What's a good price for a 1990 RG550?

jep1210

jep1210

New member
I have the possible opportunity to grab an RG550 from 1990, what would be a good price to offer? It's said to have a couple of nicks in the paint shown by photos. It's in another state so I can't really confirm playability or neck condition other than what I'm told in the description. Asking price is $450.

*EDIT* I should say I don't really need another guitar but when has THAT ever been a deciding factor? It IS a color I really like...
 
Re: What's a good price for a 1990 RG550?

Depends on a number of factors, but if the color is anything but black, and there are no stress cracks in the neck around the lock nut screws, then $450 is a fair price for a clean 550.
 
Re: What's a good price for a 1990 RG550?

Is a black 550 worth more, or less?
 
Re: What's a good price for a 1990 RG550?

Usually, less because there were so many blacks produced and the wilder colors are what people want. Black with a Rosewood board is the "redheaded step-child" of the RG family. However, a 1990 model should have a maple board. My Ibanez knowledge is a little rusty, but I think the tremolo was still the Edge in 90, and the square heel.
 
Re: What's a good price for a 1990 RG550?

Some day I'd love a Road Flare Red or Desert Yellow RG550. Those reissues came in a bit high for me.
 
Re: What's a good price for a 1990 RG550?

PFDarkside said:
Some day I'd love a Road Flare Red or Desert Yellow RG550. Those reissues came in a bit high for me.
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I am currently tightening up both those guitars for someone who gigs with them regularly. The original color codes were lost when the paint company folded, but DayGlo Saturn Yellow and DayGlo Rocket Red are almost dead matches. The original clears have long yellowed, so whose to say what the exact original color is anyway.
 
Re: What's a good price for a 1990 RG550?

Would the owner care if you posted pics? :smokin:

Who was the original paint company?
 
Re: What's a good price for a 1990 RG550?

Ayrton said:
Depends on a number of factors, but if the color is anything but black, and there are no stress cracks in the neck around the lock nut screws, then $450 is a fair price for a clean 550.
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I agree...

I had a black reissue.. hated having sold it... Put a purple mirror p/g on it.. was awesome!!
 
Re: What's a good price for a 1990 RG550?

PFDarkside said:
Would the owner care if you posted pics? :smokin:

Who was the original paint company?
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Heck no, but it is not what you think it is. Both guitars are touring beaters that I recently refretted (well the RFR one I did a couple of years ago) I am pretty sure I did a thread on it on the RFR refret, but Photobucket screwed everyone. I have something in the works for him, so I can pull the 550's from the rotation and work on them.

I can't remember, but I am sure I know who does. My Ibanez info is a tad rusty.

You can check him out here, and you will probably recognize several of the guitars as he likes to use my collection as his private stash. :D

https://www.facebook.com/billy.mccullough.733
 
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Re: What's a good price for a 1990 RG550?

I'd say NO. It's more than 25 years old, so, uneven fretboard, crack behind the nut (thanks to the rear-mounted nut), rusty tremolo should be expected. The only thing special about it is its legendary.

I have 1 2013 reissue in RFR and it's just okay. Don't forget the block heel, which is a road bump since I am used to AANJ neck joint.

I'd buy an Indonesian made from 2011/ 2012 with that money, trouble free. Actually a lot of people prefer the non-Japanese models cause the neck is 1mm thicker.
 
Re: What's a good price for a 1990 RG550?

I disagree with OC above. Of course it depends on condition, but you are assuming alot. My '90 RG is an absolute beast and I'd pay $450 for another one.

The original Edge's have some solid paint on them and don't rust out as easy as some other's that I've seen.

Depending on condition and colour, I'd say go for it.
 
Re: What's a good price for a 1990 RG550?

i had a 1990 laser blue rg550 and it was a great guitar, the block heel never got in my way and i like the volume move they did on the '90 models. if i needed a shred stick, id totally get another
 
Re: What's a good price for a 1990 RG550?

Whelp, I guess I misread the auction. When I looked at it on Sunday after it was ended, I thought it said 0 bids and I assumed it didn't sell....boy do I feel like a dope sending my question to the seller. Anyway obviously Its no longer available but here's a pic

https://i.imgur.com/f1Baowx.jpg

*EDIT* Dang!!! I just can't get this pic posting thing down. :34: Sometimes it works, other times not so much.
 
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Re: What's a good price for a 1990 RG550?

kramersteen said:
what are the other guitars? Are you sure you don't need a big amp?
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HAHAHA!!! No I'm good on amps, though a Mesa Boogie Mark V would be nice....:13: . The list of guitars I have are, 2 Ibanez RS1000s one of them I've had since I got it new in 1983, a 13 Les Paul Traditional, an Ibanez S540 and a Ibanez RG470AHM that I JUST got 3 weeks ago. I know, not a huge collection but....
 
Re: What's a good price for a 1990 RG550?

Kamanda~SD said:
I disagree with OC above. Of course it depends on condition, but you are assuming alot. My '90 RG is an absolute beast and I'd pay $450 for another one.

The original Edge's have some solid paint on them and don't rust out as easy as some other's that I've seen.

Depending on condition and colour, I'd say go for it.
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I am not assuming, but speaking from experience. I have a guitar from 1995 and the fretboard is uneven between the bass and the treble side.

And it's very common for early 90s RG to have a crack neck cause of the stress from both sides. I have actually seen a PGM from 2003 with this problem.
 
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