RG550-BKF (Black Flat) – Ibanez RG Genesis Collection, Made in Japan
RG550-BKF (Black Flat) – Ibanez RG Genesis Collection, Made in Japan
The RG550 is a true classic and a landmark in the evolution of the modern rock guitar. First introduced in 1987, it set a new benchmark for how a high-performance electric guitar should look, feel, and sound. Nearly 40 years later, the RG550 from the Genesis Collection remains remarkably faithful to the original design and is still manufactured in Japan to the original specifications.
Body – Basswood
The body is crafted from basswood, a lightweight tonewood known for its balanced frequency response across the entire tonal spectrum. This makes it exceptionally versatile and easy to shape sonically, allowing the guitar to excel in a wide range of musical styles.
Its even tonal character also makes basswood particularly well suited to high-gain sounds, keeping distorted tones focused, balanced, and articulate without becoming harsh or muddy.
Bridge – Edge Tremolo
The RG550 features the legendary Ibanez Edge tremolo, a proven double-locking tremolo system of the highest quality. For decades, the Edge has been regarded as the benchmark for performance, tuning stability, and durability among floating tremolo systems, and is considered by many players to be one of the finest locking tremolos ever made.
Its knife-edge pivot design delivers an exceptionally smooth and responsive feel. With basic maintenance and proper use, the Edge offers outstanding tuning stability, even under the most demanding playing conditions.
The tremolo arm is compatible with the Ibanez UTA20 Ultralite Tremolo Arm.
Neck – Super Wizard
The guitar features the iconic Ibanez Super Wizard neck—the thinnest and fastest neck profile in the Ibanez lineup. Combined with the flat fingerboard radius, it provides an exceptionally fast and effortless playing experience, making it ideal for technical riffs, shred playing, and advanced lead work.
At the same time, the neck is versatile enough for any playing style and is designed for guitarists who want nothing to stand between their ideas and their technique.
Specifications
Compatible Accessories
Neck
Electronics
The pickups are controlled via a 5-way selector switch with master volume and master tone controls.
Pickup Positions
Series Humbucker
When wired in series, both coils of the humbucker operate together, delivering the pickup's full output, power, and tonal richness. In this mode, the pickup is also hum-cancelling, providing quiet operation with maximum performance.
Coil Split
When coil-split is engaged, one of the humbucker's two coils is deactivated, allowing it to operate as a single-coil pickup. This produces lower output along with a brighter, clearer, and more open tone featuring tighter bass response.
Although a coil-split humbucker by itself is no longer hum-cancelling, positions 2 and 4 remain noise-free because the active humbucker coil operates together with the middle single-coil pickup.
This wiring delivers a more transparent sound that is particularly well suited to clean and mildly overdriven tones, while also adding clarity and definition to heavily distorted sounds.
If the humbucker is physically reversed in the guitar, you can choose which coil remains active when coil-split is engaged. The coil closest to the neck produces a warmer tone, while the coil closest to the bridge delivers a brighter and more focused sound.
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