The Watering Hole

I sold the Jackson DK2M I bought last summer, just wasn't cutting it, mistake of a purchase, it happens....replaced it this weekend with another Ibanez, only the 2nd I've ever owned, but damn the Prestige line sure are fine playing guitars!

I got a great deal on a brand new Japanese made RG2550Z, paid $700, case included. It was one of three 2008 models a local store had in stock but was placed in their storage space when the 2009 line showed. The 2009 line doesn't do dick for me, not a damn single model is exactly what I'm looking for, and gotdamned if they didn't get carried away with the fuckin' stripes, lol...anyway, when I called my buddy at this shop and told him I didn't like any of the new stuff, he mentioned the three 08's he had....well, this was by far the sweetest of them (I've personally always liked the Ibanez w/pickguard look) so I nabbed it.





It's not as bland as it appears, nor as "gloss white", the color is actually called Galaxy White fwiw, but it's near impossible to see/grab that with the camera, these are close though...








The fretwork is top notch and even the stock Dimarzio/Nez PU's sound good - though I'll soon swap them out for something better as well as putting on some old skool volume knobs. I think its a lot of 'well made' guitar for $700, the inlays are a bit goofy but it plays and sounds great, jumbo frets are sweet - it sustains like a mutha, the tremelo works FAR better than the Jax I sold, the binding on the neck is a nice touch, the neck also doesn't fatigue my friggin' 40 year old hands, etc, this is the way I should have gone last time, lol. (=

Nice guitar. Reminds me of the RG770 I recorded my first CD with (back in 93). I LOVE white guitars. Ibanez makes some really easy to play instruments.

Nice axe man!  :) Those Prestige necks are fast as hell, a buddy has one and for the price you can't beat it for a shredder guitar. Plays like buttah!! ;)

cgtrox  8-)

+1 on the nice axe.
The ibanez prestige range, as far as quality of construction, materials and "bang for your bucks" are 2nd to none IMO.

Nice guitar I like the heck out of my RG Ibanez guitar. Good choice.

Thanks dudes.  :)

For the first time in a while I guess I feel GAS-free, after all the pedal and amp purchases & swaps, new speakers and finally even a new axe, I'm really satisfied with the gear and sounds. Time to play.

Nice piece, especially for the price!!

If I hadn't picked up my RG770DXRR, I would have probably snagged one of the new Ibanez RG3550MZ in Roadster Orange Metallic.  In person, it looks awesome and played like a dream (the one we got in a couple months ago was one of the nicest RG's I've ever played; it lasted about 2 weeks at most).  Also came loaded with full-blooded Dimarzios.  http://www.ibanez.com/ElectricGuitars/model-RG3550MZ

Again brother, congrats on the acquisitionl.

Congrats!  I like that one!  

Thanks!

Boogieboy, nice taste man, I looked closely at the particular guitar linked, it is sexy, also the 1570, just didn't fully grab me though, guess it was the blonde fretboard experience I just had with the Jackson...and with the 1570, dunno, weak color options, not as much character as the pickguard models I guess. I REALLY wanted a H H model, never been a H S H fan, but didn't find any of those suitable either.

An Ibanez with H-S-H pickups is the greatest thing ever, in my opinion.  I love my old 540.  Yours looks super sexy with the pickguard--strat style guitars just look great.  Looks like a ripping guitar.

Yeah, the new 1570 does nothing for me either.  Red or black.  Blech.  

When we did our beginning of the year master order, I had the guys stick the 3550 on there.  In person, it is the bomb (I think a lot of Ibanez finishes look a HELLUVA lot better in person).

I'm not normally into white guitars, but the new RG1527 (white with maple neck) is sexy in person.  It actually has gold-fleck in the white finish.  

Right now we've got a pair of the reissue RG770DX guitar in stock (1 blue, 1 red) from that order.  They are both fairly nice (the red more-so than the blue) though my 770 still feels a bit better.  

Kabala — May 05, 2009
Thanks!

Boogieboy, nice taste man, I looked closely at the particular guitar linked, it is sexy, also the 1570, just didn't fully grab me though, guess it was the blonde fretboard experience I just had with the Jackson...and with the 1570, dunno, weak color options, not as much character as the pickguard models I guess. I REALLY wanted a H H model, never been a H S H fan, but didn't find any of those suitable either.

NICE FUCKING GUITAR.. LOVE IT..

Thanks again! Nice to see some Ibanez luv, so many haters out there.

Can't wait to slap a Tone Zone and PAFpro in it this weekend. =)

cool axe Derek, dig the white, glad you found a winner...

Dearthian: — May 05, 2009If I hadn't picked up my RG770DXRR, I would have probably snagged one of the new Ibanez RG3550MZ in Roadster Orange Metallic.

Hey, just curious, what did you do in the way of PU's? I see the model you got is also basswood and came with "affordable" PU's.  :)


Thanks, Richard!

I had a set of used set of Bareknuckle Nailbombs laying around (from another guitar I parted with) that I put in the bridge and neck, then I dropped a Duncan Hot Stack in the middle.  

I don't know if the Nailbombs are keepers though they do sound good.  They're a little dark for me.  If I did Dimarzio's, I'd really tempted to go with the Tonezone, Steve's Special or a D-Sonic (but I already have a Dsonic in my Petrucci).  I like the Air Norton for a neck pickup quite a bit in basswood bodies.  If I did Duncans, I don't know for the bridge but would probably drop a 59 in the neck.  

The Duncan Hotstack is a hotter single.  It's mainly a bridge replacement for a strat, but I like in the middle position on the Nez.  

Wow!
I'm usually not an Ibanez guy, but this guitar really makes me drool!
Love the white body with the black pickguard, hardware and Floyd!

Congrats man!

Thanks, Schneidas! I upped a better shot in its case at the top of the thread, a refresh may be in order...shows the gold specs a little more clearly.

Thanks for the info, Boogie, I'm 99% sure I'm going with an Air Norton now for the neck instead of the PAF, saw it recomended many times after trolling through the Jem-site. Still thinking TZ for the bridge, it also seems ideal for a basswood Nez and I already have/love how one sounds in my Alder body.

I have an Air Norton in my prs' neck position... great pickup!

Also have a PAFPro in my ibanez's neck positiion... also a great pickup - the norton is probably a little more clear iirc (haven't used either guitar in a while)

DiMarzio ftw in any case... love their pickups

Nice score Derek :)

Derek, another one to check out for the neck is the PAF Joe.  I had that in an RGA121 and it was a great neck pickup.  But that was a maple/mahogany guitar.

Tone Zone is always a very good one for the bridge.