Ibanez RG550 - Unboxing & Review + Giveaway Challenge!

At last, I have come back, and with a new axe too!
No more waiting, my new toy is none other than the Ibanez RG550, a stunning made in Japan axe, notably wielded by Carcass’ Michael Amott. Call me a fanboy, but being this purchase was very much inspired by the godfathers of grindcore!
This guitar also participated in making Ibanez a world leader in metal guitars. The article below is very interesting and explains how it happened:
www.premierguitar.com/gear/ho...
To sum up the video, it is an excellent guitar:
✅ The Ibanez humbuckers (V8 in the bridge, V7 in the neck) sound very good
✅ Quality of the build, there’s absolutely not a single defect on it
✅ Comfortable as hell, light too
✅ The neck is flat as can be with excellent access to the high frets
✅ Overall bang for your bucks
✅ Yes, it is perfect to play some Carcass!
❌ The tremolo arm is quite loose, even out of the box
❌ The 3 middle neck positions are quite weak (for the use I’ll make of this guitar)
For the challenge:
The winner will be the first person to name every song I played in this video. Little hint: some of them are played twice, no need to name them twice 😉
If no one person manages to do it properly, the person who has the most correct names wins!
Deadline is the release of my next video (roughly a week)
Good luck my friends and see you soon!
Tuning: E Standard (0.09 - 0.42) / B Standard (0.12 - 0.56)
Gear used:
Ibanez RG550
Digitech GSP1101
BBE Sonic Maximizer 482i
Focusrite Scarlett 6i6 USB
Cubase Elements 9.5
Positive Grid Bias FX 2
Positive Grid Bias Amp
Recorded with a GoPro Hero 8

[@ponzo1967]

Ive had one of these for a year now. For $1000 U.S I have 0 complaints, I absolutely love this guitar. I will add the fact i can't knock it out of tune if I try, its the most stable trem of the four floating bridges I've owned. The RFR color is beautiful in person. You'll spend $1200-$1500 trying to match the quality of this guitar.

[@matt-770]

The 550 with the Purple Neon finish is something else.

[@TbombGuitar]

I can imagine

[@Arevernus]

Yes I just stare at it instead of playing it.

[@pocketpunch9920]

Beautiful new axe tbomb, sounds gravelly and tight too ! Glad you could join the Ibanez team hehe

[@TbombGuitar]

Cheers my man! Yeah it's an awesome guitar, really glad I'm part of that team too now!

[@jeremypgiles]

Awesome video mate. I was searching youtube for this guitar, and came across this vid and your channel. Love old school death metal and you have heaps of awesome covers/tabs etc. Cheers!

[@TbombGuitar]

Glad you came across the channel my man!

[@rumi_guitar_covers]

Congratulations, looks cool! Can't wait to hear new Carcass covers, Necroticism is one of my favorite albums.

[@TbombGuitar]

Hehehe thanks my dude!

[@oldschooldeathmetalcovers]

Cool new guitar, bro! Congratulations! 🎸🔥

[@TbombGuitar]

Thanks a lot man!!

[@Jaundice__]

I used to own a RG550 in 1999 because like you I am a huge Carcass fan. I took the middle pickup and screwed it down so it was level to the pickguard, it helps it stay out of the way of your picking hand. Mine was Desert Sun Yellow, fantastic guitars. Enjoy yours. I still play in B standard but I use a 7 string now for that tuning. I looks forward to seeing more of this guitar and more Carcass songs. Happy New Guitar Day!

[@TbombGuitar]

Thanks a lot dude! That's exactly what I ended up doing on mine too for the middle pickup! I don't know about yours but mine has such a colour that it looks almost... Unreal, like a glitch or something, really hard to explain but I love it. I'll be keeping this guitar for B standard songs and the 12-56 strings feel amazing actually. However, spoiler alert, I'll be getting a 7 string in the not so distant future 😉 inspired by another great death metal guitarist!

