Anyone played the New RG550?

[6stringerguy]

Anyone played the new RG550 genesis as I’m looking for a new guitar to replace my xiphos XPT700 due to the poor trem.
Considering an RG550 though I’m open to anything really will be used for thrash and technical death metal as well as ambient stuff, requires a Double Locking trem and a HH or HSH Pup Configuration
Budget is 1100 dollars new or used
So far I’ve seen

RG550 Genesis, basswood body with bolt on maple neck with maple board, 25.5 inch scale length with Original Edge trem and it’s made in Japan. 999 dollars new.

RGD2120Z, Basswood body with bolt on maple neck and Rosewood Board, 26.5 inch scale Length with Edge Pro Trem and it’s made in Japan’s 1100 dollars used.

RGT42, Mahogany Body with Maple/walnut neck thru and rosewood board, 25.5 inch scale length with Edge Pro II Trem and it’s made in Korea 500 dollars used.

BC Rich WMD Warbeast, Mahogany Body with Maple Neck thru and Ebony board, 25.5 inch scale length with OFR and it’s Made in Korea 750 Dollars Used

BC Rich NJ Warbeast, same as WMD but has a FR 1000 and is 550 Dollars Used

ESP LTD EC-1000 FR, Mahogany Body with Mahogany Set Neck and Ebony Neck, 24.75 inch scale length with FR 1000, Made in Korea and is 1100 Dollars NEW.

 

[6stringerguy]

Re: Anyone played the New RG550?

RG6PCMLTD, Ash Body with 11pc laminate bolt on neck and maple board, 25.5 inch scale length with EDGE Zero II trem and it’s Made in Indonesia, 1000 Dollars Used

Solar S1.6 FR, Alder Body with Maple neck thru and maple Board, 25.5 inch scale with FR 1000 and it’s made in Indonesia, it’s 1050 dollars New.

 

[Adieu]

Re: Anyone played the New RG550?

RG6PCMLTD, Ash Body with 11pc laminate bolt on neck and maple board, 25.5 inch scale length with EDGE Zero II trem and it’s Made in Indonesia, 1000 Dollars Used

Solar S1.6 FR, Alder Body with Maple neck thru and maple Board, 25.5 inch scale with FR 1000 and it’s made in Indonesia, it’s 1050 dollars New.

Definitely NOT the Indo's

Shoddy wood has done surprisingly decent for Indo basses, but no 4-digit worthy guitars ever made there

Also of note, that factory's output is the ***FOURTH*** TIER in Ibanez's overall product lineup, and the RG6 is a mid-level/second rate product for THAT FACTORY even...visually, they look kinda nice, but playability and sound are both bland as hell

 

[Adieu]

Re: Anyone played the New RG550?

PS thrash and technical death for $1 grand ?

Why not just buy the industry-standard ESP Standard M-ii or Horizon with whichever pups you prefer??

Note: unless you like super-thin but extra wide Ibby necks and hate ESP Japan's neck profiles (very different from LTD btw, despite whatever they say)

 

[6stringerguy]

Anyone played the New RG550?

PS thrash and technical death for $1 grand ?

Why not just buy the industry-standard ESP Standard M-ii or Horizon with whichever pups you prefer??

Note: unless you like super-thin but extra wide Ibby necks and hate ESP Japan's neck profiles (very different from LTD btw, despite whatever they say)

Most of those are a bit out of my price range

RGT220a, ash Body with Maple/Wenge neck thru and rosewood, 25.5 inch scale length with Edge Pro Trem and it’s made in Japan 900 Used

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Anyone played the New RG550?

Adieu,

What are you talking about being 4th tier Ibanez?

6stringerguy,

i LOVE that purple one!!! I had an RG570 that I wish Id never sold. Also bout one of the 20th anniv reissue RG550s and loved that one too.
If I had means to buy one now, Id love that purple..

 

[dave74]

Re: Anyone played the New RG550?

If the genesis wasn't purple that would be my pick.


A couple notes;
The OFR(pro) on the WMD Warbeast is exactly the same as the FR-1000 on the NJ-delux Warbeast, they changed the name of that trem but it's the same from the same South Korean factory.
Also, those both have wide and chunky necks with a deep rounded back.
The WMD is way overpriced IMO, although it does have EMGs and a case at least. They were $699 new without case, and had rockfield pups.

The original edge on the 550 is a great + for that price. The edge-pro isn't bad at all, but if we're splitting hairs those things can make a difference.

 

[6stringerguy]

Anyone played the New RG550?

If the genesis wasn't purple that would be my pick.


A couple notes;
The OFR(pro) on the WMD Warbeast is exactly the same as the FR-1000 on the NJ-delux Warbeast, they changed the name of that trem but it's the same from the same South Korean factory.
Also, those both have wide and chunky necks with a deep rounded back.
The WMD is way overpriced IMO, although it does have EMGs and a case at least. They were $699 new without case, and had rockfield pups.

