I have an RG 550 Genesis and can confirm it's a hell of a guitar for not a whole lot of money. It plays and feels incredible, the Japanese craftsmanship is as good as it's reputation. It's on par with the Ibanez Prestige line at about half the price.
I have tried that one, the original Floyd Rose and the Schaller Lockmeister: the last one wins...by far....is so well balanced, smooth, heavy. Now I am a Schaller fan.
The Schecter SVSS featured in the video does not have a a Floyd Rose 1500, it has a Floyd Rose Special, upgraded with stainless steel hardware (Hot Rod). It also has standard nickel frets and not stainless steel. The more expensive 'Exotic' SVSS variants are made in South Korea with stainless steel frets, USA Schecter Pickups and the Floyd Rose 1500.
Yes always research your specs, the nrck from the exotic cannot be bought seperate, theres one at my local $75 off (headstock scratch) but i'll just save up for SSfrets and neck thru the exotic is 50-100 less than a M1000 or Soloist pro bouth of witch are FAR better
The original 550 I bought in 1991 has been my main 6-string guitar ever since (Steve's Special / Air Norton pickups). A Genesis will be a perfect 2nd guitar.
I'm an Ibanez guy and the RG550 is my favorite of all my RGs. All my electrics (which include Fender, Gibson, & Jackson) have passive pickups so I'm thinking of getting the Sun Valley SS for the active pups. The switch for Fundamental/Mix/Harmonic sounds intriguing, and I've been interested in the Sustainiac for a while too. Been looking at Schecters for quite some time, almost bought a Banshee GT but then saw the Sun Valley SS, which I'll probably end up buying when I can afford it.
Great video. I own several Schecters and 2 Ibanez guitars one of which is a Jem Jr. as well as a few other brands, Kramer, Jackson and Charvel and I will tell you for me, Schecter makes the best guitars hands down. My opinion. Thanks for a great comparison. One cool note about the Schecter, if you click the Sustainiac on but are playing the bridge pickup, it will sustain at either setting.
I am not affiliated, employed by or any kind of shill for Schecter. I was never a fan of them at all really. If anything I would say Ibanez RGs are my all time favorites. My first Ibanez was a 570 and then a 1570. I love the edge lo pro more than any other trem, Wizard necks are unparalleled in my opinion and being an old Ibanez nerd with nostalgic feelings about hair metal, seven strings and the Family Values tour, I have had so many rgs that I lost count. At least a dozen fuji ibys from Jems to the IMG2010 X-ing make up my permanent collection. My current fave Ibanez is a *blacked out* RBM100 EU (black parts are exact brand and spec replacements with the exception being a brand new original ibanez edge lopro, sans the "licensed by" text relief) I mention that to make it perfectly clear I have serious respect for fujigen ibanez guitars and RGs specifically, and have had little to no interest in Schecter beyond a passing fascination with bat shaped inlays and oddball 5 string guitars(not basses, they really made 5 string guitars for a short time) ...however... Last year I bought the sun valley ssfr in that funky yellow green. Sweetwater had a sale so I said 'why not', expecting to find a basic super strat with a couple cool toys on it and not much else. This is where things got weird for me. I went in with zero expectations but I had no choice but to abandon some preconceived notions of factory pedigrees and my blasé elitist tendency to lump budget and mid-range brand labels together (Schecter diamond series, LTD, Sterling, Squier, GIO, Epiphone). I cant put it into words. I am not being dramatic, I really cannot tell you how surprised I was by the quality and feel of it. NOT ONE proud fret end, not one buzz, set up like it would play itself with or without the sustainiac. To that very point when i was noodling with it for the first hour or so, it resonated so well that I, drop dead seriously, was absolutely certain the sustainiac was on from the moment I plugged it in. I COULD NOT TELL IT WAS NOT ON! I have only ever played around with a couple schecters in my life, really just wasting time in sam ash or guitar center back in the 2000s. I owned one stiletto bass for a couple months and that is the only real experience I have had with schecters so I can't tell you for certain if this is the quality someone could expect sight unseen. I very well could have hit the lumber and QC lottery, so maybe this is anecdotal and little more, but I have come to three conclusions. 1. today's Schecter is not f*ing around with their quality control. 2. the svss is very worthy of its spritual namesake (seems to be an implicit if not explicit homage to the "charvel san dimas") 3. I have a mid-range import Schecter in my permanent collection. It has a spot among a very rare flame top parker fly, boutique hand carved art guitars, several j. customs guitars with cases that cost more than the whole guitar. what is not among them is the rg550, not an 80s/90s model, not a genesis, not a prestige version, I just don't have one. I DID...but I sold it. I strongly recommend The Schecter. I wouldnt have made this long ass comment if I wasn't certain it is the better choice. also: If the licensed floyd is somehow a dealbreaker and not just a passing consideration, I suggest you try it first. It might seem like the zit on the otherwise perfect cheek (however) licensed and import floyds have improved dramatically since the days of surge and jncos. More importantly, it is worth remembering, original floyds go on sale **all the time** and are definitely cheaper and far easier to install than a sustainiac. Edge Trems are pretty much the best of the best but they really only belong on one brand of guitar and if that was the one you would have preferred regardless, I wasn't going to convince you anyway.
