Anyone Play the 20th Rg's??

[andy7jem]

Originally Posted by mi2tom

Girls will be girls

Thank f**k for that

[S-man]

For a new guitar, the price is good. Buy your old beat up guitars, I don't care.

I guess a new one should be the same price they were 20 years ago.

Come on...get real.

[kirk]

Originally Posted by S-man

For a new guitar, the price is good. Buy your old beat up guitars, I don't care.

I guess a new one should be the same price they were 20 years ago.

Come on...get real.

Why not just buy an RG2570 or RG2550 for $704?

[JJEMMER777]

Originally Posted by Dee

plus the main RG 20th thread in there (if you can get past the nonsensical babbling!)

Oh...you mean like eating a whole cake by yourself???

Glad you like the way they play Ethan. I think there was only one person so far who didn't like theirs.

There's always gotta be one in the crowd

[Dee]

Originally Posted by kirk

Why not just buy an RG2570 or RG2550 for $704?

No original Edge, boring colours, no maple board, no Wizard neck, doesn't have the limited edition tag so not at all collectible... how do those guitars even compare?

Originally Posted by kirk

Bottom line - in my experience, the 20th, while a neat idea with a cool paint job, plays no better than any RG550 since original production.

Where does it say anywhere that the 20th will play better?

Originally Posted by JJEMMER777

Oh...you mean like eating a whole cake by yourself???

Exactly.

[kirk]

Originally Posted by Dee

Where does it say anywhere that the 20th will play better?

No where, but the title of the thread was has anyone played one, which I have, and IMHO it plays no better than the originals.

You decided to say that the reissue was superior, but I still don't see how - it is not in construction because they are identical in materials (I'll give you a different neck build) but otherwise - in Ibanez's own words - "all the original RG550 glory...original edge, original neck dimensions, and exact formulations...."

Again, IMHO, a neat idea, but no better than the original.

[Dee]

The most important thing on any guitar is the neck. Superior neck build = superior guitar. This is exactly why it's better than the original, IMHO.

[kirk]

I am under the impression that the build of the 5 piece is to improve stability of the neck - to prevent it from unwanted bow/twisting/warpage.

To my knowledge this was never an issue with the RG550 necks to begin with. If it was, I am sure they wouldn't have manufactured them for as many years as they did.

I'm all about making things better, but does the construction of the anniversary neck make it a better player?

I'd also like to go on record as saying that the $899 price tag, while (IMHO) high for a RG550, is not high for an anniversary re-issue - thank god it wasn't as high as the Jems or PGMs or yadda yadda yaddas......

[velocity]

ironically, i have had 4 rg 5xx necks warp on me over the years...

[Dee]

Originally Posted by kirk

I am under the impression that the build of the 5 piece is to improve stability of the neck - to prevent it from unwanted bow/twisting/warpage.

To my knowledge this was never an issue with the RG550 necks to begin with. If it was, I am sure they wouldn't have manufactured them for as many years as they did.

I'm wondering why they stopped?

Originally Posted by kirk

I'm all about making things better, but does the construction of the anniversary neck make it a better player?

Yeah! A straight, non-warped neck, or even one that is less likely to warp in future, will play better and play well for a longer period than a used one with 20 year old frets and the potential to warp, no matter how small the chance of this happening is. If you happened to find a mint condition original DY or RF with no wear to the frets, none of the finish on the back of the neck going glossy which happens after a while, and of course a non-warped neck, it probably wouldn't feel any worse or better than the reissue, but I bet you cannot find an example on the used market, and if you did, it'd cost as much as the reissue. Better yet, try finding 1,987 of them.

I had a warped neck on my original 1987 550RF. It happens. On the other hand I've had an Wizard necked RG750 that's still perfect after 17 years and I this is still my main guitar, the neck is great apart from tons of fret wear. Actually it's my only guitar right now since I sold the RG3120, but anyway.