[@nicolasbum]

Congratulations! 😀💯 Very cool review, and p erformance! 💯 Carcass sounds sick! 👍👍

[@TbombGuitar]

Cheers Nick! Glad you liked it!

[@allybridgett]

Thanks for giving a history of the guitar - I love learning. Enjoy my dude! 😎🤘🏻 she sounds divine!

[@TbombGuitar]

No problem my dudeski, life is all about learning! Thought you wouldve made a comment on my sexy accent 🧐🧐🧐

[@allybridgett]

I don’t wanna make you feel insecure! I’m only here to lift you up 💕🎸

[@TbombGuitar]

Lmao as if you and Twan didn't roast me for four years ahahah! All good my dude! Thanks for the lifting!

[@allybridgett]

@@TbombGuitar I’m not even sure what you’re talking about - what accent? 😂😉 it’s nice to hear your voice though! Miss that twanging sound of a baguette 💕

[@bondalero0074]

I Lived that period as a teen “The MTV Generation” when WE the had “Head Banger’s Ball” and these Ibanez RG’s were hot! Joe Satriani & Steve Vai quickly became my hero’s when he joined 💎DLR Band and I’ve owned nearly every brand of Rock guitars but kept my RG’s at 50 now and still play through my old Peavey I’ve had since then with a TS9 tube screamer for ALL these years. I do want to get the Orange Dark Micro Terror with their 12” cabinet just for playing in my man cave !#RockON! #Ibanez#RG#550(NP)

[@metalreporterjuso]

Congrats! Beautiful instrument \m/

[@TbombGuitar]

Thanks man! It's beautiful indeed!

[@geetarplayer3611]

Damn! That finish is amazing, can’t wait for the covers with it!

[@TbombGuitar]

Thanks dude yeah it pops like crazy! Working on the covers as we speak hehehe!

[@geetarplayer3611]

@@TbombGuitar could you please make tabs for a skull full of maggots or necropedophile someday?

[@TbombGuitar]

Of course man, A skull full of maggots has been on my to do for a bit!

[@JosDoin]

There is a nut you can tighten behind the tremolo. My Rg 550 had the same. You will need a wide flat head screwdriver to hold the Sammy bar hole and then tighten the nut under the tremolo.

[@AmritP]

ohh thanks, had guitar for couple of years and had no idea that was there. will check it soon

[@mariom9325]

Wow, i really like the Tone of this Guitar a lot, especially the Clean Tones are very nice !

[@TbombGuitar]

Thanks a lot dude;

[@21sungalute.42]

A MIJ Ibanez guitar for under £950 is a steal. The QC process is above that of Gibson I believe.

[@TbombGuitar]

It’s a very fair price for a great axe

[@athenaismiegdeboofzheim9880]

Sick dude 👌🏼

[@TbombGuitar]

Cheers bru

[@peter762033]

Great review and playing, been eyeing one of these for a while now! I have an original RG550 neck which feels great as well. What does the bbe sonic maximiser add to the GSP1101? The gsp is a great little unit! I'll attempt your challenge, here's all the carcass I could hear Riffs: Reek of putrefaction Ruptured In Purulence Exhume To Consume Incarnated Solvent Abuse Carneous Cacoffiny Leads: Reek Of Putrefaction Inpropagation

[@TbombGuitar]

Hey man, sorry for the late reply, the BBE unit adds some bass and highs in a way like presence and resonance do (from what I read) but to be fair I don't understand the technical stuff it does fully, what I know is it makes the sound much richer in highs and lows and more definition I would say. As for the challenge, that's a very solid try although there's a mistake! You are the only one that gave it a shot tho so you are looking pretty good for the voucher dude!

[@cederickforsberg5840]

they should make more white RG550s why only that one limited while they keep making yellow red purple

[@TbombGuitar]

Absolutely, the guitarist from Municipal Waste has one and it looks stunning!

