Old Ibanez Rg550 with a few suprises

fendergibson

https://i.imgur.com/xlBeJp7.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/xMPnYtj.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/rzK1XRy.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/aHUIXmw.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/MkFD4UE.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/HPn750f.jpg

So Jeez what a jumble, veneer top, fretboard leds, internal carving of wood ( battery box removed ), Dimarzio pickups, shitty wiring job etc etc original edge trem.

The thing is this is a great sounding and playing guitar and I want to improve it. It will go to a tech for a full rewire too.

Can anyone advise what Dimarzio humbuckers these are ? 

Also, after getting some advice ( thanks Wez ) I think stickers are the only option for the hideous LEDs - any recommendations on where to buy them from ?

could anyone date the thing for me too ? I was told late 80's but completely unsure.

Any help would be gratefully received - thanks all

fendergibson

https://i.imgur.com/x9DYn4Z.jpg

Heres a a closer look at the pickups 

Bridgehouse

You sure you couldn't drill out those LEDs and plug with some pearl markers?

fendergibson

Bridgehouse said:

You sure you couldn't drill out those LEDs and plug with some pearl markers?

Yeah, I tried with one but the glass is so tough it's virtually indestructible - I might get a really tiny drill bit and try to drill around the glass till I can get underneath the bulb I suppose ?

Bridgehouse

fendergibson said:

Bridgehouse said:

You sure you couldn't drill out those LEDs and plug with some pearl markers?

Yeah, I tried with one but the glass is so tough it's virtually indestructible - I might get a really tiny drill bit and try to drill around the glass till I can get underneath the bulb I suppose ?

Assuming they are glued in, maybe heat with a soldering iron and see if it loosens them?

fendergibson

Now I hadn't thought of that.....worth a go 

Bridgehouse

fendergibson said:

Now I hadn't thought of that.....worth a go 

Go careful with the temp - if your iron has variable setting then turn it down! You only need to soften the glue..

fendergibson

Roger that good buddy

Bridgehouse

fendergibson said:

Roger that good buddy

And if they aren't glued in then it won't make a jot of difference - you'll know within 10 secs or so I'd say

After that, I'd be looking at a way of getting something into them to yank them out.. hmmmm I shall have a think.

DefaultM

Looks like 2 paf pros and a hs2

grungebob

Couldn't you get a small hole cutter just wider than the led and mark the depth, you could then get some clay as mentioned above?

Strangefan

I love that,  it's clearly to much work for you and you will never be happy with it, so just sell it on dood (too me)  and get a bog standard strat instead,

fendergibson

grungebob said:

Couldn't you get a small hole cutter just wider than the led and mark the depth, you could then get some clay as mentioned above?

I'll definitely look into this...I've mulled over the idea of getting a tech to drill larger marker holes, extract the crap and inlay suitable colour abalone...but that might cost as much as I paid for it !!

sawyer

Should be a cool project! 

fendergibson

DefaultM said:

Looks like 2 paf pros and a hs2

Thanks

Motorhate

If you get it working and set up, you'll love these guitars. I had an RG770 and although I'm not a massive fan of Floyd Rose trems, the RG770 was a great guitar to play.
The DiMarzio pickups on this guitar are:

Bridge = V1 Humbucker

It's basically a Dimarzio Super Distortion made for Ibanez

http://www.dimarzio.com/pickups/humbuckers/high-power/super-distortion

Neck = V2 Humbucker

It's basically a DiMarzio PAF but made for Ibanez

http://www.dimarzio.com/pickups/humbuckers/paf-pro

Single Coil = is a DiMarzio HS-2

http://www.dimarzio.com/pickups/strat/hum-canceling-strat/hs-2

I think I had these in my RG770. Don't swap them out! They're really good pickups and you'd be mad to replace them IMO. The basswood body will chip really easy as will the finish, They were notorious for it. This looks like a late-80s / early-90s model.

Motorhate

By the way, the Edge and Edge II were renowkned at the time for being the best functioning non-Floyd manufactured Floyd-Rose type trems. They really do hold their tune really well.

FelineGuitars

I wouldn't go digging he LEDs out . More than likely a SimsCustom upgrade and that would cost £440 to have done . Shame the wires are cut at the heel too. Would be a useful additional feature for a later resale

fendergibson

FelineGuitars said:

I wouldn't go digging he LEDs out . More than likely a SimsCustom upgrade and that would cost £440 to have done . Shame the wires are cut at the heel too. Would be a useful additional feature for a later resale

Thanks for the info 

fretmeister

And LEDs are cool.

Octahedron

That whole thing is just scary. Good luck with it