Ibanez S 440 Japan or new Ibanez S 520

P

Peter Krasov

New member
Hi floks,

Wanna try the Ibanez S series guitar, which I have not tried before, hence I'm not going to spent much money on that.

Two guys in my neighbourhood are selling S's, one is 1994 440 model, made in Japan (http://16.img.avito.st/1280x960/1599936816.jpg), the other is modern (2015 maybe), made in Indonesia (http://www.ibanez.com/products/eg_p...3&cat_id=1&series_id=4&data_id=169&color=CL01). The 440 costs about 350 dollars, the 520 - 200 dollars.

I've never tried modern Indonesian Ibanez guitars, own the 1987 RG540 and 1993 RT412 12 string, earlier I had the 1996 Universe.

Who has had a chance to compare these two models, or maybe tried/owned the current 520 model? I know that Japanese guitars are very high in terms of quality, but what about modern Indonesians? Anyway, 440 does not seem to be a hi-end model.

The modern 520 has look and specs (24 frets, two humbuckers) I love more, while Japanese 440 has 22 frets and HSH combo.

Any ideas?
 
Re: Ibanez S 440 Japan or new Ibanez S 520

I have tooled on both own the mij version and i would have to say the only thing i found that set them apart was the fret quality and fret ends. Mij all the way/
 
Re: Ibanez S 440 Japan or new Ibanez S 520

I agree with k but I would add that I expect the MIJ Edge vibrato to be more precisely machined than the Edge-Zero.

The Ibanez V7/V8 pickups are notoriously poor. Budget to replace these. The control cavity is far smaller than its cover plate would lead you to believe. Soldering tasks will be "guts out". Your choice of replacement selector switches will be limited by space considerations.

I have never knowingly tried the Ibanez Quantum humbuckers fitted to the 520. In this price brand, I would not expect them to be anything special.




EDIT - Little Pigbacon has mentioned the Ibanez RG520 in a thread about an unused DiMarzio FRED humbucker. PM the piglet for replacement pickup suggestions.
 
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Re: Ibanez S 440 Japan or new Ibanez S 520

Indo fretwork IMHO is their strongest point. MIJ is better in assembly/parts and build.
 
Re: Ibanez S 440 Japan or new Ibanez S 520

greekdude said:
Indo fretwork IMHO is their strongest point. MIJ is better in assembly/parts and build.
Click to expand...

Yeah but you only say that because you purchased an indo ibby. I bet if you had the coin for a mij you would be singing a different tune.
 
Re: Ibanez S 440 Japan or new Ibanez S 520

Funkfingers said:
I agree with k but I would add that I expect the MIJ Edge vibrato to be more precisely machined than the Edge-Zero.

The Ibanez V7/V8 pickups are notoriously poor. Budget to replace these. The control cavity is far smaller than its cover plate would lead you to believe. Soldering tasks will be "guts out". Your choice of replacement selector switches will be limited by space considerations.

I have never knowingly tried the Ibanez Quantum humbuckers fitted to the 520. In this price brand, I would not expect them to be anything special.




EDIT - Little Pigbacon has mentioned the Ibanez RG520 in a thread about an unused DiMarzio FRED humbucker. PM the piglet for replacement pickup suggestions.
Click to expand...

I'll be replacing pickups in any case: I strongly dislike V1/V2 pickups, as well as modern INFs, Quantums and so on. So I don't care about pickups at all, the only thing I'm vorried about is the wood and other materials quality.

So, I'm wondering, whether there is great difference between so-called mid-level Indo and a budget Japanese.
 
Re: Ibanez S 440 Japan or new Ibanez S 520

I find that all Crafted In Indonesia guitars and basses of the last decade or so have a house feel. The name on the headstock makes very little difference.

Fret fit and finishing has been a traditional weak spot of budget instruments. The Cort factory has lavished plenty of attention on this area.

The only real test is to get your hands on the two guitars. Whichever feels better to you is the one to buy.
 
Re: Ibanez S 440 Japan or new Ibanez S 520

My 2 cents... avoid any S series guitar with that ZR tremolo on it. I love the feel of an S, but could not get past the terrible tone that ZR trem imparted. I fought that thing for years and finally sold off all my S models for RGs. Note that the pros that play one do not have the ZR trem on them.
 
Re: Ibanez S 440 Japan or new Ibanez S 520

What's wrong with Edge Zero? I've got a spare brass block to replace the zinc one on it. Or, is there something wrong with trem unit itself?
 
Re: Ibanez S 440 Japan or new Ibanez S 520

Peter Krasov said:
What's wrong with Edge Zero? I've got a spare brass block to replace the zinc one on it. Or, is there something wrong with trem unit itself?
Click to expand...

The baseplate is very soft, and the screw holes can widen and get loose. Everything else is uh... okay.
 
Re: Ibanez S 440 Japan or new Ibanez S 520

kramersteen said:
Yeah but you only say that because you purchased an indo ibby. I bet if you had the coin for a mij you would be singing a different tune.
Click to expand...

what I say is that if we compare MII fretwork vs MII assembly vs MII parts vs MII build quality, then MII fretwork wins, didn't imply anything about vs MIJ which are superior in all depts, maybe I didn't word it right, being the WOG that I am.
 
Re: Ibanez S 440 Japan or new Ibanez S 520

Archer250 said:
The Edge Zero sucks. Avoid it like the plague.
Click to expand...

Edge Zero? I don't own one, but they say that this is the best Ibby trem ever (or just the best trem ever made on earth). If you mean edge zero II, then it is still good, I had (edge) zero problems with mine :)
 
Re: Ibanez S 440 Japan or new Ibanez S 520

Archer250 said:
The baseplate is very soft, and the screw holes can widen and get loose. Everything else is uh... okay.
Click to expand...

You know even for the most problematic batch metallurgy of edge zero II the cure is very easy and cheap, then why propagate FUD ?
 
Re: Ibanez S 440 Japan or new Ibanez S 520

greekdude said:
Edge Zero? I don't own one, but they say that this is the best Ibby trem ever (or just the best trem ever made on earth). If you mean edge zero II, then it is still good, I had (edge) zero problems with mine :)
Click to expand...

Who's "they"? Certainly not Satriani, nor Vai, or Kiko Loureiro. They still use the tried and trusted Edge.

And yes, you *can* fix, or get somebody to fix it with inserts. The fact that a guitar of that price would even need it in the first place is just unacceptable, and most people would rather not do it in the first place.
 
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Re: Ibanez S 440 Japan or new Ibanez S 520

Archer250 said:
Who's "they"? Certainly not Satriani, nor Vai, or Kiko Loureiro. They still use the tried and trusted Edge.

And yes, you *can* fix, or get somebody to fix it with inserts. The fact that a guitar of that price would even need it in the first place is just unacceptable, and most people would rather not do it in the first place.
Click to expand...

Lets organize the talk a little bit. I guess you comprehend that Edge Zero II (MIC) != Edge Zero (MIJ Gotoh). Right?
 
Re: Ibanez S 440 Japan or new Ibanez S 520

greekdude said:
Lets organize the talk a little bit. I guess you comprehend that Edge Zero II (MIC) != Edge Zero (MIJ Gotoh). Right?
Click to expand...
Pretty sure I read somewhere that the only difference is the intonation design, and that they're both MIC

Sent from my LG-D855 using Tapatalk
 
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