I bought the Purple 550 and changed the bridge pickup for a evh frankenstein pickup. Then two years later the RG 565 was released and I had to have that reversed headstock guitar.
These guitars are insane the process of picking out the right guitar is almost like test driving several cars and different brands and then deciding at the end how it feels for you At least that’s my experience after learning to play for the past 15 months
The different Sun Valley Super Shredders also come with different specs. The Exotic sports USA Schecter Pickups and stainless steel frets. The original single coloured ones have Floyd Rose 'Hot Rod' Schecter exclusive trems. EMG pickups and nickel frets instead.
I have an Ibanez RG550 in purple it's perfect except for the stock pickups are average and the heel block Is hard to get use to after playing contoured heel on my RG652 prestige model. For the price it's unbeatable and totally deserves a Seymour Duncan J.B. in the bridge.
I own the RG550 Genesis in desert yellow. The MIJ quality just drips off it, absolutely perfect and no setup required right out of the box. I'm not sure whether the two could be compared fairly in that regard. The RG550 has enough options to cover shred (the neck is phenomenal) but also if your looking for strat tones it has you covered. The Schecter with the sustainiac and active EMGs is more focussed in its offering and certainly not as versatile as the RG.
I love Sustainiac but I would still go with the Ibanez because GOTOH hardware is unmatched and the 550 and the 560 RULED the 80’s. I also love the Wizard neck
I don't think it's actually a 1500 Floyd. The Hot Rod is a China made Special with 1500 features. Mine still says "Special" stamped on it. I've had some tuning issues with mine. The Edge on the Ibanez alone makes it the winner.
I was thinking that as mine says special and after every dive I’ve got to fine tune it. Might flog it tbh. I’ve got 1000 series Floyds on other guitars and they’re flawless.
I have played both many times and i think they are both awesome! I do prefer the Schecter as i am not a fan of the sharp horns on the Ibanez and also prefer the Mahogany body wood over Basswood.
Sun Valley Super Shredder all day! Love it. (For what it's worth the RG550 is dope too.) For those of you out there that want the sustaniac sound without the schecter, the digitech Freqout pedal is great. 👍
I have not tried an Edge, but I did previously own a Schecter with the 1500 and I had to play with the fine tuner knobs somewhat often to keep it in tune and I didn't find it to be very user friendly when it came to tuning and changing strings. Wasn't horrible but the trem didn't seem that great to me either. With all the great things I've heard about the Edge line of trems, an Ibanez will definitely be next for me.
Frankly, the RG Genesis is the way to go. But I have 2 x Japanese Ibanez guitars with Edge trems and had a JEM7VWHL .... So I bought the Schecter because Ibanez won't make a lefty guitar with a sustainiac for me .... and Sustainiac decided to discontinue offering installation services, so damn. I was GOING To buy a Genesis and stick a sustainiac in there, but decided not to blast the money away for something I may or may not love. And got a super shredder for under 700 bucks and it seems pretty much new. MISS the Edge, they really ARE the best floyds out there. So far, the bridge pickup on the Schecter is hard rock with ZERO depth of character. Does nice for that one thing and nothing else. I know the pickups on the Ibanez, they're unfortunately trash, so I would've had to toss them in favor of Dimarzio. The sustainiac pickup is really good with the effect on or off which is great. The floyd so far has stayed in tune, but I've only had it a short while so we'll see.
Love the detail you go into on these. You must really enjoy digging into specs. I don't think I could go into this much detail if I did an axe v axe. I wouldn't think to.
Haha thanks dude. Yeah I’m pretty into it. Mainly because I think it’s at the point that specs really matter in regards to value. Everything is so expensive
@@nikaxeguitar you point out things I wouldn't think to look into but with what you know about them and the comparative differences shows they matter. that's a reason to watch you over someone else.
