NGD - My first Ibeenhad

[CowboyFromHell]

Just giving you a lil hell man, no worries. Congrats on your new axe. In the second pic, is that the the crack you're speaking of? Perhaps a needle to inject some clear two-part epxoy would fill it and prevent it spreading further. I'm sure the resident experts here can assist you with the pup.wiring issue and you'll be quite happy with your find. BTW there's plenty of resources for replacement latches so that shouldn't be much of an issue. As far as the smell goes, maybe set it outside for a while on a nice day and let it air out. Best of luck.

[rjohnstone]

Don, the small crack between the lock nut bolts is a common thing with these older RG's.
Get a syringe and fill the crack with glue. This will keep it from spreading.
I have yet to see one of these actually break on its own.

[DonP]

Ok, I'll get some thin superglue.

Back to the guitar, it sounded very fat and chuncky, which surprized me when I popped the pickguard. Good old F spaced Super D in the bridge, a DP402 Virtual Vintage in the middle, and a non-working DP155 Tone Zone in the neck (WTF?). The Tone Zone metered fine, so it was most likely the crappy solder job killing it. The Super D surprised me though, because I have one in another guitar and it doesn't sound nearly as fat.

The wiring looked like it was done by a beginner. Lots of cold solder joints. The person I bought it from said he doesn't do soldering and has a tech do it. Well, he needs a new tech.

Out came the Tone Zone and in went a JBJ Jazz. I know, mixing Seymour with DiMarzio, oh well. It was easy putting the wiring back together.

Another issue is that the guitar was detuned to who-knows-what. A few turns of the screw claw and it was ready to roll tuned back in E. Still very chunky in the higher tuning.

One thing is for certain - thin necks and jumbo frets are something I love. Overall a very sweet axe and good old metal colors. I was never big into the virtuoso players, moreover just good old Maiden for me. And yes, this axe delivers the goods.

[Mazrim]

You cant go wrong with a late 80s early 90s Jap RG.
The RG550 is a classic. As are all the 5 and 7 series. The 770DX is probably the creme de la creme though. Awesome guitar.

[Wizard of Ozz]

The RG550 series rox. Nice score.

[VitaminG]

nice Don. How much you want for that TZ?

[QuantumRider]

EDIT: removed post as being irrelevant.

[Chief_CrazyTalk]

That is sweet. I'd love one of those 550s some day. Congrats.

[DonP]

nice Don. How much you want for that TZ?

I was going to try it in a 1986 Model 4 project. I'd put a Jackson cover on it so that it fits in the oversized pickup ring and do the "stealth mode"

If it doesn't work out, I'll let you know.

[diablomozart]

put the tone zone in the bridge...you wont be disappointed...d.m.

[84sups]

I love the 550s. I love maple boards. For some reason I can never land one. Grats man.

[DonP]

put the tone zone in the bridge...you wont be disappointed...d.m.

I wish I could, but the TZ is not F spaced. The Super Distortion that's in there is, and it sounds fabulous.

The TZ being narrow spaced will fit under a Jackson cover and go into my Model 4.

[DonP]

I love the 550s. I love maple boards. For some reason I can never land one. Grats man.

Took me a long time as well. It is really a great axe. I've not really played one before but if they are all like this, they are smoking good. I have a DK1 neck on a KE3 body and I'd say the necks are very similar in profile and both are very awesome.

[Axewielder]

Cool axe. I've got a RG570 mutt that I whip out from time to time. You can't go wrong with these.

[Twitch]

Don, I love how you bought it first, then posed the question to us as to whether or not it was "good."