguard because I'm SOMEWHAT a traditionalist when it comes to instruments. Plus; you can swap out guards and make a custom look for your Axe with only a few dollars investment!

Acoustically, the sound is great; it resonates in your hands and fingers as you strum. God, there is a MAJOR diffrence in quality between the guitars Ibanez makes in Korea and the ones that are made in Japan! I will NEVER own another Korean-made Ibz again; I'm spolied now!
Of course; the stock pickups completely suck, but that is just normal fare for Ibanez unfortunately. I use EMG's exclusively now, and I believe my usual setup will work great in this guitar.

Even from MUSIC 123, the guitar arrived set-up good, and the intonation was spot-on. THAT is a MAJOR testament to the quality of Ibanez guitars. I made a string-height adjustment, set the trem even, and I was ready to jam!
Everybody knows that the EDGE Trem is just "The SHIT" when it comes to locking-trem systems, so I won't go on and on about how cool it is; you already know!
The pots are smooth and have no audible "gritch" in them, so that's cool. You can just tell that this guitar was put together really well, and the paint job is superb( Glossy Black! ).
Fretwork is tight as well with no rough edges. Maple neck feels like Buttah'!

It feels solid as a rock, and I've seen a TON of old 550's that are still in service to this day. A lot of touring guitarists swear by the RG, so I think it's safe to say that this guitar will stand up to just about anything that's thrown at it.
NEVER gig without a backup kiddies( jeesh, why was THAT question included? )!

I've owned a couple of other Ibanez guitars before this, and I never HAD a reason to deal with customer support. If I need something done though, I go see my local tech( he kicks ass!!! ).

I've played and owned too damn many guitars! I finally figured out what works for me( thank God ), and this guitar fulfills the requirement in spades. Once I replace the pups and do a few minor mods, this will be my main guitar.
By the way, you simply cannot beat this guitars' Price/Performance ratio; ther's just nothing else that comes close.
FINAL NOTE:
The regular RG 550 has been retired from the Ibanez line and has been replaced with the RG 1550. It's basically the same guitar, but with a "Prestige" neck. It's still a bargain though. You can get one new for about $470.00 to $500.00 depending upon the dealer/whosaler.
I plan on making my 2001 "S" series stock again and trading it in for the Prestige 1550; I'll be GLAD to see that Korean P.O.S. go!!!
LOL!!!!!!!!

I must review my baby here. I have an ORIGINAL, 1987 Desert Yellow RG550 with a Maple Fretboard. That's old enough that the v7/v8 pickups don't have v7/v8 on them... (of course, they are long gone, replaced with DiMarzio Tone Zone and PAF pro). This guitar is 16 years old and plays just like always. Original Edge Tremolo, same black chrome gotoh tuners, angled neck joint, not rounded...
I picked it up at Starving Musician in San Jose about six years ago, and it has been my main guitar ever since. At the time it was the best bang-for-the-buck guitar around. EVERYONE has imitated it, but none have stood the test of time FEnder HM Strat, Yamaha Pacifica, Charvel and Jackson korean and jap models galore, Fenders Heartfields - man, talk about your knock-offs... Anyway... It's the "poor-man's JEM, and yet it's so much more!

I'm 34 - grew up in the age of shred: Vinnie Moore, John Petrucci, Vai, Satriani, and most cool metal bands are my still my line of work... The original pickups are okay for garage rockers and woodshedders, but Ibanez clearly means for the gigging/recording musician to replace the pickups (Tone Zone/PAF Pro are mine on both m RG's -I have a new RG1550, too.
With stock pickups, I give it about 6 or 7 for sound... with replacements of your taste, it rates a big fat 10... it even gets a decent clean tone at the neck pickup... Since the world clearly understands that RG needs pickups on purchase day, I will rate it a 10 for sound because every 550 fanatic has their own...