Good video. Thanks for that. I agree with your final verdict. The RG550 and RG565 cannot be beaten in terms of value for money. They are sooo good. I have the purple neon RG550, and a lazer blue RG565, which I love: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-OKTVBUdMM5A.html
Sh!t buy both, tell you wife or girlfriend to hit the road if they dont like it,theres alot of lonely women out there,you only live once buy guitars and gear .i own several schecters, banshee gt, silver mountain with sustainic, hellraiser, also have various other guitars evh Wolfgang,kramer , jackson etc. own 20 something guitars.ive had several ibanez guitars over the years dont own one today.i like Ibanez then again i like alot of guitars.lol just to grab a guitar plug in and play i find myself holding a evh wolfgang often . Im not gonna say its the best guitar in the world but its certainly the best guitar ive bought for 300 dollars.
I actually bought one of the sun valley shredders. I got the blue reign one, but it hasn't arrived yet. I have an RG550 already. It's a black 1994 pre prestige, made at the fujigen plant.
Had both guitars. Yes the Edge term is cool but the smaller gauge strings are difficult to lock in. The sustainiac pickups are like magic. The harmonics that come out of them are incredible. People tell me they have never heard anything like them and I agree. Holding a chord for several measures, or a fluctuating note with the Floyd Rose is exceptionally unique. The pickups also sound super clean when needed. My winner is the Schecter.
"Yes the Edge term is cool but the smaller gauge strings are difficult to lock in." What? I've used Edge trems that are 20+ years old and never had a problem locking any strings in. I've literally never heard this complaint from anyone before.
@@rexkramer64 That was my first thought. Never once had an issue, and I own 6 MIJ Ibanez guitars. Two with the original Edge, and 4 with a Lo-Pro Edge. In fact, I think Ibanez FujiGen guitars come out of the factory with .09s on them. The reason I give the edge to the Ibanez is because the trem is much better, especially when it comes to longevity, and that craftsmanship. You can put a Sustainiac in the 550 if you want, but you aren't getting that trem or that level of craftsmanship from the Schecter.
The RG550 is just an incredible value. 1000 bucks for a true MIJ guitar is just insane. I unfortunately do not own a RG550, but I do own a Ibanez Prestige and the craftsmanship is just as good, if not better than any Made in USA guitar I own. I probably would swap out the bridge pickup if I was to buy a 550, but I'd keep everything else stock. Awesome video!
Man, i started out as an ibanez fan boy (still am) but i gotta say i love every single schecter i have and will be adding that one to my collection. Edit: I got both now and I agree with his verdict, it's close but the Ibanez takes it for me, though the bridge on the Schecter is way better than he makes it seem, it's super solid. Also the Schecter is more fun. But they're both awesome 😎👍
Yeah I have the PT sun valley and I did tons of research to discover that the Floyd Rose ‘Hot Rod’ Special is just a Floyd rose special with a brass block and stainless steel string locking screws. Not sure if there are any other upgrades but I did have the threads on one of the saddles die on me. I bought the $80 original stainless steel replacements and I’m not sure if they’re the same as the zinc alloy one that broke on me. But it’s definitely no 1500
I have rg550 2018 version. I love it; Particularely its tiny and high quality neck that made for playing fast shred. Besides, using the tremolo frequently and heavily doesn't untune the guitar at all. The tune is stable, the pickups could be changed easily, the expose is shark shaped, so is more metal approach. The Japan made quality makes pleasent feeling durnig playing. Why 1000 bucks I don't know but makes me happy. It reminds me of the dead low price of Bugatti Veiron comparing to Shiron😂
The MIJ Ibanez is BY FAR a superior instrument in all aspects...Fujigen craftsmanship is second to none. The Genesis is the best value on the market today. Only indo guitar Id consider paying this much for is a Kramer Sm-1.
I have both guitars, and I like the traditional truss rod on Ibanez more. You actually need a special tool to adjust Schecter. And that tool is easy to lose. Both guitars are great though. I think I like the pickups on Schecter a bit more, and I definitely like Ibanez edge more than the licensed Floyd rose. I replaced the saddles on mine. Overall I'd choose the Ibanez over the Schecter, although Schecter does have certain advantages.
I have a schecter hellraiser c1fr with "super jumbo" frets and a Genesis rg550 with "jumbo" frets. Both amazing guitars, but the jumbo frets on the rg are actually bigger
I'm a Schecter guy through-and-through, but some friends have the RG550, and I *honestly* believe they are absolute equals in the metal shredding world. I'd have no issues playing the RG550 right along side the FRS and vice versa. The Ibby has been around for decades, but the SVSS has successfully built on the foundations of giants and competes on their own terms with no reservations or hesitation. Love 'em both.
