Need to Identify older RG550 year

[OklaStar]

It was desert Yellow.
It has the square neck pocket.
The headstock matched the body color.
It is scalloped from the 12th fret down.
The neckplate says Ibanez Japan on it.
The Trem is the original edge but the bar is a collar screw on type, not the press in.
The jackplate is a square piece of metal, not the drilled in hole.

The serial number is gone. It is 100% a japanese 550.

Any ideas what year it is?

[IbanezFreak777]

The RG550 never had scalloped fretts so that info wont help.

My DY had the matching colored headstock and it was a 1990 model, possibly what yours is.

But someone will have a more informed answer then me. Unfortunatly without the serial number, its gona be hard to accuratly pinpoint the exact date...

after re reading your description, I find it weird that its the original edge with a screw in type whammy bar.

Why not post up pics, that will help alot more...

[jazzedout]

The jacplate, the scalloped frets and the trem bar are modifications to your guitar. They never came like this from the factory. Do you think that the back of the headstock is sanded down (so the serial is sanded as well)? Or are there any glue leftovers or a rectangular discoloration at the back of the headstock? This would indicate a 1987 model where they had stickers with the serial numbers. Hope this helps...

[OklaStar]

I was wondering what the last year they used the square neck pocket on the 550 was?
I have an 87 that doesn't have a matching headstock.

[jemaholic]

If I recall correctly, the matching painted headstocks on 550's were only available in 90-91' models.

~j

[Jay777]

My friend bought a Desert Yellow RG550 in 1992 but it was a 1991 and had a matching headstock. I then went out and bought my first ever Ibanez which was the 1991 Lazer Blue version also with matching headstock and still have it today.

6 months after he bought the DY550 he lost his job and sold it to a second-hand store for £30 without telling anyone...

[OklaStar]

They always do that. Sell it without telling anyone.
My friends have sold marshall tube amps for $100 without telling me, 83 Charvel strat head graphic for $350, 83 Dean ml flametops for less than $300.

Thanks for your help everyone, Im sure it is a 90-92 RG550

[HDS]

Is this the one that was listed on craigslist in Atlanta for $125? That sucker lasted all of 20mins LOL

[OklaStar]

No, I've had this one in the attic in pieces for 10+ years with the paint sanded off it.

[Dee]

Originally Posted by jemaholic

If I recall correctly, the matching painted headstocks on 550's were only available in 90-91' models.

~j

Not true. 1987 originals also had matching heads. The only year they didn't have matching heads was 1988 or 1989.

Originally Posted by OklaStar

I was wondering what the last year they used the square neck pocket on the 550 was?
I have an 87 that doesn't have a matching headstock.

1993 or 1994 saw the introduction of AANJ.

There may have been a few early ones that sneaked through with black headstocks.

[OklaStar]

Thank you to everyone for the info.
Very helpful.