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Average Price: $1,080
High-end/Boutique
$400
$1001+
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High-end
Price History
Based on price data from 5 merchants for "Ibanez RG550". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.
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Description
Introducing the Ibanez RG550, an electric guitar that brings back the vibe of the good old days and the rock scene of the '80s. This instrument is a shredder’s dream and more than just a reissue of a classic, it's a modern reinterpretation that combines the daring spirit of the original with present-day innovations.
The Ibanez RG550 boasts a 5-piece maple/walnut Super Wizard neck, providing absolute rock-solid stability and an extra-smooth playing experience. Its lightweight basswood body resonates with a warm growl and enough midrange definition to cut through a dense mix.
This guitar features a versatile HSH pickup configuration, which includes the modern Ibanez V7, S1, V8 pickups, offering a wide range of sound and attack. A 5-way pickup switch allows players to find the sweet spot for any situation, providing both rich rhythm and full-bodied leads.
The RG550 also employs the Edge locking tremolo for dive-bombs and flutters, ensuring optimal tuning stability and intonation. The guitar comes in three eye-catching, original ’80s and ’90s RG colors, including Road Flare Red, Desert Sun Yellow, and Purple Neon.
Key Features:
- Super Wizard 5-piece Maple/Walnut neck for absolute rock-solid stability
- Lightweight basswood body resonating with a warm growl
- Versatile HSH pickup configuration (Ibanez V7, S1, V8 pickups)
- Edge locking tremolo for optimal tuning stability and intonation
- Comes in three eye-catching, original ’80s and ’90s RG colors
- Gotoh machine heads for incredible tuning stability
- Contoured design for enhanced comfort
- 24 jumbo frets for big note bends
- Classic-style tilt neck joint with a stamped metal plate
- Aggressive styling with black hardware
Product specs
| Number of Strings | 6 |
| Left-/Right-handed | Right-handed |
| Body Type | Solidbody |
| Body Shape | Genesis RG |
| Body Material | Basswood |
| Body Finish | Gloss Polyurethane |
| Neck Material | 5-piece Maple/Walnut |
| Neck Shape | Super Wizard |
| Neck Joint | Bolt-on |
| Radius | 16.9" |
| Fingerboard Inlay | Black Dots |
| Number of Frets | 24, Jumbo |
| Scale Length | 25.5" |
| Nut Width | 1.692" |
| Nut Material | Locking |
| Bridge/Tailpiece | Edge Locking Tremolo |
| Tuners | Gotoh |
| Neck Pickup | V7 Humbucker |
| Middle Pickup | S1 Single-coil |
| Bridge Pickup | V8 Humbucker |
| Controls | 1 x master volume, 1 x master tone |
| Switching | 5-way blade pickup switch |
| Strings | D'Addario, .009-.042 |
| Case/Gig Bag | Sold Separately |
FAQs
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What is the neck profile like on the Ibanez RG550?
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The Ibanez RG550 features a Super Wizard neck profile, known for its slim and fast design, making it ideal for shredding and technical playing styles.
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What kind of tones can I expect from the Ibanez RG550 pickups?
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The Ibanez RG550 is equipped with V7 and V8 humbuckers and an S1 single-coil. This combination offers a versatile tonal range, from crisp and articulate cleans to aggressive and powerful high-gain sounds, suitable for rock and metal genres.
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Is the Ibanez RG550 suitable for advanced players?
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Yes, the Ibanez RG550 is well-suited for advanced players due to its fast neck, versatile pickup configuration, and Edge locking tremolo system, which allows for expressive playing and stable tuning.
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How does the Edge locking tremolo on the Ibanez RG550 perform?
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The Edge locking tremolo on the Ibanez RG550 provides excellent tuning stability and allows for smooth and precise pitch modulation, making it perfect for dive-bombs and other tremolo techniques.
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What is the body material of the Ibanez RG550, and how does it affect the sound?
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The Ibanez RG550 features a basswood body, which contributes to a balanced tonal response with a slight emphasis on midrange frequencies, providing a warm and full sound suitable for various musical styles.
