NGD Ibanez RG550

Re: NGD Ibanez RG550

Was toying with the idea of trying to find some matching purple or contrasting green pickups, but after the guitar arrived I realized that black pairs best with the finish. The stock V8 and V7 are ok, certainly nothing wrong with them, but I prefer the tones I get with the Gravity storms in my Jem and the Custom Custom/Pearly Gates in my floyded partscaster. Going to go with an Evo 2 bridge, evolution single coil and Evolution neck for total shred.
 
Re: NGD Ibanez RG550

I thought the V7 was kinda interesting, scoopy and precise.
And I didn't feel how bad the V8 was until I replaced it. Easily the bridge pickup I've despised the most.
 
Re: NGD Ibanez RG550

Anyone compared these new 550's with the RG655's ? I had an RG655 for a while, and it was a well put together guitar with great tone, but the neck was just too thin. Caused hand cramps. I play an RG450 all the time and the neck on that one does not bother me at all.
 
Re: NGD Ibanez RG550

It's hard to believe Fender got away with slapping their name on the headstock and selling an almost identical guitar.

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I love the quality, the options you can get with coil splits with the HSH configuration, and how my wimpy fingers that don't practice enough can do bends easier with a Floyd Rose.

JimmyO said:
My new RG550 arrived this week and I found some time to upload photos. The build quality is immaculate and it has one of the nicest necks I've played. I love the necks on Japanese made guitars. It even arrived mostly in tune and setup. Someone made sure it left the factory with perfect action and I only needed to apply my usual dose of chapstick to the trem posts and did a minor intonation adjustment. The color is neon purple and I tried to capture the way the color shifts from almost burgundy to bluish purple as the light hits it. It has an original Edge trem and all the wiring is very tidy. She plays like a dream and fast legato and sweeping are almost effortless. The stock Ibanez pickups are ok but not the best I've played. I'm enjoying playing them for now but will likely upgrade in the future.

This is my second attempt at posting this NGD thread, since the first thread was trolled by a forum member that just wanted to bash RG550s and cause arguments. It was all too negative so I deleted the thread. Please guys if you have negative comments please keep to yourselves, and if you like Ibanez's I hope you enjoy. Cheers.

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Re: NGD Ibanez RG550

mxaniac said:
It's hard to believe Fender got away with slapping their name on the headstock and selling an almost identical guitar.

I love the quality, the options you can get with coil splits with the HSH configuration, and how my wimpy fingers that don't practice enough can do bends easier with a Floyd Rose.
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IIRC Fender Heartfields were MIJ, so there's a decent chance it was made in the Fujigen / Ibanez factory.
 
Re: NGD Ibanez RG550

dystrust said:
IIRC Fender Heartfields were MIJ, so there's a decent chance it was made in the Fujigen / Ibanez factory.
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Of for sure, same plant, same components. Rear control cover for example is the same as an RG. I don't know how they get away with that. Great guitar though, I love my Heartfield by Fender. And my Ibanez Rg, and my Roadstar II, and my Model 59er, and my Studio....
 
Re: NGD Ibanez RG550

Yea the genesis line is nice. If only they had a "hp" version with ss frets I'd be all over that like Trump on a reluctant blonde. I had a 470 as my first non-beater electric in the early 90s and I've loved Ibanez ever since. Rock it, definitely just keep the middle and neck stock, if needed get an evolution or jb bridge ;)
 
Re: NGD Ibanez RG550

dystrust said:
IIRC Fender Heartfields were MIJ, so there's a decent chance it was made in the Fujigen / Ibanez factory.
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In fact they were.

mxaniac said:
I don't know how they get away with that..
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HAHAHAHA. In all seriousness though, Ibanez was notorious for blatantly copying everybody, so it's kind of poetic. Also, heartfields were for the Japanese market IIRC and most likely things were harder to pursue legally there.
 
Re: NGD Ibanez RG550

Kamanda~SD said:
In fact they were.



HAHAHAHA. In all seriousness though, Ibanez was notorious for blatantly copying everybody, so it's kind of poetic. Also, heartfields were for the Japanese market IIRC and most likely things were harder to pursue legally there.
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Poetic Justice yes I agree. I just am surprised that Fender went to Fujigen Gakki who is pumping out RGs and said build me an identical guitar with my logo. Japanese factories copying American designs is a bit different than having the same factory build you not a copy, but pretty much the same product.

If the copies had never occurred imagine how awful Fenders and Gibson's would be though. CBS/Norlin products would be considered the good stuff!
 
Re: NGD Ibanez RG550

Ok so the Evo 2 bridge and Evolution Neck and single coil pickups went in this weekend. They pair perfectly with this guitar. Crisp and tight with harmonics all over the place. The neck gives a really balanced and juicy tone with no boominess and both pickups cut without the ice pick or shrillness I sometime read in the reviews. Maybe because I went with the Evo 2 in the bridge instead of the regular evolution. Very happy with the guitar and setup now, just need to play it, a lot.
 
Re: NGD Ibanez RG550

Nagisa said:
Yea the genesis line is nice. If only they had a "hp" version with ss frets I'd be all over that like Trump on a reluctant blonde. I had a 470 as my first non-beater electric in the early 90s and I've loved Ibanez ever since. Rock it, definitely just keep the middle and neck stock, if needed get an evolution or jb bridge ;)
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Hmm, anyone else detect any hint of "political" here?
Maybe it's the adjective "reluctant".

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Re: NGD Ibanez RG550

Demanic said:
Hmm, anyone else detect any hint of "political" here?
Maybe it's the adjective "reluctant".
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I was gonna mention the same thing, but I didn't want to call it out if no one else found it objectable.
 
Re: NGD Ibanez RG550

Chistopher said:
I was gonna mention the same thing, but I didn't want to call it out if no one else found it objectable.
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I just want to make sure that it's fairly followed by all. We get into enough arguments around here regarding musical stuff. I'm more than happy to keep politics out.

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Re: NGD Ibanez RG550

Demanic said:
I just want to make sure that it's fairly followed by all. We get into enough arguments around here regarding musical stuff. I'm more than happy to keep politics out.

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Couldn’t agree more.
I left another forum specifically because of the politics.
 
Re: NGD Ibanez RG550

JimmyO said:
Ok so the Evo 2 bridge and Evolution Neck and single coil pickups went in this weekend....now, just need to play it, a lot.
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I really truly feel for you, poor guy, being in need and having to play this, atrocious guitar in that god-awful color. I really feel for you. So much so that I have decided to be a Good Samaritan and relieve you of this, thing.

I will be PMing you with information regarding where you can send the guitar ON MY DIME so that you will never have to see it again.

What, you say you worry for me?
Why that is very kind of you, but fear not, I am used to handling unnatural freaks such as these:
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tl;dr: Enjoy her in good health brother :headbang:
 
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