It played really nicely at Musicians Friend - unscratched with a a little oxidation on the back of the neck plate. Neck and frets were fine - 6100 gauge jumbos, not the 6105 medium jumbos like my 1550...
The Wizard neck is THE neck... Fast, furious and comfortable.
Who cares about set-up? we all do it our own way - I use Ernie Ball .008's and a pretty darned low action. Everybody who plays my 550 (and my 1550 now) fall in love...
The stock pickguard is gone - in its place, a PEARL GREEN Chandler replacement ($36 I think I paid for it.)The maple fretboard is all dark and stained from years of playing it (that's how it's supposed to look......)
My pick up coils are colored gre-yellow-green-yellow-green from brdige to neck, and I have yellow strat numbered knobs and a yellow thingy for the selector switch. It looks... well... beautiful... custom... sweeeet.....

1987-2003... Enough said. Plenty of live music....

Who Knows? Don't need it.

In my 20th year of playing - I'm 34 - I have owned tons of expensive guitars - Kramer Pacer Imperial, Stagemaster, ESP Mirage Custom, Fender Strat, a Peavey Vandenberg Neck thru - I loved all of them very much - but NONE comes close to my RG550(s). I plan to pick up another used one - in hot pink when I see it - and one in that cool lavender metallic, and a green one with the mirror pickguard - all w/ maple fretboards, of course - oh, and a white one w/ black pickguard to offset my 1550 with the custom white chandler pickguard, and a metallic blue one with white pickguard, and with a black pickguard, and with... and with... and with... but THIS 550 will always be my BABY.... The only guitar I ever need again is an Ibanez RG550 - I hate to be so ga-ga over an instrument, but Ibanez has something special with this model - that's why it's endured for 17 years virtually unchanged.
I wouldn't sell this Ibanez - not een for $2000 - not even for $3000 - it is BEYOND VALUE - A PRICELESS guitar. -----word.

2000 model, black, basswood body, maple fretboard, 24 jumbo frets, ibanez v7 v8 s1 pickups, Ibanez edge tremolo, super thin neck profile and gotoh tuners (not great but it's a locking tremolo so it doesn't really matter you only use them when restringing). Pretty much your standard super strat style made in Japan.

Iv'e had this guitar for 3 years bought it from my friends music store so got #50 knocked off the retail of #600 and got a cheap hardcase a strap and some cables thrown plus free setups for life. Iv'e playeds this guitar through many amps. A laney TF700, Marshall AVT 150H, Marsahll DSL 100 and a Marshall Mode Four Head. I had same trouble though slightly muddy tone on all pickup selections and I couldn't dial it out using the amps controls. I recently rectified the problem by putting a Duncan TB4 in the bridge position I can now cut through any mix. I don't really use the other pickup positions in my band but I use the neck pickup when playing bits of jazz at home it sounds great clean. Before the pickup change I give it a 7 now I give it a 9 (no guitar gets a ten)

Japenese made so amazing quality. It's getting a bit beaten up now though but it has held up extremely well.

I trust it. The finish has a few chips in it but this guitar has been dropped many times and still keeps going. I Have plaet waves locking straps to all my guitars for safety though.

never dealt with them

Iv'e been playing nearly nine years and have owned alot of gear. The RG is my main guitar I also have a schecter C1 which I gave to my Fiance but still borrow as a backup and a Gibson SG special which I am in the process of fixing up.

1989 aquamarine/maple, you know the rest, 24 frets, the full meal deal

rapes any guitar

fantastic...only a fool will say this guitar can't play EVERYTHING...how can anyone dislike this thing?

setup is perfect from factory, as always with this model...flawless...but really who cares about all that, it's an RG550 after all...this is the greatest guitar of all time, period

as solid as the day I bought it. As with any guitar, if you are careless and smash it into a doorway it will get dented, if you drop it something might break, but even then you hear so many times how solid the crasftmanship is, and that's just a fact regardless, but you will really want to baby a beauty like this...just plug it in and it's earth-shattering perfection time and time again

never had to even try, that's why I give a 10, it's such a good product there will never be a need for customer support

I got this sublime creation 12 years ago, played for a few years without ever getting serious about it, then didn't play for ages, and started dabbling again in late 90's without any passion, then quit till early 2002, and now pretty much full-fledged again. This guitar will run circles around absolutely anything else you will ever find in your life. Checking out new guitars in shops make you realize what utter shit anything else is...everything else is just a slop twang module by comparison...don't waste your time.

