Hey guys, thanks for your time...
I recently aquired a BRAND NEW (new old stock) Original '91 RG 550 (White/Maple). When I say "New" I mean virtually untouched, unplayed, has the plastic and brown paper covering the input jack cover, and truss rod covers, still has the original strings that were installed at the fuji-gen factory back in '90. It is 1000% perfect in every way, just like it would have hung on the wall of your favorate Ibanez dealer back in 1991. I would argue that this has been handled by fewer hands than anything "new" on the wall at the average Guitar Center.
The back story is this: It was part of a music stores inventory back in the day, and somehow managed to get tucked away in the storeroom for all intents and purposes "lost"... For almost 20 years...it was found late last year by an employee, who subsiquently bought it, and knowing what it was, hung it on the wall in a glass case for the last few months until deciding to sell it. I can only assume I was appearantly the first to see it for sale and snatched it up instantly. (still jumping up and down inside...lol)
Normally, this would become my main guitar, and I would spend the rest of my days gleefully ripping it up, basking in it's shear perfection, just like I did back in '87 when I brought the first 550DY the store got in home. But, alas... I realize what this thing is probably worth to a collector, altho I am quite sure of the thousands of RG 550's made, there have got to be many in collections out there in "MINT" condition....but of those...how many have been touched by (probably)less than 5 people since the man who signed off on it the day it was finished?..how many still have the factory strings that are still new? ....and how many of those are the rarest color...White? To me playing this guitar would be beyond stupid. It needs/deserves to be hanging on a wall behind glass in a collection or museum with a label that reads..."One of, (if not THE) the most pristine examples of the legendary Ibanez RG 550 left on planet earth".
So, I am left with the question....what is it worth?....what is there to compare it to to judge value?...Only thing I can really do is ask the people who know these beautiful god-like instruments best... you guys. I would really appreciate any opinions or input you guys may have. Either way..."Priceless", or "same as a lightly used one on ****"...
Again thanks for your time.
