What year did Ibanez starting stamping serial #'s...

[cjl5150]

instead of using stickers and when did they start using the AANJ on RG's. I just put some money down on an RG550 that I think is Candy Red-it's a metallic medium red w/ a matching headstock (Road Flare Red is kind of pinkish colored if I remember right). It doesn't have an AANJ...hmmm...

[nuno]

IIRC, AANJ RGs came out in '93. and i think they dropped the sticker serials around '88. they actually switched from plate serials to stickers in '87 (except for Bensalem's assembled which ran thru '89 i think), and then to stamped serials in '90/91. just guessing.

anyway, what's the point?

[cjl5150]

Originally Posted by nuno

IIRC, AANJ RGs came out in '93. and i think they dropped the sticker serials around '88. they actually switched from plate serials to stickers in '87 (except for Bensalem's assembled which ran thru '89 i think), and then to stamped serials in '90/91. just guessing.

anyway, what's the point?

Sorry, my posting was so unclear. I am trying to date an RG550 that I just put some money down on. I should pick it up tomorrow. It is missing the serial number, so I am assuming that it had a sticker at one time. It also has a neckplate instead of the AANJ. It is actually the second RG550 that I have found recently that was missing the serial number sticker. Very cool guitar. I can't wait to get it.

[nuno]

Originally Posted by cjl5150

It also has a neckplate instead of the AANJ.

ok, then if i guessed right in my earlier post, we're rockin' within a 1987 to 1988 range. and if it's really an RFR, then you got an '87 or '88 RG550RFR. nice score, man, but we NEED pics

[SeanB]

Originally Posted by nuno

but we NEED pics

I second that

[cjl5150]

I'm picking it up this afternoon. I don't think it's RFR. RFR is sort of pink, right. I think this might be Candy Apple. It's metal flake medium red with a matching headstock. I think that would make it '91-'93. I'm not sure. Thanks for the info.


-Chuck

[AleTheNervo]

about sticker serials I got a '94 rg with sticker...only to know

[nuno]

Originally Posted by AleTheNervo

about sticker serials I got a '94 rg with sticker...only to know

that's weird, never seen one. can you give us the whole number? and what model?

[AleTheNervo]

sorry...it was a mistake...i just confused sticker serial with the sticker printed model (wich I also think is waird...never seen other). The sticker is on the back of the headstock and reports the model: rg470f/tbl...serial s4082672

[nuno]

Originally Posted by AleTheNervo

sorry...it was a mistake...i just confused sticker serial with the sticker printed model (wich I also think is waird...never seen other).

yes, there's the sticker number and the decal.

sticker (1987 - early 1988 ):




decal (1988 - today):





there's also a stamped number, but that's rarer (J-Customs and so):




or both stamped and decal:



(dates are just my guessing)

[cjl5150]

Well, this rg550 looks to be Candy Apple Red, with a matching headstock, Edge Tremolo, V1, S1, and an aftermarket EMG 81, and it is missing the serial number sticker. Wouldn't the color put it in '91 or so? So, then why the missing decal? Unless, they were still using stickers at this time?

[nuno]

Originally Posted by cjl5150

...looks to be Candy Apple Red, matching headstock, Edge Tremolo, V1, S1. Wouldn't the color put it in '91 or so?

granted it is a pre-1993 (no AANJ), according to USA/Japan catalogs it MIGHT be a '90/'91. that's when we see Candy Apple and Burgundy Red in catalogs first time. Dee's database needed

Originally Posted by cjl5150

So, then why the missing decal?

people is stupid

[nuno]

btw, maple or rosewood board? and thick or standard neck plate?

[cjl5150]

It's maple. I wasn't aware that there were two different neckplates. I'll have to look at it when I get home.

[nuno]

here's the two kind of plates for you to see:

thick plate (Bensalem):



standard plate (Japan):