This thing won't get stolen, I'm not showing it to anyone, taking it anywhere. It's my greatest possesion to say the least. There's nothing to hate about it unless you can't shred and are jealous of those who can, this is the one and only choice if you can really play. My first and last guitar, I don't need another one, but I might get another RG550, or another classical guitar, but I don't need to get anything else really.

it rips...the only limitation that concerns this piece of perfect machinery is your ability to unleash whatever you may upon it...it will take anything, and beg for more...feed it, it's hungry...and I have gone over a year numerous times without changing strings...I don't pick hard, I barely skim the string, my picks never ever wear down, so my strings don't either unless I bend too far on a high fret, but otherwise it's smoother than fuck 24/7, the ultimate conception...

White body, black pickguard,floyd rose licenced trem & the best maple neck I've ever played... ever! Bought it in 89 used from a guy at the music store who wanted a JEM, I played the JEM after he got it and if you close your eyes you can't tell the differece (unless you are playing over the scalloped frets on the JEM777, better pickups on the JEM also. oh well, for $1,500 more it better!)The olny reason I gave this an 8 is because of the pickups. (see sound category)

I changed the lead pickup to a Duncan Custom-Custom and I can't remember what is sounded like without it so I'm giving it a 9, it's a 10 with the Duncan! The rythem sounds great the middle seems a little useless unless combined with one lead or rythem. Overall, awsome sound.

Action is absolutely awsome, the best, I have an American Strat that can't hold a candle to the action on this Ibanez (but you can't make this sound like SRV henceforth the Strat) I haven't played a new one (mine is late 80's) but if you get a chance to try a late 80's maple neck one, you'll want to buy it.

It's 15 yrs. old and holding up well, I'ts needed a couple of tune ups, but with the use it gets it is holding up like a trooper!

Never dealt with Ibanez, who knows?

Playing for 20 yrs. 9 guitars: 2 Ibanez, 1 Yamaha, 1 Gibson, 1 Fender, 2 Gretch, 1 Samick, 1 Washburn and If I had to pick I'd say this is my favorite. Some people would call me nuts, but it is just a great playing, feeling, sounding, looking guitar. I may get the frets re-done and have the upper frets scalloped.... maybe. I may change the neck and middle pickups also..... again..... maybe!

New 2002 model. 24 jumbo frets, HSH PU's, Edge locking trem, Basswood body, Maple/Maple Wizard neck. 5 way PU selector. Included tools and manual, warranty card.

I reviewed previously in this category(RG550) for a 1991 model. I bought this new because I wanted one with an AANJ. I was disapointed however. One of the frets in the upper register was dead on the high E string. I returned it because of that. It wasn't set-up for low action. The Edge trem bothered me. My '91 has a LoPro. 2 very interesting points. #1. I compared the neck thickness to my 1991 and the 2002 model was 1/16th of an inch thicker. #2. Comparison of the frets showed the 2002 frets were smaller. I didn't measure the height but the width was smaller. I've been told by a luthier the '91 frets are equivelent to Dunlop 6100's so the 2002 frets must be somewhere in between a 6105 and a 6100. I was disapointed with these findings. The AANJ surpringly didn't wow me. It was alright. I did like that the neck felt unfinished. It definitely wasn't stained like my '91, the maple was very white in comparison.

Playing 25 years. I returned this guitar. I'm still somewhat in the market. I'm looking at possibly the new, revamped 550 for 2003, the Prestige RG1550. The trem is low profile, a big plus. And with the neck being Prestige perhaps it will be to spec. I mean, the dimensions of the Wizard neck have been the same, 17mm 1st fret, 20mm 12th fret forever. And the 2002 catalog SAYS it's a Wizard. So they both, my 1991 and the 2002, can't be right.

