RG 550 and a few suggestions...

[bringer of torture]

I believe that the recent reissue of the RG550MXX has proven that it could still be a big seller; why not add it to the normal Prestige line? Certainly Ibanez wouldn't balk at the chance to cash in on this wave of RG-mania, would they? I could care less about whether they're an anniversery model or not, but this "limited edition" nonsense has only encouraged everyone and their mother (regardless of whether they want to play it or resell it for more money) to snap them up before the rest of us have had a chance. If these were widely available I would buy three, no questions asked. Ibanez currently stands to gain nothing from skyrocketing **** prices, so why not produce another 5000 or so and make a huge profit (not to mention sending the **** robbers packing)?

Secondly, the RG42DX... Awesome, awesome guitar; I recently got the opportunity to play one in a store and these things shred. However:

1. Why only the white and blue quilt top colour options? This guitar would have looked awesome in Midnight Blue, or even black.

2. I may be in the minority here, but a pickguard really would have made this guitar. When I buy it, the first thing I do will be to install a pickguard as it looks so plain without one.

3. With all of the support for maple fretboards, why do we not have more of them? Chances are that most Ibanez players are maple fans, at least if this site is to be any indication. The new RG350 has an awesome maple fretboard with really cool sharkfins; that could have been put to very good use here, but, sadly, no dice. I don't know about the rest of you, but when I think 'Ibanez' I think 'maple fretboard, RG body, and pickguard.' I've never liked rosewood and it galls me that so many guitars nowadays use this for the fingerboard.

There you have it, just a few suggestions and comments from a guy that's been an Ibanez man for over half his life(The last 14 years or so).

[Jem#5150]

Originally Posted by bringer of torture

I believe that the recent reissue of the RG550MXX has proven that it could still be a big seller; why not add it to the normal Prestige line? Certainly Ibanez wouldn't balk at the chance to cash in on this wave of RG-mania, would they? I could care less about whether they're an anniversery model or not, but this "limited edition" nonsense has only encouraged everyone and their mother (regardless of whether they want to play it or resell it for more money) to snap them up before the rest of us have had a chance. If these were widely available I would buy three, no questions asked. Ibanez currently stands to gain nothing from skyrocketing **** prices, so why not produce another 5000 or so and make a huge profit (not to mention sending the **** robbers packing)?

i could not agree more with this. i only just recently played one of the RG 550 reissues, but chances are that i won't be able to get one when i do have the money. it's quite disappointing.

[bikeman]

I'm not convinced about a new RG550 you know. Have you heard and read the moaning from people who say it's too expensive/too retro and they'd rather just buy a cheap old one? I think Ibanez got it about right. If they'd produced another 5000 they'd be sat on shelves for a long while - not good for business. I think you'll find the reason they've sold as many as they have is because they ARE limited editions and an Anniversary model. People like that special-ness about them.

That said, they haven't sold as well as I thought they might. I expected them all to be sold on pre-sales, but plenty made it to dealers walls by the sound of it.

Supply and demand you see - gotta get it just right, and set your price accordingly

[bringer of torture]

Well, after securing my own RG550MXXRFR I'm not nearly as fervent about this, but I would still like to see more colours introduced. That being said, the photos on the Ibanez website do none of their colours justice at all. I wasn't interested in the least in an RG2550EGK until I saw it elsewhere. Now, I've got one on order and can't wait! My advice to Ibanez would be to make sure that the photos on their website show the finishes as they really are; it would encourage more people (like me) to buy them.

[FloridaNative]

Ay I would LOVE to get a reissue RG. I'm saving my pennies, but I'm sure they'll be all gone by the time I have the cash. I wish there were more as well.

[Sabre]

For one, I hope the anniversary series was a tester on how many would sell, as a future reference to create the neons/RG550's again.

We'll see at summer NAMM, although if they are to bring out RG550's again, I doubt they'll do it at summer NAMM.

[taracatac]

I may be in the minority, but I hate maple fret boards. UGH. We need more ebony!

[waylay00]

They need to brig back the RG550/570 and 750/770 altogether.

[Dee]

Damn right.

The mind boggles as to why they even stopped making the RG550. Sure, it turned into the 1550 (great guitar) and then the 2550, but it gained a rosewood board, a thicker neck, absolutely no finish options, and of course the Edge Pro. Not a bad trem by any means, but IMO it isn't as good as the Lo-Pro or Original Edge!

Ibanez, please cut the crap and give us back the RG550!

[Eco]

People didnt buy them because they were limited edition, they arent the type of guitar thats going to go up by thousands if you leave them unplayed.

It was the fact that, other than the AANJ, they had all the features that got people interested in ibanez guitars.

The majority of ibanez players liked the stick thin neck and crazy neon colours, so even if they put the rg550xxx neck on other guitars they'd see an increase.

[Eco]

Originally Posted by taracatac

I may be in the minority, but I hate maple fret boards. UGH. We need more ebony!

+1

Im not a fan of maple boards either.

[courtney2018]

Originally Posted by waylay00

They need to brig back the RG550/570 and 750/770 altogether.

Originally Posted by Dee

Damn right.

The mind boggles as to why they even stopped making the RG550. Sure, it turned into the 1550 (great guitar) and then the 2550, but it gained a rosewood board, a thicker neck, absolutely no finish options, and of course the Edge Pro. Not a bad trem by any means, but IMO it isn't as good as the Lo-Pro or Original Edge!

Ibanez, please cut the crap and give us back the RG550!

Originally Posted by Eco

People didnt buy them because they were limited edition, they arent the type of guitar thats going to go up by thousands if you leave them unplayed.

It was the fact that, other than the AANJ, they had all the features that got people interested in ibanez guitars.

The majority of ibanez players liked the stick thin neck and crazy neon colours, so even if they put the rg550xxx neck on other guitars they'd see an increase.

+1 to all three for me!

[FloridaNative]

Originally Posted by Dee

Damn right.

The mind boggles as to why they even stopped making the RG550. Sure, it turned into the 1550 (great guitar) and then the 2550, but it gained a rosewood board, a thicker neck, absolutely no finish options, and of course the Edge Pro. Not a bad trem by any means, but IMO it isn't as good as the Lo-Pro or Original Edge!

Ibanez, please cut the crap and give us back the RG550!

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IBANEZ READ HERE!!!
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Oh yes Ibanez! PLEEEEEASE do!!

[dickieboy]

hmmm i like ebony best too, but maple comes a close second, maple looks great when its new but aweful when its well used and worn tho' .. rosewood is kinda boring.. i think ibanez were right to limit the 20th, it makes it a bit special even if in reality its the same'ish old axe.. i have a 2550 too, and altho its a great guitar its not quite an RG 20th to me.. does that sound like the rantings of a sensible man..? my 2550 has gone to the bay as we speak, i just don't want it anymore.. sad but true.. here a pic from happier times..

[waylay00]

I would just kill to have an Ibanez lineup similar to this (I saved these pictures and uploaded them myself, so I am not harming Rich's bandwidth)