![Ibanez RG550 [1987-1994]](https://img.audiofanzine.com/img/product/normal/1/4/141527.jpg?fm=pjpg&w=300&h=218&fit=max&s=95be993c0f7d129141f785b7ae2f8606)
View other reviews for this product:
Hatsubai « New version of the RG550 »
Published on 09/12/11 at 17:55Most people know the x550 series to have a maple fretboard, and the RG1550 is no different (despite what the above graphic is trying to show). The main difference between this and the RG550 would be the overall quality and the new trem. The guitar has a basswood body with a maple neck, maple fretboard with 24 frets, dot inlays, an Ibanez Edge Pro tremolo, HSH configuration, all access neck joint, one volume, one tone and a five way switch.
UTILIZATION
The maple fretboarded models, to me, look better. They just seem to stand out a bit more for whatever reason. The frets were in great condition, and the ends were nice and round. They didn't cut your hand when you moved up and down the neck, and that was great as some guitars can really destroy your hands with their shoddy fretwork. The frets were also nice and level, so you could get some consistent action without any fretting out. The bridge on this is a great bridge, and I'd rate it up there with some of the best in the world.
SOUNDS
The guitar had two PAF Pros installed in it, along with a Blue Velvet in the middle. The PAF Pro in the bridge is great for that open hard rock kind of tone. It stays clear and uncompressed under gain, but I find it to be a bit undynamic or linear sounding. There are times when I miss that compression, too. The neck was much better as the uncompressed sound tended to lend itself to being more clear overall, and you could get some great, clear lead lines going on. The Blue Velvet split nicely, and I was able to get some cool funk and clean tones without any issues.
OVERALL OPINION
These guitars benefit a good bit by replacing the pickups. Once you do that, you'll get one very solid player. They tend to have better fretwork than the RG550, but I find that the RG550s seem to have a bit more mojo than certain other reiterations of the guitar. The RG550 also tends to be a good bit cheaper than this, but it all depends on how the market is going at the time. Regardless, fairly solid buy.
UTILIZATION
The maple fretboarded models, to me, look better. They just seem to stand out a bit more for whatever reason. The frets were in great condition, and the ends were nice and round. They didn't cut your hand when you moved up and down the neck, and that was great as some guitars can really destroy your hands with their shoddy fretwork. The frets were also nice and level, so you could get some consistent action without any fretting out. The bridge on this is a great bridge, and I'd rate it up there with some of the best in the world.
SOUNDS
The guitar had two PAF Pros installed in it, along with a Blue Velvet in the middle. The PAF Pro in the bridge is great for that open hard rock kind of tone. It stays clear and uncompressed under gain, but I find it to be a bit undynamic or linear sounding. There are times when I miss that compression, too. The neck was much better as the uncompressed sound tended to lend itself to being more clear overall, and you could get some great, clear lead lines going on. The Blue Velvet split nicely, and I was able to get some cool funk and clean tones without any issues.
OVERALL OPINION
These guitars benefit a good bit by replacing the pickups. Once you do that, you'll get one very solid player. They tend to have better fretwork than the RG550, but I find that the RG550s seem to have a bit more mojo than certain other reiterations of the guitar. The RG550 also tends to be a good bit cheaper than this, but it all depends on how the market is going at the time. Regardless, fairly solid buy.