NGD: Ibanez RG550 (?)

[SteveFireland]

The guy I bought it from reckoned it was an RG550 body with a different neck on it. The paint has been stripped off (looks to have been black, judging by the trem cavity) and the neck has been shaved down a bit. It has obviously been through the wars over the years!

He needed the money quick, so I got it for £60 (about $90) ... didn't actually need another guitar, but it was cheap and it'll come in handy at some point. Plays suprisingly well.













Not the prettiest... it sure has "character" though.

Steve.

[sixx_ gunner]

Great grab! I need to find someone desperate for cash in exchange for his JEM 777DYV!

[straycat]

87 RG550 that was a great score.
Get that shit off the case too.Why do bands make their logos so you cant read them?

[Grandturk]

What's the band's name? Hoary For Christ? What's that supposed to mean?

[straycat]

Is that what that says? I don't see it.

[SteveFireland]

Honey For Christ

S.

[Snoogans]

I'm impressed that someone managed to get the paint off of an old RG. A buddy of mine tried that. All that the chemical stripper did was to take the shine off a bit. He ended up having to chisel the paint off with a razor blade. The wood underneath was really soft, almost like balsa. And gouged to hell...

[asix]

thats a bargain. a nice axe to gig with.

[BenoA]

Awesome bargain! I got a RG550 a few weeks back for 220$ (including a beat case). The guitar is now my main axe.

I don't know about the neck on yours but the one on my RG550 is the thinnest one I ever played. The Edge Floyd on these is wicked! I even like the stock PUs. The neck one sings with my Peavey 6505.

[Fender]

That is actually a 1989. The neck is actually correct for that guitar because 1989 was the only year where all the RG550's did not come with matching headstocks. 88's have the matching headstocks. And 87's would be late 87' and mostly came with chrome hardware. That was also the first year run of the Rg, but not the first year of the Edge, so they took a lot of Edge bridges that remained from the Road stars last production year 86 and early 87.

I also have an 1989. They are pretty rare in look because of the black headstock. Not sure that gives them any value. Personally i do like the matching headstock more, but this guitar rocks so much, i don't even care. RG550's are IMO the best guitar for the money. Work horses, keep in tune, the edge bridge is godly and ibanez has yet to make a better floating bridge (with the exception of the lo pro edge if people like the lower profile).

http://www.ibanezrules.com/catalogs/us/1989/index.htm

PS i am not sure if the paint has been stripped off, i do believe seeing another one or two in just plain stained basswood.

[SteveFireland]

The body was black though - did they ever come with a maple board? I read somewhere that they only came with a rosewood board.

Steve.

[Grandturk]

No - 550's definately had maple boards.

[toejam]

and the neck has been shaved down a bit.

I'd be worried the truss rod would pop through soon. Wizard necks are thin enough to begin with!

[cookiemonster]

cheap ibbys abound!!

just picked up a old rg560 for £120.

[Mazrim]

Some early 550s came with Rosewood boards. The actual name for the maple board guitars is RG550M but you'll find most of them to have maple boards.
£60? You robbed him. The trem alone would fetch more than that. Some consider it the best tremelo ever made. I cant say I can argue.

£120 for a 560? Where are you guys finding these deals? Do you wait outside a home for broken guitar players and wait for them to come out and sell their gear for skag money?