Ibanez RG550: An Elegant Weapon For A More Civilized Age
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 15 сен 2024
- An honest, unsponsored, unfiltered, unbiased, and comprehensive review of the Ibanez RG550 Genesis. Available in three colors:
Neon Purple: sweetwater.sjv.io/Qy7KAM
Desert Sun Yellow: sweetwater.sjv.io/Jz7qRr
Road Flare Red: sweetwater.sjv.io/oqYnon
Guitar Plugins: Neural DSP Archetype Petrucci and Tone King Imperial MKII
Bass Plugin: Bias FX II
DAW: Reaper Audio
Audio Interface: Focusrite Scarlett 2i2: sweetwater.sjv.io/PyQMY6
Strings: SIT Power Wound 9-42
Picks: Jazz XL: sweetwater.sjv.io/XYaMo5
If you manage to get a guitar that’s manufactured at the Ibanez Hoshino Gakki factory in Japan you know it will be up there with the some of the finest guitars to be made anywhere, the QC demands are legendary.
It would be cool to visit the factory. Bet the workers are dressed in hazmat suits or something. 😂
@@biohazard8295your name fits well with your comment
The advantage of the 5-piece neck over the original 1-piece neck is greater stability. You are correct, there is no difference in "feel"...so you wouldn't notice. However, since the Wizard necks are so thin, they are/were prone to twisting and warpage with 1-piece construction. 5-piece necks are way more stable, and far less prone to warping. In the construction of a 5-piece neck, the center piece is usually "flipped" so the grain is going opposite from the outer 2 pieces of maple. Hope this helps. Great video! I own this model, and a few other RG models. ;)
Makes sense to me 😊
Thanks for the awesome insight!
Glad to know you love your Genesis 550. It took me a very long time to try an Ibanez but when I did I was hooked! Since then I've built up a collection of 5 MIJ Ibanez, including a Genesis 565 a JEM, plus a couple of Indo models. There are some amazing bargains to be had, especially on the older Prestige models. No other brand offers as much bang for your buck!
After playing Gibsons and Fenders for the past 15 years or so, I just bought a 2001 RG550EX .
I'm deeply in love with it and I am so impressed with the quality.
I also played a new Genesis RG550 in store about a month ago.
Along the years I bought many brand new Fenders and Gibsons, from Standard / Professional range to American Vintage etc.
None, and I say again, none of them come even close to the Ibanez - In versatility, playability, overall quality.
ALL of them had several issues - especially the F ones.
For years and years I was stuck on the "traditional" brands and what a mistake it was.
Still love these brands, but bottom line is, Ibanez respects their customers and you can see it and feel it.
Crazy, right? I love my Gibsons, but I had to search and try different ones... these Japanese Ibanez seem to be a fair bit more consistent.
My thoughts:
Best value for money guitar you can get on the market.
Made by Fujigen Factory in Japan, so QC is very good.
The Edge trem is definitely superior to the OFR, Made by GOTOH Japan.
The 5-piece neck is as already mentioned, made to prevent warping. The old RG's tend to develop neck warping, because they necks are so thin. They also put a volute instead of a scarf joint, in order to prevent headstock snapping.
The V7/8 puckups are decent if you have a good amp, apparently they're based on the DiMarzio Tonezone/Air Norton models.
The only thing I don't like, is that they kept the old neck joint.
If they upgraded the neck and changed the scarf joint then why not go all the way & put an All Access Joint too?
Still, these are fantastic guitars.
I would love them to do a RG 1570 Genesis model in the future.
The Edge Tremolo is the same as the JEM and JS. They are made in Japan by Gotoh. The tremolo itself costs more than many entry guitars. You can't get any better than this. I have two RG550: one with maple and other with rosewood neck. After I got my first RG550 I sold all my Jacksons and Fenders to buy MIJ Ibanez guitars with the Original Edge tremolo. I kept only a Charvel Pro Mod DK, that is also a great guitar.
