The RG550 is an RG series solid body electric guitar model reissued by Ibanez in 2017. It is produced by FujiGen in Japan as part of the Genesis Collection. This model is a reissue of the original RG550, which was produced between 1987 and 1994.
Similarities to the classic RG550 include a basswood body, a tilt neck joint with a stamped metal plate, a maple fingerboard with dot position markers and an original Edge double locking tremolo bridge with a locking nut. Differences include a five-piece laminated maple and walnut neck (the original neck was one-piece maple) and the pickups which are a pair of Ibanez V7/V8 humbuckers flanking an S1 single-coil (the original had Ibanez V1/V2 humbuckers, with the switch to the V7/V8s happening in 1994).
Although the RG550 name was discontinued after 2002, the spirit of the model continued to live on in the various models in the RG1550 Prestige lineup including the RG1550MV. The RG655 which was introduced in 2014 and its variations are the modern equivalent of the original RG550.
The RG550L is a left-handed version. The classic RG570 is also being reissued alongside this model as well as a new dual humbucker, hardtail model, the RG521. These throwback models are marketed as the Genesis Collection. The RG550DX was added in 2019.
Finish(es): Black (BK) 2024–2025 / Desert Sun Yellow (DY) / Electric Blue (EB) 2024–2025 / Purple Neon (PN) / Road Flare Red (RF) / White (WH) 2017–2019; not available in Asia
