Ibanez RG550

The mighy RG550, the reason people love it because it's the closest alternative for the JEM7V, at least for me, I turned a RG550 into a very cool JEM-a-like, not just the look, but the sound, I replaced the pickups with all DiMarzio Evo, and the mutli-wire pickup selector switch, that's about it. It sounds great, since I only paid $500 for the guitar, and another $220 for the pickups, and switch. Which gives me $820 for the JEM's sound, compare to a 7V is usually selling above $1,500, that's a nearly 50% savings. There is one more advantage about the RG550 too, its present...understated, which makes it a "cool" guitar, JEM is a good guitar, but not a "cool" guitar...just too many people are buying them......it is a bit like buying a BMW M3, it is a stunning car, but the people buying them think they are cool, which makes them uncool....you know what I mean?...

Ibanez was very carefully when they were designing the RG550, they need to make sure the quality is near the high-end Ibanez guitars, and JEM series. And also make sure there is not alternative for the RG550 in their own products, so you don't even see the same color on RG550 is also on RG450. RG550 has a thicker pickguard, they even added a jacket plate in the back, and a different neck pocket. They want you to feel like this is very speical.....

Near New Condition: These kinds of RG550 are pretty rare. Get it around $800 - $1000 would be a reasonable offer, but if you find yourself paying over $800, make sure it is the one you really like, because you are kind of paying a little over the market value, and make sure the one you buy is come with a case.

70% - 80% New Conditin: Most of RG550 falls into this categloy, $500 - $600 is OK, get it home, and clean it up, take good care of it.

50% - 60% New Condition: That means you are dealing with problems, again, make sure you know how to fix it, RG550 is very worth to fix it up, get it under $350

Pool Condition: Again, if you are a pro, you know how to fix guitar, this kind of project would make you some extra bucks, if you resell them afer restoration.

Pre-90: All the RG550 made before 1990 are rare, some good condition ones can easier goes up to $1000, see one. Don't let go.

Good luck

Kenvai