Videos
EytschPi42
Ibanez RG550 Genesis Unboxing and 1st Impressions
Reviews
PROS
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Stunning finishes with rich colors that glow under stage lights
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Action set very low with minimal fret buzz, immediate playability
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Fast, thin Wizard neck allows for comfortable and quick playing
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Tremolo system stays in tune even with heavy use
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Exceptional build quality with 5-piece neck and rolled fretboard edges
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Versatile sound, handles clean tones and high-gain shredding with ease
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Pickups provide power and clarity, reducing muddiness in tones
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Lightweight and well-balanced, ergonomic design
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Excellent value for the price, often compared favorably to more expensive models
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Made in Japan, maintains high craftsmanship standards
CONS
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Some users find minimal tonal difference between neck and bridge pickups
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Occasional minor cosmetic issues, such as fret sprout or paint cracks
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Default pickups may not satisfy more specific tonal preferences, leading to upgrades
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Ibanez RG550.
Mods and upgrades
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Owners often replace the V7/V8 pickups due to dissatisfaction with their tone, opting for alternatives like DiMarzio for a significant sound improvement.
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For left-handed models, users recommend rewiring the volume and tone controls for better functionality.
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Owners often replace stock pickups with Seymour Duncan SH-1 '59 or Dimebucker/Jazz combos for improved versatility and tonal richness.
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Use cases and applications
Features and functionality
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Left-handed models reportedly have reversed volume and tone wiring, which some users corrected for smoother operation.
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The original Edge double locking tremolo ensures tuning stability, appreciated by those who utilize extensive tremolo use.
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The Genesis RG550 retains the original tilt joint neck, which some players find comfortable for high fret access despite preference variances with the AANJ style.
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Comparisons
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Users note a noticeable quality difference between the RG550 and Prestige models, with the latter offering better build and finish.
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While appreciated, some users prefer the tighter fine tuners on older Edge trems compared to the wobblier ones on newer models.
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The RG550 is likened to a 'Toyota Camry' of guitars for its reliability and versatility, especially in comparison to more expensive models.
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Build quality
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Some owners report the Genesis RG550's frets on maple necks can feel sharp, lacking the prestige edge treatment found on rosewood fretboards.
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The Genesis series features a Wizard I neck known for its slim profile, praised for its playability and comfort by multiple owners.
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The Genesis series includes a volute addition to the neck, enhancing durability and addressing previous neck cracking issues on older models.
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User experience
Value and pricing
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Some Genesis RG550s are available as low as $450 used; an exceptional value considering new models are priced around $1,000.
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Critic Reviews
4.5 out of 5
Based on 7 Reviews and 14 Ratings
502
Good guitar for the price of a great guitar
A guy I know gave me this guitar. He bought it for about $250 at the time. The quality didn't surprise me. It's a typical budget Ibanez guitar. The neck is comfortable. Now in my country this guitar costs more than 1000 dollars for used and it's crazy. I can find Ibanez Prestige for 1000$ and I'll get a much better guitar than rg550.
659
Brilliant guitar.
I should start by clarifying that I don't think mine represents a 'stock' RG500: the one I have is Emerald Green and from 1991, but the pickups are dedicedly low output compared to what is typical for these guitars, and there's even a dipswitch to coil split the bridge (I think it's meant to do both, but it only seems to effect the bridge).
That being said, what an incredible guitar. Easily the most comfortable neck I've ever played, and no other Floyd-loaded I've tried guitar even compares to the reliability of the one that's on mine.
These are certainly no one-trick pony. Sure, these types of guitars have a certain reputation for shreddy stuff, hair metal, and the like, but I've used this for everything from ambient to jazzy stuff to metal to Pink Floyd to post rock and I've yet to encounter a scenario where it won't do what I ask of it (not saying there aren't other guitars I'd prefer for such applications, but if it were my only option I'd have no qualms about it).
The old models are well worth tracking down, and I have to say I paid an incredibly reasonable price for mine. Highly recommended.
134
Pointy shred machine that can do far more than you'd think.
The RG550 has been reissued a few times since the first version. It certainly handles rock and metal duties well but as its aged the pickups have taken on a more mellow tone.My RG550 is now over 25 years old and was my first serious working guitar.
The guitar tone cuts through the mix as it has quite a nasal tone - like most guitars of this type - when compared to the fat sounds of a Les Paul or the bright thinner sound of a strat. This is not a bad thing especially when playing lead guitar with a band. I don't play mine so much live anymore but it certainly comes in handy in the studio from time to time.
137
shredtastic
I purchased this 1987 rg550 from a friend of a friend, when i received it the pickups had already been swapped out with two seymour duncan invader pickups so this think was ready to shred to hell and back. Even though it's a basswood body it still had a very comfortable feeling weight to it, doesn't feel too light. The maple neck is still smooth even considering its almost 30 years old.
