Faithful to shred and metal guitar original!

The Ibanez RG550 20th Anniversary guitar features a slim, fast Wizard neck and a maple fretboard with 24 jumbo frets for easy leads and chording. The lightweight basswood body has a sculpted upper edge for comfort. The bridge is the original Edge tremolo with die-cast saddles. Pickups include Vintage 7 and 8 humbuckers framing a high-output single coil. 5-way switching provides a full range of instantly selectable sounds. The neck attaches with the original Tilt Plate joint.

Since 1987, the Ibanez RG has been the weapon of choice for visiting sonic mayhem on the metal masses. With the right choice of pickups, flat and fast necks and double-locking trems, the RG has divebombed and crunched its way to classic status. This 20th anniversary edition is extremely faithful to the RG550 that started it all, born out of Ibanez's quest for originality in the world of electric guitars and the requests of artists who play heavy rock and metal.

20 years later, the RG is still one of the most highly sought after guitars for artists wanting pickups and pickup placement providing the hard-edged cutting tone needed for heavy rock, the fast necks needed for face-melting solos, drop-dead good looks and top-shelf electronics and hardware.

The 20th Anniversary RG550 is sure to become a collector's item, and you can make it yours for less than you might expect. Ibanez sweetens the deal by including a special RG20th hard shell case, special strap and pick in colors matching the RG550 you choose.

Ibanez RG550 20th Anniversary Electric Guitar Features:

• Slim, fast Wizard neck
• Maple fretboard
• Jumbo frets for easy leads and chording
• Lightweight basswood body with upper edge sculpted for comfort
• Floyd Rose-licensed Edge tremolo with die-cast saddles
• Pickups include Vintage 7 and 8 humbuckers framing a high-output single coil
• 5-way switching for a full range of instantly selectable sounds

Ibanez RG550 20th Anniversary Electric Guitar Includes:

• Special RG20th hardshell case, special strap, pick in colors matching guitar

Two decades of great guitarists can't be wrong! Order today.

Ibanez RG550 20th Anniversary Electric Guitar

Write A Review

Average of 12 User Ratings

Overall

Quality

Features

Value

Customer Reviews

Overall

Quality

Features

Value

Great Guitar

Posted by Anonymous Musician on Jul 30, 2007

Experience w/product: I own it

Reviewer's Background: Active Musician

Reviewer's Play Style: Rock, Hard Rock, Metal

ok first off i wanna say that this guitar is really cool. there were only 1987 (the year they were originally made) of them made, and only 400 of each of the three colors were issued to the U.S.

the pickups on this guitar are really good for stock pickups. you can go from shred to nearly clean without changing any settings on the amp if you just roll a little off of the volume knob on the guitar and switch to the single coil.

the neck it really REALLY thin. the specs at Ibanez.com say its 19mm at the nut and 21mm at the 12 fret. one thing i didn't like was the size of the frets. they're really tall, if you want to cal it that. it would be so much more comfortable with a little smaller frets. the action came pretty low, but i lowered it a little more. no fret rattle though.

now comes the tremolo unit. best trem i've used, but its really hard to get back to normal if you mess it up like i did. when i changes the strings for the first time, i forgot to block of the trem, so it sunk back into the cavity. when i finall got it fixed, i had tuning problems, and the bridge went practically vertical. once i got it fixed, all was well. really smooth. never broke a string using it (yet).

overall this guitar is really cool, but i personally think its over priced. i can see why its high because its an "aneversery" eddition. im thinking about selling mine and buyin a schecter c-1 classic or something close to that.

Overall

Quality

Features

Value

Kicks A**, And Takes Names

Posted by DesertSonYellow from Mahomet, Illinois on Jun 24, 2007

Experience w/product: I own it

Reviewer's Background: Active Musician

Reviewer's Play Style: Metal, Progressive, Instrumental

Every aspect of this guitar is perfect for my style of playing. The pickups have an excellent sound, and it probably is the most versitile guitar I've ever played. The frets are made to shred, and the neck matches. I will guard this guitar with my life, because a guitar this perfect will probably never show itself again.

Overall

Quality

Features

Value

Shredders Delight!

Posted by Axis810 from Chicago, IL on Jun 2, 2007

Experience w/product: I own it

Reviewer's Background: Active musician

Reviewer's Play Style: Rock, country, jazz

I just purchased this after thinking, it can't be as good as they used to be back in the day. Wow, was I dead wrong!! Just as good, or even better! I was just amazed at the playability of this guitar, right out of the box! Normally, you need somewhat of a setup, action is not right, or some other minor detail. Not these. Plug and play! Guitar even came in tune! Pickups are great, colors are great, which I always liked these odd colors, they stand out nicely on stage under the lights. I play about every weekend, and this is without a doubt the most comfortable guitar to play. OR sitting down too. The neck is amazing, jumbo fretwire, and perfect alignment, no neck pocket shifting. Even the cases are nice. No complaints here, Ibanez made these guitars to play, not sit in their cases to collect space. The Edge floating trem is awesome, never goes out of tune, so you can wham forever, and keep jamming those cool rhythms too. All of this for the price, can't go wrong. Get one, before they're gone.

Overall

Quality

Features

Value

Ibanez RG550 20th anniversary

Posted by Aussie Cam from Albury, New South Wales on Jun 1, 2007

Experience w/product: I own it

Reviewer's Background: Active Musician

Reviewer's Play Style: rock, alternative, covers

I own one that I bought new in 1993 (I even bought the only one in stock - a purple one because it played so well in the shop!) and I still play it today - have probably done over 1000 gigs with it. I have never played a better neck! Stays in tune all gig and I have only had to have the intonation done 3 times in the last 14 years - it just stays perfect! Stock pickups are good, but I did replace the humbuckers with Dimarzios to get a fatter tone, but the stock coil in the middle is sweet. I cannot recommend this guitar enough - it is so versatile!

Overall

Quality

Features

Value

Not the Same Quality

Posted by Anonymous Musician on May 24, 2007

Experience w/product: I have used it

Reviewer's Background: Active Musician

Reviewer's Play Style: Rock, Jazz, Pop

The construction of these guitars just doesn't compare to the way the older Ibanez Japan made guitars used to be. For example, take a look at the back of the headstock. You'll see pieces of wood that have been glued on instead of one solid piece of wood that makes up the headstock. Also, the neck stripe that runs to the side of the headstock towards the tuner is downright ugly. It looks like smeared ink!

View more product reviews »

If you would like to write a review, please see our product review guidelines.

Ibanez RG550 20th Anniversary Electric Guitar

Read 12 Reviews