I've owned an original 1980's RG550 since 1991, and I love it, but it's had so many new parts that there's not much left of the original guitar. It's had a new neck, pickups, pots, switch, knobs, and most importantly trem. I hated the original trem, it drove me crazy the way the arm would never stay where I wanted it to. I put new bushes on the trem, and that didn't work. The guitar also sounded really bright, so I had so Bare Knuckle 300 ohm pots fitted, that helped a bit, but it just didn't sustain? So I had a Schaller lockmiester trem fitted, and now it's the guitar it should always have been. It sounds fantastic, and I wish I'd have changed the trem years ago.
Love the reviews man! The being a fan of Ibanez and never had a Schecter, the only thing I will point out is your comment about Japan vs Korea, thats Samsung/Hyndai vs Nintendo and Sony. I think both countries are quality, but obviously one of these is more modern than the other.
Great video and reviews of each guitar. I have one of the Schecters coming in the mail this week and am excited about the sustainer. It reminds me of the Jackson PC1 Phil Collen of Def Leppard uses with the sustainer. To me, I was a Kramer guy in the 80s so I never really liked the look of the Ibanez guitars when they came out, although I've played one and they are absolutely awesome! I think the made in Japan is superb value for the Ibanez for sure and both guitars are great for their prices. Thanks again for the great review. just subscribed to your channel!! Take Care!
What i don't like about shecter is the pickup too bright and the pickup selector position not matching with my playing style but the great things is the sustainiac of the guitar.
I have had both the Ibanez Prestige with the same setup as this RG at $1200 and the Schecter SVSS FR/S for around $700 and the SVSS blows the Ibanez out of the water!! To start, the hardware on the Ibanez is crap, period. The Trem hardware corroded and tarnished within a year of having it and that was with the Lo Pro Edge Double locking Tremolo and the locking nuts. That was in Cosmo Black. Same thing with all the screws and hardware supporting the pickups. I was told it was high quality because it was made in Japan. Boy were they wrong. I also ended up replacing the V8 Bridge pickup for a DiMarzio Tone Zone because of the lack of clarity and the V8 pickup was not hot enough for me. The Wizard II neck was fine and so were the tuners. The SVSS I've had for over a year and had no issues with hardware corroding or tarnishing. The pickups are super clear and "Hot" especially if your into metal. The neck is Super, Super fast. I mean I cannot explain to you how smooth and fast your fingers glide along the fretboard and I have small hands and fingers!!! The sustaniac is a bonus especially if you need or want feedback or sustain in the songs you play. If your a shredder then this is a absolutely must have guitar!!
I don't have the Genesis 550 but I do have the Genesis 570 and of course it's great. Mine came in a box that said Ibanez prestige. I did put a set of Seymour Duncans in it, a JB in the bridge and the jazz in the neck, i kept the stock middle pup cause I really like it. I believe the Edge is the best Trem ever created. Followed by the Gotoh 1996. The neck of course is great and it's wonderful. I was thinking about ordering the 550 but as usual they always sold out or you have to reserve one for months and months in advance. I wish Ibanez would get a clue and realize these are probably their best selling guitar and offer more colors (like they did back in the late 80's early 90's) and get more made and put out there so we don't have to reserve one or wait months to get it. Due to that, i was looking at the Schecter never owned one, I don't recall ever playing one either, but the electronics that come with it seems like a really great deal for the price. So. might have to check out the green reign super shredder as its the same price as the Rg, maple fretboard which I'm wanting (i don't have one maple fretboard guitar in my collection) and it has the EMG 70 which is a cool pup better than the stock pups that come w/ the RG and the Sustaniac of course.
Schecter all the way, I have just ordered the satin black SSVS FRS. It's my 5th Schecter you can't beat their value, their quality control and their sound. I love vintage gear or vintage styled gear (Lps,Strats,Teles) but for my modern tones and esthetic. It's Schecter. I was looking for an 80s style shredder EVHs, ESP/LTD M series then I ran across the SSVS frs. It's the most for the least. Schecter all the way. Unless Ibanez brings back the rg7620 in Vampire Kiss
The Sun Valley doesn't have the 1500. It has the Hot Rod special. It is basically a special. It isn't a 1000 series. Trust me, Everyone thinks its the 1500. I did to. Actually was gonna get one. But I looked into it more. It is a special. And that's why I didn't get it. I was very disappointed. Not trying to be a fact checker. But yea.