Buddy of mine has one. Got it in the early 90s. The only Ibanez I like.
First decent guitar I bought was my Laser Blue RG550 back in the early 90's. Still got it, will take a lot to make me part with it.
Still got my 1988 red, black scratchplate, maple board. Countless hours with that thing. Love it.
Still got my '93 in yellow & black that I got 2nd hand for £500 back in summer '99. All original (finish, V2's, Lo-Pro trem.) Looks amazing, feels great & sounds better, tried some DiMarzios but I think it sounds better with the V2's. One of my faves from that era 🤘
I believe you! I don't know what it is about those V2 pickups, but they are like a super distortion (which I already love) but even better!
Great guitars. I love my original RG770 from 1990 same colour without the pickgard. Perfect!
Love it! I bought the RG570 back in about 1993 and still have it. Same colour as yours only no scratch plate and a rosewood board. Still plays amazing
I am not surprised! Those 470s and 570s are killer guitars 😃
I got an old 550 deluxe in "Laser Blue" with a mirror pick guard. i think early 90's 91 or 92. Had to have it refretted a couple of years ago other than that still works like a charm!
These were everywhere during my band days of the late 80s and early 90s. I grew up in Bensalem, PA where the Ibanez east coast distributor was located and I knew some of the guys who worked there. However, because of that - and my affinity for Steve Clark - I played a Les Paul (with a Kahler) when most of the players in other bands were playing RG550s. It's only recently that I've actually thought about getting one based on videos like yours as well as Robert Baker's.
Im so glad i listened to the internet and bought a rg550 genesis a few years back. I have never in my life tried a guitar thats easier to play. Its ike playing on air. It feels so good. You can shred your fucking brain out with it. I changed all three pickups too so it had that 80s sound with dimarzio super distortion, and that strat sound in the 2 and 4 position because of the single coil, i cant remember the name right now. But ive tried guitars that are 5k dollars and they are nowhere near as good as the rg550 genesis. It needed a setup when i got it, for sure, cause initaly i wasnt that impressed. But the guy just made it a completely different guitar
That's a beautiful guitar with looks and massive tone! Although i mainly play bass now, the only Ibanez i own is the Nita Strauss Jiva 10 (I think it's an S style). The RG550 sounds amazing and i think i might want to pick one up in the future. I like the wizard necks as I also prefer thinner necks on bass. Very cool Nico!
I find it so interesting to see how many people like the wizard necks nowadays! It wasn't always the case as far as I can remember...
The Jiva is based on the S series, indeed... I don't love signature models in general, but that one has always appealed to me a whole lot! And the EKG inlays are too cool 😃 How is yours in terms of quality, fit and finish, etc?
@@LicksOfTheBeast I think we might be about the same age, so i remember high school friends in the mid 90s that had Ibanez guitars and thats where i remember first liking the wizard neck.
I agree about artist models....most are overpriced (your Dave Murray strat is perfectly priced though!). But the Jiva10 is a really well made instrument (i have one from the first run). I have never had to do any kind of setup or maintenance on it, even to this day. The neck is perfect, and the pickups are great (the True Velvet middle has amazing tone). The 5-way switching is just like yours. It's comfy to play, like their SDGR basses. The jumbo frets needed no leveling and haven't had any sprout. They definitely did some good QC at the factory. My only wish is that they offered it in the "Deep Sea Blue" color of the lower priced model they came out with after. It looks a lot cooler. Hope that helped!
I’ve been waiting for this review!!
I’m waiting for the day when Niko breaks down Texas Flood by SRV ! That will be a glorious day. Purple Guitars are underrated
Had an RG550 maple neck black. Wonderful guitar
great guitar, but i think the neckprofile must fit the payer. i own 3 Ibanez with wizard necks, great guitars ,sounds great but hang on to my Jackson neck profile. respect you as a player and this is just my opinion, good review, Thanx
That’s the great thing about guitars, so much variety. I have many, but I love the wizard neck on my RG and Jem the most of them all. Besides maybe my Schecter.
