NGD:My cheapest Ibanez axe yet!

[Phantasmagoria]

I bought myself a made in Korea 2008 Ibanez SZ520 last year and it became my number one after a pickup swap. Different than other Ibanez with set neck and 25" scale length. Playing better than my Gibson LP.

Makes me want to get an S series Ibanez. But I have enough guitar...

Nice, I've never played one of those. They do belong to the Sabre family but are even further removed from the original S design....like an S meets PRS or LP or something. Still,I'd like to try one someday if opportunity knocks..

A cheap Ibz that turns out well is very satisfying. I have an Ergodyne - the first guitar model they did in the second half of the 90s - which is equivalent to a Gio in terms of appointments, but is a cool guitar. In some ways it's a poor person's Radius (with an aanj). Some people may balk at the luthite (plastic) body but whatever, I don't think it matters; to me sounds like guitar *shrugs*.

Cool. I did'nt realise those were plastic (not that I care). They do look pretty sweet though. What kind of tremolo is that on them?
​

 

[Phantasmagoria]

I'm kind of on the fence about swapping out the bridge pup in the Gio, On the one hand, it is'nt really nessesary...on the other. I like my squealies....

But I'm tempted to give the Custom a try. It seems to sound a lot like the stock pup (which is a great sound/fit for this axe. It may be a cheap POS but it sounds fantastic).

Also my soldering skills which were never great anyway have really gone to the dogs lately (cuz deteriorating eyesight). I have botched up all my recent soldering efforts (Kramer Pacer, Aria pro) and will have to redo the bad connections/cold solder joints on those axes.. so the thought of going at it again with the GSA is'nt very appealing , especially if it's not nessesry (which it really is'nt if I'm to be honest)

 

[Phantasmagoria]

I think I'll just keep it stock.. I mean, it lacks for nothing tone-wise ..so why mess w/ it?

Pop-rock w/ my Ironheart Studio/ Laney Eminence 2x12 cab (Manowar + Swamp Thang)

I even coaxed a squeal or two out of it

 

[Phantasmagoria]

No more squeelie problem. I adjusted the pup angle a hair & now the squeals are popping nicely :bigthumb:


Same setup as above ...but in the context of Epic metal ala Virgin Steele \m/



Squeals like a pig!

Ok..so it's still no Custom 5 ...but the squeals are there now :bigthumb:

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Btw all those unfortunates w/ tin/caulilower ear/tone-deaf etc. pls excuse all the atonal/mechanical tunelessness you're "hearing" in this thread :wink: :lmao:

 

[Ashurbanipal]

Cool. I did'nt realise those were plastic (not that I care). They do look pretty sweet though. What kind of tremolo is that on them?
​

The model I have is the EDR 260, which is the first guitar one. The trem on that is the TZ 30, just a normal 2 point type. When they went to HSH, they variously had a TRS II, EP II, and FAT for the non-locking version. In 2005 they switched to wood for the guitars (agathis, I think), so luthite was 1997-2004. It's kinda hard finding info on this initial model, and several things seem to be different, like a slim C neck, shockingly small frets.

Ergodyne basses were more prolific overall. Afaik the only other luthite guitar Ibanez made was the JS 10th; they tried making them out of wood but gave up because the movement would crinkle up the chrome paint, while luthite, of course, didn't.

 

[Phantasmagoria]

They're pretty nice looking guitars. How does your's play play & sound?

I thought I'd throw in a Sabre for a GSA/Sabre comparison. This one has the stock Dmz/Ibz pups...

 

[Securb]

I was using my least expensive Ibanez in the studio this weekend. I think outside of some odd duck stuff it is my least expensive guitar overall. I paid $350 used for it on Fleabay

 

[Mononoaware]

Nice! These can be really well-made instruments. I have an Indo SA-120 that I bought used on the forum years ago, and it's a fantastic playing guitar and so comfortable. The neck is a real nice thin C. I keep hoping they'll bring back the GSA/SA series.