Since I last posted in this thread, another two people have told me they have played the new 550, and both were blown away by the neck and the looks. Again, I still think you played a badly set up one. To be honest, you don't seem too fussed about the RG550 anyway, going as far as suggesting we buy completely different guitars such as the 2550, 2570, and a modified RG560 with a single sized humbucker in the neck position. These are not the words of an RG550 fan who loves the guitar for it's features (maple board, original Edge, black hardware, Wizard neck being some important ones, plus the colours), so I don't expect you to be as enthusiastic about this new reissue as me or any of the other RG550 fans here. Let's not forget these are very close reissues, too, so to expect anything more than what they are intended to be is unrealistic. No one said they would play better, but actually some have said they feel better than the originals, I think it was someone here who suggested the neck neck feels smoother and faster.

I happen to think they are well priced in the USA, only certain other countries are getting a rough deal. For this reason, I can understand that some people over here are not so impressed by the price tag. I was lucky enough to secure one from the USA, and because of this the guitar works out unbelievably well-priced. I just can't complain about the new RG 20th.

[kirk]

OK, lets see if this suits you.

I have played the 20th Anniversary RG550, and I am not disappointed with it -it feels exactly how an RG550 should feel. However, it does not play any better or worse than the worst or the best RG550s I've played.

[JJEMMER777]

Originally Posted by kirk

However, it does not play any better or worse than the worst or the best RG550s I've played.

Perfect

[Dee]

Originally Posted by kirk

OK, lets see if this suits you.

I have played the 20th Anniversary RG550, and I am not disappointed with it -it feels exactly how an RG550 should feel. However, it does not play any better or worse than the worst or the best RG550s I've played.

Again, no one said it was gonna feel any different. The neck construction is just a bonus and a little safeguard if anything.

But enough negativity, let's have some 20th love.

OMG!!!!

I got the call a few hours ago, right after I was commenting I hadn't gotten it, my ears must have been burning, the Sam Ash guy said hey man, them crazy colored RG's you were asking about came in.

Good god they stood out like a sore thumb amongst everything else in that store!!!

I promptly asked to see the DY one, I played on it for about an hour. I was not wanting to hand it back. I really almost cried.

The necks friggin killer.

You guys that could comfortably afford them consider yourselves lucky, your going to be getting a sweet guitar guys.
___________________________________________

I got my DY in yesterday HOLY WOW!!!!!!!!!!

i still havent stopped smiling since i got mine yesterday

BUY IT BUY IT BUY IT
___________________________________________

I can't get over how in love with this thing I am.
___________________________________________

Wow, the color is BRIGHT! Takes some getting use to. The fret-ends are not an issue, though.
___________________________________________

Same here--My 770DXLB was my main guitar for SO long that not having the AANJ is incidental. The one on the 550 feels a little like "home."
___________________________________________

today I went to a local guitar shop, and was completely prepared to order the new Ibanez Xiphos, and I asked the owner if he had any Ibanez's with the same neck type. the guy just laughed and shook his head, and brought out this beautiful RG550RXX... and ya, the rest is history. I had to put it on layaway though =[. let's just pray my Fender Strat sells soon!

I can't stop thinking about that neck... oh my!

___________________________________________

The neck is fantastic--I dare say nicer-feeling than either of my 770s. I
did a bake-off between the new 550 and my old black 760--the new
neck just plain feels better, maybe because it's new, or maybe because
it's a refinement of an old design. Either way, I'm elated and can't wait for
my DY!!
___________________________________________

In the short time these two guitars were in the shop, you couldn't help but notice them. A shop employee told me was standing at the front of the store with a customer and said, "look at that guitar" and the customer turned and said "Wow." From fifty feet away, on a wall crowded with guitars and basses, there was no question which axe he was talking about.
___________________________________________

DY is killer on the new 20ths, finally got to see em for myself today. The RFR was equally nice. Now I want more than ever.
___________________________________________

i looked at the neck on the one I just saw today very care f ully all over, the fret ends were nicely finished and it was setup pretty good actually, the guys at Sam Ash had not done a thing to it, they had literally just thrown it up on the wall right out of the box as is just a short while before I got there and it was in tune and good to go
___________________________________________

Anyone get a chance to play one.

