RG550xxRF or P-V Wolfgang

[Josh57]

I am trading off a wolfgang for an RG 20th Road Flare Red. The wolfgang has served me as my main axe for about ten years, and I feel like I have out grown it. The only reason feel like that is because I need a floating trem. The local GC has a black RG 20th left, and it felt awesome last week (when new out of the box), but since its GC, somebody has abused it to the point that it now buzzes out. I need a floating trem, and I can't setup the wolfgang to give me the kind of pitch variation that I need. Stupid Vai for setting the bar so high!!!(jk...).

Opinions??!!!!
The Wolfgang is awesome and all, but lacks single coil sounds.
The stock p/u's in the 20th are really (read: REALLY REALLY REALLY) punchy, and are a little more varied in sound, but...they can get a little brittle.

Which way would you go???

PS - wolfgang is black w/ creme binding on the archtop.

[IbanezGirl]

I haven't played a Wolfgang, so i cannot comment on that. I do own a RG550MXXDY, and i wouldn't hesitate in picking up another one if i could.
You've already mentioned the pups so no need to go there. The necks on the new 550's are what makes these little beauties such a joy too play.

Is there any way you could keep the Wolfgang and still afford to get a 550?
The reason i ask, it sounds like it's a different beast to the 550 and it could serve you well, having two different guitars with pup variations etc.

I sold off a few things so i could afford to get the 550, and would do so again in a heartbeat. Only you can decide which is the better option for you!

[jb4674]

I agree with IbanezGirl. You should keep the wolfie and get the RG. AFAIK, those pickups on the wolfgang are EVH custom designed ones (provided that we're talking about a top of the line wolfgang). What can be said about the Wolfgang's neck that you probably don't know already? I love that raw feeling the birdseye maple neck has.

Jimmy

P.S.: You can never have too many guitars

[Josh57]

Too many guitars??? Tell that to my wife!
I have had the wolfgang since I was 16 (backwhen they were new). I play a lot of satch and vai stuff so I need to be able to get all of those nice harmonics. Does the RG 20th clean up nicely? I played one through a fender super sonic to see what kind of clean sound I would get, but the 2nd / 4th positions even distorted the amp in the clean channel. Is the trick that you just need to roll off the volume?

[Dino]

You will always regret trading off a guitar that you played for so long.... Just go somewhere like AMS and buy something on the easy pay plan if you can't afford it right now. Like the Ibanez RG2570E RG Prestige, in vital silver looks really cool to me. 3 payments of $299 or if you add a couple of things to make it to $1000 then 5 payments of around $200. Take a look!

[spacestation]

I had a Wolf for a couple of years and I really did like it. Now I own a 550RF and I could not be happier. I really dont think I could use a Wolf now sense playing Ibanezs' for so long. The necks are just way to different plus the Ibanez is a two octave guitar. The D-tuna is cool. But you say you've had it for a long time, just keep it and try and spring for the 550 also. Believe me you do not want to sell a sentimental instrument. I still have my first good guitar a 72 les paul gold top. Its a POS and has been string-less for 5 years but, it was my first and there will be a place for it always in my house and heart.

[jwoods986]

Yeah, hang on to the Wolf because it's a sweet guitar (and discontinued) but mainly for the sentimental reasons. In July '87, I was 15 and made my final layaway payment (remember layaway? -lol) on a Charvel Model 6, which was my first good guitar. There were times that I thought about selling it to get something else but never did. I am so thankful to this day, it's still my #1. Do what you can to keep the wolfie and get the 550. If you're looking at GC, this month they have 1 year, no payments, no interest. Put it on the card and pay a little each month over the next year. Or if you get money back at tax time, use it next spring to pay it off. Just my thoughts on the subject

[rickcard71]

I guess you can call me a hater. I think the RG 20ths are ugly. Go for a Jem, even a used one. I own a Wolfgang, they are great, I think I may sell mine. However, if I had a guitar for that long and if money was not an issue, I would keep it. Don't you have some attachment to it?

[jb4674]

Originally Posted by rickcard71

I guess you can call me a hater. I think the RG 20ths are ugly. Go for a Jem, even a used one.

I'm not sure I understand your logic, what guitar do you think the Jem was created from?

Jimmy

[rickcard71]

Originally Posted by jb4674

I'm not sure I understand your logic, what guitar do you think the Jem was the created from?

Jimmy

I know they are based on one another, but I think the Vai/Ibanez relationship was established first, then they created the RG for buyers that wanted a similar guitar but couldn't afford the Jem. I may be wrong, someone please verify (I thought I read that here). However, I was just basing my opinion on looks, I think the 20ths are plain, ugly, & horrible color choices. I'm sure it is a great guitar though.

[Geetar]

Originally Posted by jb4674

I agree with IbanezGirl. You should keep the wolfie and get the RG. AFAIK, those pickups on the wolfgang are EVH custom designed ones (provided that we're talking about a top of the line wolfgang). What can be said about the Wolfgang's neck that you probably don't know already? I love that raw feeling the birdseye maple neck has.

Jimmy

P.S.: You can never have too many guitars

I'm with these folk- I use both every day, with a (very) slight bias towards the Wolfgang. Some music needs one, some seems to call for the other.......

[Satchriossi]

The RG is the better design - ergonomically it leaves the Peavey for DEAD. I have a black Wolfgang standard (earlier pat pend version with no D tuna) and an RG1520 and a BRMR which is basically the same design.

The Wolfgang has poorer upper fret access, lower output pickups (which, admittedly is good for many situations), fewer p/up selector options, the p/up selector is in a worse position for fast adjustment, the body doesn't have the ergonomic contours of the RG and as such isn't as comfortable against your forearm or ribs. The balance is good but not as good as the RG because of the Wolfgang's shorter top horn. The bridge only works one way which is limiting - though it is possible to float it a little if you really want. There isn't as much range of adjustment in the bridge either because of its design so you might have to use shims under the neck to achieve the action you need (as i did). The neck is VERY thick which makes many lead techniques harder than they have to be - particularly compared to the RG design which makes everything so much easier.

You mention the Peavey has no single coil option - i have always found the middle p/up selector position on mine (this goes for my Parker Fly too) is thin sounding and so, very nice for cleans so you won't miss having single coils or coil taps.

Basically i use the Wolfy for 'vintage' sounds which involve lower gain amp setups. That said, i sometimes use it for other types of songs just because its gorgeous and i like it so much!

Your playing will improve faster if you get an RG - the R and D people at Ibanez designed it very well.

[Satchriossi]

You won't need to roll off the volume of the RG to get good clean sounds in p/up positions 2 and 4 if you use a good, modern amp design like the Peavey JSX for example - don't automatically believe the hype surrounding fender and marshall amps - you've found this fender to distort on the clean channel - therefore it isn't good enough and you should try the RG through something better. Whatever that may be.