The Ibanez RG550XH in Red Sparkle is one of the most unusual RG models Ibanez has produced, built around an extreme 30-fret fingerboard designed for players who want access far beyond the conventional 24-fret range.

Originally introduced in 2013, the RG550XH combines a basswood body, Wizard III-XH 3-piece maple neck and rosewood fingerboard with an Edge-Zero II locking tremolo system and a distinctive HS pickup layout.

Because the extended fingerboard occupies the space where a conventional neck pickup would normally sit, Ibanez equipped the guitar with a Neck Pickup Simulator, using an active circuit to create neck-style tones from the available pickup system.

Finished in eye-catching Red Sparkle, this Pre-Owned example is in Very Good condition, weighs an actual 8.24 lbs, and is supplied without a case.

AT A GLANCE

Detail	Specification
Brand	Ibanez
Model	RG550XH
Finish	Red Sparkle
Year Introduced	2013
Frets	30 Jumbo
Fingerboard	Rosewood
Pickups	INF Bridge Humbucker / INFS Middle Single Coil
Special Feature	Active Neck Pickup Simulator
Tremolo	Edge-Zero II with ZPS3Fe
Weight	8.24 lbs
Condition	Very Good / Pre-Owned
Case	Not Included

PRE-OWNED CONDITION REPORT

This is a Pre-Owned Ibanez RG550XH in Very Good condition.

The Very Good condition grade reflects an instrument that has been well looked after overall while showing the light signs of previous use expected from a Pre-Owned guitar.

This individual guitar weighs 8.24 lbs.

No case is included.

30-FRET EXTENDED RANGE DESIGN

The defining feature of the RG550XH is its extraordinary 30-fret fingerboard.

Most modern electric guitars stop at 22 or 24 frets. The RG550XH extends that range substantially further, giving access to pitches rarely available on a conventional 6-string guitar.

The extended fingerboard also required Ibanez to redesign the lower cutaway and omit the conventional neck pickup entirely.

ACTIVE NECK PICKUP SIMULATOR

Because the fingerboard extends into the area normally occupied by a neck pickup, the RG550XH does not use a physical pickup in that position.

Instead, Ibanez fitted a Neck Pickup Simulator, an active preamp circuit designed to create a neck-pickup-style tonal response when selected through the 5-way switching system.

The circuit requires battery power for operation.

KEY FEATURES

• Ibanez RG550XH

• Red Sparkle finish

• Originally introduced in 2013

• 30-fret extended-range design

• Basswood body

• Wizard III-XH 3-piece maple neck

• Rosewood fingerboard

• 400mm fingerboard radius

• 25.5" scale length

• 30 jumbo frets

• AANJ neck joint

• INF bridge humbucker

• INFS middle single-coil pickup

• No conventional neck pickup

• Active Neck Pickup Simulator

• 5-way pickup selector

• Master Volume

• Master Tone

• Edge-Zero II locking tremolo

• ZPS3Fe Zero Point System

• Locking nut

• Cosmo Black hardware

• White pearloid pickguard

• Actual measured weight of 8.24 lbs

• Very Good Pre-Owned condition

• No case included

WHY YOU’LL LOVE IT

The RG550XH is not simply another variation of the classic RG formula.

Its 30-fret neck completely changes the upper register available to the player, making it particularly appealing for technical lead work, experimental playing and musicians who deliberately want access to extreme high notes.

The active Neck Pickup Simulator is equally unusual and allows Ibanez to preserve a broader tonal range despite the absence of a physical neck pickup.

Add the Red Sparkle finish and floating Edge-Zero II tremolo and the result is one of the more distinctive production RG models of its era.

DETAILED FEATURES & BENEFITS

Basswood Body

The basswood body provides a balanced tonal foundation with strong mids and good clarity.

It is a familiar choice across many Ibanez RG models because it works particularly well with high-output pickups and high-gain amplification.

Red Sparkle Finish

The Red Sparkle finish gives the guitar a bold visual identity and was the launch finish for the RG550XH.

It catches stage lighting especially well and complements the white pearloid pickguard.

Wizard III-XH Neck

The Wizard III-XH 3-piece maple neck was designed specifically for the extended 30-fret format.

Its slim profile supports fast technical playing while retaining enough stability for the unusually long fingerboard.