I did, and they play almost as good as my jem. I love the Edge bridge!!!
___________________________________________

First off the neck. This thing feels great! Like I said before, I don't really know what an original Wizard neck feels like since I've never gotten to play one for any appreciable length of time to know for sure... but I can say that the necks on these reissues are fantastic in their own right. The fretwork is actually not bad at all, despite the "clipped off" fret ends; which, by the way, are clipped pretty aggressively so the angle is steep and I cannot feel any sharp edges on the example I have when I am actually playing the guitar.

All the fit and finish stuff on this example are excellent. Good paint job, clean neck pocket, well seated frets and nice straight neck (so far we'll see how well those titanium rods work in time).

The Edge tremolo is pretty awesome! I can see now why so many people love this thing. It flutters for days, right out of the box brand new with new springs! I think it feels smoother and has overall better action than my Edge Pros... and I like the feel of the saddles better for palm muting. I always felt that the Edge Pro was too radiused in the saddles which sort of makes the strings feel like they're "floating" in mid air around the take-off point. For me palm muting is easier on the Edge and my JPM's Lo-Pro and I find both the Edge and Lo-Pros to be super comfortable in general.

Other than that I am not sure what else to mention. I played it yesterday after a good setup and for about an hour befor posting this today, both unaccompanied, and with backing music and I must say it is a BLAST to play! Anyone that has one or is about to get one is going to love these things. If these are anything like the originals, then Ibanez really got this right from the beginning.
___________________________________________

BTW, the neck on my '04 1570 (which is the pre-J-Craft 3 piece) feels extremely close to the same thinness of the new 20th neck. The 20th sounds much snappier unplugged though, probably due to the maple board.

Fun stuff!
___________________________________________

I didn't think the pickups were that bright. I thought they sounded really good though.

The guitar played and sounded awesome.

I'm dying for my RFR to show up.
___________________________________________

I've been playing this thing every day since my buddy dropped it off and it really is a great guitar. I have all kinds of guitars, JEM, JS, JPM, RGs and yet my fav "go to" Ibanez is my silver RG1570. I can easily see the 20th taking over that role.
___________________________________________

Perfect. 10/10
Case is in perfect condition, was set up very nicely out of the box. Out of tune, but that only took a minute to fix. Plays VERY nicely and the stock pickups arent that bad at all, but they could be much better. LOW action, a little low for my taste, but I figure it will be good for me to get used to having it that low compared to my SG Standard. I love this guitar and it is BRIGHT like a highlighter. I got at least 20 compliments in the store about the guitar and how nice it sounded! There was a demo of the new (VG) strat going on and this thing stole the show! I'll register it when I get a camera, its BEAUTIFUL!
___________________________________________

alright got my rg dy today!! i love it!! needs hotter pickups (which ill replace w/ evo's) but overall great feel...

everything is awesome about it
and taking pictures of this yellow is very hard
its almost a highlighter yellow, pictures dont do it justice

[Chud]

I wish Ibanez would bring back the Edge trem

[Hikey Mikey]

Dee, nice compilation of reviews! Musta taken you a while to find those but as someone else pointed out recently, you live on these boards, heheh.

I'm glad to see my humble observations made the cut, and I want to say again that if the DYs and RFRs were to spend some time on the "wall 'o guitars" that every shop has, I think Ibanez would experience a new wave of popularity. These guitars stand out and make a loud statement just hanging on display. Lots of guitarists still don't know about them.

The RG550 oughta be an Ibanez standard-- offered year in, year out, in neon colors and sedate colors, maple boards or rosewood, different pickup options and neck profiles. Just like the freaking Fender Stratocaster.