I own the desert yellow genesis model and i personally think it’s a really great guitar. Its the most affordable of all my guitars by a significant margin but its just solid and versatile and gives my other guitars a run for their money. At less than £900 for a Japanese made instrument its a such good value for money.
I have upgraded the pickups, the stock ones are OK but a bit muddy for my taste but they are decent enough. The edge trem imo is excellent too I actually prefer it to a floyd. The neck is a bit thin for me but the flat fretboard is great for lead
Some really gorgeous and tasteful playing right there. Dude, you're spot on about that guitar. I really like the RG series for exactly what you called out. Also, as cool as the JEM is, it SCREAMS Steve Vai obviously so the more subdued design is more to my liking. Dang it, now I have to get one hahahaha! Awesome vid as always brother.
Thanks so much my man!! 🤜🤛
Thañks for the great review!! Enjoyed your insight.
Thank you for watching!!
Thanks for all the details and your playing that reminds me Savatage, Dokken, WhiteLion etc., the golden era for heavy metal❤
4:21 I hear Vito's music on a channel, I press like.
Great video! You make a great host and enjoy your playing as well.
Thanks so much! 🙏🏻🤘
Dude had me liking the video from the title alone 😂
I appreciate that! 😊
Beautiful piece! But you also need "fingers" to give life to it! And Nico sure has them!
Greetings from your Portuguese friend!
🤘🇵🇹
Oh man that purple is sick looking. I ordered the yellow one from musicians friend but have to wait till October to get it since I found out they were just going to send me a guitar center floor model and I wanted it brand new in the box!
I will NEVER order from Musician's Enemy. I bought an Access Virus TI2 Polar (synthesizer) that was listed as new. When I picked it up it was a floor model that had been packed in just some box and didn't even include the manuals and accessories. I raised hell. Some rude asshole manager at the store from which it was sent relented and gave me a pretty big discount while also sending the box and manuals. But the damage was done to their reputation with me. It is a massive insult to charge for a new listing but send a used item and not even in the packaging or with its manuals and accessories. Musician's Enemy SUCKS!!!
@@matthewcragg3607 yeah that is ridiculous. No one wants some floor model a bunch of kids messed with and no accessories or manuals when paying for something new.
I placed the order and saw I got an email from GC about my order for the rg, I was like WTF did I accidentally order it from GC and MF.. then the email says the guitar will come in a slightly different box, but fear not it is brand new (code for its a floor model). They gave me 48 hours to do nothing and proceed, or request BRAND NEW IN BOX like I paid for.
The guy on the phone I ordered from was talking all big about how these are so hard to get and how its good im ordering since they are always on back order, and id get it friday (today). come to find out that was all bs and im getting some used floor model because all their rg550 are on backorder.
ill spend the 80 dollar credit i got for this purchase towards a nice ibanez case and thats it with MF and GC, maybe something used if anything. guy said they did have a new in box blue but i just want this yellow.
@@matthewcragg3607 i have 3 words for you. sweetwater sweetwater sweetwater. no one else comes close to their customer service
The Adrian painting 🖌️🎨❤
You already know what I think of this video and this guitar! 👍👍👍
🎸 🎸🎸
I do! And how much playing time is that new unplanned acquisition getting? I'm betting you're a bit like me and are having a tough time putting it down 😁
@@LicksOfTheBeast - You nailed it!!!
White Lion, Savatage... I love you man.
Hahaha right back atcha! 🤜🤛
Really fancied a rg550 yellow for ages,went to a guitar shop to try. Glad I did, the thing was garbage I was so shocked and disappointed. The guy in the shop said it just needed setting up but I could see it wouldn't make much difference. Are people ordering to many guitars online without trying and not bothering to send back cause of the hassle. Go to guitar shops people try for yourself don't take advice from RUclipsrs who maybe right maybe wrong. It's your hard earned cash...
