The S series today

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Author Message   Guitarman (Guitarman) Posted on Saturday, October 25, 2003 - 1:18 pm:    Hi guys, Recently I had the chance to try out my friend's S540. It has H/S/H pickups, oval abalone markers with the words "Custom made" on the neck as well. This is the first time I tried these guitars and I absolutely fell in love with it. And although he bought them (he owns two) used, they were like brand new. Aboslute mint 10+ condition! I am contemplating buying one now but of course, this model is no longer made. I check on the latest Ibanez cataloge and it looks like the highest S model series available now is the S1620 with just two Humbuckers - QM1 & QM2. Looks-wise, it is just as amazing. I like to know if you all know that this is the highest S Series model available. Based on the company website, it looks like they have another model call S1750 FMTP that is higher with H/S/H pickups. Any tips and advise? And does anyone owns a S1620 yet? And yes, I have search through the site for info on this model. And is it true that DiMarzio design the QM series pickups? Thanks guys, Vic   Funkle (Funkle) Posted on Saturday, October 25, 2003 - 1:50 pm:    Hi Vic, The Sabre guitars are very nice indeed. Would you consider a used one? There are always plenty of S540s on eBay, some in very good condition. I don't know about the current S models, but the mid '90s 540s were made in Japan. These are probably some of the finest examples of the Sabre you will find. You will probably be able to find one in very good shape at a very good price. You can browse the catalogs and used guitars at http://www.ibanezrules.com/ -Sven   Guitarman (Guitarman) Posted on Sunday, October 26, 2003 - 4:50 am:    Hi Sven, Is that what "S" stands for? Sabre? I never knew that. The new S1620 is made in Japan. I went and look at it again today. Man, it's getting pretty tempting. Thanks for the website. Pretty cool guitars. Vic   Koadude (Koadude) Posted on Thursday, December 11, 2003 - 7:57 pm:    Ergodynamically- this is probably the most comfortable git made, nobody makes a mahog. body any lighter plus a fast neck to boot Tone- lotta gripes on Harmony Central and I have to agree, the lack of body mass, compared to a L.P. or tele, plus the slim neck subtract from it's tone, depending on your preferred music style this can be a minus. I play blues thru tube amps, blocked the trem. & put 10's on and saw a big tonal improvement. Stock pups are fine. Find one local on Ebay for under 500 with no cracks on the neck @ the nut & you'll be happy. I own 12 gits, all solid body strat style and this is my favorite-1994 s540 boundneck w/sharkstooth. An alternate would be a rg made in japan(550].   Funkle (Funkle) Posted on Friday, December 12, 2003 - 7:40 pm:    Koadude, Sabres are nice, but I think the Radius models are WAY more comfortable than the Sabres. The sabre is thin but it still has that semi-sharp corner on the edge that digs into my forearm. I think the Radius is more solid and has better tone to boot. Underrated guitar. My $0.02.   Midnightblue81 (Midnightblue81) Posted on Monday, April 19, 2004 - 2:05 pm:    Hello guys I recently bought a s series guitar that has "custom made" on the 21st fret, and has 3 knobs. The guitar has an H S S configuration, an Ibz usa F2 in the bridge, and Ibz usa C2 in the middle position, and an Ibz usa C2 in the neck position. This guitar has oval / almond shaped pearl inlays going up the frets as described in one of the earlier posts by another person as well. I noticed that the floyd rose on mine has a D-tuna on the floyd and is routed for it ( it looks factory which is what makes it weird .) Also instead of a 5 way pickup selector my guitar has a 3 way toggle switch, which also looks factory. From the looks of it there never was a 5 way selector on this guitar. The serial number is F200327, and there is a usa metal plate on the back of the neck, so I am guessing it is a 1992 model made in the fujigen factory ? I am not really sure. I would be really happy if you guys could tell me more about this axe. (by the way... I have been looking for it all over the net, and haven't been able to find many like mine. The only custom s series made in usa I found were like 1200 and 1500 dollars on the pricing sheet I saw and they had the ibz usa pickups in it. My friend said he bought one similar to mine, used but without as many features for 900 bucks. I found mine for 350 dollars at the guitar show. I traded 3 really horrible guitars for this one, do you think I got a good deal or was it a fluke ? )   Midnightblue81 (Midnightblue81) Posted on Monday, April 19, 2004 - 2:33 pm:    btw ... this s series I bought says it was made in Hollywood CA instead of Benslam PA like everyone else has told me theirs were made. Does that make any difference ?   Mr_Roadstar (Mr_Roadstar) Posted on Monday, April 19, 2004 - 2:33 pm:    There were no USA made "S" series guitars. Yours was made in Japan. The only thing "Custom Made" about it is the "Custom Made" inlay. Most "S" and Radius models from the time period sport that same inlay. The neck plate and serial number make it a 1992 build. Without any documentation to the contrary, I'd say it's been modified by a previous owner. Cheers Steve   Midnightblue81 (Midnightblue81) Posted on Monday, April 19, 2004 - 2:52 pm:    Are the Japanese axe's any good in quality ? And what is with the 3 knobs instead of 2 and the 3 way toggle switch. I have seen a lot of different s series guitars because I used to work in a pawn shop, but I have never seen an s series with a 3 way toggle and 3 knobs from factory. Why did they make those things different ?   Mr_Roadstar (Mr_Roadstar) Posted on Monday, April 19, 2004 - 3:31 pm:    LMAO !! No! They SUCK! That's why this whole website dedicated to 'em... FYI: ALL Ibanez guitars prior to 1987 were made in Japan. The top end models are still made there. You figure it out. Cheers Steve   Johns (Johns) Posted on Monday, April 19, 2004 - 7:10 pm:    Steve: Are you saying that even if the guitar says "made in Hollywood" that it's NOT from the Custom shop? How would one be able to tell if it REALLY was a custom job made at the LA shop?   Mr_Roadstar (Mr_Roadstar) Posted on Monday, April 19, 2004 - 8:26 pm:    First, just like the Bensalem PA neck plates, the Hollywood neck plates do NOT say MADE In USA. Second, if it was a Hollywood custom, it wouldn't have a standard Fugi Gen Gakki serial number. They were pretty consistant about marking the stuff that came out of the California shop. My guess is it's either a non-US model, or it's been modified. Cheers Steve

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