Ibanez RG550+RG350 HELP!

[Mazrim]

The V1 nad V2 were the first humbuckers in the 550, then they changed them to V7 and V8. Some people prefer the earlier ones, some the latter. Some just swap em out for DiMarzios.
I must admit, I havent swapped out the V1 and V2 pups in my '91 570 yet and I probably wont. They lack the full dynamic range of some of the aftermarket pups bUt to me they have that classic crunch and they wail forever.
I did upgrade an RG550 with Evo II and Humbucker from Hell pups with a Kent Armstrong hot rail in the middle and it was a great combo. Evo II loves Basswood.

Now then, Ibanez changed the neck heel in the 90s to the AANJ (All access neck joint) thats the round one. A lot of folks prefer the old square heel joint because of supposed better tone (I'm not so sure) but the AANJ offers better access to the upper frets. But I have the hands of a large gorilla and its never been a problem for me on the old square heel joints, plus there is an angled chamfer which helps.
All 3xx, 5xx, 7xx, Jem etc series guitars had the old heel joints, since the late 90s they all have aanj except for reissues.

The modern 350 guitars are good guitars, no mistake, but they are not in the same quality as the old 550s or even close. Quality of wood, craftsmanship, frets, electronics, hardware, that neck, all superior. Its what makes them a classic.
The old wizard neck makes playing at mach 3 effortless. Its the fastest neck Ive ever played. A joy. Also the original Edge bridge is probably the best ever.
To me, the RG550M and RG770DX are the best guitars Ibanez ever made short of J Customs. They're also two of the finest guitars you'll ever play.

If you get a 350 (and swap out the shitty INF pups) you'll have a good guitar but if you be patient and find an old 550, you'll have a great one.
Just make sure the neck isnt warped to fuck. The wizard is one of the finest necks ever but also one of the thinnest.

[devreaux]

The V1 nad V2 were the first humbuckers in the 550, then they changed them to V7 and V8. Some people prefer the earlier ones, some the latter. Some just swap em out for DiMarzios.
I must admit, I havent swapped out the V1 and V2 pups in my '91 570 yet and I probably wont. They lack the full dynamic range of some of the aftermarket pups bUt to me they have that classic crunch and they wail forever.
I did upgrade an RG550 with Evo II and Humbucker from Hell pups with a Kent Armstrong hot rail in the middle and it was a great combo. Evo II loves Basswood.

Now then, Ibanez changed the neck heel in the 90s to the AANJ (All access neck joint) thats the round one. A lot of folks prefer the old square heel joint because of supposed better tone (I'm not so sure) but the AANJ offers better access to the upper frets. But I have the hands of a large gorilla and its never been a problem for me on the old square heel joints, plus there is an angled chamfer which helps.
All 3xx, 5xx, 7xx, Jem etc series guitars had the old heel joints, since the late 90s they all have aanj except for reissues.

The modern 350 guitars are good guitars, no mistake, but they are not in the same quality as the old 550s or even close. Quality of wood, craftsmanship, frets, electronics, hardware, that neck, all superior. Its what makes them a classic.
The old wizard neck makes playing at mach 3 effortless. Its the fastest neck Ive ever played. A joy. Also the original Edge bridge is probably the best ever.
To me, the RG550M and RG770DX are the best guitars Ibanez ever made short of J Customs. They're also two of the finest guitars you'll ever play.

If you get a 350 (and swap out the shitty INF pups) you'll have a good guitar but if you be patient and find an old 550, you'll have a great one.
Just make sure the neck isnt warped to fuck. The wizard is one of the finest necks ever but also one of the thinnest.

and if i also lock the bridge i will have basically the same guitar as a 550 except for the quality, but the woods would be the same?
check your PM inbox Mazrim

[Mazrim]

I wouldn't lock the bridge unless you really want to. The Edge III is functional, not terrible at all.
Basically the same guitar as the 550? No, the issues of quality would be too much to say that but you would have a fair enough imitation of one, sure.
If thats what you're after. About what a DK2 is to a DK1 though.
Its isnt going to sound just like a 550 Reissue just because it has a Basswood body but the tonal characteristics will be similar, yes.

Its sounds like you've played a 550 reissue in a shop and you're in love and want an affordable version of it.
Basically if you have a line on a cheap 350 and you're wondering if its worth going for, I'd say yes. Its a decent budget guitar.
But if you can find a cheap beat up old 550 for anything like the same kind of money, you will be better off. Or a 560/570 for that matter.
It wont be easy but be patient and keep saving. It will be worth it.

[heartfielder]

The RG550 is what you should go for. Whether you get one with V1/V2 or V7/V8 pickup config, you can't go wrong. I have had several but I only own one at the moment and I love it !! Check it out in Heather Pearl !!

[devreaux]

I wouldn't lock the bridge unless you really want to. The Edge III is functional, not terrible at all.
Basically the same guitar as the 550? No, the issues of quality would be too much to say that but you would have a fair enough imitation of one, sure.
If thats what you're after. About what a DK2 is to a DK1 though.
Its isnt going to sound just like a 550 Reissue just because it has a Basswood body but the tonal characteristics will be similar, yes.

