NGD: Ibanez SZ520QM

donaldr · Nov 11, 2022

This guitar sounds very balanced acoustically, I would say like a good Gibson LP, maybe a tad less big.
I want that guitar to be a good take on a "hot-vintage" LP, a bit of what the STK-S7 is doing as a "hot-vintage" pickup (omg do I love that LTD strat copy!!!), the right low/mid/high for me.

I clearly don't see a PG set working on this one, it would have too much highs and not enough mids.

rankly, I think SD offering on humbucker department is not working for me after the 3 models I tried. Since they are expensive in Canada (and no 21-days exchange policy), don't be offended but I'm looking for other options. One of this option currently is a DMZ AT-1/36th combo and a second one is the EMG Fat 55 set (seems to have the low/mid/high I'm looking for and medium output with nice cleanup with volume knob).

Aceman · Nov 11, 2022

Cool axe. Not your everyday Ibby!

Fender_Punk · Nov 12, 2022

Congrats! I hope it sounds and plays as good as it looks.

donaldr · Nov 12, 2022

Aceman said:
Cool axe. Not your everyday Ibby!

It's an incredible guitar, I don't know why they discontinued that model. It plays as good as any LP I tried.

donaldr · Dec 24, 2022

I received and installed my EMG Fat 55 set. First impression is very positive. This set sounds and feel like passive pickups IMO. They are really balanced, with the neck pickup being a bit higher "perceived" volume. I can't lower it more as the sound is getting too woody. It's now V/T/T so maybe I'll try V/V/T (easy thanks to EMG quick connectors). They clean well using the volume knob.

I like them better than the '59 neck/Distortion bridge combo that was in the guitar and also the stock/A8 modified Screamin Demon I tried.

Looking good also with black tuning buttons.