207
Great all-arounder
Great all-arounder. My RG550 was bought in Guitar Center Sherman Oaks LA and was Japanese-made by Hoshino (back then, superior to the Indonesian or Korean). Purple finish changed to sparkling blue in the light.
313
I have two of these—they're great!
I've got a 1991 RG550 in Laser Blue with stock everything, and it looks as good as it sounds—and it looks pretty damn awesome. I've also got a white 1987 RG550 with DiMarzio PAF and X2N pups, with a LoPro edge replacing its stock Edge. They're both great workhorses, and my 1987's also one of only two I've ever seen!
219
Had 5 of these on the road for 4 years.
And you know what they are, a classic tough little axe.
Artist usage
Add artist
Someone else said that he used an ibanez rg220b, I play an rg220b and I already know that the guitar in this video is not an rg220b. it looks like an ibanez rg550 black with A maple fretboard. first of all the tone and volume knobs are different than the rg220b but match the rg550 and second of all the rg220 has no middle pickup but the rg550 does. and third of all the fretboard is maple and the rg220b did not have a maple fretboard.
Dave Navarro is confirmed to have used an Ibanez RG550 during the "Nothing's Shocking" era, particularly in 1988. Notably, he played a yellow Ibanez RG550 live at Scream on August 19, 1988. This performance was featured in the official "Mountain Song" music video, where the guitar can be seen at the 0:26 mark. Additionally, still images from that show depict Navarro with the same guitar. He also played a black Ibanez RG550 at a concert in Santa Barbara on May 6, 1989. Both guitars are characterized by a maple fretboard and a tremolo system. The source of this information includes footage by Shayne Stacy, who transferred the original VHS recording.
Trey here posing with his guitar collection. An orange Ibanez RG550 can be seen in the background.
in this post jake shows off his rg550 ibanez guitar. he states that this guitar was given to him by his aunt and uncle in 96. Jake also states that this guitar is one of the reasons he plays ibanez guitars today
Melanie is seen using this superstrat during a cover of Say My Name by Destiny's Child. It was given to her by Mike Orrigo 'Shout out to Mike Orrigo for sending me this amazing Ibanez!' - Melanie Faye 18 Oct 2019
The Ibanez RG550 debuted the same year as the JEM it was made to be a less expensive more affordable version they removed the monkey grip and all the fancy stuff that could be seen on the JEM it was seen on 2:21 of the vid.
In this photo, Frank "Blackfire" Gosdzik is using the Ibanez RG550, which is his most recent and most frequently used guitar.
In this video Ben can be seen playing an Ibanez RG550 with Fishman Modern humbuckers.
In a YouTube video titled "I Finally Found It (At Guitar Center?!?!)," guitarist Robert Baker discusses purchasing an Ibanez RG550 at Guitar Center.
Davies' primary guitar throughout the 1990s and 2000s, according to the following sources.
Guitar, June 2000, "Fever Pitch"
'I've got two 550s, a 570 and an SCR model - that's a bit like the Satch thin-bodied one. It's really light and stealthy,' he details.
So what stuff gets you through those studio sessions?
In the studio I use so many pedals - the entire new Ibanez range, a micro synth, loads of old sixties pedals. I have all Ibanez guitars, I endorse them and have always used them. I have a couple of RG550s and a few RG570s. My main live guitar is an SCR series Ibanez. They have a really stealth-like appearance which doesn't look too rock and they are really light.
My guitars are pretty much as they came out of the factory, although I recently had Ibanez remove the bridge and middle pickups and selector switch from one I never used them live. I recently had the Ibanez logo tattooed on my leg!
Unknown Electronic Guitar era interview, originally submitted by kkolar
Davies’ main guitars are Ibanez RG550s, and he eschews amplifiers for the most part, conjuring the majority of his tones and effects from a vintage Rocktron Chameleon rack unit that he ran directly into the mixing board, and Native Instruments Guitar Rig 3 software.
MD: What’s your current main setup effects-wise? I think I read you use a lot of Line 6 effects.
