Ibanez RG550 DY Desert Sun Yellow Electric Guitar
Description
Ibanez RG550 DY Desert Sun Yellow Electric Guitar
The RG550 DY delivers the ultra-thin, fast-playing experience that defined the RG lineage since 1987. Its 17mm Super Wizard neck feels effortless under the fingers, enabling rapid position shifts and smooth bending across the 24 jumbo frets. Built in Japan with meticulous attention to the original spec, this reissue combines legendary playability with rock-solid tuning stability and expressive tremolo control.
Playability & Feel
The 5-piece maple/walnut Super Wizard neck with 16.9" radius and maple fingerboard is engineered for speed and comfort, while the locking nut and Gotoh tuners ensure pitch holds true through aggressive tremolo use. The Edge locking tremolo bridge allows for extreme dive bombs and expressive vibrato without losing tuning stability, making this guitar ready for both controlled rhythm work and acrobatic lead playing.
Tone & Electronics
The original-spec pickup configuration—V7 humbucking neck, S1 single-coil middle, and V8 humbucking bridge—delivers articulate cleans through tight, aggressive high-gain tones. The 5-way blade pickup switch with single master volume and tone control keeps operation straightforward while providing versatile tonal combinations across the entire frequency range.
Key Features
- Double-cutaway basswood body with gloss polyurethane finish in Desert Sun Yellow
- 5-piece maple/walnut Super Wizard neck with 17mm thickness at 1st fret
- 24 jumbo frets on maple fingerboard with black dot inlays
- 25.5" scale length with 16.9" radius and 1.692" nut width
- V7 humbucking neck pickup (passive/ceramic)
- S1 single-coil middle pickup (passive/alnico)
- V8 humbucking bridge pickup (passive/alnico)
- Edge locking tremolo bridge with locking nut for tuning stability
- Gotoh tuners with black hardware
- Right-handed, 6-string configuration
- 1 master volume, 1 tone control, 5-way blade pickup switch
- Factory-strung with D'Addario EXL120 (.009–.042) strings
The RG550 DY remains a benchmark instrument for players demanding speed, stability, and expressive tone in a classic platform.
More Information
| Condition | New |
|---|---|
| Dexterity | Right handed |
| Country of Manufacture | Japan |
Reviews
At a Glance
The Ibanez RG550 DY is a Japan-built reissue of the iconic speed machine that defined modern shred guitar, featuring a paper-thin 17mm Super Wizard neck, 24 jumbo frets, and a locking Edge tremolo that locks in tuning through extreme dive bombs and expressive bends. This guitar is built for intermediate to professional players tackling hard rock, metal, and progressive styles—the articulate single-coil middle combined with tight V7 and V8 humbuckers delivers everything from controlled rhythm clarity to aggressive high-gain lead tones. The Desert Sun Yellow finish and Japanese construction deliver road-ready reliability and classic RG playability in a gigging-ready package.
Who This Is For
Great for
- ✓ Hard Rock
- ✓ Metal
- ✓ Progressive
- ✓ Funk
Not the best pick for
- – Jazz
- – Folk
- – Worship
Skill level: Intermediate · Advanced · Professional
Frequently Asked Questions
What neck profile does the RG550 DY have, and is it comfortable for fast playing?
The RG550 DY features a 5-piece maple/walnut Super Wizard neck that is 17mm thick at the 1st fret—one of the thinnest in the industry. The 16.9" radius and 24 jumbo frets are engineered for speed and enable rapid position shifts and smooth bending, making it ideal for intermediate to advanced players focused on fast lead work.
How stable is the tremolo, and can it handle aggressive use?
The Edge locking tremolo bridge combined with a locking nut ensures pitch stability even through extreme dive bombs and expressive vibrato. This setup is designed to lock in tuning during aggressive tremolo use, so you can execute acrobatic lead playing without losing intonation.
What pickup configuration does this guitar have, and what styles does it cover?
The RG550 DY uses an original-spec three-pickup setup: V7 humbucking neck (ceramic), S1 single-coil middle (alnico), and V8 humbucking bridge (alnico). This combination delivers articulate cleans through the middle pickup and tight, aggressive high-gain tones through the humbuckers, making it versatile for hard rock, metal, progressive, and funk styles.
Is this a Japan-made guitar, and what quality standard should I expect?
Yes, the RG550 DY is built in Japan with meticulous attention to the original specification. It features a double-cutaway basswood body, Gotoh tuners, and a gloss polyurethane finish in Desert Sun Yellow, with rock-solid tuning stability and construction quality befitting a professional-level instrument.
What comes with the guitar, and what are the specs?
The RG550 DY arrives factory-strung with D'Addario EXL120 strings (.009–.042), ready to play out of the box. Specs include a 25.5" scale length, 1.692" nut width, and a straightforward control layout with one master volume, one tone control, and a 5-way blade pickup switch for tonal variety.
Similar Guitars
Complete the Rig
Gear that pairs well with this guitar.