NGD... Another Ibanez RG550

[VitaminG]

hey, now we can see it! Nice one

[BenoA]

Those Japanese 1987-2002 or so Ibanez RG's are one of the best bang-for-the-buck bolt-on's in the used market. I'm surprised they have not appreciated in value more considering the ridiculous cost of current Japanese RG's. Hang onto that one, these suckers have nowhere but up to go in value.

You bet, in the past few years, I got 3 RG550 and 1 RG750, all bought for 300$can or less. All in players condition but who cares. With these guitars, you can go through a whole set and abuse the whammy bar and stay in tune! The 5 way switch gives you plenty of sound options and the thin neck is comfortable for my small hands.

And black cats rock!!! lol... Mine is 19 pounds of love!

[DonP]

I have the same 550XL, same color. Mine is a 1988.

[Number Of The Priest]

Thread bump. BenoA, how do you find so many <CAD$300 Ibanez guitars? They're not frequently listed in my area (I'm geographically within 2.5h driving distance of you).

My first electric guitar was a used black 1990 RG560. It was rather lousy in sound and playability. Because I was a beginner, I didn't know that CAD$600 was very overpriced. After I sold that guitar, I swore off Ibanez forever and already moved on to Jackson.

Recently I spotted (and missed out on) a CAD$400 RGA121 which got me thinking about Ibanez again and doing research into them. The Ibanez Wikia site has been a helpful resource.

I joined a very helpful RG-focused group on Facebook and I am slightly envious of the members getting great deals. Many of the members have multiple RGs because of the great bang-for-the-buck value of them, as lepard says below:

Those Japanese 1987-2002 or so Ibanez RG's are one of the best bang-for-the-buck bolt-on's in the used market. I'm surprised they have not appreciated in value more considering the ridiculous cost of current Japanese RG's. Hang onto that one, these suckers have nowhere but up to go in value.

I discovered PixxyLixx's Youtube videos (https://www.youtube.com/user/PixxyLixxx/videos) and he went through a "cheap Ibanez shredder phase" where he bought a bunch of <USD$300 Ibanez RGs and Sabers from Guitar Center Used. They all look and sound awesome, particularly a 540S loaded with Duncan 59s (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WfpI6gBs0E) which I didn't expect to sound so beefy in the bridge position.

Armed with knowledge and GAS, my "treasure hunting radar" not only includes Jacksons and Charvels, but now also Ibanez guitars from 1987 to mid-1990s (or thereabouts). I'm getting some nostalgia for this period guitar and I hope that anything I find will sound and play better than the possible lemon of an RG560 I owned.

I think I'm romanticizing this when I say that an RG550 is a quintessential rock/metal guitar of the late 80s and early 90s (but not quite as iconic as a Soloist or Rhoads) even though I cannot name a single music video from this era where one appears. The guys on the RG group on Facebook seem to go nuts for the 1987 (first year) RG550 desert sun yellow color.

[BenoA]

@number of the priest. I guess I've been lucky. May be? lol

But, I never see US made Jackson here at a decent price. Once in a while you'll see one around 1200-1300... So I gave up on Jackson... Sometimes a MIJ will sell around 300$ but in my area, most used guitars are being posted over price. It's even worst since our dollar has went down the drain.

I snapped a MM JP6 looking brand new for 1000$ a few years back... First time I was paying that much money for a guitar but it was worth it and it's an absolute keeper.

As for Ibanez... Mostly the early ones 1987-1994... You gotta to be quick and snap it (it's like fishing). I grabbed 4 (200$, 240$ and 300$x2) in the past few years. None where mint but good players condition and anyway, awesome guitars once set up properly. My latest one (the one in this post, sounds killer).

Most of the time, you see some well over 800$. Right now there is 2 RG550 in my area asking for that price.

Last week, a Jem Floral sold for 1000$... you see those well over 3000$ on Ebay or other sites. The seller told me he sold it in a few hours.

Not ditching Jackson/Charvel but in my area, I've not been lucky with deals on them. But for Ibanez, you just gotta be looking. And those MIJ RGs are awesome guitars when paid under 300$ (I see Jackson JS all the time for more!). I've played many gigs with my RGs and had only to tune in between sets. My other guitar player back then with his high price Gibson would in between each songs.

The Edge bridge on the Ibby is worth the price by itself!

[Number Of The Priest]

@number of the priest. I guess I've been lucky. May be? lol

But, I never see US made Jackson here at a decent price. Once in a while you'll see one around 1200-1300... So I gave up on Jackson... Sometimes a MIJ will sell around 300$ but in my area, most used guitars are being posted over price. It's even worst since our dollar has went down the drain.

Not ditching Jackson/Charvel but in my area, I've not been lucky with deals on them.

What about the "Deal alert" threads I've been posting in the E-fraid forum? I see you replied to the $675 Pro-Mod San Dimas topic even though that's far away from you. The $900 WR1 is local and is a decent price, but I've e-mailed the seller twice and he is non-responsive...

I agree that the Edge is a great bridge. The angled baseplate used to confuse me because I could only guess when the bridge was level!

[BenoA]

Sorry, I come here every day but some times I browse the forum so quickly, I don't look at all the threads and I'm not into Warlocks... I don't know but the shape does nothing to me.

As for the Pro-Mod topic, the title caught my eyes... :P As you posted "Saguenay"! I was wondering who in the forum was looking for ads in that area of Quebec! :P