The key differences are pretty important....... the first of which is the trem. You didn't say if you were looking at a new or used RG350. I'm assuming it's used. The 350 came with MANY different trems throughout the years (Lo-TRS, Edge2, Edge-Pro2, Edge 3) all of which are vastly inferior to the 2 trems on the RG550's (Original Edge or Lo-Pro Edge) The stock RG550 IS a professional level guitar (though most players change out the V7-V8 pickups) The stock RG350 is NOT a pro level guitar. It's easy enough to upgrade the 350 to professional levels, but will not do the trick in stock form.

Other differences:
Neck Profile: RG550- Wizard (Super Wizard 1997-2002)/ RG350 Wizard 2 (Wizard 3 for 2011)
fretboard- RG550 Maple with 430mm radius / RG350 Rosewood with 400mm radius
Pickups- RG550- Ibanez V-series/ RG350- Ibanez INF series (inferior to the V-series)
Input jack- RG550 recessed heavy duty barrel jack/ RG350 external mount not heavy duty.
Hardware(tuners,nut...etc) RG550 Gotoh premium/ RG350 ibanez branded not as heavy duty.

I'm sure I'm forgetting some differences, but this should get you started.

Ryc

 

Thanks man, that really summed it up for me.
How would I go about turning the 350 into a pro-level guitar

 

That really depends on the year of the 350........usually the cost of doing this will put it over what you can buy a pristine 550 for though......... the trem alone will cost you close to $200 or more depending on your choice.

 

There are also other options to the 550 as well......If you don't "have to have" a pickguard, the RG570 and RG520 are IDENTICAL to the 550 save the pickguard and pickup configuration. For some strange reason (I've been trying to figure it out for years) the 520 and 570 almost always sell for $100-$150 less than their 550 counterpart.

 

are edge 3s really that bad? how much better is the original edge?

 

In the real world......... The Edge 3 can do it's job, but it's by no means reliable or stable (see shredders comment above). If your not going to use it much, it should be OK, but don't rely on it keeping tune for long. The Original Edge and the Lo-Pro are arguably the MOST stable and reliable trem's ever made...bar none. There are MAJOR differences between the ED/LP and any of the "value trems"

On the upside, I believe the Edge3 can be replaced by either an Original Floyd Rose, a Schaller FR, or a Gotoh FR..........All very good trems!!

 

Well, i have never Played on a edge, but i do have a 350, and the edge 3 may not be as bad as some say, but my arm holder broke, making it unusable. I am buying a gotoh for it in a few days when they get in stock online. The edge is made from better materials, and better arm socket. The 350 neck is really good, with having great fretwork. It is thicker than the 550, still nice. If you can find a used 550 (which i am having a hard time doing) id recommend getting it. The two things holding the 350 back is the trem and pickups, other than that its a great guitar.

 

thanks guys, this has helped.

i think i'm gonna go test a 350 out again

 

You should also know that the new RG350MP (white only) has the new EZ-2 bridge...... the same bridge thats on all of the Ibanez RG Premium guitars. the new EZ2 looks VERY promising as a pro level contender. See AlaskaBat's review on it here:

http://www.jemsite.com/forums/f16/ngd-premium-rg920qm-110181-2.html

and here:

http://www.youtube.com/user/bengalsfanatic9?feature=mhum

 

Do yourself a favor and go with a 550.

I've tried the upgrading route and it's not the same. I recently made the move to a Rg560 which is the same as a 550 except it has a ssh setup. To me the 350 doesn't come close to the 550.

For the one who said they couldn't find a used RG550 I say look on ebay, this site, or Guitar Center used gear section. They always seem to have the black one for $399

Anyway, hope this helps.

P.S

For the 2011 models Ibanez had made the switch from Edge III to the Edge Zero II

 

Do yourself a favor and go with a 550.

I've tried the upgrading route and it's not the same. I recently made the move to a Rg560 which is the same as a 550 except it has a ssh setup. To me the 350 doesn't come close to the 550.

For the one who said they couldn't find a used RG550 I say look on ebay, this site, or Guitar Center used gear section. They always seem to have the black one for $399

Anyway, hope this helps.

P.S

For the 2011 models Ibanez had made the switch from Edge III to the Edge Zero II

thanks man, that makes perfect sense to me

 

is this a 550? to my understanding its a 1997 550 when they added the AANJ

http://www.fortmadisonguitars.com/products/Ibanez-Rg-hot-floresent-pink-Floyd-and-more.html

 

Yes that appears to be a '97 RG550 20th anniversary model in Road Flare Red.... A VERY nice guitar. The price is not bad, but as Matt has said, they can be found for a better price quite easily.

I suggest you go to GuitarCenter online and do a used search first for the RG570... all of which are priced lower than that RG550. and then do a search for RG550's you'll see the obvious price difference.

I would also go on ebay and do a search for all of the following:

RG520
RG550
RG560
RG570
RG750
RG760
RG770

You'll find a lot of great guitar's at good prices. When your positive of the model you want....come back here to Jemsite and post a wanted to buy add in the classifieds. There is always someone that will be willing to sell you a quality guitar for a great price. We all know each other here, and usually each other's equipment. With that it should be easy to find a VERY high quality instrument in your price range.

Ryc

 

Has Been Purchased

thanks for the help everyone

 

hi, i hope someone could help me please!

i am going to try and build a guitar, i have bought most of the parts i need except a few including a pick guard! I am not sure if the body is a RG350 or a 550?

how could i tell the difference? i have also got a neck off a 550 which fits like a glove, would this also fit a 350 or does this mean the body must be a 550?

any help on this matter would be great, as i do not know how to start a new thread!

thnaks, tom!

 

Hi Tom, Welcome to Jemsite!!

Yes a 550 neck will fit on a 350 body, but the screw holes MAY be in a slightly different location.

Is your body an original Ibanez body?......If it is there should be a stamp in the neck pocket telling you exactly what body it is.

 

hi, and thanks for the reply!

i think the guitar has already previously had a re-spray and sparyed over where the model number should be.

is there any other big difference between the two models or will a pick guard from either model fit both?

thanks!

 

550s don't have jackplates--they have barrel jacks. No--a 350 guard will not line up right on a 550 body. Get a custom guard at pickguardheaven.com

 

thank you both very much, i now know where i am and can order the guard!