SZ 520 QM Review..

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Author Message   Spiro (Spiro) Posted on Thursday, November 20, 2003 - 3:32 pm:    Hey everyone, I Bought an Ibanez SZ 520 QM in Amber Burst a few weeks ago and must say this guitar is one of the best Korean Guitars I have played. I am not one to normally buy Korean Ibanezes but the total build quality of this guitar was up there if not equal to the Japanese Models.. I also Have to thank Cameron For letting me go through the whole of the Australian Stock before finding the "RIGHT" one. (colour of the burst and also the fretboard colour.) This guitar has the following features.. Mahogany Body, Maple top, veneered quilt.. Gibraltar III bridge with string through body design. (great Design no stress on the strings) all hardware on this guit is Nickel plated and not chrome!!!! Maple Neck with rosewood fretboard witha flame inlay on the 12th fret. SZ humbuckers Vol Vol tone and JPM switching arrangement (Dont know why I never thought of this switching before) 3 a side Korean tuners.. I had this guitar for a week before deciding what mods to do on it ( all completely reversable.) I first swapped o0ut the pickups with a set of Seymour duncans, duncan Custom in the bridge and a Duncan distortion in the neck both in a zebra style. Replaced the Pots and jack with Japanese Ibanez Parts (AR2000 jack and Jap Pots, switch is already a Jap part.) And must say it now sounds unbelievable, the original pickups were lacking in tone quite a bit..(the originals actually have Ibanez stamped in the bottom of them).. I am now waiting on a set of Gotoh SG510X Tuners to arrive from Japan to re[place stock Items (same tuners as John Scofield model except for adjustable posts and hard chrome finish) I believe this is guitar is the best bang for your Buck ($900 AUD approx $640 USD) The build quality of this guitar is unbelievable.. here is link to a guys website where he has taken some in depth photos of this guitar http://koti.mbnet.fi/~pmm/pics/sz520/   Tim_Gueguen (Tim_Gueguen) Posted on Thursday, November 20, 2003 - 6:49 pm:    The couple I've fondled locally have seemed like very solid instruments, and I quite liked the feel of the necks.   Dennis68 (Dennis68) Posted on Thursday, November 20, 2003 - 9:35 pm:    Very Nice - Congrats!   Guitaki (Guitaki) Posted on Wednesday, November 26, 2003 - 8:54 am:    I fell in love with the SZ the minute I tried it out for the first time! There was something magical about the woods, acoustically it sounded a bit like a hollowed body. I haven't bought one yet, but I am in the middle of a crossfire. Our music store has been selling a few of these, and the one that is in the store right now doesn't feel as special as I think the others did (perhaps bad strings), but it has a very special kind of colour. It is more like a tobacco burst than a Amber burst, even though it says Amb on the box! No-one I have talked to knows anything about this special colour, so I really would like to grab it while I can, I might never come across one! Then again, our Ibanez dealer said that there are new models for 2004, since the SZ has sold so much. Check this out: Ibanez SZ Prestige, made in Japan! The Korean SZ goes for 590 euro, the Prestige will be 1200 euro or so. Something tells me I really should grab the Tobacco burst, but I guess I should compare it with several individuals, just to make sure it plays as good as the others. Then again, the SZ520 will be available still when the Prestige will arrive in January. Help! ;o) -Aki.   Guitaki (Guitaki) Posted on Wednesday, November 26, 2003 - 8:56 am:    Also, I think the pickup balance and tone are good on the SZ, bright and clean on the neck, but growly on the bridge. 1100 euro Schecters and LTDs have pickups of complete crap compared to the SZ's. -Aki.   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 02-2001 Posted on Thursday, June 09, 2005 - 10:05 am:    Here's pictures of my SZ520:   Ibanezfreak1960 Username: Ibanezfreak1960 Registered: 03-2004 Posted on Thursday, June 09, 2005 - 1:11 pm:    Looks good John. Did you polish her up a bit?   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 02-2001 Posted on Thursday, June 09, 2005 - 2:26 pm:    Brian: Nope. She's naturally photogenic.   Spiro Username: Spiro Registered: 02-2001 Posted on Thursday, June 09, 2005 - 5:00 pm:    What do ya think John?   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 02-2001 Posted on Thursday, June 09, 2005 - 8:26 pm:    Spiro: Considering the thickness and materials, this guitar is pleasantly light. I'm really wondering why? Is it chambered? What's the story on it's construction, is the entire top really quilted maple? You said something earlier about it being veneer. The workmanship seems to be top-notch. The fret ends are perfect. Nothings out of place. The Duncan/IBZ pups are hot and powerful. A little to hot for a real clean sound. But I doubt they designed this to be a jazz box. Being an Artist and Wizard neck player, the clubbier neck profile with medium frets is one of the things I either have to learn to like or do something about. The pickup selector is my least favorite feature. You said you changed your's out an rewired it, right?   Jeffsailor Username: Jeffsailor Registered: 01-2004 Posted on Thursday, June 09, 2005 - 9:34 pm:    John, Very Nice. I'll be very interested to hear what you think of the guitar once you get used to the neck. Here's a few shots of my "twins".   Jeffsailor Username: Jeffsailor Registered: 01-2004 Posted on Wednesday, January 11, 2006 - 5:15 pm:    Here's the first green SZ520 I've seen on eBay US. This was a new color offered in the US in 2005 and I have to say it looks pretty nice. http://www.qksrv.net/click-1802666-10381315?loc=http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI .dll%3FViewItem%26item%3D7381667659 The opening bid is a very good price for that guitar. js   Mrmike Username: Mrmike Registered: 01-2006 Posted on Wednesday, January 11, 2006 - 5:39 pm:    These are great looking guitars but the one's I've played felt....clunky?!? A modern version of the Ghostrider???   Funkle Username: Funkle Registered: 12-2001 Posted on Wednesday, January 11, 2006 - 10:47 pm:    I'm with ya' Mrmike, I've been wavering on these SZs for a while. I'd like to get more of a PRS style guitar, and I'm not sure if the SZ is the ticket. I'd probably go for one of the MIJ Prestiges if I ever come across one.

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