Ibanez RG550 Genesis Modification

This Ibanez RG550 Genesis guitar is in need of some better pickups.
I also installed a kill switch and I go through the install of the new components and do a short jam session at the end of the video.

[@fredericadda]

Usually I don't sell the original parts, I keep them in case I want to sell the guitar. It's much more cost-effective to put back the original parts when you sell it, and keep all the expensive replacement parts for a next guitar.

[@homeguitarplayer9482]

I kept them.

[@southboundguitar]

Great video man. It's good to see someone cover everything in one video, from removing stock parts to installing the new ones. That's how I like to do things. I'm just too lazy to record most of my stuff.....lol. Kudos. Also....I was glad to hear blues coming from the RG when you were done. I wasn't expecting that, although that's exactly what brought me here....lol. I play blues on my Purple Genesis, and was beginning to think that I was the only one....lol. I'll have to give these pups a go. I've been eyeing the True Velvet for a while, anyway. I've always LOVED white RG's, too. Looks great with the swirl pick guard! Thanks for sharing.

[@scramblesthedeathdealer]

Looks and sounds awesome! Very detailed video. 👍 I'm also a big fan of customizing my guitars, all 3 of my RGs have at least replacement pickups, one I built from random parts completely (I had an extra pickup sitting around, so I built a guitar around it 🤷‍♂️).

[@TheMeJustMe75]

Check out the RGIB21, it's awesome sounding. Never played a baritone until I got it. The thicker neck took me a couple of days to get used to it. Clean, overdriven or heavy distortion it sounds great. I also own a RG470 that I bought brand new in 1993. I am changing the pickups out of it, all 3.

[@angusorvid8840]

Nice mod! The Mo'Joe is absolutely awesome. I love DiMarzio's hot PAF style pups like the PAF Pro, Fred, Mo'Joe, Air Zone and Norton. I know it's too hot to be a PAF but the Tone Zone has some of the same PAF alnico 5 DNA going on, also a great pickup. My main pickup is a Super Distortion. My favorite neck pup is still the Air Norton, or the PAF 36th Anniversary. I agree with modifying guitars. It's the only way to really personalize them and make them perfect. Good video.

[@homeguitarplayer9482]

Having great tools is nice, making the music is the important part. I just want the gear thing squared away so that I can concentrate on learning to play.

[@brandonjackson5865]

I prefer the the aanj heel as well, but it honestly doesn’t make any real difference to me people seem to have strong preferences on heel joints and I just don’t I rarely play much past fret 19 or 20 and I have long fingers and can reach 24 comfortably on either, I’ve never picked up an electric guitar and not been able to reach its highest fret regardless of the heel, for some reason Vs and Rhodes Vs seem to be the easiest for me but I think it’s all in my head because there’s no bass horn for my fingers to hit account of my sloppy technique , the body being quite narrow up past the heel on Vs is probably the main thing, I’m rambling but I just don’t find neck heels a make or break spec . The original edge and edge lo pro set up correctly are the best reliable tuning stable listened Floydrose . You have to have the angle right and it’s tricky especially if you can’t see the knife edges

[@michaels5166]

damn that sounds good..i was about to lay down and drift off,sleep like a baby...so bluesy..crisp..You make that guitar TALK>>>>>

[@MrRustystring]

I doubt that's a Tone Zone in the bridge position on that prestige. The magnets aren't right maybe its a Super Distortion. Both awesome pickups. Nice mods dude!

[@VinDhir]

I've also upoaded a RG550 mod video. PS mine was also signed with the letter 'V'. I wonder if the same technician put our guitars together?

[@homeguitarplayer9482]

Right on Vin, I actually did the modification myself, I bought the pickguard on Reverb.com and I think the V is the manufacturer's branding. I checked out your channel and subscribed, thanks for checking this video of mine out.

[@VinDhir]

Home Guitar Player I’ve subscribed to your channel too. Look forward to your next videos.

[@atarijam]

how's the fret wear on this guitar? Do you think a refret is needed every few years?

[@homeguitarplayer9482]

The frets are showing signs of wear, I believe that it does need to be worked on every few years and in December of his year it will be due.

[@SxSxG666]

Why would you refret a guitar every few years? Frets wear off after decades of excessive playing and might need a polish after some years. Thats it.

[@zenabiml]

thats not a tone zone true velvet air norton. just dimarzio/ibz created for prestige series. pickups for rg you are about to replece should be f-spaced

[@homeguitarplayer9482]

Yes, thank you. I realized the mistake but have not gotten back to redoing the video yet. The pickups are not f spaced, but I will eventually put f spaced pickups down the road.

[@bc454irocz89]

@@homeguitarplayer9482 the spacings just for looks dont bother

[@homeguitarplayer9482]

@@bc454irocz89 Thanks, it seems to sound fine, better than it did.

[@ryant3600]

F space isn't necessary.. it's more about the pole pieces lining up w/ the strings, it doesn't change the sound at all.

[@tmcneil66]

@@homeguitarplayer9482 If you ever decide to do F Spaced it's only needed in the bridge position.

[@RockatHome]

In the demo are you using the middle pick up ?

[@homeguitarplayer9482]

I was using the second position on the five way switch where I get the middle pickup and one of the coils of the humbucker in the bridge. That makes the sound thinner and spanky. More like what my strat sounds like.

[@RockatHome]

@@homeguitarplayer9482 great sound, are you using treble bleed on your gitar?

[@homeguitarplayer9482]

@@RockatHome ues, there is a treble bleed on the controls inside of the guitar.

[@racercam8]

What is F- spaced ?

[@homeguitarplayer9482]

This is a spacing of the pole pieces on the pickup to ensure that the pole is directly under the string. The distance between the strings is wider on the edge trem system causing the string to not sit directly in the middle of the pole or screw on the top of the pickup. Although f-spacing is supposed to be an improvement in sound and sustain for the instrument, the non f-spaced pickups sound fine to my ear, so I'm leaving them in place.

[@sipius22]

Why did you not just get the Ibanez Satriani Model?

[@homeguitarplayer9482]

I don't like the neck on the satriani models, I have owned and played them, I think they are over priced.

[@tassos.m]

Hi. Do you have a wiring diagram for this mod?

[@homeguitarplayer9482]

No, but if you can read a diagram then you have the knowledge to solve it out, the only new switch is the momentary arcade switch and that connects to the poles of the output jack. The switch actually came with a diagram but I have since tossed it out. Thanks for the comment

[@tassos.m]

@@homeguitarplayer9482 thanks for taking the time to reply. I just wanted to know if I follow the Dimarzio diagrams for the neck and the bridge pick-ups but the middle pickup remains Ibanez stock. Will it be necessary to reverse the cables of the middle PU? I read somewhere that it might be out of phase and this can cause weird sound in positions 2 and 4. Thanks again

[@homeguitarplayer9482]

@@tassos.myou know, the wires were the same on the new pickups, so I just swapped connections one for one. removed the old and attached the new in the same place

[@tassos.m]

@@homeguitarplayer9482 I appreciate. Wish you happy new year

[@officialpoa3171]

*LONNNNNNNNNNNNG WINDED* use edit

[@bigmike9527]

You didn't show the body of the guitar with the pick guard removed and as a matter of fact it looked as if you were intentionally hiding it?.I have you a thumbs down because of that fact.