Re: Ibanez Joe Satriani or S470
marty_the_westie said:
I've posted a few threads recently about Floyd equipped guitars and have narrowed it down to 2. A JS100 and a S470. Either way, I am getting new pick ups for it, so that is not a consideration. What I'm wondering about is the overall playability of each and mostly, the difference in the 2 bridges. The JS has the new edge system, while the 470 has the ZR system. Also, the JS is basswood and has a little more mass to it, while the 470 is mahogany and more contoured, giving it a little less mass. Any input on either guitar, especially the bridge systems, would help a lot. Also, would either inherently have better tone possibilities, based on the wood type, and body mass. Thanks in advance to anyone who helps me out.
Bear with my lengthy mini review/ post here..I just went through a time with the S470
I recently purchased a S470DX from SamAsh.com after basically a 10 year hiatus from playing and It had some issues (and I mean this particular guitar).
Ibanez S470DX Bad Points:
1) It has a handful of "dead" spots on the fretboard. When bending, the note frets out almost immediately. The only way to solve the prob was by raising the action ridiculously high. Possibly tall frets.
2) Even after raising the action quite high, it still had some annoying fret buzz. Out of the box, the buzz was real bad over the entire neck. Neck adjustment may have helped but neck relief looked decent to me.
3) Pickups sound pretty bad. Very thin, nasally, and twangy..even the Humbuckers. At times I could get a decent sound, but generally they are as bad as folks say they are.
Ibanez S470DX Good Points
1) Wizard II neck RAWKS! I can really fly all over this neck. The Wiz necks have always been my fave.
2) Fit & finish otherwise was pretty darn good considering the low cost.
3) ZR tremelo is VERY smooth to use, easy to work with, has smooth turning fine tuners, and stayed in tune extremely well under heavy bar use.
4) Although the body is thin (at the edges, it's still thick through the midsection), the guitar has some heft and had decent sustain.
Last weekend I went to Guitar Center to try some new amps, and since they had no S470 DX on the wall, I asked to play a Jackson DK2 dinky (which was the S470DX's main contender when I was looking to buy). I was already miffed about having to return the Ibanez and wait for a replacement, but after playing the Jackson, it was a no brainer: I bought the Jackson on the spot, and the Ibanez is going back (thank god for the 45 day guarantee).
I am in no way condemning Ibanez, as I've had some in the past I really liked, and I'd buy another one if it suited my fancy. My advice though would be to play the actual guitar you are buying before you lay down the cash, or if you buy online at least be prepared to have to send something back if it does not meet your expectations.
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