Price watch (32)

Greetings fellow guitar fanatics 😅 I'm not the price police but I do take note of after-market prices to weigh in on the worthiness of certain instruments. On that note, I have no intentions to demerit your instruments' value, just putting things into perspective & more importantly, you are absolutely free to disagree. This instalment of price watch deals with the Ibanez RG655.

Prior to the RG550 making its return to the catalog, the RG655 was there offering matching specs. In fact, the RG655 wasn't the first to manifest the RG550 spirit, the RG1550 took precedence. Ibanez did the right thing by calling it the RG550 eventually because this tag - RG550 - sells the instrument better as it leverages on the RG550's favourable history when it started in 1987. That aside, this particular RG655 is going for $1.5K. Ironically, the re-introduced RG550 is the best selling among the three & it does not bear the 'Prestige' label on the headstock. 

This black one also goes for as much but it has SS frets (owner mod).

This next one goes for less with the following mods: DiMarzio pickups / carbon fibre whammy arm / GOTOH locking tuners.

This one has a chip there at the edge hence the negotiable status. 

Finally, the most expensive on this list but the most well-maintained.

Pic: B&H

Despite the 'Prestige' label there, the RG550, in any incarnation, retains its value better without it, as mentioned previously. It's the nostalgic value, definitely, as the initial top of the line RG550 came without that label. We also know the current Genesis version is made in Japan & hold its own in terms of QC against the RG655. You would've noticed also that the listed ones all sport a rosewood fretboard. Majority of the RG550 in the '80s were sporting maple fretboard with a selected few sporting a rosewood version. Of course, the RG655 did come with a maple fretboard as seen above. This, in my opinion, would manifest more bargaining power as it was spec'd out closer to the original RG550.

Coming back to price talk, any figures above $1K is a difficult proposition for the RG655. It is, after all, not a unique model, just a re-interpretation of the RG550 that happened along the way. In other words - nothing special. It is currently competing against the RG550 in terms of re-sale value in the after-market. Also, no number of 'upgrades' would propel the RG655 into preferred status. 

Busking @ neighbourhood

 

Was running errands during lunch time in the neighbourhood, met this busker. Managed to stop & say hello, didn't ask his name though, was in a hurry but managed to talk about his guitar - that's an RG655. Don't see too many people busking with Ibanez. Epiphone & Squiers aplenty but an RG-wielding chap is a rare sight. Hope to catch him again sometime, somewhere. If you recognize him, do share details.

Ibanez: RG655 discont'd

The Ibanez RG655 had been discontinued this year, rightly so when there's the RG550 to take its place. The 655 is indeed spec'd out like the 550 in every way but people are not looking at it as much as the 550. The latter has a marked history in the Ibanez archive but it all boils down to the name.

Upwards

Nothing new, you've seen this Ibanez RG655 before. But it now sports a new price, won't go into details here because some parties would deem me the disillusioned price police threatening their commercial prosperity. The RG655 is now 45% more expensive than it used to be. Reasonable upward revision in prices? It's still the same RG655 since it started. For you to ponder over the weekend. 😒

Will you?

Ladies & gentlemen, this Premium Series Ibanez SA1060 is listing for the above-stated price. The 'Z' finish (zircote)is a limited edition offering for the year.

The Prestige Series RG655GK is listing for much less, the difference can easily get you a decent amp for domestic use.

The question- Will you fork out more money for a model in the manufacturer's lower series, granted it's limited edition? I'm not trying to instigate a price revision here (it'd be wise, though) & I'm not trying to put Ibanez down either- I've been a fan since day one. Chances are, prices were not dictated by the distributor but pegged against the manufacturer's recommendations & production costs.

If I am the salesperson in the store, who would I offer the SA model to? Considering that it's not the manufacturer's flagship model & the average Ibanez fan out there knows nuts about zircote, how soon can I clear this from the shelves?

Something to think about, yes?