Dr. Vegetable
New member
I've had it for about a month now. Solid sapele, set neck, beautiful binding, killer sustain, lousy pictures:
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NGD: Ibanez Darkstone
- Thread starter Dr. Vegetable
- Start date
Dr. Vegetable
New member
Re: NGD: Ibanez Darkstone
I think they call it the "Tight Tune" bridge. Here's a slightly better look:
(Sorry about the crappy cell pix; I swear this guitar makes the whole room darker!)
I think they call it the "Tight Tune" bridge. Here's a slightly better look:
(Sorry about the crappy cell pix; I swear this guitar makes the whole room darker!)
RoryButler
New member
Re: NGD: Ibanez Darkstone
Looks nice, I've not kept up with any of Ibanez' recent releases (outside of some of their sig models), but it's nice to see these guitars which are almost in the Iceman/Destroyer family.
Looks nice, I've not kept up with any of Ibanez' recent releases (outside of some of their sig models), but it's nice to see these guitars which are almost in the Iceman/Destroyer family.
Rand-O-Monium
New member
Re: NGD: Ibanez Darkstone
Moar Pix!!!
Moar Pix!!!
Dr. Vegetable
New member
MustaineFanboy
New member
Re: NGD: Ibanez Darkstone
That's a good lookin' axe! What kind of pups you got in it?
That's a good lookin' axe! What kind of pups you got in it?
Dr. Vegetable
New member
Re: NGD: Ibanez Darkstone
Those are stock. "CAP-PP1-N" and "CAP-PP1-B" according to the official spec sheet.
They sound really good, but I will probably experiment with swapping them out at some point. Maybe after the honeymoon.
Those are stock. "CAP-PP1-N" and "CAP-PP1-B" according to the official spec sheet.
They sound really good, but I will probably experiment with swapping them out at some point. Maybe after the honeymoon.
TheLivingDead
Dawn Of The Shred
Re: NGD: Ibanez Darkstone
That's groovy right there! I've never seen that model before.
That's groovy right there! I've never seen that model before.
IMENATOR
Well-known member
Re: NGD: Ibanez Darkstone
yea, please more pictures, camera would be cool
How thick is this guitar? It reminds me the good Ibanez SZ that was discontinued, that was something in between LesPal and Strat and this one seems to be in that category too. I really liked SZ, and it was affordable.
Are those stock pickups standard size? I can see my self buying one of those and puting some SD's.
yea, please more pictures, camera would be cool
How thick is this guitar? It reminds me the good Ibanez SZ that was discontinued, that was something in between LesPal and Strat and this one seems to be in that category too. I really liked SZ, and it was affordable.
Are those stock pickups standard size? I can see my self buying one of those and puting some SD's.
Ashurbanipal
Well-known member
Re: NGD: Ibanez Darkstone
^^ I reckon the pups are normal size, they just have rectangular bobbins. I wonder how the hollow poles affect the tone.
TLD: they've been around for about two years now.
Only thing that looks pointless to me is the (glued on?) scratchplate.
^^ I reckon the pups are normal size, they just have rectangular bobbins. I wonder how the hollow poles affect the tone.
TLD: they've been around for about two years now.
Only thing that looks pointless to me is the (glued on?) scratchplate.
Dr. Vegetable
New member
Re: NGD: Ibanez Darkstone
Thanks, everyone! I'm a big Ibanez fanatic and I almost missed the Darkstone myself. When I found out it existed, I went on a quest to own one.
They say "tone is in the fingers" so I hope you don't expect better pix simply because I'm using a better camera...
It is easy for me to compare the Darkstone with the SZ, since I own both. By the specs, you might expect them to be very similar. The materials, body contours, and thickness are similar, including the neck heel and belly cut. The SZ has an arch top while the DN is flat as a mirror. The neck on the DN feels just a bit more substantial than the SZ.
So you'd probably be surprised just how fundamentally different these two models are. The SZ is by no means a "lightweight" guitar, but the Darkstone is noticeably heavier. I always use thick suede straps to distribute the weight more comfortably. The SZ has good sustain, but the DN simply resonates. The SZ is a rocker, but the DN is a deep-throated monster. All of this is evident even before either guitar is plugged into an amplifier.
The stock DN pickups sound pretty good to me. It is hard to compare these pickups to others I've played, because the guitar itself is so acoustically different from anything else I own. The pickups are rather unique. Yes, those are square bobbins, and yes, those are hollow poles. The pickups appear to be a standard footprint. The DN has a push/pull coil tap. This doesn't transform the guitar into a strat or tele, but it does widen the sonic palette somewhat. Still, I usually gravitate toward the bridge humbucker. :smokin:
The bridge and tailpiece can be seen better in these new pictures. Each saddle on the DN has a screwhead in it to lock it into place after the intonation is set. While the SZ has a string-through design, the DN has a stop tailpiece. and the ball ends of the strings lock solidly into place - there's an exploded animation of the mechanism on the spec page I linked earlier. I suspect the bridge construction is a large factor in the crazy sustain of this guitar.
