Ibanez RG550 Genesis - anyone have any experience?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Rex Rocker
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Rex Rocker

Rex Rocker

Well-known member
I kinda want one. Are they good?

I know they're Japanese-made at Fujigen. But I used to have a Fujigen-made RG570 from the late 90's which was pretty solid, but the attention to detail stuff (the fret ends, the fingerboard edges, the finish, the quality of the woods, etc.) wasn't as awesome as my Prestige. Are these kinda like that too?

Also... if you have one, would you happen to have pics to share? :D
 
I just played one a week ago, everything I’d expect from a MIJ Ibanez. It was used at GC but couldn’t have been older than a year and barely played. Really, the fact you can get a guitar of that quality for $800 in 2024 is pretty fucking crazy.

I won’t touch their Premium line with a 10 foot pole, but based off all the Genesis models I’ve played, I’d have no problem ordering one without playing it first.
 
I had a yellow one for a couple years. It was a cool guitar, thin neck, played great. To me it was the epitome of an Ibanez shredder. Prices are pretty good too.
 
I don't, but they did reissue my #1 from 92 in the new Genesis line...it's on my radar as I want the same guitar for standard tuning.....does it hold up to the original? I had a prestige RGA121vlf for a while next to it, and while it was a great quality guitar it didn't have the mojo of my Purple Ibby...of course it was played-in like a mf :cool: so probably not fair but, yeah one of those new ones is on my radar too, would be cool to see them side by side. Post about it if you pick one up!
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😂
 
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I looked at them pretty hard, but hate the stock pickups, so factor in that expense if you're wanting better pickups. No case. Factor that in.

In short, a Prestige is better made, (IMO), better pickups, and nice case. I paid $1359 for mine brand new, and don't think anything touches it from a build and value standpoint. Excellent guitar. Nicer in every way than any Charvel or Jackson I've owned, and crazy good for the price, (factoring in Japanese craftsmanship, Dimarzio Air Norton and Tone Zone, and beautiful case). Prestige all the way.
 
I had one in 2018? It was great. The stock pickups aren’t awesome, but they functioned well with my band, being able to cover a lot of ground. I recently thought about getting one again.
 
SoooRad said:
I had one in 2018? It was great. The stock pickups aren’t awesome, but they functioned well with my band, being able to cover a lot of ground. I recently thought about getting one again.
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I tried to find one upgraded already. They're out there.
 
Only reason I wont buy any new ibanez is most have the super wizard necks that are thinner than the original wizard necks.
 
demondestroyer said:
Only reason I wont buy any new ibanez is most have the super wizard necks that are thinner than the original wizard necks.
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Yeah, towards the last frets.

My RG570 had the Super Wizard too. At that time, "super" in the name just meant it had a Wenge (or Bubinga, not sure) strip down the middle and a scarf joint to make it more resistant. Dimensions were the same as the original Wizard.

I see these new ones are thinner towards the higher frets and maybe slightly wider too. I dig that, personally.
 
napalmdeath said:
I looked at them pretty hard, but hate the stock pickups, so factor in that expense if you're wanting better pickups. No case. Factor that in.

In short, a Prestige is better made, (IMO), better pickups, and nice case. I paid $1359 for mine brand new, and don't think anything touches it from a build and value standpoint. Excellent guitar. Nicer in every way than any Charvel or Jackson I've owned, and crazy good for the price, (factoring in Japanese craftsmanship, Dimarzio Air Norton and Tone Zone, and beautiful case). Prestige all the way.
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The thing about the pickups on Prestiges is that even if I love them, I'd probably swap them out at some point. I'm a tinkerer, and the first thing I like to experiment with on a guitar are pickups. The big downside I see to Prestiges' pickups is that most of them are direct mounted. That can be a PITA when it comes to what other pickups you can fit in there.
 
Rex Rocker said:
Yeah, towards the last frets.

My RG570 had the Super Wizard too. At that time, "super" in the name just meant it had a Wenge (or Bubinga, not sure) strip down the middle and a scarf joint to make it more resistant. Dimensions were the same as the original Wizard.

I see these new ones are thinner towards the higher frets and maybe slightly wider too. I dig that, personally.
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Yep. I like most of the original wizards but with super wizards if ya get past the 12th fret its just too thin and dont feel right to me.
 
Personally, what I'm concerned about is that middle single coil, but I'm aware getting a replacement pickguard for those is not too hard, is it?
 
Rex Rocker said:
Personally, what I'm concerned about is that middle single coil, but I'm aware getting a replacement pickguard for those is not too hard, is it?
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From what I've read the pickguards don't line up exactly with the old 550 ones, unfortunately(already looked into it)
 
Best guitars for the money right now, bar-none. Only downside is that Ibanez stock pickups always suck, but nothing a $100 set of used DiMarzios or Duncans can't fix.
 
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It’s a great guitar especially for the price! It’s odd because I hate the Ibanez stock V7 / V8 pickups but these don’t sound anything like them. I’m wondering if they made changes to those model pickups over the years?? I had V7 / V8 in and Ibanez prestige that I was able to compare them too and the pickups in the Genesis were much better. Much clearer, much more alive sounding and it just felt better / easier to play. I’ve since changed the stick pickups in the prestige to dimarzio’s but I’m still using the stock in the Genesis.

I gotta say though…. Out of all the Ibanez’s I have and have had, my favorite is still my Indonesian made RG 3XXV. I really love the feel of the Wizard III neck!
 
Rex Rocker said:
Yeah, towards the last frets.

My RG570 had the Super Wizard too. At that time, "super" in the name just meant it had a Wenge (or Bubinga, not sure) strip down the middle and a scarf joint to make it more resistant. Dimensions were the same as the original Wizard.

I see these new ones are thinner towards the higher frets and maybe slightly wider too. I dig that, personally.
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Yeah, me too. They're over 43MM at the nut. Slightly wider than my SG. I love wide necks.
 
Purpleibby said:
From what I've read the pickguards don't line up exactly with the old 550 ones, unfortunately(already looked into it)
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I’d be willing to bet Perle has something available, dude’s been making aftermarket Ibanez stuff for over a decade now.
 
Can't speak for the pickups, but I played one for a minute in a shop recently and it was really nice. I haven't liked the Prestige neck shape since maybe 2010 because the backs seemed to have gotten flatter and flatter over the years, but this one was more of a thin C shape. It reminded me of my old RG550.
 
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