Ibanez SA's are sweet. Question about S series.

[presa_tito]

I tried this model today at the local shop and it was pretty awesome and I think one of the comfiest guitars I've ever played. Killer flame top in person. It's part of the S series.
http://www.ibanez.com/guitars/guitar.asp?model=SA220FM
I had my eye on a Satriani 1000 model or something like that with a Floyd. I was just curious if anyone knew about the bridges on the SA series. Since I had my eyes set on a Floyd, these guitars are basically identical.
Any of these could be used as an examlpe.
http://www.ibanez.com/guitars/series.asp?s=s&l=e
I need to know about the ZR bridge. What kind of Floyd is that and does anyone know much about them? I could assume that they're not as good as an edge pro because of the price gap. If they're good I might want to get one of them. Maybe I'll just try and haggle for the one in the store since it could be a real standout one. These are all Korean and as far as I'm concerned, it played better than anything there.

 

[FretFire]

Re: Ibanez SA's are sweet. Question about S series.

I don't believe the ZR is a Floyd copy, it's an Ibanez design. Something to do with using ball bearings instead of knife edges, I don't know all the particulars and I don't know how they compare to Ibanez's licensed FR copies as far as stability is concerned.

EDIT: Also realize that the S series doesn't quite have the same body shape as the JS models, and the neck profiles/radii will be different from one another. Satch uses a slightly thicker assymetrical neck with a 9.5" (or 12"?) radius and smaller fretwire than you'll find on the S and SA guitars (Wizard II thin D-shaped neck, 14" or 16" radius, jumbo frets).

 

[presa_tito]

Re: Ibanez SA's are sweet. Question about S series.

Thanks, I thought it did look a little odd. Hopefully it could be an easy version of a Floyd.

 

[lateralus]

Re: Ibanez SA's are sweet. Question about S series.

from what ive heard, the ZR tremolo is like a wilkinsonish (ha) floyd, in that its basically just a floyd with ball bearings instead of the knife edges like fretfire said. It tunes-up the same, and pretty much functions the same... just holds tune a little better (apparently).

 

[nuntius]

Re: Ibanez SA's are sweet. Question about S series.

I've only had a short experience with it, but I quite liked the ZR trem, it seemed very smooth and responsive.. and held up to my abuse (but I'd expect no less)

 

[presa_tito]

Re: Ibanez SA's are sweet. Question about S series.

So, it's like a Kahler sort of and is still set up like a Floyd?
I also noticed the model I was looking at has a SAT30S bridge, while the model up has a SAT pro bridge. I'm assuming the 30S has basically the same functionality, but built with cheaper material. You can see the differences here. http://www.ibanezrules.com/namm/2005/sa_gsa_sz_gsz.htm

 

[MattPete]

Re: Ibanez SA's are sweet. Question about S series.

So, it's like a Kahler sort of and is still set up like a Floyd?

Nah, it's like a Floyd, but instead of pivoting on knife edges, it pivots on bearings.

If you go to the url below and scroll around, you'll see a close-up (there are some other trems on there, so don't get confused like I did when I first looked at the page).

http://www.ibanezrules.com/namm/2003/trems.htm#REVIEW

 

[presa_tito]

Re: Ibanez SA's are sweet. Question about S series.

Nah, it's like a Floyd, but instead of pivoting on knife edges, it pivots on bearings.

If you go to the url below and scroll around, you'll see a close-up (there are some other trems on there, so don't get confused like I did when I first looked at the page).

http://www.ibanezrules.com/namm/2003/trems.htm#REVIEW

Gracias, that's exactly what I was looking for.

 

[petruccidime]

Re: Ibanez SA's are sweet. Question about S series.

In regard to the first picture... the SA220... if your looking for a guitar with a trem.. i wouldnt get this. in my experience they go out of tune at the slightest movement in the trem..
with the trem Floyds with bearing pivot.. they are the smoothest most comfortable trem ive ever used. i would recmond that over the standard knife edge trems..

 

[Kamanda~SD]

Re: Ibanez SA's are sweet. Question about S series.

I don't believe the ZR is a Floyd copy, it's an Ibanez design. Something to do with using ball bearings instead of knife edges, I don't know all the particulars and I don't know how they compare to Ibanez's licensed FR copies as far as stability is concerned.

EDIT: Also realize that the S series doesn't quite have the same body shape as the JS models, and the neck profiles/radii will be different from one another. Satch uses a slightly thicker assymetrical neck with a 9.5" (or 12"?) radius and smaller fretwire than you'll find on the S and SA guitars (Wizard II thin D-shaped neck, 14" or 16" radius, jumbo frets).

Satch has a compound radius fretboard, 9.5-10. He and his tech does this.