The original edge on the 550 is a great + for that price. The edge-pro isn't bad at all, but if we're splitting hairs those things can make a difference.

I’m adaptable in terms of neck shape, but if those Warbeasts aren’t good for the money then I’ll discount those
I wasn’t considering solely purple was also looking at the Road Flare Red

 

[dave74]

Re: Anyone played the New RG550?

You like super-thin necks? 17mm is very thin.
If you do then that's an awesome deal IMO. $999 is sweet once you apply an order discount of 15%-20% off.
Those do ship without a case, so there's another expense to add-in, but the case should also be discounted on the deal.

The neck-thru Warbeasts are cool, I still have my WMD but it's not the most ergonomic guitar by any stretch lol.
I enjoy mine more seated because I can use my right inner-thigh to hook that lower horn.
Standing it's a neck-diving nightmare anytime you take your hand/arms off the body.

The MIJ Ibanez are a step up in quality control standards, and much much more comfortable playing for long session. You forget you're even wearing them!

 

[6stringerguy]

Re: Anyone played the New RG550?

You like super-thin necks? 17mm is very thin.
If you do then that's an awesome deal IMO. $999 is sweet once you apply an order discount of 15%-20% off.
Those do ship without a case, so there's another expense to add-in, but the case should also be discounted on the deal.

The neck-thru Warbeasts are cool, I still have my WMD but it's not the most ergonomic guitar by any stretch lol.
I enjoy mine more seated because I can use my right inner-thigh to hook that lower horn.
Standing it's a neck-diving nightmare anytime you take your hand/arms off the body.

The MIJ Ibanez are a step up in quality control standards, and much much more comfortable playing for long session. You forget you're even wearing them!

Neck dive is another reason I’m selling a xiphos so the BC Riches are off the list,
Played a Red Rg550 at Guitar Center and it played nice and sounded good, still getting used to the bolt on heel but now it’s pretty much MIJ Ibanez vs Korean LTD Eclipse.

 

[dave74]

Re: Anyone played the New RG550?

Night and day between those two, but both are very appealing.

I love full mahogany neck and body with ebony, and having emgs and the gold hardware might tip the scale if it were me. (I prefer pickup rings also just to make swapping easier)

My only complaint on the eclipse is the slightly narrower neck. I'm not sure what the depth and carve is like on the neck-back, but it's definitely more rounded and deeper than the Ibby, that's for sure.

 

[6stringerguy]

Re: Anyone played the New RG550?

Night and day between those two, but both are very appealing.

I love full mahogany neck and body with ebony, and having emgs and the gold hardware might tip the scale if it were me. (I prefer pickup rings also just to make swapping easier)

My only complaint on the eclipse is the slightly narrower neck. I'm not sure what the depth and carve is like on the neck-back, but it's definitely more rounded and deeper than the Ibby, that's for sure.

My two favourite necks in my collection is the slim taper neck on my PRS Holcomb and the Nitro Wizard on My RG.
That being said I have no les Paul style guitar or EMG guitar in my collection but also have no Japanese guitars in my collection.

 

[6stringerguy]

Re: Anyone played the New RG550?

Also if anyone has any suggestions I’m open to em,
Requirements are:
Minimal neck dive
24 frets
Good quality Double Locking Trem
Good upper fret access
Made in Korea or Japan
HH or HSH configuration

 

[6stringerguy]

Re: Anyone played the New RG550?

Also if anyone has any suggestions I’m open to em,
Requirements are:
Minimal neck dive
24 frets
Good quality Double Locking Trem
Good upper fret access
Made in Korea or Japan
HH or HSH configuration

Also could buy this and just get a neck pickup routed out and installed..

 

[Adieu]

Re: Anyone played the New RG550?

Adieu,

What are you talking about being 4th tier Ibanez?

6stringerguy,

i LOVE that purple one!!! I had an RG570 that I wish Id never sold. Also bout one of the 20th anniv reissue RG550s and loved that one too.
If I had means to buy one now, Id love that purple..

Ibanez products are tiered:
Jcustom
MIJ
MIK
Made-elsewhere

....this stuff is premium-badged but made-elsewhere

 

[Adieu]

Re: Anyone played the New RG550?

Most of those are a bit out of my price range

That's just not true.

M-ii / Mirages and Horizons start at 700-800 used, with plenty of really kickazz stuff sitting at 1000-1200 all day long, no shopping around required

Remember, brand new ones (ESP E-II, the new branding of the old Standard Series) can be had for ~1500 before sales and coupons, prolly couldve got one for 1200ish new on 4th July

 

[6stringerguy]

Re: Anyone played the New RG550?

Also seen used Kiesels for sale

 

[6stringerguy]

Re: Anyone played the New RG550?

Nah it’s down to this three I think

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Anyone played the New RG550?

Ahh maple neck...and a great colour!

 

[Artie]

Re: Anyone played the New RG550?

I love that. What is it?