Dating a rg550.

[Mazinger]

Is there anyway to tell the difference betwwen..say a 1991 from a 2001?

I know later on Ibanez started to put the model number on the front of the headstock.

Anyone know when this was also started?

Thanks.

[Rich]

a 91' starts with a 1, an 01' starts with an 01.

[BZ Beetle]

i would love to date a 550, but my GF would dump me

[spacenuke]

a '91 550 will also have V1 and V2 humbuckers while a 2001 will have V7 and V8 humbuckers.

[horstausmforst]

and a '91 would have the square neck joint while the '01 has the all access neck joint.

Should be enough

[Predator]

I just dated an Ibanez S520XCA with this info: http://www.tokairegistry.com/axedate.html#ibanez

Try it! It's easy!

[Mazinger]

Anyone know if RG550's were made in 1987?

I think it's a 87 model.

I searched in the scanned catalog and it only goes back to 88, but there are rg550s there similar to what I have. i.e. no pickup identifiers and the optional rosewood fretboard.

S/N is F7+5 numbers.

Did 1997's have the all access neck joint?

Ibanez S/N dating is dumb. I don't know why they changed it during the 80's. The old way was better.

[Mazinger]

Originally Posted by Predator

I just dated an Ibanez S520XCA with this info: http://www.tokairegistry.com/axedate.html#ibanez

Try it! It's easy!

The new way is not fool proof though.