1st year RG550 identification

[pebber]

is there a way to identify a 1st year RG550 without the serial ?

Thanks !

[heartfielder]

http://www.ibanezrules.com/catalogs/...oadstar5_3.jpg

http://www.ibanezrules.com/catalogs/...oadstar5_4.jpg

These are from the 1988 catalog. First issued RG550's are 1987 serialed.

[straycat]

Good Q.Pull the neck and check for a date maybe.
Can't remember if mine had a date there or not mines a 92 I think F2xxxxxx.

[rjohnstone]

One thing to look at is the pickups.
If they are stock, they will not be Ibanez branded DiMarzio's. No logo on the face of them at all.
The V series pups were not on the first batch or two of the RG series.

This is my 1987 RG 570.

The headstock logo on the 550 should look like this. Some had body matching headstock colors and some were black.


The neck heel on the 550 should look like this as well.

[jgcable]

I have a 1st year RG550 and it doesn't have the neck joint body contour. I believe that came much later.

[mr426]

JG if you are talking like the picture above, I have a first year RG 550 and mine does have the same neck joint body contour as the picture above...Colors would be another way to tell...Pink only came in the first year. Some other colors were year specific as too...After a few years they changed the trem from a original Edge to something else.

[pebber]

etxra pics

thanks for the replies guys, I thought I throw in some extra pics of the one I'm talking about

[heartfielder]

Looks like a 1987 Road Flare Red RG550.

http://www.ibanezrules.com/catalogs/.../roadstar5.jpg

[pebber]

Looks like a 1987 Road Flare Red RG550.

yes Paul, that I know.. ..

I just want to be sure without doubt

[rjohnstone]

I have a 1st year RG550 and it doesn't have the neck joint body contour. I believe that came much later.

That's a pic of my 1987 RG570... same neck joint as the RG550.
If your 550 doesn't have this neck joint, it's not a first year 550.


Remember... RG serial numbers were on the neck only and necks can be swapped.


Nice score Pebber!

[jgcable]

Hmm... maybe I don't have a 1st year RG550 after all. Mine is salmon colored and doesn't have the neck contour. always assumed its a 1st year model.

[markD]

that is exactly like mine, i have one on the same color and everything. had those pickups....if my cmera decides to work today i'll take pics so you can compare