I know this video is 1 year old, but I was curious about it because I just recently purchased a Schecter Sun Valley Super Shredder PT FR-S Telecaster shape guitar. I canceled a pre-order for an Adam Jones 1979 Epiphone Les Paul and got the Schecter instead because I wanted something different and I already have 4 Gibson's. So far I have no issues with the Schecter. German craftsmanship is top level schidt and I would rather have a German made than a Korean made Floyd Rose, but if needed, can be upgraded later. As far as the color, mint green or seafoam blue, whatever it is, I'm not too crazy about.
The base model SVSS has the FR Special but the higher trim SVSS do have the stainless steel FR 1000s and SS frets and better pickups than the stock Ibanez. I think the Ibanez MIJ craftmanship is tighter. Both are solid choices but Ibanez is easier and funner to mod up (pickups and colors) while the Schecter is solid off the box. I think they're kinda different since the Schecter neck is even thicker than Charvel necks so it fills a spot for shred sticks with thicker necks that retain the 80s look.
Well, I suppose at the end of the day, everybody has their own personal tastes and opinions on what's good or what they want from a guitar. I don't own either of these guitars and probably likely never will as I'll never have a need or use for them except for playing on my own. The guitars I do own are simple and cheap and what I looked for was what the action was like and how they sounded. I'm sure that both these guitars are amazing in their own unique ways and if I were to play them, I'd be very tempted to buy one but, again, I'd have no real need or use for it.
both are very nice, if i had to pick one i would go with the ibanez but to be honest i would go for neither because neither of them have ss frets, if you dont gig its fine you dont need them so much but if you are constantly gigging like i am you burn through frets in no time, i would spend the extra for an ss fret ibanez S 1075, or pay around the same for an AZ premium HH, or save a load of money and just get a harley benton fusion 3 HH with a floyd 1000 for a fraction of the price
Love both the schecter and the Ltd brands of guitars such killer parts on both and such high quality. What I love about the Ibanez line tho is they have the 43mm nut width and the schecters and ltd’s do not. The Ibanez guitars are just easier for me to play even tho the schecter comes with more expensive parts just can’t play with the strings so close together
Ibanez uses the "Edge" trem, which pretty much ends the debate. The Schecter "Active" Pickups knocked it out of serious consideration in my opinion. The Ibanez Genesis (MIJ) is looking for the next serious opponent. It's an Ibanez Knock Out!
So glad you did this comparison! I’d found the super shredder and was really torn between it and the 550 but I’m more sold on the neck and gotoh hardware as well as a true Japanese built guitar, thanks Nick!
@@glroman91 they are not cheap as pickup. they are quite ok, its a japanese pickups made customly for ibanez by gotoh. And even if u need to change em, its enough to change only bridge pickup (bc ibanez bridge pickups mostly sounds some kind of... Too soft, muddy and dinamic for modern metal stuff). But necks sound amazing for solo picking and other stuff. So getting some kind of dimarzio on it will cost not that much.
lets be honest, the Genesis is the best guitar for its price. The only thing it'd be a let-down could be the electronics, but come on. Edge Bridge, MIJ ibanez Fujigen guitar. Thats impossible to beat at that price point.
Have the shecter and it's a dream with the sustainiac but I look to have also three RG because a regular guitar won't consume 9v batteries and gives you other tone options. These two are amazing for sure. Thanks for the video.
I got a 550 and returned it due to it having dead notes. Also when googling to try to figure it out, it seemed like every person is constantly freaked out about damaging the trem.
IBANEZ RG JAPAN MADE IS INCREDIBLE MACHINE, I HAVE 2 FR0M 91' AND SCHECTER IS COPYING A CLASSIC AND THEY SUCK BADLY AT IT...CANT G0 WR0NG WITH FUJIGEN IBANEZ EVER...
@@nikaxeguitar Does it have the same issues as the Floyd rose specials or is it stable. Sorry for stupid questions, you seem like the expert on this? There is a deal right now for the tele one.
@@AmerikkkaGuitars Are we talking about the FR 1500? It’s a good trem, WAY better than the specials because it’s made with durable materials. Now the Edge trem is the best of all those in my opinion.
@@nikaxeguitar Yeah I hear ya, been trying to score an edge trem but Ibanez has them on mid tier level guitars. Schecter has the 1500 on the sun valley 3 but I think they stopped producing that version. But I think I might go the Tom Morello way and just buy an edge and fit it in a floyd special. Or get the gotoh bridge. Thanks again for channel!
