Ibanez RG550 Genesis.. YES, you need this guitar!

[JKingV2]

Back up on here with a new post and new guitar (number 8 now). Just picked up an Ibanez RG550 re-issue. I don't what motivated Ibanez to do this, but THANK GOD a guitar company is thinking forward like this and embracing who they are. The 80's shred era was not one I grew up in, (90's for me), but my first axe was an Ibanez Stagestar and it came with an instructional video showcasing guys like Paul Gilbert and Andy Timmons, so yea, those brightly colored loud guitars had always caught my eye. I went through a phase when I was living in Japan and buying and selling old RG's to fulfill that craving. I didn't keep any of them, because as awesome as they were, they were a little unreliable. NOW HOWEVER... Ibanez brought these back with all the appointments I always wanted these guitars to have. I five piece satin wizard neck which appear to be all quarter sawn cut pieces along with a quarter sawn cut maple fretboard, a tilted heel which I LOVE. Some don't like the V7, S1, V8 pickup configuration, I don't mind 'em, they work, but I may upgrade to Dimarzios with some color..(hot pink or baby blue?). Never been a fan of trems, but this one really DOES STAY IN TUNE. It got me experimenting with flutter natural harmonic dive bombs n' what not. Any time a guitar sparks any kind of inspiration to play harder is a must have for me, and this guitar does that for me. I really wanted it in road flare red, but got the neon purple per the agreement with the wife (she reluctantly gave me the green light but said she wasn't about to stare at that wacky color... her words) but she did approve of the neon purple and it is a kick ass color. I love the flip flop to blue effect it has in sunlight. I just cannot believe Ibanez packages all of this right under a grand! I mean yea, you don't get a case or even a gig bag, but it's like they got together and said, 'hey, here's our price point and we wanna manufacture at FUJIGEN, how can we make this work? We're gonna make it work!" And they did! I absolutely love this thing and will be buying another Ibanez soon just because.

 

[japetus]

BADASS looking guitar. I love those old 550's, have not played a new one but that's really really cool, and I love that maple neck.

 

[SomedudeinTX]

Really nice. I want one!

 

[Tone Ranger]

Instead of swapping the pickups, swap the magnets of the v7 and v8. It makes quite a bit of difference. The neck pup will be smoother and the bridge will have more aggressive mids.

 

[splawner]

Congrats.... I bought one of these 2 months ago....probably best fiddle I bought in a long time!!!

 

[thenine]

you live where it's hot

 

[jammin1]

I've been restraining myself from buying one of these and you are not helping! Congrats! looks badass!

 

[jlbaxe]

I want a Black RG550. My first guitar was a 1987 blk RG550 that was destroyed over the years from being hit on my hip bone for sustain and throwing off a stage onto a beach lol.

 

[Purpleibby]

Have an original 92 550 purple neon.....LOVE that guitar. I want a 2nd one! Congrats

 

[jemplayer]

Wait Ibanez actually built a guitar in Japan and priced it under a GRAND?!?!?!? These are going to be a steal when they start to hit the used market.

I was in GC that other day and dumbstruck at them asking $1600+ for some of the indonesian made ones. Im sure they are nice guitars, but at that price point I want a Japanese made guitar. Hell if you search and wait you can find used Japanese made Ibanez for under $500.

 

[JerEvil]

Played one at GC a few weeks ago and it was fantastic!

Wait Ibanez actually built a guitar in Japan and priced it under a GRAND?!?!?!? These are going to be a steal when they start to hit the used market.

I was in GC that other day and dumbstruck at them asking $1600+ for some of the indonesian made ones. Im sure they are nice guitars, but at that price point I want a Japanese made guitar. Hell if you search and wait you can find used Japanese made Ibanez for under $500.

Yup. That’s why I buy used Prestige’s! Huge value for dollar. The Genesis is legit though.