Ibanez’s iconic RG550 looks set to return in original finishes

Shredders, point your headstocks this way, for Ibanez looks set to revive the RG550 - in original Road Flare Red, Desert Yellow, Neon Purple and White finishes, no less.

First launched in 1987, the RG550 was famed for its super-speedy neck, and this 2018 version looks set to continue that tradition, with a Super Wizard five-piece maple/walnut neck, and maple fretboard, complete with jumbo frets and Prestige fret-edge treatment.

The basswood body comes loaded with an Ibanez Edge double-locking vibrato, naturally, while Ibanez V7 and V8 humbuckers plus a S1 single-coil fill the pickup cavities.

There’s no word on official prices yet, but some Japanese sellers on eBay are listing the model for around $1,500 (approx £1,100), ready to land in early December. Sign us up for four, please.

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Michael Astley-Brown

Mike is Editor-in-Chief of GuitarWorld.com, in addition to being an offset fiend and recovering pedal addict. He has a master's degree in journalism, and has spent the past decade writing and editing for guitar publications including MusicRadar, Total Guitar and Guitarist, as well as a decade-and-a-half performing in bands of variable genre (and quality). In his free time, you'll find him making progressive instrumental rock under the nom de plume Maebe.