That Roadstar is rad, too. I'd be all over a reissue or modern version of that line.

 

[Ashurbanipal]

Securb's RS525 is a good 'un; I have the all blacked out version meself, fun guitar, very comfortable and pretty aggressive sounding.

As for reissues, yeah, that would be nice, in the Genesis line. Closest we got was a stupidly expensive 1 of 1 Hoshino USA 50th version two years ago: https://ibanez.fandom.com/wiki/JPCS6 . I don't see them doing it, partly because the AZ and RG cover those bases nowadays. Maybe if some artist came out with all guns blazing ripping on one, they'd bring them back. I know Pablo G is playing them a bit on his Instagram, but live it's Firemen and PGMs still.

They're pretty nice looking guitars. How does your's play play & sound?

It plays not well at all because those dinky frets have been played to nothing in places , and the tuners are shot. But I got it as a project, and the fact that it's worn out suggested to me someone/s kept going back to it. I'm gonna put jumbos on it. My rationale was that I mostly paid for the SH5, and a 540R is kinda $$ these days.

It's got a fairly beefy sound and good sustain; volume balance between all the pups is really good, and the single coils are fine, bit warmer maybe than an alnico rod type. Putting in a nice audio taper pot and 50s wiring was transformative - less harsh sounding, especially when turning down.

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Securb's RS525 is a good 'un; I have the all blacked out version meself, fun guitar, very comfortable and pretty aggressive sounding.

As for reissues, yeah, that would be nice, in the Genesis line. Closest we got was a stupidly expensive 1 of 1 Hoshino USA 50th version two years ago: https://ibanez.fandom.com/wiki/JPCS6 . I don't see them doing it, partly because the AZ and RG cover those bases nowadays. Maybe if some artist came out with all guns blazing ripping on one, they'd bring them back. I know Pablo G is playing them a bit on his Instagram, but live it's Firemen and PGMs still.



It plays not well at all because those dinky frets have been played to nothing in places , and the tuners are shot. But I got it as a project, and the fact that it's worn out suggested to me someone/s kept going back to it. I'm gonna put jumbos on it. My rationale was that I mostly paid for the SH5, and a 540R is kinda $$ these days.

It's got a fairly beefy sound and good sustain; volume balance between all the pups is really good, and the single coils are fine, bit warmer maybe than an alnico rod type. Putting in a nice audio taper pot and 50s wiring was transformative - less harsh sounding, especially when turning down.

I've gassed for one of those old Roadster's for years. They are great sounding & playing guitars. Just really difficult to come across locally anywhere. And thanks to exhorbitant customs costs/ shipping charges local is the only way to go for me these days..

Are'nt the necks/fretboards on the Ergodyne wood? Or are those Luthite too? I guess a Luthite neck would make re-fretting a bit problematic?

Yeah I was surprised at how full sounding and meaty the singles in this GSA were too. Often the cheap ones sound really thin/anemic w/ bugger-all output, either that, or they're just over bassy/muddy.

But these ones sing :bigthumb:​

 

[Securb]

Securb's RS525 is a good 'un; I have the all blacked out version meself, fun guitar, very comfortable and pretty aggressive sounding.
.

Super aggressive I dropped a Black Winter in the bridge. I also had the blacked out one in the 90's regretting selling it and found this wine colored one.
​

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Here's one w/ my old faithful battle-hardened shred/tonemeister...my '94 Ibanez S540LTD Sabre (bought ne in '94). Still sounds and plays like a ****ing dream after all the years of shredmageddon :bigthumb:

It's loaded w/ Sounds of Sin "7th Sin" handwound A4 "Sinbucker's" (yep...a whole lotta Sin) that are greased lightning (+ tone for days)

 

[Ashurbanipal]

Super aggressive I dropped a Black Winter in the bridge. I also had the blacked out one in the 90's regretting selling it and found this wine colored one.
​

Purple Haze! I put a 59/Jazz in the neck position of mine and she's dandy. Maybe it's the massive bridge; kinda useless as a trem but probably does something to the sound.