I owned one in Flare Red a few years ago but sold it as I was running out of space and wanted to buy a few more. I'm actually looking to buy a new one now, in the purple colour.
It's crazy that anyone who tells me they had one and sold it regrets it to some degree! Kind of like I regret sleeping on these for so long 😅
Oh and the purple really does look awesome! 😃
Great video, great guitar! makes me want to buy one! A special request: is there any chance that you can share the tab and backing track of the final tune of the video?
Got me wanting to check one out
They also have an updated volute. I have it and the RG 565.
Love Japanese Ibanez RG’s. I need to fix my old one up. It’s worn out!
Look and sound great!
Feels great too! 😃
The neck pocket is also routed different on the new 550's
It's the redesigned and Improved version borrowed from the 20th anniversary models the originals had a fingerboard extension these have a full neck down to the 24th fret so more wood and mass in the neck.
Guitars are very much like people. There are a very select few with whom you click and sometimes start lifelong relationships.
Ps Whoaaa that White Lion riff!!!!!
Hahaha yeah I snuck a few of those '80s things in this video
@@LicksOfTheBeast thanks Nicko for that white lion "Hungry" intro !!!! gives me goose bumps when you started it hehe !!! really appreciate and really nice guitar
Shame I can’t like this video twice, once for the title alone.
Thank you! I will admit I did pat myself on the back just a bit for that title 😂😂
Ok, this is a sign. I have been thinking about getting one of these and almost did last night. I think gonna order mine today. Ya know, when i was stationed in Alabama back in 93, I saw a Jemm in a guitar shop (first actual guitar shop i had been in) and it was $1500 and i though OMG thats outrageously expensive. Who could afford that? lol Now look what we pay for decent guitars. Ok, If i get a Genesis, would you bless it so i can play better please?? 😀
That's usually how it goes. Similar happened to me recently with an RG565 and because I hesitated a little, someone else bought it the same day. Shoulda read the signs 😅😅
I don't know if I am officially authorized to bless anything (one of my cousins in Italy is a priest with his own parrish...does it count if it's by proxy? 🤔😁) but if the metal gods are with me, consider that sweet axe blessed! 🤘
@@LicksOfTheBeast just ordered same one ya had in video lol. Got the last one in stock too. One nice thing about getting older, normally can afford stuff ya couldn’t when y were younger and just starting out
This is an awesome classic guitar, MIJ, great components, playability, the neck!..it's incredible. I've got mine with Fishmans Tosin Abasi (from the previous owner) and this is one more surprise for me, they are amazing for everything. Got the review on my channel, if you want to check the combination. Congrats with new guitar, it's great piece of collection🤘
First off, your playing over that backing track is very tasty.
Secondly, very helpful breakdown of the key features for this axe.
Thirdly , I'm currently in a dilemma trying to decide whether to buy the Desert Yellow version of the RG550 Genesis or the Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HH Floyd Rose Mahogany with Quilt Maple Dark Amber top. I've been stuck thinking about this for so long I've developed a permanent migraine.
That Amber Charvel is the bomb.
It’s one that is at the top on my list to get.
@@willchug - Fantastic looking guitar that's very well specced. I haven't had a chance to play one yet so I'm worried the quality won't be up to the Fujigen Ibanez.
@@redshiftdrifter Yes, I haven’t played that one but I do have the vintage white Yngwie style one, very good neck on it , rolled edges, very smooth, no fret sprout.
My son has a Genius it’s also quite nice, not as close as the quality on my 98 RG520QS but it does play good.
@@willchug - Had to look up the RG520QS to be honest as I wasn't familiar. That's a very fine looking weapon. I've always preferred the twin humbucker config on shred machines as the centre single coil gets in the way of my sloppy picking hand.
I've literally screwed the centre coil down into the cavity out of frustration on a few old guitars.