The Guitar was made in Japan at 1998, it cinsists of 24 jumbo frets.
Solid Top, has 1 volume knob, 1 tone knob and a 5 way selector.
Pickups are H/S/H all Ibanez V7 S1 V8
Basswood body and maple neck.
Black cosmo powder finish.
Shaped like a sharpened strat.
Original Floyd rose for great sounds with great stability.
Double locking system with Fine tuners on tremolo side.
Slim, Easy, lightning fast neck for fast and precise playing.

The guitar suits all kind of music styles, at has a fat warm sound on all 5 positions, but if it's the fender jumpyness your looking for just add some compressor with high gain and some treble and you have the fender sound and feel.

I use it with a Marshall Valvestate amp 40W with a Korg ax100G floor effect processor. sounds great, endless possibilities.

The guitar is quite on all states.
I Like everything about it.

I bought t used so it must have been reset so i can't really say how it came from the factory, but again the possibilities are endless.

Greatly built.
Will survive anything!!! from my own expiriance.
I would defently depend on it, just throw a 0.10 string gauge pack and they will never snap or loose the tune no matter what you do!

Not for me.

The best thing there is for satriani's style!

Go get!

IBANEZ 550 EX. Made in Japan, 24 frets, white metalized colour, looks, a little bit purple in the dark and white in the light. 1 volume, 1 tone, and 5 way selector. Two Humbuckers and one single coil. Pickups are Ibanez. The body is not too heavy. Floyd Rose bridge (Very cool) The guitar come with the tremolo arm, some allen keys, etc. I also bought mine with the Ibanez case. Beautiful exterior.

U can play almost any style with this pickup configuration. Mi equipments is: Ibanez 550 > Behringer V-Amp 2 (COOL machine) > custom amplifier made by a friend (450 w UUUOOO!!!!). Well, the pickups are not Dimarzios or Seymour Duncan, but they do the job. If you are interested in a better sound you can replace, for example with two Dimarzio evolutions and a HS-2 (Ibanez JEM sound style) Maybe in the future I'll do this pickup change, but no for the moment. maybe it can sound better, but I like the sound right now.

The guitar set-up from the factory was OK. One thing I EXTREMELY like is the action... VERY LOW ACTION!! If you are into shred (like me) you can apreciate this fact. Thin neck, trustme, you can fly in this neck. My previous guitar have a high action... what a shit! But with this guitar you can do whatever you want. What I mean is: if you can't do something on this guitar is not the guitar fault, the problem is you!

I heard that Ibanez guitars are delicated machines. I have the guitar since a couple of months, and NO problems... delicated? It seems to be solid and well constructed, maybe is delicate but for sure ANY guitar is. This is because I have bought a solid case. For sure I will use this guitar live.

I don't know :)

Playing for about 2 years. My favorite players are Vai, Satriani, Petrucci, Paul gilbert, Vinnie Moore... They all play Ibanez... I love the low action, Ibanez guitars are great, if were lost or stolen I would buy another like this one. I hope this guitar will stay with me the rest of my life (ouh, can I marry the guitar? HEHE) THIS GUITAR IS GREAT, trust me.
P.S: I'm from Malaga, Spain, sorry for my bad english :)

This is a left-handed RG550 with H/S/H configuration. I replaced the bridge pick-up with a George Lynch "Screaming Demon". This also has a maple neck and a "like" Floyd Rose tremelo.

I play through a Mesa Boogie Mark IV. I use TC Electronics Chorus-Flanger/Boss Super Phaser/Guyatone Delay and a Cry Baby Wah pedal. For the money this thing rocks! The Japanese make great guitars for less money. The sound is great in all pick-up selections and I doubt if it has anything to do with my amp...yeah right! The sound is excellent.

Set-up is a ten too. The action is perfect. I use 9's. The guitar is flawless.

