RG550 neck pocket

[Dave67]

Why do the 550 neck joints crack? It caused by the owners, or is it a defect in the guitar? I have looked at 4 550 and all have had some degree of cracking at the neck joint. Are the older ones les prone to this? I he ones I have looked are the 91-92.

[AirGuitar]

All the old style neck joint Ibanez guitars are prone to it, and its very commonplace! A lot of them are caused by shipping shock, but any knock can cause them really.

The new all access neck joints dont suffer nearly as badly from them.

[Redrabit1]

Mostly when you see a "crack" in the neck pocket of an older (RG or other) series Ibanez it is only within the finish. In other words, the brittle poly finish which is heavy and collected within the curve of the pocket eventually shrinks and cracks. It is usually not a crack in the body of the guitar, simply a finish flaw. Mexican Strats have had similar flaws in the same area.

[crevis]

the pre '03 paint is very brittle and doesn't bond to well with the undercoat so it cracks easily anywhere it is handled alot. Its unlikely the cracks are wood cracks.

[Dee]

I'm wondering if the RG 20th will suffer from paint cracks. I think they made it to the exact same formula as the originals, and of course it has the Tilt neck joint, so this is almost guaranteed to crack, I reckon.

[Dave67]

Thanks for the info on the neck joint. I just can't see paying $500 for something that need to be redone.
I also have a question on the body wood. Some are list as Basswood other are listed as Mahogany, which is right? Did Ibanez change wood on this model?

[Dee]

The 550 has always had a basswood body.

[Dave67]

Thanks Dee.
Thats what I tought.

[Dee]

No sweat Dave. Where did you hear / read that mahogany was used?

[Dave67]

I looked at a used one at the local Guitar Center and the saleman told me that it had mahogany body and maple neck. It was an 89.

[Dee]

OK, I see. He's definitely wrong anyways.

[560licious]

Yea, I guess that salesman figures if he threw in the word "mahogany" that it would sell.

[Dave67]

I would sell if the neck pocket wasn't cracked, the ferts worn down, and price wasn't the same as the model.
I have no problem with Basswood, my RS440 is basswood and sound great.