RG-550 project

[chris2112]

Hello everyone. I'm new to this forum.

I've been working on this guitar for a bit now and wondered what the paint job would do to the value? My buddy say it won't increase the value at all, but I think he really is trying to buy it on the cheap.

It's sort of lock ness green in color, but not exactly. With the mirrored pickguard, I think of it as a cross between a lockness and a bad horsie. The picture doesn't do it justice. All the dings were filled before it was primed. The color is very deep, with no scratches and very shinny. There are several coats of clear that were cured with a special process. The Ibanez logo was recreated in a silver mirrored foil and is under the clear coat. I was going to put Zak Wild EMGs in it. I'm waiting for a new pickguard though, since this one has all the holes too big. The monkey grip was added too.

Any idea what I could hope for if I put it on ****? I tried a cheaper guitar first. Since it turned out, I might try to find a dinged up 77 to fix up next.

[ToneRanger]

IMO, I'd say that the guitar would be in the $500-$600 range if you put some quality pup's in it, and if it came with a hardshell case. What ever you do, make sure that your new pickguard is a mirrored one also. I think it really adds alot to the green finish. I'm a green kinda guy, so I think the work you did is cool.

Danny

[Gex]

It wont increase the blue book value, but a fancy paint job will improve the appeal, and thus the street price.

Please dont put EMGs in it.

[pawel]

Looks cool, and if you want EMGs, go for it, they would actually look prettu cool with the green and the mirorred guard.

[jimmyfingersminion]

but they sound bad....

[chris2112]

Thanks for the input guys. On the EMGs, I've never really heard of anyone who didn'y like how they sound. I've heard complaints about the hassle of the batery thought. Those same people complain about a locking trem being a hassle.

Maybe I'll just put some cheapie pickups in and let the buyer put whatever they prefer it it. I can sell the EMGs for a fair price, or use them in another guitar.

[Tubarão Guitars]

About the pickguard u have, it's wrong hole sizes cuz you got the rear cavity one.
You'll need the front cavity one, just like on the RG550.
IMO, gonna rock if you put some green Dimarzios and knobs.

[guitarist for hire]

put dimarzio's in they go with that guitar anyways, plus you could colour it up with some nice blue pickups, or whatever.

[DotNetTim]

Dimarzio's just go with these guitars for some reason, but if you like EMG's get them.. I've had them and they rock man! I love the look of your RG.. Where did you get the mirror pickguard? I'm looking for one for my black RG.. I bet it would look great too, espcially sine mine has a maple neck also..
Thanks
Tim

[DotNetTim]

Oh, I just noticed.. Did that guitar come with the HSH pickguard originally? If so, where did you get the HH pickguard.. It's exactly what I'm looking for.. !
Thanks
Tim

[Gex]

Unless your playing Metallica or some angry death metal stuff all the time I would pass on EMGs. Cold, sterile, harsh, toneless, un-natural. . . .I can think of lots of adjectives to describe them.

I would get some dimarzios, so your guitar can have some character to the sound.

[chris2112]

Thanks guys. I wish I could show you a better picture, but this forum really limits the size of the files. I'll check with the guy that does my site at work to see if I can add a link. This guitar is sitting in my room here and it looks better every day. The green is really deep.

On the pickups, I have more guitars than I'd like to admit. For single coil pickups, there is an EMG set that models an older strat. I think those are the best SC available.

For double coils, I don't have that much to go by. I have an EMG 89 in the neck position on my Jackson that I can get greats sounds from. I have a 555 with dimarzios too. Those sound fine too, just a little different. I have a monster Lexicon rig so I can find a patch that sounds good with all of my guitars. I guess its personal preference. I also prefer teh neck position, so my sounds taylor to the neck pickup. If EMGs sound harsh, maybe that gets cancelled with the neck position. I have the EMGs, so I'm going to start there.

On the pickguard, there is a guy that will cut them however you want. Search Ibanez and pickguard on evilbay and he'll show up. Very reasonable - like $24 or something.

I noticed that Via pulls the middle pickup on EVO even with the pickguard - so I suspect he never uses it that low. Thats why I like the 2 double setup.

Here is another project with the chrome film. We might do my buddys black 555 in this. If I ever get my bad horsie, I'll take a comparision shot to see how close it is. This guitar is just a cheapie for some tests.