JD: Yeah, I’ve got a Guitar Rig 3, that’s my thing at the moment. I use that on my laptop and that’s been revolutionary really for me with all the sounds you can get on that. I’ve started using a lot of Blackstar amps. I don’t use a lot of proper amps if you know what I mean - I tend to DI a lot of my stuff. I don’t really tend to mike it up because I’ve just always done that. When I started playing there was no room to mike up Marshall cabs so I’ve just always gone out of the back of my effects units and that, without me knowing, constituted getting my own sound. It helps when you play over dance music to DI stuff because it gives you that really harsh, abrasive sort of sound, you know, it really comes through. I’ve done a few gigs recently with just a laptop. I’m not doing that many gigs at the moment, but the ones I’ve done, with DJs and stuff like that, I had to stick the sound out my laptop and I’ve got Guitar Rig 3 on there, and it sounds amazing.
MD: And do you just use Ibanez guitars?
JD: Yeah, yeah.
MD: What ones out of interest?
JD: Well, I’ve never been really fussy about…I’m not one of these guitarists that you have to have a certain type of rosewood, and it has to be a certain gauge of strings. I’ve always like Ibanez because that’s what I grew up playing, and I’ve got an endorsement deal with them, but I was always quite good with that - I didn’t try to just blag as many guitars as I could. I always used to approach them for a guitar when I actually needed a guitar. Most of my guitars are like RG550s, old ones. I’ve got a Prestige Ibanez that I use quite a lot. But I wouldn’t say this album was done using…I don’t know, it’s hard to explain, but the amp side of things, and the effects side of things are probably more important to the sound than the guitars. Obviously if I used a Strat you’d hear the difference in tone but…I’ve always just liked Ibanez, and I’ve never been much of a guitar geek, to be honest. You know, I’m still absolutely shit at changing my strings! I’m still rubbish!
MD: Was that a bit of a ‘Passion and Warfare’ thing that inspired you to play Ibanez?
JD: Yeah, yeah. And it was Paul Gilbert really with his pink RG550.
MD: I fell in love with Ibanez when I saw the pictures on the cover to ‘Passion and Warfare’. I’ve still got one of the original RG560s.
JD: Yeah, I’ve got one of them as well. If you look carefully on the back of the album, there’s a little picture from inside the studio and there’s a bright yellow Ibanez, and that’s one of the ones that I wouldn’t dare take out these days, but that’s from that era, one of those original ones.
MD: And you said you have an endorsement deal with Ibanez?
JD: Yeah, I have, yeah. I’ve always been…with Ibanez, like I said, I’ve always only asked for guitars if I actually need them rather than just try and scam…because people are clever and they work that out very quickly. I’ve been doing this now for quite a while and that’s important because you can then go back to them when you actually need something. When I endorsed them if I was just like, “I need ten guitars”, and maybe they might have given them to me, but then they might not have given me anything else ever again, so I always try to…
MD: You don’t want to push it.
JD: Yeah, I stick with the people I like…like Blackstar, I’m using them a lot; I’ve got a really good relationship with them, and just don’t take the piss and then they’re far more open to helping you out and giving you stuff when you actually need it.
My first proper guitar!..now pride of place in my Dads office!…Was an 18th birthday present from my folks…but only after id proved i was serious about music by playing the arse off the 99 quid starter guitar they got me from an advert in Kerrang 2 years earlier.. I remember so vividly unwrapping this guitar!…a proper Bill and Ted moment! Only a couple of years later i used it on a few rather big tunes.. (a clue is on the back on the guitar!) #ibanez #ibanezguitars #ibanezrg #ibanezrg550 #vintageibanez #guitar #guitaristofinstagram #guitarist #electronicmusic #electronicpunk #electronicrock #theprodigy
The Yellow Peril!!-Another one of my old Ibanez RG550’s now being ‘cared for’ by my Dad! I brought it 2nd hand from a mate when I was in my first year at uni while going through a big Paul Gilbert phase (I still am!)..Funny/terrifying to think this guitar is now considered ‘vintage’ #ibanez #ibanezrg550 @vintage_ibanez @officialibanezguitars #guitar #guitaristofinstagram #guitarist @paulgilbert_official #paulgilbert #vintageguitars
Photo 1-Me aged 16 with my first guitar (A 99 quid beginners pack from an advert in Kerrang) Guns n’Roses t-shirt obvs. Photo 2-Me on my 18th birthday with the ‘proper guitar’ my parents said they’d get me if I practised and showed I was serious on the first one! Loved that Ibanez RG550, in full Steve Vai obsession mode at this point...2 years later that guitar went on tour with me around the world...the jumper didn’t....aaaand feel free to rip the living piss out of me in 1-2-3 Go!
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