Should I buy this Ibanez RG550?

Yngtchie Blacksteen

Yngtchie Blacksteen

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NeonPurpleRG550.jpg


The seller is located in Norway and I trust him, so this guitar should be in fine condition. If I do decide to purchase it, it'll cost me 4000 NOK, which is around $680. Not a bad price at all considering it's an MIJ from '95 with such a cool finish. All it needs is a purple mirror scratchplate so it looks like Alan Lennon's guitar in this video:

 
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I like mine although it's not a guitar I play very often...

[video]http://www.facebook.com/mwein?v=app_2392950137&ref=profile#!/video/video.php?v=167839682424[/video]
 
Yngwein indeed.

I've been lusting for an RG550 for YEARS, ever since I saw those vids of Dannyjoe Carter melting the fretboard on his, and lots of other great shred vids featuring these guitars. I've owned several Ibanez shredders, but never the real thing.

Love the colour on this one, all it needs is a purple mirror scratchplate to turn it into this baby right here:

 
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Sure, that seems like a good price if it is in good shape. I see beater versions going for 500 pretty regularly around here. By beater I mean serious fret wear, lots of paint damage, pitted trem metal, etc. 550s are great guitars, but I (and many others) find the V series pickups a little lame. I don't think they are as bad as people often claim, but they certainly are not a high point on that guitar.
 
A lot of people say that about the pickups, including the seller who says that they lack clarity. I believe this, and I'm more than willing to substitute the pickups for a pair of quality Dimarzio ones, preferably low output. I already have a pink Dimarzio humbucker that I got from an old Ibanez Paul Gilbert model, and I think that one should work wonders in the bridge.

It's real hard finding RG550s in good shape here in Norway, and I hope this one delivers.
 
Yngtchie Blacksteen said:
Yngwein indeed.
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:embarrassed:
Tiltsta said:
Sure, that seems like a good price if it is in good shape. I see beater versions going for 500 pretty regularly around here. By beater I mean serious fret wear, lots of paint damage, pitted trem metal, etc. 550s are great guitars, but I (and many others) find the V series pickups a little lame. I don't think they are as bad as people often claim, but they certainly are not a high point on that guitar.
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Yngtchie Blacksteen said:
A lot of people say that about the pickups, including the seller who says that they lack clarity. I believe this, and I'm more than willing to substitute the pickups for a pair of quality Dimarzio ones, preferably low output. I already have a pink Dimarzio humbucker that I got from an old Ibanez Paul Gilbert model, and I think that one should work wonders in the bridge.

It's real hard finding RG550s in good shape here in Norway, and I hope this one delivers.
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The neck and middle pickup leave a little to be desired on mine. I don't mind the bridge. I used it for one of the two rhythm guitars on this and the solo: markwein, Prages, Dexter Inferno and Micwalt: Still of the Night

:rawk:
 
I played a nice one once. It had super low action, perfect fret work and no audible string buzz when played with a medium touch. I think it had been re-fretted. It felt perfect. I didn't get to hear the pickups in a way that would allow me to properly evaluate them.

I vote yes. I think that will be a great guitar for you! :thu:
 
I just sold my RG1570 MIJ Prestige( a modern version of the 550 I think)..which had the V7/V8 pickups in originally..which I swapped out for Duncans and then DiMarzio's (on Howie's advice) which improved it greatly. But, I found I wasn't playing it much..when I want a Floyd/shreddy type thing, I invariably pick up my old Hamer. Still, it was a good guitar, so yeah, go for it if it appeals!
 
Yeah, it's worth it if you want a shredder guitar. The pickups are a love them or leave then kind of thing. Some players think the pickups are pretty good. Me, I've always felt that the pickups on the RGs I've played, were pretty blah sounding. Also, I prefer a chunkier neck, than the super-thin Ibanez Wizard, neck profile. If you don't mind the thin cross sectional neck profile, and want to get an RG, changing the pickups really improves their sound.

If you can get past the deathcore vocals, watch the solo at 1:30, for some mighty tasty sounding RG550 goodness.

 
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can you present me with one valid reason NOT to get it?

(economic reasons not valid for this post)
 
Sorry I missed this. yes, and congrats...I love 550s, way cool guitars, new pups and she will be awsome!
 
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