I've had this thing for 10 years now and had no problems whatsoever with it.

Never had to call them. N/A

I have been playing for 25 years now. I have a Les Paul, Telecaster, Strat and two Dreadnaughts. This rates on par with any of them.

24 frets, made in japan, maple neck in a lovely two-tone magenta finish. I bought it secondhand and it needed a bit of a
clean-up. Ibanez Edge tremelo (the best) and a H-S-H configuration.

Superb low-action....plays like an absolute dream.

I play all types of things on this. From Hard Rock to Blues to Heavy Metal. This thing can do it all.

The H-S-H setup is very versatile. The sound is warm and the output is pretty high. Because it is thick and warm sounding, it does not have brilliance or presence of more traditional strat/single coil sound. Anybody interested in getting this guitar should know what this guitar is good for.

Got her setup professionally by my guitar tutor.

She plays like an absolute dream - say no more!

Built like a tank on steroids. Reliable for live settings.

This thing will never break!

Have not dealt with them.

I have never played a guitar like it. Go get one now.

If it got half-inched i would kill the person who did it!

Easter 1990 was when i bought this baby!
24 frets, made in japan, maple neck in a lovely bright orange finish(the shop had no canary yellow in stock). Ibanez Edge trem and 2hbs and 1 sc. I added an EMG 81 in the bridge in 1996 and it is AWESOME.
A wide thin neck which now feels great since the laquer has come off the back of the neck over the years. Nice low action, it plays like a dream.

I play Rock/Hard Rock and this axe is perfect for this type of music.
For less rocky stuff i use a US Standard Strat(Kent Armstrong Hot Rails bridge p/up) and my old 1989 Squier strat tuned to open G(Yes, we do play Stones tunes). The 550 sounds great it is primarily a ROCK MACHINE. The only thing is the EMG 81 is not suited for clean sounds which is why i use the strat.

Set Up ok but i have lowered the action over the years. When purchased it had no flaws but now it has since it has been dropped god knows how many times. After a couple of years i got a crackly p/up selector but a quick squirt of WD40 soon did the trick.

Very reliable and durable. I would recommend either replacing the strap buttons with strap lock or clip locks.
I would stake my Goolies on this guitars reliability. It's a solid workhorse of a guitar that has never let me down onstage or off.

Never needed to contact 'em.

I have been playing on and off for 15 years. If it was stolen i would be gutted and would do my best to get my hands on the bugger that nicked it!. I am still on the lookout for any late 80's early 90's 550's because i don't think these guitars can be beaten.
It's a dream to play it's like a part of my body, it was my first "Proper" guitar and i want another one please!!!!!

It's a 2002 japan model. Black- 24 fret, V and S stock pickups H/S/H - like most 550's right? Great neck, only the best I've touched. The Edge bridge is and has always been unbeatable. This is a very modern guitar as far as playability and feel goes, but for those old schoolers like me, dot inlays and that face plate keeps it honest. The best of both worlds.

As with most H/S/H configured guitars, a variety of sounds can be accomplished.You cannot get much better than the stock pickups. I play everything from country to rock and all points in between and this guitar, seriously, is all that I need. The 550 can put you to sleep with it's clean and bright tone or it can scare you. Okay I guess I was a little too verbose here but ya it sounds great.

I never really played a guitar in a music store that was set up as perfect as this one. First impressions are important to me and it just goes to show you that they care a little bit more than the competition, well at least the guitars I've tried out. There are NO flaws here. I love the two-tone hardwear and the finish looks great but, come on Ibanez, there are still 550 freaks out here that would like more color options...I can't complain, black is cool.

This is a very well made guitar. I've owned several Ibanez's and they've all been quite faithful to me. It's a tough guitar and definitely can handle live gigs and as far as a backup, I always have one only for the simple issue of possible string breakage during songs.

Honestly I've never had to get an Ibanez repaired...so I have no clue.

