Guitar Project #1, Ibanez rg550 Options

[snackajacks]

I decided to let make myself an rg out of spare parts. I already own a Ibanez rg550ltd which I think is awesome.
But I like the desert yellow color. So this is what I bought :



My ideas were :


Maple neck ( pyramid fretboard if possible )
V7,V8,S1 pickups , these were also in the old Ibanez rg's
Floyd roses Lo pro or Edge zero II and some pink and green knobs

I will keep you guys updated !

anyone knows a good european dealer of guitarparts ?

grtz Marc

[snackajacks]

There are some small differences in the body compared to my original rg550,
for instance the neck pocket, and the carving in the back. I think it is because my rg is from 1993 and I am guessing this is
a reissue body ( Isn't the original paint )

[AdamB]

Where'd you get your body from?

[snackajacks]

Where'd you get your body from?

I found it on the internet and the guy who sold it to me also wanted to start a new project but hadn't got
enough money. but he already painted it neon-yellow ( it isn't like desert yellow ) the colors are really weird but
I like em, the only thing that he forgot was to polish en to clearcoat. So that is my job for this week. If you are looking for a guitarbody
you should check out ebay. I think you have a nice basswood body for around 140 dollar.

btw guys, I am searching for a neck, who knows a good supplier with good pricing ?

grtz Marc

[Dieterle]

http://www.rockinger.com/index.php?lang=ENG


take a look here - good quality

[Todd Simpson]

Spiff! Can't wait to see how it turns out I'm very fond of the old stock IBANEZ V2 pickup for it's traditional 80's metal tone. It's a really cheap, stock pickup, but few things sound like it. It's mid way between a super distortion and an Evo and wound to be really hot.

[snackajacks]

Update : Found myself a set of tuners at the local guitar shop, also bought a soldering iron.



Now comes the part that I have been busy for a long time, the guitarneck.
My idea was maple with pyramid inlay, but as you might know, I am a student, donations are always welcome

So I think I'll ty to find a neck with a clean maple inlay ( maybe an rg550 or rg350 neck )
As long as it has a lighter color, If anyone has suggestions, please pm.

For the pickups I know Todd is right, I like the v7,v8 myself and people say the v2 is even better, So I will use a V2 with
an orange or pink cap.

keep you guys updated

[Todd Simpson]

I really to like the V2 above all the other IBZ stock pickups. They have a very distinct 80s crunch retro thing going on which I dig even more than my EMGs in terms of tone. They were made by GOTOH and one other japanese vendor. They are just cheap, stock pickups, so some folks really don't dig em, but for that type of guitar and the music it was built to play, it's perfect IMHO


BTW: Schaffer tuners are quite spiff so good call there!


Todd

This post has been edited by Todd Simpson: Jun 13 2012, 10:00 PM

[snackajacks]

Update :

yeah, Well now I am graduated I get money from friends and family, so I can spend some money on a neck
I am still looking for a nice neck, They appear sometimes on ebay.

I am already searching for an ibanez supllier for small things like :

Light green Tone knob
Light Blue Volume knob
Pink - 5 way switch cap
Pickguard ( black or transparant ) maybe anyone has suggestions for this.
Guitar Input.

For electronics I need :

500k volume pot
500k tone pot
0,022 uf Capacitor
500 k resistor
Toggle switch

Share your thoughts !

[The Uncreator]

I wouldn't bother getting stock pickups in a customized guitar. Better off getting something thats more tuned to the sound you want. I love Ibanez's but there stock p'ups are absolutely horrendeous. Since its a basswood body, its going to have a nice, although slight natural brightness but an otherwise pretty flat EQ tonal response (for the most part).

DiMarzio Crunch Lab, and Liquifire is a legendary combination especially in basswood bodies. There is also the Blaze bridge, and Blaze neck. It all depends on what you want.

http://www.dimarzio.com/pickups/humbuckers/high-power
http://www.seymourduncan.com/products/electric/humbucker/

You can also buy a pickguard in any configuration to further your options. The body is routed for HSH. but you could get a SSS if you wanted, HH, HSS, or a personal favorite, HS which is fairly rare.

http://www.warmoth.com/Pickguard/StratPickguard.aspx - They will have most anything you need, and they are very reputable!

The pickguard is a blank, allowing you to cut it for any pickup configuration you want. Also, you dont NEED Ibanez parts, a colored ibanez volume knob is not special other than being bought from Ibanez. You have the ability here to create a really unique instrument, dont get the stock stuff, make it your own!

[snackajacks]

I wouldn't bother getting stock pickups in a customized guitar. Better off getting something thats more tuned to the sound you want. I love Ibanez's but there stock p'ups are absolutely horrendeous. Since its a basswood body, its going to have a nice, although slight natural brightness but an otherwise pretty flat EQ tonal response (for the most part).

