NGD: '96 MIJ Ibanez RG550Ltd

[Systematic Chaos]

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!

[rnolan]

 :whoohoo!: SC, great score  :thumb-up: , merry xmas my friend.
BTW how are you finding the AxeFX ? are you missing your ADA preamps ?

[Dante]

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:

[MarshallJMP]

Nice guitar SC, BTW how many ibby's do you own actually?

[Systematic Chaos]

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)

[MarshallJMP]

Well you keep on working then  ;D

[Dante]

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

[Systematic Chaos]

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!!!

[rnolan]

Awesome SC  :whoohoo!: .  Just looking at the pic I want to play it  :thumb-up:

[MarshallJMP]

Awesome SC  :whoohoo!: .  Just looking at the pic I want to play it  :thumb-up:

+1  :thumb-up:

[Systematic Chaos]

Restauration (almost) complete....pups are now Breed bridge, HS4 middle and PAF Pro neck.


Final step will be refret with Jescar 57110 EVO fretwire...probably in 2 weeks.

[rnolan]

 :whoohoo!: SC, now you making us/me jealous LoL. Very nice my friend  :thumb-up:

[Iperfungus]

WOW!!!

I'm in love with a RG655 MIJ...  :facepalm:

[Systematic Chaos]

Luthier just shot me an update.....refret with Jescar 57110 EVO Gold finished and I can pick her up tomorrow


The Breed bridge isn´t quite my cup of tea so these go in on the weekend

[Systematic Chaos]

I´m sooooo sold on Jescar EVO folks!!!!!