The hardware on the DN500BK is a dark chrome, and looks nicer than the bright chrome of the early models. The binding on the body and neck really dresses the guitar up in a subtle way - makes it look glam up close, but from a normal distance you almost don't see it.
The scratchplate is glued down. I think these are unnecessary, but the guitar wouldn't look right without it. It's reminiscent of an LP pick guard, and gives a hint at the dual-humbcker personality of the beast. I also like the Iceman look of the tail - a subtle signal of what this guitar is trying to be. These cosmetic features are a nice nod to the classics that inspired the design.
<3
Thanks, everyone! I'm a big Ibanez fanatic and I almost missed the Darkstone myself. When I found out it existed, I went on a quest to own one.
They say "tone is in the fingers" so I hope you don't expect better pix simply because I'm using a better camera...
yea, please more pictures, camera would be cool
How thick is this guitar? It reminds me the good Ibanez SZ that was discontinued, that was something in between LesPal and Strat and this one seems to be in that category too. I really liked SZ, and it was affordable.
Are those stock pickups standard size? I can see my self buying one of those and puting some SD's.
It is easy for me to compare the Darkstone with the SZ, since I own both. By the specs, you might expect them to be very similar. The materials, body contours, and thickness are similar, including the neck heel and belly cut. The SZ has an arch top while the DN is flat as a mirror. The neck on the DN feels just a bit more substantial than the SZ.
So you'd probably be surprised just how fundamentally different these two models are. The SZ is by no means a "lightweight" guitar, but the Darkstone is noticeably heavier. I always use thick suede straps to distribute the weight more comfortably. The SZ has good sustain, but the DN simply resonates. The SZ is a rocker, but the DN is a deep-throated monster. All of this is evident even before either guitar is plugged into an amplifier.
The stock DN pickups sound pretty good to me. It is hard to compare these pickups to others I've played, because the guitar itself is so acoustically different from anything else I own. The pickups are rather unique. Yes, those are square bobbins, and yes, those are hollow poles. The pickups appear to be a standard footprint. The DN has a push/pull coil tap. This doesn't transform the guitar into a strat or tele, but it does widen the sonic palette somewhat. Still, I usually gravitate toward the bridge humbucker. :smokin:
The bridge and tailpiece can be seen better in these new pictures. Each saddle on the DN has a screwhead in it to lock it into place after the intonation is set. While the SZ has a string-through design, the DN has a stop tailpiece. and the ball ends of the strings lock solidly into place - there's an exploded animation of the mechanism on the spec page I linked earlier. I suspect the bridge construction is a large factor in the crazy sustain of this guitar.
The hardware on the DN500BK is a dark chrome, and looks nicer than the bright chrome of the early models. The binding on the body and neck really dresses the guitar up in a subtle way - makes it look glam up close, but from a normal distance you almost don't see it.
The scratchplate is glued down. I think these are unnecessary, but the guitar wouldn't look right without it. It's reminiscent of an LP pick guard, and gives a hint at the dual-humbcker personality of the beast. I also like the Iceman look of the tail - a subtle signal of what this guitar is trying to be. These cosmetic features are a nice nod to the classics that inspired the design.
<3
astrozombie
KatyPerryologist
Re: NGD: Ibanez Darkstone
Sapele? I feel kind of embarrased I don't know what that is.
Sapele? I feel kind of embarrased I don't know what that is.
IMENATOR
Well-known member
Re: NGD: Ibanez Darkstone
Don't feel like that man, that is what this forum is for, to ask questions. Er, actually I don't know the aswer my self but I found this...
"Sapele is a commonly imported wood species both in lumber and veneer form. It is sometimes used as a substitute for Genuine Mahogany, and is sometimes referred to as 'Sapele Mahogany,' though it bears no real relation to either Swietenia or Khaya genera.
Some common uses of Sapele include: veneer, plywood, furniture, cabinetry, flooring, boatbuilding, musical instruments, turned objects, and other small wooden specialty items."
I found it here
http://www.wood-database.com/lumber-identification/hardwoods/sapele/
Funny thing is Ibanez website describes the DN500 as "Body: Salepe" but for the DN300 as "Body: Mahogany".
Don't feel like that man, that is what this forum is for, to ask questions. Er, actually I don't know the aswer my self but I found this...
"Sapele is a commonly imported wood species both in lumber and veneer form. It is sometimes used as a substitute for Genuine Mahogany, and is sometimes referred to as 'Sapele Mahogany,' though it bears no real relation to either Swietenia or Khaya genera.
Some common uses of Sapele include: veneer, plywood, furniture, cabinetry, flooring, boatbuilding, musical instruments, turned objects, and other small wooden specialty items."
I found it here
http://www.wood-database.com/lumber-identification/hardwoods/sapele/
Funny thing is Ibanez website describes the DN500 as "Body: Salepe" but for the DN300 as "Body: Mahogany".
astrozombie
KatyPerryologist
Re: NGD: Ibanez Darkstone
i guess theyre selling salepe like it's mahogany. must be tonally similiar in order to keep the gag running.
i guess theyre selling salepe like it's mahogany. must be tonally similiar in order to keep the gag running.