DiMarzio Crunch Lab, and Liquifire is a legendary combination especially in basswood bodies. There is also the Blaze bridge, and Blaze neck. It all depends on what you want.

http://www.dimarzio.com/pickups/humbuckers/high-power
http://www.seymourduncan.com/products/electric/humbucker/

You can also buy a pickguard in any configuration to further your options. The body is routed for HSH. but you could get a SSS if you wanted, HH, HSS, or a personal favorite, HS which is fairly rare.

http://www.warmoth.com/Pickguard/StratPickguard.aspx - They will have most anything you need, and they are very reputable!

The pickguard is a blank, allowing you to cut it for any pickup configuration you want. Also, you dont NEED Ibanez parts, a colored ibanez volume knob is not special other than being bought from Ibanez. You have the ability here to create a really unique instrument, dont get the stock stuff, make it your own!

Thanks uncreater, I really appreciate this post from you. And I think you are right about the parts, it doesn't has to
be all ibanez. I am heading over to musicstore in a couple of weeks to check out there inventory of parts an pickups.
For the pickups config, I'd like to stick to h-s-h because I use it on my other guitars as well. though I have never used
split pickups, with push/pull configuration.

[AK Rich]

Update :

yeah, Well now I am graduated I get money from friends and family, so I can spend some money on a neck
I am still looking for a nice neck, They appear sometimes on ebay.

I am already searching for an ibanez supllier for small things like :

Light green Tone knob
Light Blue Volume knob
Pink - 5 way switch cap
Pickguard ( black or transparant ) maybe anyone has suggestions for this.
Guitar Input.

For electronics I need :

500k volume pot
500k tone pot
0,022 uf Capacitor
500 k resistor
Toggle switch

Share your thoughts !

Awesome project man and I love the color!! Have you checked out Warmoth necks?

http://www.warmoth.com/Pages/CustomNeck.as...le=7&type=3

Edit: oops I see Uncreator has already pointed you in that direction, I have a Warmoth on my old Kramer and love it!

This post has been edited by AK Rich: Jun 28 2012, 07:18 PM

[snackajacks]

Been a while since I updated here, Had to sand my neck a bit and redo the blank finish but it
was worth it.

I changed the neck pocket to AANJ ( dont know why it didn't fit first ), Now I am looking forrr
the maple neck

[snackajacks]

So I traded my rg550 in for another one from 1987 with maple neck, which I willl customize

[Slavenko Erazer]

I decided to let make myself an rg out of spare parts. I already own a Ibanez rg550ltd which I think is awesome.
But I like the desert yellow color. So this is what I bought :



My ideas were :


Maple neck ( pyramid fretboard if possible )
V7,V8,S1 pickups , these were also in the old Ibanez rg's
Floyd roses Lo pro or Edge zero II and some pink and green knobs

I will keep you guys updated !

anyone knows a good european dealer of guitarparts ?

grtz Marc

Are you sure that is RG 550 body? Cos' my friend had rg 565 and it was yellow as a parrot (as yours)

I won't recommend you v7, v8 pickups, because i had them , and they'r enot so good for metal (to vintage tone)

Go for dimarzio evolutions, tone zones, fred, breed, and same hi-output pickups

BTW: Schaffer tuners are quite spiff so good call there!


Todd

Jon Shaffer's tuners?

[snackajacks]

I googled it, It is not a rg565 boy, because that's desert yellow, this is much more neon colored, in real it shines
more to the green tints

[snackajacks]

So I got a new guitar, I swapped the body , here is the result !

[snackajacks]

So I got a new guitar, I swapped the body , here is the result !

My next step is the pickups, I like the D activator pickups alot, Also I will replace the pickguard with a smoky mirror one,
The Volume and Tone knob will become orange, The Pickup color probably Yellow/black.

Also I need a new selector switch because this one is a bit rusted.

Grtz Marc

[Todd Simpson]

My next step is the pickups, I like the D activator pickups alot, Also I will replace the pickguard with a smoky mirror one,
The Volume and Tone knob will become orange, The Pickup color probably Yellow/black.

Also I need a new selector switch because this one is a bit rusted.

Grtz Marc

Nice job! As a side note, the 565 had a humbucker and a slot for a single coil size pickup near the bridge. They are really easy to spot as that's not a typical ibanez config. You picked a GREAT year to buy! 1987 is the Golden Age of Ibanez guitars when they made really great instruments with crazy thin necks. I am always on the lookout for old Ibanez guitars.

[snackajacks]

Nice job! As a side note, the 565 had a humbucker and a slot for a single coil size pickup near the bridge. They are really easy to spot as that's not a typical ibanez config. You picked a GREAT year to buy! 1987 is the Golden Age of Ibanez guitars when they made really great instruments with crazy thin necks. I am always on the lookout for old Ibanez guitars.

Jup, I found that I could easily remove rust with Cockpit spray ( its normally for giving mountainbikes its shine back )
Next I want orange Tone and volume knobs but they cost 40 dollars so thats just rediculous.

For the pickups I am currently looking at a D activator that I really like.