[@Yalbou]

I am seriously thinking of buying this guitar

[@TbombGuitar]

Honestly it's a great axe man, you should definitely buy it!

[@FunkyDice444]

turn your treble and presence knobs counter-clockwise one half turn

[@ozzuk616]

One option for the edge arm is to take the plastic washers off and just put a layer or two of clear nail polish onto the bar then put the plastic washers back on be careful as they do fly off I did this with my Edge and it has stayed fairly stiff for years. The other option is to buy an original floyd screw in arm unit and get a longer screw to use on the edge you could also go for the push in style arm or the gotoh arm unit as they do now sell replacement parts this has a threaded bar and the tension adjustable on the holder like the push in floyd style so you really can fine tune how loose or tight it will be. Saying that I haven't needed to change the washers yet nad have had my edge for a few years so it's worth testing out. But the other units aren't that expensive you just need a slightly longer screw to work on the edge I can remember the exact size off hand but it is only a few mm longer than the ofr spec one. Hope you are enjoying the RG.

[@ThePedroDB]

I own a very similar RG550 Genesis. It's even the same RFR colour. The Edge Tremolo Arms are renowned for being difficult to insert initially. The Nylon bushes have to wear a little. Basically PUSH HARDER! It'll go in and the arm will sit where you want it to

[@TbombGuitar]

It's an amazing guitar! I managed to put it in but it's quite loose. Do you know how to fix that?

[@ThePedroDB]

@@TbombGuitar Is this a brand new RG550? If so, the Trem Arm shouldn't be loose. In fact it should be really difficult to push the arm fully into the trem socket until the Nylon Bushings wear a bit. Replacement Bushes will fix the issue, and can be purchased separately, but if it's a brand new guitar get it resolved under warranty

[@TbombGuitar]

It's weird though its only when I spin it around that it gets loose... I'll see if I can fix it! Thanks for the advice man

[@alfredoverton9649]

I find turning the socket clockw ise seems to tighten it.

[@hiteshchand]

Great video 👌 can you please help me with a query regarding this guitar. In one of review in KZbin, it was claimed that higher than 9 gauge strings can’t be used with this guitar. Because springs are not adequately hard enough to hold bridge in neutral position. It will be lifter a bit. Did you face this issue with 12 gauge strings ?

[@HarryBall-fw7pv]

You can run thicker strings. You (or someone with experience) have to adjust the trem springs in the back. So the bridge is parallel to the body when in tune. I wedge a wood shim between the trem and the body. Tighten the trem springs all the way in. Change strings and tune guitar. Once the strings are well broke in and stretched. Take the shim out. And loosen the trem springs untill it is in tune. If the trem is parallel and guitar in tune job well done

[@DavidParathyras]

I was planning on buying one of these but instead I preferred a fixed bridge and heading towards an RGT1221PB-DTF... By the way I really like the Orthodox Hagiography of the Virgin and Christ! Cheers from Greece!

[@TbombGuitar]

it's a great guitar that I would really recommend! Glad you noticed the icon, I really like it too!

[@davidphelps4159]

Killer guitar Ibanez are badass!!!!

[@TbombGuitar]

Cheers david! She rips!

[@EVEROSFP1]

As far as I know before RG was the roadstar series which was played for a while by Allan' Holdsworth and Gary Moore. Also the Iceman series and the X series, (destroyer etc). Yeah Michael Ammot made me love the looks of this guitar..Wish you Happy playing

[@TbombGuitar]

Thanks a lot my man!

[@valeroharold]

Hi!. Nice Axe. The Gotoh tuners are locking?.

[@TbombGuitar]

Hey man, I don't think they are locking since there is a locking nut. The website doesn't state they are locking either

[@stevie..d..charvelman4543]

Congratulations on your new guitar my man. Carcass was the shit....

[@TbombGuitar]

Yeah their 1989-1991 era is unmatched

[@YeOldeThrashDude]

@@TbombGuitar Truth!

