Ibanez RG550-DY Desert Yellow 1987

The Ibanez RG550 is a legendary 80’s shredder guitar, known for its fast playability, aggressive tone, and eye-catching aesthetics. This particular example, finished in Desert Sun Yellow, was built at the Fujigen factory in Japan in 1987.

Introduced in 1987, the RG550 was part of the original RG (Roadstar Guitar) series, which took heavy inspiration from Steve Vai’s JEM777. It featured the same thin, super-fast Wizard neck and deep lower cutaway, making it a favorite among technical players. The RG550 was an instant success, praised for its high-performance design, floating tremolo, and versatile pickup configuration.

This 3600g example shows significant wear on the body, neck, and fretboard, but the frets are in great shape, and the guitar plays great, delivering the signature high-output tones and effortless shredding experience that made the model famous. No case or bag is included.

The RG550 has been used by many influential players, including Paul Gilbert, Andy Timmons, and Nuno Bettencourt, all of whom helped define the high-energy, virtuosic playing style that this guitar facilitates. Whether you’re looking for a vintage shred machine or a collectible piece of Ibanez history, this guitar delivers both in spades.

SPECIFICATIONS

Body
Body Wood: Basswood
Finish: Desert Sun Yellow (DSY)
Body Shape: RG double-cutaway
Weight: Approx. 3600g

Neck
Neck Wood: 1-piece Maple
Neck Profile: Wizard (super-thin, flat)
Fretboard: Maple
Fretboard Radius: 430mm (16.9″)
Frets: 24 jumbo frets
Scale Length: 648mm (25.5″)
Nut Width: 43mm

Electronics
Pickup Configuration: HSH
Neck Pickup: Ibanez V1 humbucker
Middle Pickup: Ibanez S1 single-coil
Bridge Pickup: Ibanez V2 humbucker
Controls: 1x Volume, 1x Tone
Switching: 5-way blade switch

Hardware
Bridge: Ibanez Edge double-locking tremolo (Floyd Rose licensed)
Tuners: Ibanez Gotoh-style sealed tuners
Hardware Color: Black