Like always a very valid instrument
The RG series is, certainly, one of the most interesting productions among the sector industries. The quality/price ratio is always much valid, and the instrument of the our review confirms this tradition. Materials, care for the details and general performances are those of a superior product, but the RG550XH costs only 430 Euros, approximately. Really a good result for Ibanez.
Well, let's see the main characteristics of this interesting guitar.
Specs
The neck and the fretboard are, undoubtedly, an important added value of the RG Series. Speed and precision of the Wizard III-XH are well-known. The bridge, an Edge-Zero II, is equipped with the Zero Point System that makes the strings replacement a fast and easy operation. Another important characteristic is the number of the frets: 30!
- Neck
Maple (3 pieces), Wizard III-XH.
- Body
Basswood.
- Fretboard
Rosewood with white dot inlay.
- Frets
30, Jumbo.
- Bridge
Edge-Zero II with Zero Point System 3Fe.
- Pickups
Middle: INFS (Single coil, Passive, Alnico). Bridge: INF (Humbucker, Passive, Ceramic). Neck: A simulator is installed within the body (it works with a 9V battery).
- Hardware color
Cosmo black.
- Finishes
Blue Sparkle, Red Sparkle, Black.
In this image we can see the back of the RG550XH and the compartment of the battery of the neck pickup simulator. Everything is clean and well-made.
The Wizard III-XH
Let's see an image and a table that show the dimensions of the Wizard III-XH.
| Neck Dimensions |
|---|
| a : Width at Nut | 43mm |
| b : Width at Last Fret | 58mm |
| c : Thickness at 1st | 19mm |
| d : Thickness at 12th | 21mm |
| Radius | 400mm |
| Scale | 648mm/25.5" |
Sound
The RG550XH is equipped with an humbucker, a single-coil and a neck pickup simulator. Let's see how they work.
Humbucker
An Infinity with a big ceramic magnet. It is perfect for an high-gain Rock, but not only. The Metal isn't an exclusive of this Ibanez guitar. Indeed, with little gain it produces a pleasant Blues tone, much smooth, and a snappy crunch.
Single-Coil
In a clean context it shows an excessive tendency to the distortion, always audible, above all when it is coupled with the simulated pickup. It is never perfect, but i have to say that the clean sound isn't the natural context of this instrument. However, it isn't an enormous problem.
Neck pickup simulator
It isn't extraordinary, but the result is acceptable. Working a bit with the gain of the amp can improve the situation. Anyhow, lows are much present.
Final opinion
If we consider the street price, approximately 430 Euros, the RG550XH is a great value guitar. Its natural context is the Metal, the high-gain Rock, but a minimum of flexibility is possible. The neck pickup simulator is, perhaps, its weak point. However, it works. The result is acceptable.