Ibby RG3550 MZ Should I or Shouldn't I?

[Iron Dog]

I've been gassing for a maple fretboard bolt-on guitar with a locking trem, for a while now, preferably something I don't have to change pick ups on and was leaning towards something high end, without doing the custom shop thing.

While browsing the web for Black Friday deals earlier in the week, I saw that Long & McQuade (big Canadian music chain) had some old stock Ibanez RG3550MZ's in Galaxy Black (same as current model only with the ghost sharktooth inlays) going for $1'399 new. This is about 25% off, I like the specs, and it seems like a good deal, so I put down a deposit to bring one in and it should be here next week.

Does anyone have any experience with them and if so what do you think? How do they compare to other high-end production guitars?

So, should I or shouldn't I?

 

[DrugDM]

Hello. Great guitar. Pickups are good, finish on those models are good, and the trem is very cool which has the edge zero so is very stable. That is a great deal and Is a very high quality guitar IMHO.
Good luck.

 

[IndyWS6]

If you like Ibby's, and the RG body style, that's a great axe...

 

[7 Stringer]

If you want a high end Ibanez that will retain it`s value and is a great feeling quality guitar, check this one out in Toronto:

http://ontario.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-...EZ-540-PSH-RARE-1989-MODEL-W0QQAdIdZ444090122

This one is quite rare and has a wider Wizard neck on it, i was waiting on the guys pics and he took to long, so i found two other ones and bought them. I have been looking for this model for years, they don`t come to often.

I`ve been playing Ibanez guitars all my life and nothing beats an old one. For the price you get them, there above all current models.

But it`s all up to your preference, the guitar you bought is an awesome guitar, just not an old Ibanez.

Chris

 

[7 Stringer]

Just noticed the maple board you wanted, sorry.

Ibanez RG565 is hard to beat in that regard, but there almost impossible to find.

In the end, your in good hands with Ibanez.

 

[Mudder]

Someone had a killer maple rg760 (I think) on here not long ago.

 

[nevusofota]

That's a nice guitar but I would have to agree about the older Ibby's. Quality is better and value is increasing if you ever want to flip it. Go for a late 80's early 90's RG550. If you have patience they will come up. Check ebay, forums, and especially Craigslist often.

I just bought this one in excellent condition off of Craigslist a few months ago for a couple hundred bucks. It's an '89 RG550 in Atlantic Blue:

 

[7 Stringer]

That's a nice guitar but I would have to agree about the older Ibby's. Quality is better and value is increasing if you ever want to flip it. Go for a late 80's early 90's RG550. If you have patience they will come up. Check ebay, forums, and especially Craigslist often.

I just bought this one in excellent condition off of Craigslist a few months ago for a couple hundred bucks. It's an '89 RG550 in Atlantic Blue:

I bet the feel on that thing is crazy, nice guitar.

I just bought a 540PII, Desert Yellow, the rare one and a 540P black. I didn`t get the yellow one yet, it`s coming from Slovenia!!!! Should have it in a week or so. The black one is crazy good, the feel is sturdy and solid, i love it. It has the 45mm wide neck.





Notice the "Custom Made" inlay, a rarity. Supposedly they only made 22 in that color, still open to debate but ...I own one now.

A part of my old (Except the 20th RG550) Ibanez collection:



I gotta get them all out and take a big family picture, i have a bunch more to add.

Wow, talk about going of subject, sorry...

 

[Iron Dog]

Thanks guys. I haven't bought it yet, I'll be trying it next week. I don't doubt the old Ibanez's are sweet guitars. I like what the RG3550MZ has to offer, especially the price.

 

[Mudder]

Thanks guys. I haven't bought it yet, I'll be trying it next week. I don't doubt the old Ibanez's are sweet guitars. I like what the RG3550MZ has to offer, especially the price.

Interesting, the old Ibby's really are bargains. I bet you could find a nice 550 with maple in the $500 range if you had some time. Although I do understand the need to buy now, I get it all the time.

 

[Iron Dog]

No doubt about the old Ibby's and if there was one local I'd be all over it. I've been looking for a maple fretboard rock/metal guitar locally for a couple of months and nothing has come up I like to try before I buy, unless it's a reputable dealer. I was originally looking for a Jackson DK2M, which for a while were everywhere and now there's none. Vancouver Island is a bit weird for used gear, for the most part it's either cheap junk, or super expensive ($3'000+ used) Gibsons, PRS's, and Rickenbackers, very little in the middle.

Originally I was going to keep looking locally and I am going down to Phoenix, Arizona in March and plan on doing some gear shopping while there, but then I saw this deal, which is 25% off and there were only 3 of the RG3550MZ's left in Canada at this price. After checking the website yesterday, they are no longer listed.

The only urgency is that these RG3550MZ's are on clearance and once their gone, so is the deal. If I could still get this deal after I'm back from Arizona, there would be no urgency, but the guitar should be here this week and then it's decision time.

Thanks guys. I haven't bought it yet, I'll be trying it next week. I don't doubt the old Ibanez's are sweet guitars. I like what the RG3550MZ has to offer, especially the price.

Interesting, the old Ibby's really are bargains. I bet you could find a nice 550 with maple in the $500 range if you had some time. Although I do understand the need to buy now, I get it all the time.

 

[bulletproof_funk]

Axe Music in Alberta has them for the same price though they are a special-order item (i.e. paid in full before they're ordered), probably doesn't help your want to try before buying. I have a feeling in Canada everyone gets their guitar supply from the same distributors per brand, so maybe it doesn't matter who you buy from?...

http://www.axemusic.com/store/product/1 ... ck-Finish/