Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: FELINEGUITARS on March 23, 2011, 05:56:09 PM
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I have loved the Ibanez Sabre or S Type for years and have owned a few , but ultimately nothing has stuck around.
PArt of the reason is that although I was once a keen Floyd Rose user and nearly all my guitars at one time had them, I have gradually moved away from using the bar and favour hardtail guitars
The big frustration is that the S type never seemed to be made as a hardtail (which seemed odd) - except for a one off model that was made in 1993 - The SF 470
As well as having a tunamatic and tailpiece it also featured a Gibson like 24.75" scale and smaller vintage like frets to appeal to the more vintage type player I guess.
So I've had an eye open for one of these for a while on ebay and a few months ago one popped up
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v662/felineguitars/pimped/ibanezsf470003.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v662/felineguitars/pimped/ibanezsf470002.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v662/felineguitars/pimped/ibanezsf470004.jpg)
i paid what seemed like an ok price and I rather like it
A few things about it bugged me and I'm sure I'd get round to fixing them
1) body is bit chipped and scratched up
2) try as I might I dont get on with middle pickups - they get in my way - may have to remove
3) Would obviously like some BKPs in here - only what should I have.......decisions, decisions.....
4) Vintage frets don't suit me - think a refret will be needed before long
5) I think I'll fit an Earvana to sweeten the tuning
6) a fair bit of rust here and there on screws etc - can see me replacing stuff
7) Must get or make a truss rod cover
8) Elecs need an upgrade too?
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Good score. You don't see many of those around. Maybe a refinish for something more lary?
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Nice guitar :D
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Well ok - couldn't hold off pimping this in my time off
1) body is bit chipped and scratched up
So I stripped all the paint off with a view to refinishing it or even adding a posh exotic wood veneer
2) try as I might I dont get on with middle pickups - they get in my way - may have to remove
So I removed it , routed out and filled the hole with a block of mahogany that matched the body wood, and then veneered the body front and rear with some Pommel Sapele - v pretty
3) Would obviously like some BKPs in here - only what should I have.......decisions, decisions.....
AFTERMATHS! Yes they sound great in here. Tight and balanced - great for a wider range of stuff than you'd expect
4) Vintage frets don't suit me - think a refret will be needed before long
Yes - Dunlop 6000 size - huge ones!(same as many of my other guitars)
5) I think I'll fit an Earvana to sweeten the tuning
Fitted an Earvana shelf nut - worked a treat
6) a fair bit of rust here and there on screws etc - can see me replacing stuff
Easy to fix with new screws
7) Must get or make a truss rod cover
Made one myself
8) Elecs need an upgrade too?
Some 550k ohm pots and a vitamin Q oil and paper cap
So here it is in all it's new found glory:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v662/felineguitars/pimped/ibanezsf470007.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v662/felineguitars/pimped/ibanezsf470006.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v662/felineguitars/pimped/ibanezsf470005.jpg)
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nice veneer work as always!
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i've had the chance to play this guitar, and its lovely - great tone and nice playability. jonathan has done a great pimp job on it too! i reckon it might be cool also with an S-S-S pickup layout.
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i reckon it might be cool also with an S-S-S pickup layout.
Go wash your mouth out!
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Hang on, hang on..... did you do all that in one day? :lol:
I presume it's been a work-in-progress for a little while?
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i reckon it might be cool also with an S-S-S pickup layout.
Go wash your mouth out!
:D
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fabulous stuff Jonathan!!! 8)
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That is a full lift up!! :D
Looking great!!
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Hang on, hang on..... did you do all that in one day? :lol:
I presume it's been a work-in-progress for a little while?
I wish I could do that much in a day
I've had it a few months altogether - finished it properly this week
I love it
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v662/felineguitars/pimped/ibanezsf470008.jpg)
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all looks amazing other than the bit of plastic around the pickup selector.
That has always been the thing that has put me off the S models as it makes a rather nice guitar look cheap and horrible imho.
Otherwise amazing!
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Looks great, really fantastic. I think the Sabre suits the 2 humbucker look, the extra single coil always makes it look a bit too cluttered. I always felt that about my RG 750 way back when...
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Superb job Jonathan- a vast improvement -looks sexy ( and I mean that in a totally manly way).
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that's brilliant Jonathon! a rather tired looking old guitar has become an absolute beauty. hope you enjoy it, and from how much it seems you like it, i'm sure you will
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I've been on the look out for one of them ever since a cash crisis made me have to sell the floyd equipped one I bought.
If you're ever short of cash and think of selling that guitar just PM me- if I have the cash I'll bite your arm off for it :)
I actually considered giving you a call about making a hardtail sabre - but I've a new house to buy, so it went on the back burner.
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That's a massive improvement and a really nice end result.
Just a shame about the plastic switch housing thing, if I was modding an S that's be top of the list of things to get rid of!
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AS the old saying goes, "I have my grandfather's axe. My father replaced the haft & I gave it a new blade" :lol:
Just a shame about the plastic switch housing thing, if I was modding an S that's be top of the list of things to get rid of!
I'm not sure you even can. Without the plastic mounting to raise it proud of the body, the cavity isn't deep enough to accomodate the 5-way switch.
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AS the old saying goes, "I have my grandfather's axe. My father replaced the haft & I gave it a new blade" :lol:
Just a shame about the plastic switch housing thing, if I was modding an S that's be top of the list of things to get rid of!
I'm not sure you even can. Without the plastic mounting to raise it proud of the body, the cavity isn't deep enough to accomodate the 5-way switch.
Some of the newer prestiges don't have it
i guess that they have made the route for that part less shallow or something
maybe put a small bit of wood under either side of the switch to adjust it the neccesary amount
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It's probably something like that. There's got to be a better option though, rotary switch?
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Holy cow, fantastic job. Wow.........
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Looks now like a customshop-guitar, which it actually is now. :D
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Oh my god :o that looks awesome
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Pimp my Ibanez, Jonathan! :B
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the difference between the start and finish blows my tiny mind.
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It looks very nice now, the veneer top looks great. I'm sure the fretwork will be excellent too.
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Very nice. That is quite a make over you have done there.
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WOW!
I read the thread at lunchtime but couldn't see the pics...
The original look I wouldn't have looked twice at. But the make-over... what a stunner! :D
I wasn't sure what to make of the comments about the switch mounting (when I couldn't see the pics). I knew of the arrangement they were talking about, and I used to think they looked a bit naff, so I was thinking "that's a bit of shame...". But, funnily enough, I think it looks fine sat on that lovely veneer.
Excellent work, just stick some gaffa over that Ibanez logo and it'll look real classy :lol: (Nothing against Ibanez, I just think the logo spoils the look now!)
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this looks absolutely awesome! i loved the hardtail model, but never got my hands on one...
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I forgot to revisit this thread to see the pictures.
Absolutely awesome! The veneer looks fantastic and I love the colour. :D