ADA Depot - A Forum To Support Users of ADA Amplification Gear

Non ADA Gear => Guitars => Topic started by: Systematic Chaos on January 03, 2017, 12:42:06 AM

Title: NGD: '96 MIJ Ibanez RG550Ltd
Post by: Systematic Chaos on January 03, 2017, 12:42:06 AM: Ever since I had one new in 94 I regretted selling it.... This is a version of the famous RG550 that was only sold in Europe and the US, came with a bound rosewood fretboard with sharkfin inlays and a smoke mirror pickguard.
It´s basically a Jem without the monkey grip and lions claw trem cavity.
Every once in a while I been searching eBay, reverb,... for used ones, but the ones that (rarely) popped up had a steep price tag. Just before christmas I found this one on a european classifieds website for 300€ incl a hardshell case. So I contacted the seller (google translate is your friend) and for a grand total of 350€ including shipping it made its way enroute Japan.
Package got delivered today and after a short first inspection it really was a steal. Some minor dings and scratches (can be polished out) and quite some dirt...but frets still have about 85% life in them and the cosmo black hardware doesn´t look like it´s 20years old.
Just took everything apart for a thorough cleaning and refurbishing. Already sanded down the back of the neck with 240 and 320 grit and the first 2 coats of Birchwood Casey Tru-Oil are already soaking in....
DiMarzio Breed Bridge and PAF Pro for the neck are also already enroute. This one´s gonna be a versatile Jem-like shred-stick!
(http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af41/MagnusBausW/IMG_1119_zpsjnqb6ddd.jpg)
(http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af41/MagnusBausW/IMG_1120_zpscga0bsie.jpg)
Title: Re: NGD: `96 MIJ Ibanez RG550Ltd
Post by: rnolan on January 03, 2017, 01:38:30 AM: :whoohoo!: SC, great score :thumb-up: , merry xmas my friend.
BTW how are you finding the AxeFX ? are you missing your ADA preamps ?
Title: Re: NGD: `96 MIJ Ibanez RG550Ltd
Post by: Dante on January 03, 2017, 09:46:18 AM: Whow, I remember those very well. Nice score!

Love the mirrored pickguard, until you sweat all over it :o Same with the black body...those always show so many fingerprints! Grrr... :hair-out:
Title: Re: NGD: `96 MIJ Ibanez RG550Ltd
Post by: MarshallJMP on January 03, 2017, 02:58:29 PM: Nice guitar SC, BTW how many ibby's do you own actually?
Title: Re: NGD: `96 MIJ Ibanez RG550Ltd
Post by: Systematic Chaos on January 03, 2017, 05:42:59 PM: Quote from: MarshallJMP on January 03, 2017, 02:58:29 PM
Nice guitar SC, BTW how many ibby's do you own actually?
Not enough :thumb-up: :thumb-up: :thumb-up:
But I'm working hard to get back to my "pre-divorce inventory" 8) 8)
Title: Re: NGD: `96 MIJ Ibanez RG550Ltd
Post by: MarshallJMP on January 04, 2017, 09:07:41 AM: Well you keep on working then ;D
Title: Re: NGD: `96 MIJ Ibanez RG550Ltd
Post by: Dante on January 07, 2017, 08:35:34 AM: Quote from: Systematic Chaos on January 03, 2017, 05:42:59 PM
Quote from: MarshallJMP on January 03, 2017, 02:58:29 PM
Nice guitar SC, BTW how many ibby's do you own actually?
Not enough :thumb-up: :thumb-up: :thumb-up:

Never were truer words spoken
Title: Re: NGD: `96 MIJ Ibanez RG550Ltd
Post by: Systematic Chaos on January 08, 2017, 07:39:35 PM: Refurb complete! I took her all apart cleaned everything, sanded down the back of the neck (240>320 grit, Tru-Oil/Wax finish), cleaned the fretboard and polished the frets, gave her a set of new electronics (pots, wiring, switch, DiMarzio Breed bridge HB (DiMarzio PAF Pro for the neck still enroute) and buffed/polished the scratches and dings outta the body.
All set up...this baby rawks! No other neck profile feels like the original Wizard! Yummie!!!
(http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af41/MagnusBausW/59ECA91C-CFC3-407E-A3B6-8D77CA7128AD_zpsec4seplf.jpg)
Title: Re: NGD: `96 MIJ Ibanez RG550Ltd
Post by: rnolan on January 09, 2017, 02:47:55 AM: Awesome SC :whoohoo!: . Just looking at the pic I want to play it :thumb-up:
Title: Re: NGD: `96 MIJ Ibanez RG550Ltd
Post by: MarshallJMP on January 09, 2017, 09:15:05 AM: Quote from: rnolan on January 09, 2017, 02:47:55 AM
Awesome SC :whoohoo!: . Just looking at the pic I want to play it :thumb-up:

+1 :thumb-up:
Title: Re: NGD: '96 MIJ Ibanez RG550Ltd
Post by: Systematic Chaos on February 21, 2017, 03:20:20 AM: Restauration (almost) complete....pups are now Breed bridge, HS4 middle and PAF Pro neck.
(https://scontent-nrt1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/16903522_457404551263486_4768286982364744415_o.jpg?oh=bea6ea9fbcc5d8aaab7e6cc9b99a797b&oe=59456F87)

Final step will be refret with Jescar 57110 EVO fretwire...probably in 2 weeks.
Title: Re: NGD: '96 MIJ Ibanez RG550Ltd
Post by: rnolan on February 21, 2017, 04:40:44 AM: :whoohoo!: SC, now you making us/me jealous LoL. Very nice my friend :thumb-up:
Title: Re: NGD: '96 MIJ Ibanez RG550Ltd
Post by: Iperfungus on February 21, 2017, 04:43:14 AM: WOW!!!

I'm in love with a RG655 MIJ... :facepalm:
Title: Re: NGD: '96 MIJ Ibanez RG550Ltd
Post by: Systematic Chaos on March 23, 2017, 04:00:12 AM: Luthier just shot me an update.....refret with Jescar 57110 EVO Gold finished and I can pick her up tomorrow
(http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af41/MagnusBausW/C17B4C60-B3E3-4CA9-8B8B-802E411070A5_zpsfxnwj9bt.jpg)

The Breed bridge isn´t quite my cup of tea so these go in on the weekend
(http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af41/MagnusBausW/4EBDC34A-2575-4932-92BF-5121369E05D1_zpsum4cjnix.jpg)
Title: Re: NGD: '96 MIJ Ibanez RG550Ltd
Post by: Systematic Chaos on March 24, 2017, 12:40:39 AM: I´m sooooo sold on Jescar EVO folks!!!!!

(http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af41/MagnusBausW/84B69C9F-9CBD-4DF1-A2CD-BA13C11CE180_zpsqvdybjrc.jpg)
(http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af41/MagnusBausW/84FC7D20-416A-42A1-BFFA-027CC65D06CC_zpsnbih0gb2.jpg)
Title: Re: NGD: '96 MIJ Ibanez RG550Ltd
Post by: rnolan on March 24, 2017, 06:08:53 AM: Hey SC, very nice :thumb-up:
Title: Re: NGD: '96 MIJ Ibanez RG550Ltd
Post by: Iperfungus on March 24, 2017, 07:51:48 AM: Awesome job on an awesome guitar. :thumb-up:

Those frets have been finished in a very good way, shiny and with very smooth edges.
That guy knows what he does.