Help me identify this ibanez (picture)

ikosaed · #1 03-09-2004, 02:15 PM

lo everybody.

I am about to buy this guitar from a guy.
and he claims that it is an rg550 but it looks more like an rg250 to me...

should i still but it? or is it inferior to rg550?
or is it an rg550 as he claims??

plz help!

thanx.

images:
http://w1.261.telia.com/~u26115571/ib1.jpg
http://w1.261.telia.com/~u26115571/ib2.jpg

Longhair · #2 03-09-2004, 02:27 PM

lo bob.

You bring pie?

Anyways, ask him for the serial number and then check out Rich's site (Ibanez Rules - banner on the top) and look in the catalog for the options of the year made.

C = Cort Korea
F = Fuji Japan (RG4xx and up models made there)

The first number of the serial is the year it was made. If it was made after 98 (I think, then the first 2 numbers would be the year)

I hope that helps you out.

Rich · #3 03-09-2004, 02:32 PM

It's got an Edge trem on it so it's probably a 550 with replaced pickups.

frankfalbo · #4 03-09-2004, 02:46 PM

It's not a 250, its definitely a 5xx because its Japanese and its got the pickguard. But I don't think the 550 ever had a rosewood board. It's the old neck joint so its pre '94. Hey wait... I just found my 1987-ish pamphlet with the first 550's on it along with all the roadstar style guitars (440's etc.) and it has a black one with a rosewood board. It's listed that way in the '88 catalog too. It seems the black one didn't get a maple board until '89 so it's pretty old, but in a good way. It's the first year or two of the 550. I'd buy it unless its beat up. 15 years can really do bad things to a guitar, especially one with a wizard neck and a lock nut. One the upside, lots of people prefer those early wizard neck shapes. They're a little more "V" shaped.

ikosaed · #5 03-09-2004, 03:09 PM

thanx for all response!
but..the reason i think its a rg250 is because of this pic:
http://www.musicasa.com/messe-namm/i...anez_RG250.jpg
and as you can see it has a pickguard..and also it looks just like the one om my images...except for the "rg-series" text on the headstock..

frankfalbo: are you sure rg250 has no pickguard? got any pics?

Rich · #6 03-09-2004, 03:13 PM

You can clearly see the TRS trem on that 250 pic.

ikosaed · #7 03-09-2004, 03:19 PM

what should i check for to see if its beat up? any tips?

Rich · #8 03-09-2004, 03:21 PM

Look closer

ikosaed · #9 03-09-2004, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich

Look closer

i did and edited my post, but u were to quick to reply =)

Rich · #10 03-09-2004, 03:32 PM

Ask tons of questions and get more pics

MALAM · #11 03-09-2004, 05:23 PM

Looks like an RG505BK

TAorama · #12 03-09-2004, 05:30 PM

It's probably a legit RG550 since it's got the Edge trem and not the TRS. You could get the 550 with a rosewood fretboard.

dex · #13 03-09-2004, 06:22 PM

Yeah it's a RG505EXBK (European/Asian model) and it was available in 94 and 95.
I can tell by the EDGE and because the RG550EX only came in GK (never in BK) which is way shinyer and with lo-pro.
The neck on this one is wizard II and it originaly came with V7/S1/V8 pickups.

Jono or Richard (spagbol) might know more about it.

ilia

anuj · #14 03-09-2004, 07:38 PM

older RGs didn't have the 'RG Series' text.

~A

frankfalbo · #15 03-09-2004, 07:53 PM

In the '94 US catalog they had already switched to the AANJ and the RG script. This is older. And I wasn't saying it wasn't a 2xx because of the pickguard, I was saying that's what made it a 550 and not something like a 570 or whatever. I think it's an '88 RG550. I don't know if the knobs are stock but the '87 550 pic has metal dome knobs, and the '88 catalog shows the strat knobs.