Quality Control - Slight Flaws

RG550 · #1 02-15-2001, 01:35 AM

I really like my Ibanez RG550 guitar and it great to play, sound great and my playing has improved by leaps and bounds since I got it (about 2 weeks ago). This is my first good quality guitar, prior to this I had an old 'Silver Series' Squier Strat.
The question I'm really asking is: When I bought the guitar new from the store I had looked it over and it seemed fine. But since then I have started to notice small annoying things. The color has started to come of the pickup screws (they started off Black and now they are nearly totally silver), There was a lump of glue on the fingerboard which I very carefully tried to remove and it took the finish of the fingerboard with it. The paint job on the body is pretty thin, If I look at it I can see the wood joins clearly. There are also a couple of areas where there must have been chips or dents in the basswood and they have been painted over. Also on the bottom horn the paint has reacted.
Like I said I really like the guitar and it cost me a lot of money (not compared to a jem but for me it was a lot).
I'm trying to save up for a JEM and things like this that might seem trivial to some people but they really annoy me. I take very good care of my guitars, even my Squier Strat, it is still in immaculate condition after 8 years of constant playing.

littlegreenman · #2 02-15-2001, 01:55 AM

That sounds really out man. *Was it a new guitar? *If it was, I'd almost take it back for a new one. *I've owned everything Ibanez from the el cheapo's to the top of the line stuff and I've never had glue on the fretboard or paint that reacted! *There shouldn't be any joint lines in the body that I know of. *I could maybe see the grain showing through a bit if the paint has shrunk a lot though.
The colour wearing off of the screws is pretty normal, even the cosmo black trems look more silver after awhile. *(though not after 2 weeks)
Even on the cheap Ibanez's (which the 550 is not really what I consider a cheap Ibanez) the paint is still pretty thick!
It almost sounds to me like you got a refinished guitar that someone decided to sell as new. *I hope I'm wrong, but if I was you I'd return it and ask them to order you a new one.
I guess the best thing to decide is do you like that particular 550 enough to put up with the flaws (which from how you described them sound pretty major to me for finish flaws) or are the flaws going to really bug you.
Whatever you decide, congrats on the new guitar and have fun with it!!!
Jeremy

Noodles · #3 02-15-2001, 02:50 AM

There are a few little things with my 7620 I would like to voice. Things like I can see the undercoat near the input jack, 5-way switch screws and aanj. Also I have yet to see a japanese made non prestige model(at least in the guitar store I go to) that does not have at least one side dot that is not lined up with the rest of the dots.

IBZ Freak · #4 02-15-2001, 02:50 AM

Yeah, that's a smokin' guitar man I'd be bustin'
some chops at the guitar store! Glue on the fretboard?
that's not cool, I'd take it back quick if you're gonna
do it. Ibanez'll *hook you up! The guitar shop
should of caught that before it was put out on the floor.

Good Luck-
Jeff

RG550 · #5 02-15-2001, 03:09 AM

I got the usual repons from the guitar store, a shrug of the shoulders. They were really not very helpful at all. Apart from a receipt I never got any paperwork with the guitar at all, no warranty, no instructions and no allen keys.
Is there anyway I can deal with Ibanez directly?

Coolstu · #6 02-15-2001, 03:46 AM

You should really get in touch with either Ibanez or there distributor in your area if the store are really that bad to deal with because at the end of the day I'd imagine the last thing Ibanez want is people like that selling there guitars.
I know hindsight is a great thing but It is always advisable to buy your guitars from stores with a good name. You should have piece of mind then and know if anything does go wrong then you will have some sort of back up.

Doink · #7 02-15-2001, 04:03 AM

What's the serial number and color? If the color doesn't match the year, it may very well be a refinish.
How did you remove that glue? Sandpaper? Thinner? Knife? I would have tried sandpaper.
The finish wearing off of the screws could be caused by sweat. Did you have this problem with your strat? Do you notice your strings get corroded rather quickly? It could just be the way your sweat reacts with the metal and finish.
What's the name of the guitar store? We like to keep tabs on places to avoid!

Look on the bright side, this gives you a good excuse to strip down the neck. Look in the Jemsite tech guide for more info.
And if you're feeling daring, you can try experimenting with different body finishes!

RG550 · #8 02-15-2001, 04:16 AM

The serial Number of my guitar is: F0027159 and it is an RG550BK. It is all black with a black scratchplate, black hardware, maple fingerboard with a bubbinga skunk stripe. The guys in the shop said that it was only available in black.
I picked the glue of with my nails as I did not want to mark the fingerboard but it didn't make any difference.
I have never had a problem with sweat, as I said I really look after my guitars. I clean it every time I have finish playing it. My Squier strat has no rust or oxidisation on it at all as I cleaned it very regularly. I have never ever had a problem with the strings corroding quickly.
It is BRAND NEW and I don't want to start re-finishing it yet. Does anyone know what finish is on the neck?

(Edited by RG550 at 3:20 am on Feb. 15, 2001)

Noodles · #9 02-15-2001, 05:22 AM

Well the paint should be black but that does not prove anything they still could have refinished it.

RG550 · #10 02-15-2001, 05:42 AM

What should I do?
Going by the serial number can you tell what month and year the guitar was produced?

Noodles · #11 02-15-2001, 05:51 AM

F stands for the factory it was made in. 00 stands for the year 2000, and I think 27159 means it was the 27,159th guitar mde in 2000 or something like that.

Doink · #12 02-16-2001, 07:09 AM

The color, date, and bubinga stripe all match. Usually Ibanez is notorius for thick paint jobs. This kind of baffles me.
We're still stumped about the finish Ibanez has been using on their necks in recent years, but Frank Falbo suggests using J E Mosers tung oil if you like the feel of the Prestige's and JS 1000. I plan on doing this to all my guitars in the next few weeks.

wulpul · #13 02-17-2001, 02:45 PM

So Mr RG550 What have you done about your finish flaws? Have you had any luck sorting it out yet?

RG550 · #14 02-17-2001, 10:13 PM

No luck Whatsoever

*I took it back to the store where I bought it and they basically said that it had nothing to do with them and that when they sold me the guitar that it was in perfect condition. :angry:
Another thing is that when I bought the guitar I got nothing with it all. No warranty cars, no Instructions, NOT even an allen key or a gig bag.
I really dont know where to go from here

Rich · #15 02-17-2001, 10:29 PM

You don't get a gig bag or case unless you buy it. You DO get an intruction sheet and a full tool set. If you're in the US you get a warranty card, if you're not in the US you don't (from my experience)