[@Jaundice__]

Carcass is still putting out good material.

[@grey5123]

Where is that Shirt from??? Always looking for any Cannibal corpse shirt with the old logo

[@TbombGuitar]

I got it off @the_outer_garment on IG! His stuff is amazing you should def check it out! Cheers

[@bondalero0074]

I got the 20’ Ibanez RG 550 (NP) “Genesis” that looks as beautiful as it sounds! My first Real guitar I saved for as a teen was the 89’ Ibanez RG 570 (JB) and have been in Love since 89’! #Ibanez#RG#550#(NEON Purple)#🎸❤️🔥🤘🏻👑

[@hansg4997]

Hey man....what's that tune you played on 7:08? I heard it before...it's killing me man! :D

[@TbombGuitar]

Ahah no problem man, it's called Musical Death (A Dirge) by the mighty Testament! Great song!

[@hansg4997]

@@TbombGuitar thanks man! Now i can sleep well 😆

[@TbombGuitar]

My pleasure man, I hate that feeling too, had to help a brother out!

[@rubentrevino6288]

You can tweak the arm tension with an Allen wrench

[@TbombGuitar]

Ah shit I didn't know you could do that, I'll try that, thanks man !

[@rubentrevino6288]

@@TbombGuitar cool, I did same when I learned bout it 👍

[@andrewoneill7626]

What are you playing at 6:00, it’s really cool

[@TbombGuitar]

That's Seasons in the abyss by Slayer my man!

[@robertscott3399]

had an original desert sun yellow somebody sanded to look like fender the originals the nut bolted through the back of the neck and the wizard 1 neck was and I think is the world's thinnest neck profile

[@TbombGuitar]

The neck is hella thin for sure, it almost makes my King V neck feel like a log now ahah!

[@mikeflanders1292]

Is there still the clear plastic over the humbuckers?? It looks it. You gotta remove that stuff man

[@TbombGuitar]

There was still plastic at the time of the recording. I opted to keep it before changing the strings to avoid any unnecessary scratches, they have since been removed of course!

[@makstubljar3238]

Wow..for the price...its really A GUITAR 2 BUY

[@TbombGuitar]

For sure, very good value, especially given its MiJ

[@mariom9325]

NIce Cannibal Corpse Longsleeve, where did you get that from ? Btw, Shoes are perfect for it lol i ´m only kidding it ´s just fine - )

[@TbombGuitar]

Hey man, I got it off a guy called the_outer_garment on Instagram!

[@mikesfilmstash]

POWER TRIP

[@TbombGuitar]

Hell yeah!!

[@srinivaskumar615]

I am buying it soon. Love this ❤❤❤and amazing death 💀 metal player you’re sir. Cannibal corpse die hard fan here ❤❤

[@TbombGuitar]

You will not regret it my friend, it's an amazing guitar! Speaking of CC, I saw them live just a month ago and they pack a mean punch! Love them

[@srinivaskumar615]

@@TbombGuitar yes sir, I too saw one today at a local store here. It’s too too brilliant. I am mostly getting the same color as yours as I love that color

[@ashiqueelahi2909]

​@@srinivaskumar615how is the purple neon in real world?

[@srinivaskumar615]

@@ashiqueelahi2909 not sure but I have the exact one in the video. It’s awesome. Too good. I just love it. I think any genesis 550 will be awesome. But I am a redy so

[@fredericnadeau7947]

hi body where you bye your long sleeve tomb of the mutilated shirt? 🤔i whant some one

[@TbombGuitar]

Hey dude, I got it off Instagram, check out the_outer_garment!

[@fredericnadeau7947]

@@TbombGuitar ok

[@pedroherrera477]

Holy wars Megadeth

[@TbombGuitar]

Good pick up!

[@BillyBlaze7]

i like Porterhouse better

[@jxgend]

Hell yeah. Love that solo from Asian hooker 😂

[@vladchis6523]

XD