Rosewood Fingerboard

The rosewood fingerboard gives the guitar a smooth playing surface and a traditional contrast against the bright Red Sparkle body.

400mm Radius

The 400mm fingerboard radius is very flat by traditional guitar standards.

This makes it particularly well suited to low action, wide bends and fast lead playing.

25.5" Scale Length

The standard 25.5" scale length maintains familiar tension and response despite the extended fret count.

30 Jumbo Frets

The 30 jumbo frets provide access well beyond a conventional two-octave-per-string guitar.

This is the defining functional feature of the RG550XH.

INF Bridge Humbucker

The bridge position uses an Ibanez INF humbucker.

It delivers the output and definition needed for rock, metal and high-gain lead tones.

INFS Middle Single Coil

The middle pickup is an Ibanez INFS single coil.

This provides brighter, more open sounds and forms part of the guitar’s unusual switching system.

Neck Pickup Simulator

The active Neck Pickup Simulator compensates for the lack of a physical neck pickup.

It provides darker, fuller tones through electronic processing when selected.

Five-Way Switching

The 5-way lever switch accesses the available pickup combinations and simulated neck tones.

This gives the guitar much more versatility than the unusual HS pickup layout might initially suggest.

Edge-Zero II Tremolo

The Edge-Zero II bridge provides double-locking tremolo performance for deep pitch changes and aggressive vibrato techniques.

ZPS3Fe System

The ZPS3Fe Zero Point System is designed to improve tuning stability and make the floating tremolo easier to control.

Locking Nut

The locking nut secures the strings during tremolo use and forms part of the double-locking system.

8.24 lbs Actual Weight

This individual guitar weighs 8.24 lbs, giving it a solid but manageable feel.

WHO IS IT FOR?

The Ibanez RG550XH is particularly well suited to technical lead guitarists, shred players, progressive metal musicians, experimental guitarists and players who specifically want access beyond 24 frets.

It is also a compelling choice for Ibanez collectors looking for one of the company’s more unusual modern RG designs.

PLAYING STYLES & APPLICATIONS

The RG550XH works particularly well for:

• Shred

• Progressive metal

• Metal

• Hard rock

• Technical lead guitar

• Instrumental rock

• Fusion

• Experimental music

• High-gain rhythm

• Studio recording

HOW IT COMPARES

RG550XH vs Standard RG550

A standard RG550 uses 24 frets and an HSH pickup configuration.

The RG550XH extends the neck to 30 frets, removes the physical neck pickup and uses an active Neck Pickup Simulator instead.

30 Frets vs 24 Frets

A 24-fret guitar provides two full octaves per string.

The RG550XH adds another six frets, giving considerably more upper-register range.

Neck Pickup Simulator vs Physical Neck Pickup

A conventional neck pickup senses the strings directly at the neck position.

The RG550XH uses active electronics to emulate that tonal character because the extended fingerboard occupies the physical pickup location.

PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS

Specification	Details
Product Type	Solid Body Electric Guitar
Brand	Ibanez
Model	RG550XH
Finish	Red Sparkle
Original Model Year	2013
Country of Manufacture	Indonesia
Body Shape	RG
Body Material	Basswood
Neck Joint	AANJ
Neck Material	3-Piece Maple
Neck Profile	Wizard III-XH
Fingerboard	Rosewood
Fingerboard Radius	400mm
Scale Length	25.5" / 648mm
Frets	30 Jumbo
Nut	Locking
Pickup Configuration	HS + Simulated Neck
Bridge Pickup	Ibanez INF Humbucker
Middle Pickup	Ibanez INFS Single Coil
Neck Pickup	Active Neck Pickup Simulator
Controls	Master Volume, Master Tone
Switching	5-Way Lever
Bridge	Edge-Zero II
Tremolo Stabiliser	ZPS3Fe
Hardware	Cosmo Black
Pickguard	White Pearloid
Weight	8.24 lbs
Case	Not Included
Condition	Very Good / Pre-Owned

POWER REQUIREMENTS

The physical INF and INFS pickups are passive, but the Neck Pickup Simulator uses an active preamp circuit and requires a 9V battery.

No external power supply is required.