I've gassed for one of those old Roadster's for years. They are great sounding & playing guitars. Just really difficult to come across locally anywhere. And thanks to exhorbitant customs costs/ shipping charges local is the only way to go for me these days..

Are'nt the necks/fretboards on the Ergodyne wood? Or are those Luthite too? I guess a Luthite neck would make re-fretting a bit problematic?

Yeah I was surprised at how full sounding and meaty the singles in this GSA were too. Often the cheap ones sound really thin/anemic w/ bugger-all output, either that, or they're just over bassy/muddy.

But these ones sing :bigthumb:​

Yeah, they're great, I should've also got more when nobody cared about them. Prices are pretty daft for some models, but $500-600 in the current market is ok. Actually, someone on Reverb is selling an '86 RG425 for $100; it's one of the rarer models too.

It's wood, the usual combo. Shape is a slim C; I like it, and once the new frets are in (jumbo, of course), it'll be very good. I still don't know what the fretboard radius is - another difference from later ones, I think -, very much rounder than what you'd see on this kind of guitar from Ibanez, more like a Gibson.

The old Powersound single coils are built like P90s, they have two small ceramic rail mags underneath on either side of the slugs, wound to about 5.5k. I guess whatever they're using now is similar?

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Sometimes you get stupidly good deals on Reverb, but it's pretty rare. I got my Charvel Traditional Pro (MIJ, early 2000's) for $350 ($475 shipped to India). It was NOS/absolutely untouched/stillin it's box/packing w/ three Duncans in it. Thing plays like a dream. As sweet a deal as there ever was :bigthumb:

No idea what kinda mag are in these powersounds. But they are nice and big/fat sounding.I really like them.


And I forgot to record that ^^ last video w/ my S540 onto a stereo track so I guess the two mics got mixed down to a mono track..


Here's a stereo version like the other video's..

My biggest regret is not getting some more of those SIN pickups. His EVH-type ones were especially mind-blowing..

 

[Securb]

Maybe it's the massive bridge; kinda useless as a trem but probably does something to the sound.

Interesting I love that trem, granted it was my first trem so I might have gotten accustomed to playing it before spending considerable time with anything else.

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Wuv sweet wuv w/ my GSA (neck single coil) & IRT studio/Eminence 2x12 cab (Jazz - deeply emotional, not mechanical/atonal/tuneless)

​

 

[Ashurbanipal]

Interesting I love that trem, granted it was my first trem so I might have gotten accustomed to playing it before spending considerable time with anything else.

I came from an Edge loaded guitar, so yeah . I do like having the fine tuners though, much more intuitive to tweak with the picking hand. Those pot metal t-nuts inside through which the intonation and saddle lock down screws pass are sketchy - yes, I broke some .

Apart from that the guitar has vibe and I'm happy I got it. I have others for trem use; this one is decked.

 

[Phantasmagoria]

My first Ibanez bridhge was the non-locking strat style (kinda) one on my DT250 Destroyer. It was ok I guess..held tune decently & worked for moderate abuse.

Then I got my S540 w/ it's Lo-pro Edge & it's still my ultimate tremolo bridge. OFR's be damned lol, I stopped playing for 5 years due to carpal tunnel problems and holy fuck it was still in 100% perfect tune when I came back to it 5 years later, cruddy, rusty strings and all. Such a killer trem and pure wicked magic for da whammy trix.

Plus I'm sure the low profile helps w/ the picking speed/stability this axe is capable of helping a player to generate, making hyper insane shred a breeze :bigthumb:

 

[Phantasmagoria]

But back to trippin' out emotionally w/ the GSA's middle pup :bigthumb:

Don't know who else noticed but this axe sounds all round fantastic ..

And it plays beautifully too...don't know if they set it up at the store or it came this way from the factory but apart from raising the bridge pup a hair on the high E side (for the squeals)..I've had to do NOTHING to it since I got it and it's already up there with some of my fastest & best playing axes :bigthumb: