Need advice pronto on buying a new RG !! Guys !! Help !!

Max Payne · #1 05-31-2003, 12:44 PM

Hey guys, been away for a while and I'm still knee deep in crap. I got into UPENN and I'll be in Philly in August hopefully. Now the thing is that I really want a new guitar and I've narrowed it down to in-between the RGT42 and the RG550. The thing is I have various queries. Firstly, I currently own a GSA60 which like most guitars has a bolt on neck. Unfortunately, my knowledge of neck through guitars is very very limited. Can you guys enlighten me on this prospect ? Furthuremore, I'd like to keep the price tag to $450 max. So It'd be great if you guys could hand me some important info on this stuff. Thanks guys !

Given to Fly · #2 05-31-2003, 01:37 PM

I personally suggest going for the 550 because you'll have the best bridge on it. Neck thru is cool but I don't think it over rides the importance of a quality bridge in this case. Hope that helps. Good Luck in deciding.

RG-Head · #3 05-31-2003, 03:07 PM

and if the neck snaps in the RGT42, your screwed...

many people don't like painted necks and the RGT42 is painted at the back, it's not a natural finish. This will probs slow down your playing and slidings. But the RGT42 adds better sustain as i heard, i too was going to get the RGT42 but i got put off when someone told me if the neck snaps, i am screwed.

gkelm · #4 05-31-2003, 08:27 PM

Definitely the 550...the trem is the deciding factor.
Greg

germX · #5 05-31-2003, 10:50 PM

the 'sticky' neck factor is true. it's just yesterday that i tried the RGT42 & i felt that the neck hindered my playing. i'd rather you invest in the SZ for a better set neck option...

DirtyBird31 · #6 06-01-2003, 04:26 AM

If you need a solid guitar, the RG550. It will last you years and years, and no matter what you'll be able to fix it...

If you want a fun project guitar to make your guinea pig for all of your evil nefarious desires, then get the RGT42. They look supar niiiiische and I would LOVE to rip one apart and toss a LoPro Edge in there and sand down the neck and tung oil it and put EMG's in it and...

So there. I say you should go with the RG550 in these circumstances.

And I don't know about you guys, but I dont snap my guitar necks very often...

I would be more worried about a neck-thru warping. Ibanez necks are somewhat notorious for that, being as thin as they are, and with a neck-thru you're going to have a hard time de-warping it. Heat-pressing seems to have quite a low success rate...

EdE · #7 06-02-2003, 05:24 PM

Is the $450 with case? If not, what about the RG1550? I picked one up here with case for $480 plus tax. Thought it was a good deal, and I think it blows away the RGT42 in tone. Something I just don't like.....

spacenuke · #8 06-02-2003, 08:01 PM

I say get a used RG550. It'll will last you forever. Mine is 13 years old and it's still going strong. besides, the RG550 is a classic, albeit a very common one.

rty13ibz98 · #9 06-02-2003, 09:04 PM

find a used rg520qs. typically $300-500. awesome axe. nice mix between the 2 axes your looking at.

rich

Max Payne · #10 06-03-2003, 12:34 AM

Thanks again so far dudes but like I said in the other topic, I can't seem to find any RG550s ( or RG520QS) for sale online. The biggest problem is that right now I'm living in Bangladesh and that I'll be hitting NYC sometime in early August. Considering that Penn's orientation program starts on the 28th and that I have to get acclimatised, buy stuff for my dorms and visit relatives , I only have a window of a few days to go shopping for a new guitar. About pricing, well I'd like to fit the guitar and case under 500 bucks. I'll be taking my Zoom 606 with me when I leave for college so all I have to buy is some cables, guitar maintenance gear and a small, cheap amp. Later as I start working in college, I hope to upgrade all the gear to Marshalls and Jems

. This practically means that I'll have to know about some reliable retailers in and around NYC and Philadelphia because my dad's not too big on the idea of making online purchases. Considering that I have a max of 600 or so bucks to dish out on everything including the amp and accessories, what do you think I should do guys ?

RGTFanatic · #11 06-03-2003, 02:39 AM

PLEASE TRUST ME ON THIS ONE.........wait til you find a good 550 and buy it. read my post to understand why!!!

http://www.jemsite.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=17084

spacenuke · #12 06-03-2003, 02:57 AM

just do ebay after you get to Philly.

Max Payne · #13 06-03-2003, 10:58 AM

Thanks Fanatic. I read your post and I'm sorry about what happened. I've always wanted an RG550 but with all this talk about the 550s and the 570s being upgraded to 1550s and 1570s with cool new trems and Prestige necks, I really began thinking. You see this is set to become my very first RG and I've never worked with a Floyd Rose before. Heck my guitar has this really crappy standard trem that makes the tuning go haywire with a single divebomb. That's why I hardly ever use the trem when I'm playing. That's also the reason why I really wanted to find a great retailer around NYC or Philly so that I could do all the experimentation before settling on the axe. Some more words of wisdom please ?

RGTFanatic · #14 06-03-2003, 05:40 PM

No problem Max, I think the best advise anyone could give (my opinion only) would be to keep your eye out for an early 90's RG7xx series, I have two of them, an RG770 that I bought new in 1990 and a '91 RG760 that I bought used last year for $225 in near perfect condition. These guitars feature all of Ibanez's best features. They were ALL assembled here in the US custom factory at Bensalem PA.(bonus.....you should have lots of them around in Philly) They all had origional EDGE trems, Ibanez USA/DiMarzio pickups(hot rodded PAF's) bound neck and headstocks, and switchcraft switches and pots. Be discriminating about your chioce. No matter how great a guitar was in the past it can still be beat to hell now.

Anyway, for the money you want to spend I truly think the 7xx series is, by far, the best way for you to go. This is a guitar that really doesn't need any mods to perform any task you want to accomplish musically.

Good luck,
Ryc

Use this link for reference only: I'm not suggesting that you buy this guitar in particular.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...category=33043

Ibateur · #15 06-04-2003, 06:31 AM

There's actually an ebay auction for an RG550, that looks like a 90,91 RG750. It looks like it is in (pretty damned) good condition.

I've been eye-ing that one for a few days now. Have had email exchange etc with the guy.

Good luck with your search anyway, and I hope you find that guitar. But, (a father speaking) won't it affect your studies?