FAIR DEAL MUSIC EXPERT VERDICT ★★★★★

Best suited for: Technical players and Ibanez enthusiasts looking for an exceptionally unusual RG with a genuine functional reason for its extended-range design.

Customers usually upgrade from: Standard RG models, 24-fret Superstrats and conventional high-performance electric guitars.

Most commonly paired with: High-gain amplifiers, distortion, boost, delay and modern effects processors.

Our tip: The extra six frets are not just a visual novelty. Spend time learning where familiar chord shapes, harmonics and scale patterns move in the extended upper register — the RG550XH becomes much more interesting once you start treating frets 25–30 as part of the instrument rather than an occasional special effect.

Showroom feedback: Very few production 6-string guitars offer 30 frets, and the active neck-pickup simulation makes the RG550XH even more unusual. The Red Sparkle finish also makes this one instantly recognisable.

WHY BUY PRE-OWNED FROM FAIR DEAL MUSIC?

Buying a Pre-Owned Ibanez RG550XH offers the opportunity to own one of Ibanez’s more unusual discontinued RG models.

This example is in Very Good condition, weighs 8.24 lbs, and is supplied without a case.

Fair Deal Music has decades of experience buying, selling and part-exchanging Ibanez and Pre-Owned guitars.

WHY BUY FROM FAIR DEAL MUSIC?

When you buy from Fair Deal Music, you're choosing one of the UK's most established, independent family run music retailers since 1987.

Fair Deal Music combines a large Birmingham showroom with nationwide ecommerce and knowledgeable musician-led advice.

Customers benefit from:

• Family-run independent retailer established in 1987

• Birmingham's largest independent music store

• 6,000+ Trustpilot reviews

• Knowledgeable musician-led advice

• Extensive experience with Ibanez and Pre-Owned guitars

• Large Birmingham showroom

• Secure online ordering

• Fast UK delivery

• Friendly customer support

• Part-exchange and trade-in service

TRADE IN. TRADE UP. SAVE MORE.

Your current guitar or other musical equipment could help towards the cost of this Ibanez RG550XH.

Fair Deal Music buys and part-exchanges guitars, basses, amplifiers, effects, keyboards and a wide range of musical equipment.

Contact our team for a no-obligation valuation.

PART EXCHANGE / TRADE-IN

If you already own a guitar or other musical equipment you are considering replacing, Fair Deal Music can assess it for part exchange.

Trading in can remove the inconvenience of selling privately while allowing the value of your existing equipment to go directly towards your next instrument.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is this Ibanez RG550XH used?

Yes. This is a Pre-Owned Ibanez RG550XH in Very Good condition.

What finish does it have?

It has the Red Sparkle finish.

How many frets does it have?

It has 30 jumbo frets.

Is it really a 30-fret guitar?

Yes. That is the defining feature of the RG550XH.

What year was Red Sparkle offered?

Red Sparkle was the original 2013 RG550XH finish.

What is the body made from?

Basswood.

What is the neck made from?

It has a 3-piece maple Wizard III-XH neck.

What fingerboard does it have?

Rosewood.

What is the fingerboard radius?

400mm.

What is the scale length?

25.5".

Does it have a neck pickup?

It does not have a conventional physical neck pickup.

Why is there no neck pickup?

The 30-fret fingerboard extends into the space where a neck pickup would normally be located.

How does it produce neck pickup sounds?

It uses an active Neck Pickup Simulator.

What pickups are physically fitted?

An INF bridge humbucker and INFS middle single coil.

Does the Neck Pickup Simulator require a battery?

Yes. It uses a 9V battery.

What tremolo does it have?

An Edge-Zero II with ZPS3Fe Zero Point System.

Does it have a locking nut?

Yes.

How much does it weigh?

This individual guitar weighs 8.24 lbs.

What condition is it in?

It is in Very Good condition.

Does it come with a case?

No. No case is included.

Is it suitable for metal?

Yes. Its extended range, fast neck and locking tremolo make it particularly well suited to metal and technical lead playing.

Is it collectible?

It has strong enthusiast appeal because the RG550XH is discontinued and uses an exceptionally unusual 30-fret design.

Can I part-exchange another guitar against it?

Yes. Fair Deal Music considers guitars and a wide range of other musical equipment for part exchange.