Its sounds like you've played a 550 reissue in a shop and you're in love and want an affordable version of it.
Basically if you have a line on a cheap 350 and you're wondering if its worth going for, I'd say yes. Its a decent budget guitar.
But if you can find a cheap beat up old 550 for anything like the same kind of money, you will be better off. Or a 560/570 for that matter.
It wont be easy but be patient and keep saving. It will be worth it.

okay so similar tonal characteristics as the 550. how about the playability then, and the intonation? is the wizard II really that bad?

[devreaux]

okay so similar tonal characteristics as the 550. how about the playability then, and the intonation? is the wizard II really that bad?

i mean cause my friend has got a neck-thru jackson from the 90's, professional series (not pro) made in japan. and one day he brought the guitar to my place and we compared my 2 dinkys with his "soloist". and i must say you know, there wasn't that much difference (i have dimarzios in my dinkys) other than his guitar was more comfortable to play.

so im still thinking that if i do the same modifications on the 350, i will get close, but i will still be very aware of that the 550's ARE better.

EDIT: what i'm trying to point out is that my friends soloist for 2000 bucks isnt 4 times as good as my dinky for 500

[Mazrim]

Theres nothing wrong with a Wizard II profile at all.

Its hard to quantify how much better a guitar is than another. But when everything is superior you start paying a big premium.
Is a DK1 4 times better than a DK2? Probably not but because its is better in every regard the price spirals. Better materials, better craftsmanship, more work hours = $$$$$

There is nothing you can do to that 350 to make it comparable to a 550. Nothing. It wont sound as good, it wont play as good.
All you can do is make an already reasonable guitar better. As long as you understand that you wont be disappointed.

If you've fallen for the 550, go for it. If you have to bide your time, do it. Dont accept second best.

[RacerX]

Is this gonna be one of those "never mind I won't be able to buy it for a year" threads?

[devreaux]

Theres nothing wrong with a Wizard II profile at all.

Its hard to quantify how much better a guitar is than another. But when everything is superior you start paying a big premium.
Is a DK1 4 times better than a DK2? Probably not but because its is better in every regard the price spirals. Better materials, better craftsmanship, more work hours = $$$$$

There is nothing you can do to that 350 to make it comparable to a 550. Nothing. It wont sound as good, it wont play as good.
All you can do is make an already reasonable guitar better. As long as you understand that you wont be disappointed.

If you've fallen for the 550, go for it. If you have to bide your time, do it. Dont accept second best.

what i'm trying to say is that when i have customized the 350, and then i buy a 550, i'm gonna think for example that the 550 is like 15% better, cause i mean it cant be TWICE as good? what would you say about that?
that the 350 will do the job better than well for me, instead of that i work my ass off for another 6 months to get a guitar that is just a little bit better but costs twice as much?

that's why i compared the soloist to the dinky. i dont envy my friend cause he's got a neck-thru guitar with active electronics, my bolt on with a super distortion sounds awesome in another way, and imo plays as good as the neckthru.

so lets say we all know that the 550 is gonna be better, it doesnt say that the more expensive - the better, but you seem to have tried out both the guitars and know that the 550 is better. but HOW much better is it?

[Mazrim]

Much better. But its probably best you try them both and see for yourself. You may not agree with me.

But by the time you've bought that 350 and spent money on customising it, how much of the price of a beat up old RG550 have you spent?
Thats the point.

[devreaux]

Much better. But its probably best you try them both and see for yourself. You may not agree with me.

But by the time you've bought that 350 and spent money on customising it, how much of the price of a beat up old RG550 have you spent?
Thats the point.

yeah i feel you. if i play the 350 and like it, then i buy it, and customize it, but i could have had a better guitar for the money, but i will still be satisfied with the 350. why dont you let me come to ur place and play all ur guitars?

you know what, i just totally changed my mind. just listen to this, this is how i play, all i want is to play good and play good music. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQSm-sAj4lk

so i think its gonna be the cheaper one anyways, for now atlest. i can always buy any of you guys 550's from your parents when you die

[Kisonen]

I personally would look for used RG 1550 or 2550. They have good hardware and AANJ. Those models seem to go for around 500€ in europe. RG 350 is low end guitar with cheap materials. Customizing RG 350 is going to cost more than used Japan made RG. And after the mods it still won't as good as RG 550 or 1550 made in Japan.

Do you know how much the parts for the mods cost?

[devreaux]

I personally would look for used RG 1550 or 2550. They have good hardware and AANJ. Those models seem to go for around 500€ in europe. RG 350 is low end guitar with cheap materials. Customizing RG 350 is going to cost more than used Japan made RG. And after the mods it still won't as good as RG 550 or 1550 made in Japan.

Do you know how much the parts for the mods cost?

i played 1 today, it was simply awesome,

it doesnt matter what size your pencil is, it's how you write your name

[Mazrim]

You played what today?

[devreaux]

You played what today?

yo mazrim my mate! did you listen to the clip i sent you?

a 350, i just ordered it.

1.the back of the neck had no laquer, good grip. does wizard ONE have laquer?

2.what does "satin" mean?

3.the guitar suited me very well in every way, i tried prestige wizard neck, way too thin for me compared to my jacksons. it sounded damn good with the INF pups, suprisingly good, but im gonna swap them anyway.

its like it was just the right guitar for me, it was more than enough to show my skill and i just felt a nice feeling about not having a 550 but still sound and play good...