The only other difference between the 87 version and the genesis that you didn't mention is that there's a neck volute which helps reinforce the neck/headstock area where the locking nut screws are going in. Super stocked ordered the yellow one last week at the local guitar store and waiting patiently.
Good point about the volute!
The yellow looks phenomenal - I was very tempted by that one too. Enjoy!! 🤘
@@LicksOfTheBeastthe necks are different too the originals had a standard 22 fret neck with an overhang they redesigned it for the 20th anniversary models so the neck is all the way to the 24th fret the body also has a deeper pocket so it will fit.
0:18 what song is that!? It's gorgeous!
Just something I put together for this video. It's played in full at the end of the video. Nice to know you liked it though, so thank you! 😊🙏🏻
@@LicksOfTheBeast oh man it's such a beautiful composition, thanks for playing it in full at the end! If you ever record it, I'd love to know!
I thought multi-piece necks were theoretically more stable and/or resistant to twist/warp? Also some think the stripes look cool but I assumed it was some cost-saving thing or snake oil for people to debate.
It's definitely to prevent warping. The little pieces of walnut are mostly for looks. a 3 piece would do the same. You just glue them with grain patterns going the oposite way so when the temperature/humidity changes they don't all shift the same way.
Awesome review, very helpful! I'm not sure if you could answer this lol, but would you recommend it for female players? (small hands) My only guitar is a used Strat this was very cheap, so I'm still balking a bit at the price lol. Even though I'm sure it's great for what it is.
Thank you! 🙏🏻😊
On one hand, I think the rather flat radius is awesome for smaller hands, as is the thinner profile. However, the neck is also more on the wider side, and someone with shorter fingers might prefer a neck that's a little more narrow.
I would go into a music store and try one out (even if they don't have an RG550 in stock, you can try any Ibanez with a wizard neck to give you an idea of the feel) and maybe compare that with something like an LTD Eclipse. It's closer to a C shape but I find it quite narrow, almost too narrow for me, actually! Once you know what's most comfortable for you, you can always shop online for the best deals 😊.
@@LicksOfTheBeastThank you! 😊🎸
Great review. I waited 10 minutes for you to finally get to the awesome clean tones these guitars have due to the pickup configuration they use. No offense but whatever clean tone you used on your amp did not do justice to what you can actually get from these guitars. Biggest mistake I ever made was selling my ‘89. I had it painted to look like a slab of white marble. It played like butter and never let me down.
what song is the solo from???
Just something I came up with for the video. Whenever I do gear reviews like this, I prefer to use original music based on how the instrument inspires me... I find it shows how I relate to the instrument personally, and it's also fun to do 😊
@LicksOfTheBeast it's an amazing solo... so melodious 🎶
I'm totally hooked to this solo and just got the guitar after watching your video
Any chance I can get the tabs for it please kind Sir 🙏
The neck shape is nothing like the original. The pickups are also very different than the original. They reissued them in 2007 with the 5 piece neck . So the 2007 20th Anniversary are the most like the originals. Find yourself one of those. I have two they are great guitars.
have 3 RG's from that era, including my first true guitar love my RG 770. The new Super Wizard necks even though having same specs(or similar) do feel different. I was just in GC trying a yellow 550 and the neck felt a little beefier than my OG Wizard necks. Thinking back, I think it's the neck volute on the new 550's. The original ones have a scarf joint. Still, it is such a fun guitar and definitely worth owning.
find the originals
Not as clumsy or random as a blaster
Hahahaha yesssss!
This guy gets it! 🤜🤛
Absolutely Nico. Classic Star Wars
Got one recently too and i must say , itz the easiest guitar to play on i have
This guy really as a nose for good guitars!
Nice guitar but I'll stay with what I have
I can’t get past the feeling that this brand is specifically targeting wedding bands who upgraded from Fender.
Huh
Things were more civilized in the 80s? Really?
I won't buy one of those unless they decide to offer more colors. Purple, yellow and red are not my cup of tea.