I've been playing for 15 years and owned many types and brands of guitars- Jackson, Charvel, ESP, Fender and throw in about five RG's in the mix and overall- Nothing compares with the RG550's. It is set apart from most newer Ibanez models with the face plate, which gives it a little bit of a classic look. With amazing playability and somewhat modern features, makes for the perfect electric guitar. As long as they make them, I will buy them.

I have the Japan Model
24 Frets
floyd rose is a bitch to tune but once its locked it never goes out
You know the rest

Metal!
excallant for rock or jazz though, although i dont play those as often
sounds great clean as well, not muddy at all

The action is so easy to adjust and sounds great when set real low like most shredders want it

I give it a 5 for finish(if this category were only for finish). It is horrible. Scratches extremely easily, but it doesnt matter how it looks as long as you can play right?

Once again the action is great, and nothing is faster than a wizard neck, not even a jackson soloist.

It is annoying how the pickups are right near where you are picking and your pick will hit them if you dont get used to it or adjust. I suggest going to a guitar shop if you have this problem. I can still play faster on this then any other guitar in existance. Definately for the shredder!

Seems like it will last pretty well, although i have only had it for four months. The straps got loose on mine but that could be because i was using a bad strap.

Dont know bought it through ebay

If you want to play fast and shred this is your guitar. It may feel awkward when you first get it but after a week or two of play your old guitars will feel slow. While you may think its the player not the guitar that makes someone fast, this guitar might change your opinion. If it were to get lost, i would go buy a jackson soloist but if i didnt have the money i would buy another one of these. Best guitar for the money. Look on ebay by the way, lots of good ones there.

Purchased this bad-boy in Jan. 1988. I am the original owner and let me tell ya, it's been worth every penny. Made in Japan,it's solid black body w/rosewood fretboard, black pick-guard and pick ups. It's the DarthVader of my collection. 24 fret with a volume & tone with a 5-way selector switch. It came standard with the dimargio's pick ups. The bridge and neck were humbuckers and the center was single coil. I changed the bridge pick up to a EMG85 active pick up. Had alot more highs. The body is basswood, very light. The neck is maple with a satin finish. A strat style body yet more sharper and defined. It has the floyd-Rose tremalo that can dive several octaves and never fall out of tune. The best I have ever seen. The wizard neck is slim and very easy on the hand. I love this neck! Purchased the deluxe case with this guitar.

No matter the syle of music I play, this guitar always fits. I use it at practices & gigs about 50 percent of the time. I play mostly 50's thru 90's Rock-n-Roll, Rythm-n-blues. I also play a Fender Jimmie Vaughn strat as well. This Ibanez has been played thru a Peavey chorus 400, Carvin X-60 tube, and now a Fender Princeton Chorus. Sounds great thru anything. I use a flange-blues overdrive & EQ pedals. It has a bright sound with the EMG pick up. The single-coil does well. I don't use the neck pick up all that much. With the action set so fine on the neck, this guitar sustains notes and chords like no ones business. There's not much I don't like about this instrument.

This thing was perfect from the factory. Purchased from a local music store. At the time I was looking at guitars, it came down to three models. This RG550, a Kramer "Sricker", and a Charvel. The RG550 was the best choice. Stock set up was better than the other two models. No flaws in the unit.

I have played this guitar for 14 years. It has held up to anything I thrown at it. The only problem I had was the neck developed a crack in it about 4 months after I bought it. The music store ordered a new neck and replaced it under warranty. Took about 3 weeks to get the neck. Since then, never had a problem. Everything else is original other than the EMG pick up. I have gigged with it without a back up several times and it never failed me. It is truely dependable.

Never dealt with Ibanez directly, but the music store has always been there for me. It has been repaired under warranty as stated above. From what I have read in this review, seems like Ibanez customer service is worthless.

I been playing since 1987. I also own a Gibson Les Paul Custom Lite, Fender Jimmie Vaughn Strat, and Takamine acoustic. If this guitar was stolen, I would definetly replace it to as close of this model as I could. It is my favorite guitar of all!