New guitar: Ibanez SZ520, I'm impressed.

[Top Jimmy]

Since someone here had to post the clearance price on these at zzounds, I ended up buying one even though I had never played one or saw one in person.

Well color me very, very impressed. The finish is unbelievable, the binding looks great, and the poly coat on the back looks great. I've never had a guitar that looks kick butt in the back! The quilted maple burst is this incredible smokey gold honey color, no way a guitar for $399 should look this good. I can't find one flaw in the finish.

It plays dang nice, I like the 25.1 scale, not too sloppy and not too tight. Have to wait to get home and try these Ibby/Duncan pups.

I'd like to see a better $399 guitar.

I'll try and get some photo's to show off the nice finish on this baby if I feel motivated

 

[Pushpin&Poetry]

Re: New guitar: Ibanez SZ520, I'm impressed.

Congrads man! I was eyeing those as well seems like a great deal. Pics would be awesome.

 

[Ocifer]

Re: New guitar: Ibanez SZ520, I'm impressed.

Wow, I just took a look http://www.samash.com/catalog/showitem.asp?ItemID=25032

Those look downright sexy. Is it a set-neck or a bolt-on? Either way, my interest has been piqued. The headstock isn't the signature Ibanez headstock, but I think that's a good thing.

Top Jimmy - What is the fretwork like? Are they decent sized or tiny?

 

[jerryjg]

Re: New guitar: Ibanez SZ520, I'm impressed.

Yo-Ive got a MINT gold amberburst w/ case I can save you 150.00. Er, IF i was selling it that is..but just check the trader forum:nervous:

 

[Mononoaware]

Re: New guitar: Ibanez SZ520, I'm impressed.

Wow, I just took a look http://www.samash.com/catalog/showitem.asp?ItemID=25032

Those look downright sexy. Is it a set-neck or a bolt-on? Either way, my interest has been piqued. The headstock isn't the signature Ibanez headstock, but I think that's a good thing.

Top Jimmy - What is the fretwork like? Are they decent sized or tiny?

Set neck, and you won't find a smoother heel out there for this price. I've got an early-edition black SZ320 and it looks pretty much like a neck-through. Best unplugged sound of any of my guitars, too.

 

[Top Jimmy]

Re: New guitar: Ibanez SZ520, I'm impressed.

Here's the guitar porn...

 

[H8Red442]

Re: New guitar: Ibanez SZ520, I'm impressed.

Wow sweet. Looks similar to a Schecter C1 Classic with the gay vine of life inlay.

Congrats.

 

[Top Jimmy]

Re: New guitar: Ibanez SZ520, I'm impressed.

Ummm, this thing sounds pretty killer. They are the Duncan Designed pickups and they are exactly what I was looking for, more vintage then the rawk pickups in the Music Man.

The frets for whoever was asking: they are smaller then my Music Man, but not sure how to describe them, mediums I guess.

I can't imagine how nice this thing woudl look with zebra pickups and better pickup rings, but I can't be picky.

 

[H8Red442]

Re: New guitar: Ibanez SZ520, I'm impressed.

I can't imagine how nice this thing woudl look with zebra pickups and better pickup rings, but I can't be picky.

... or chrome covered Duncans!

 

[JeffB]

Re: New guitar: Ibanez SZ520, I'm impressed.

These SZs are CONSISTENTLY some stellar playing Axes, and frankly I like the IBZ/DUncans better than the actual Duncans they are based on :nervous: And I LOVE the GIbraltar bridges. Whether the original, the II< or the III..VERY comfy and solid.

I think Ibanez musta hit on some magic formula with those SZs :bigthumb:

I sure wish they get their rears in gear and put out a GOOD Destroyer again. Something like the 420 but with a mahogany body and the GIII bridge would be absolutely perfect.

 

[Rowan]

Re: New guitar: Ibanez SZ520, I'm impressed.

Oh man I want one in green. I usually don't like ibanez but set mahogany neck and body? That guitar is more like an ESP or schecter.

 

[tc]

Re: New guitar: Ibanez SZ520, I'm impressed.

i like a lot. how's the neck profile? wizard?

 

[Top Jimmy]

Re: New guitar: Ibanez SZ520, I'm impressed.

i like a lot. how's the neck profile? wizard?

No, it's not a super thin neck, kinda C-shapped but not super thick. Hard to tell though after playing my Music Man because eveything is thick compared to that thing.

I like it because the action is a tad higher and I can really dig in when picking.

I think's it's a crime that GC doesn't have these in stock, they'd sell a million of them.

 

[jerryjg]

Re: New guitar: Ibanez SZ520, I'm impressed.

I thought they were agathis body.

 

[Ocifer]

Re: New guitar: Ibanez SZ520, I'm impressed.

I have serious GAS now...well at least Christmas is approaching and the guitar isn't unreasonably expensive. I've been looking for a decent mahogany set-neck to mess around with. I just like the dual-humbucker sound, moderate-to-fat-shaped necks... I'll have to check out a few to find one that has the biggest frets possible, but this looks like a good, cheap alternative to the HH Warmoth Strat I wanted to build.

Thanks Top Jimmy for the heads-up.

 

[sonnyblu]

Re: New guitar: Ibanez SZ520, I'm impressed.

I agree... What a freaking awesome guitar! I bought mine back in 2006...
I feel like getting another just for the deal. I put a set of Pearly Gates
and McCarty style wiring set up in mine... But it was not really necessary.
Would love to have the Schecter P Megaswitch wiring in it, like the C-1...

Anyway... I leave my Les Paul at home...

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: New guitar: Ibanez SZ520, I'm impressed.

I didn't know people still played Ibanez.

It looks nicer than most PRS / Schecter / other strat-shaped mahogany set-necks tho. In fact the more I look at it the more I think it's the same model this dude i jammed with a year ago had -- with a DSL50 he was gettin some pretty sick tones. Neck is too thin for me but i'm like a 50's Gibson neck guy hahah

 

[BloodRose]

Re: New guitar: Ibanez SZ520, I'm impressed.

congrats! These are killer axes! Ive been so tempted MANY a time and then when they have them a clearance prices.... hold me back.. I LOVE the Black 720 too.

 

[Philcguitars]

Re: New guitar: Ibanez SZ520, I'm impressed.

That's a hell of a guitar! Shame they can't give it a beautiful name instead of a number that sounds like a fast car. Or maybe I just buried my argument?

 

[Rowan]

Re: New guitar: Ibanez SZ520, I'm impressed.

Oh man I want one in green. I usually don't like ibanez but set mahogany neck and body? That guitar is more like an ESP or schecter.

Haha oh man this thread is old. I now have one in blue and I am still amazed by how good this guitar sounds. I've sold off more expensive guitars that didn't sound as good as the SZ. The stock pickups are pretty decent but are kinda noisy at playing volume. Replace with real duncans and you've got a killer guitar.