Spot the difference anyone ?

[GaryUK]

The new RG1550 prestige and the old RG550 - with the exception of adding the 1 and the word prestige what exactly makes it any different ?

Is the emperor wearing new clothes ?

[Ibateur]

Maybe it should be "Feel the difference?"

The word prestige implies extra TLC to the guitar. I don't buy this really.

[GaryUK]

Got it ! you get an edge pro instead of an edge . and it says prestige on the headstock, still the insipid pick ups though

[matt_cater]

who cares? its still a kickass guitar

[toshiro]

Let's see:

Changed bridge(including where the rout is, so new CNC file)

Changed nut to front mount instead of the through the neck screws

Upgraded neck to 'Prestige' spec. I believe this included the end of the scarf-joint, though not sure.

Plus, they made it far easier for the "average joe" to tell the Japanese RGs from the Korean ones. All the MIJ models have a 4 digit number in the US at least.

[marianozz]

direct mounted crap pups...

[Two hands31]

Originally Posted by marianozz

direct mounted crap pups...

What's wrong with direct mounted pickups exactly?

[zEr0]

It think he meant the pick-ups suck. Not the fact they are mounted.

[Ibanez-Mag]

Originally Posted by GaryUK

The new RG1550 prestige and the old RG550 - with the exception of adding the 1 and the word prestige what exactly makes it any different ?

Is the emperor wearing new clothes ?

Some of the differences are, as some already pointed out.

The neck is a Prestige one, it is actually more then just a name. What they do with the Prestige neck is that they go through a couple of more stages of finishing then the non Prestige ones.
I have tried the same neck before and after it has been “Prestiged” and the difference it makes is that it feels smother, more like a neck that has been played and worn in.
The looking nut is mounted from the front of the neck instead of with holes through the neck.
The reason for that is to get more wood where the guitar is most likely to break if you drop it.

All the electronic parts, except for the pickups, has been changed compared to the really old 550 but not is you compare it to the latest level of 550 just before it became 1550.

The tremolo is a new one, but someone already said that so I leave that.

Originally Posted by Ibateur

The word prestige implies extra TLC to the guitar. I don't buy this really.

You would buy it if you tried the same neck before and after, trust me.
It’s not like a night and day difference but it is very much there.
But you are right that it is a feel thing.

Originally Posted by marianozz

direct mounted crap pups...

No, the RG1550 doesn’t have direct mounted pups but the RG1570 do.
It is the same pickups as the 1550 & 550 always have. They had the same pickups on the early 80’s models as they have now.

[GaryUK]

seems like just some needless tweaking to me, the way they were was fine

[marianozz]

yup my bad, i was thinking about the 570/1570

[Ibanez-Mag]

Originally Posted by GaryUK

seems like just some needless tweaking to me, the way they were was fine :D

Well, it is just small upgrades and I guess they felt a need for a name change when they introduced the new tremolo system.
I think that’s okay, even if it basically is the same guitar.

[GaryUK]

i've owned a 550 for 3 years now, and it just seems a shame they've changed it - i think they had it right except for the pickups.
and the way it only comes in black

[Ibanez-Mag]

Originally Posted by GaryUK

i've owned a 550 for 3 years now, and it just seems a shame they've changed it - i think they had it right except for the pickups.
and the way it only comes in black

Well, they have to upgrade things some times to keep the market interested. It's just normal marketing things.
And no matter what they do, there will always be people that think it was better before.
And if they don’t do anything, then people will think that it’s the same things in the Ibanez catalogue every year, and there for boring,
I have more then 15 year old 550 and brand new 1550 and they are about the same, close enough to be the same guitar.

The pickups are not the best in the world, but more then good enough for the money you pay for the guitar, it is still a cheep guitar that we are talking about.

[Two hands31]

Besides, there's enough original RG-550s in the used market right now. You could find one relatively easily if you wanted one. And if not, what's stopping you from going for the 1550?