Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: Andrew W on June 26, 2013, 09:39:49 AM

Title: NGD
Post by: Andrew W on June 26, 2013, 09:39:49 AM
It's a new work guitar day really. As I work long hours and I sometimes have to wait for renders late into the evenings having a work guitar is a great way to manage stress levels. I used to have, in my youth, an Ibanez RG750 which went when I stopped playing so much metal. Recently I've been listening to more metal again and also I've rekindled my love of Joe Satriani's music. On that basis I thought something with locking everything might be in order so the eBay search began.

I've always liked the Ibanez S series, it always seemed so well thought out and designed, and having already owned an RG I fancied trying something different. I looked at some of the new Korean made guitars and they seemed pretty good but having a 50s, 60s, 90s and '00s guitar I decided to find something 80s (or as close as as possible) for fun and historical continuity. I've ended up with this 540S (I think it's a 540S, they don't put model numbers on them). It's had replacement pickups and the knobs aren't original but the neck and trem are in great shape and the body's pretty clean.

I may well mod it (pickups, surrounds, new knobs and maybe some graphics/paint) but I'm in no rush. It's a really amazingly well put together and thought through Japanese made guitar for just a tad north of three hundred quid. Let the late night shredding commence!
Title: Re: NGD
Post by: Telerocker on June 26, 2013, 10:56:59 AM
Cool! Back to the nineties!  8)
Title: Re: NGD
Post by: Philly Q on June 26, 2013, 11:22:44 AM
Is that the thin "Saber" (Sabre?) style body, rather than the more rounded "Radius" style body which ended up as the basis of Satriani's JS models?  It's hard for me to see the picture properly on this computer.

Whatever it is, I like those '80s models more than the RG types, they're just that bit less sharp-edged and pointy, more classic looking.  :D
Title: Re: NGD
Post by: Andrew W on June 26, 2013, 03:24:18 PM
Cool! Back to the nineties!  8)

I don't think I can have my nineties hair anymore though. It's receded sufficiently now that I think I'd look like Nick Cave if I tried it. Face melting guitar solos on the other hand...

Is that the thin "Saber" (Sabre?) style body, rather than the more rounded "Radius" style body which ended up as the basis of Satriani's JS models?  It's hard for me to see the picture properly on this computer.

Whatever it is, I like those '80s models more than the RG types, they're just that bit less sharp-edged and pointy, more classic looking.  :D

It is the Sabre style. It's so light and thin, and feels almost futuristic if that makes sense? A really interesting piece of design and engineering. The Wizard neck is, err, a little slim compared to what I'm used to but it's an interesting experience! :)
Title: Re: NGD
Post by: Telerocker on June 26, 2013, 04:04:36 PM
Cool! Back to the nineties!  8)

I don't think I can have my nineties hair anymore though. It's receded sufficiently now that I think I'd look like Nick Cave if I tried it. Face melting guitar solos on the other hand...

Shake hands mate!  :)
Title: Re: NGD
Post by: dave_mc on June 26, 2013, 07:12:46 PM
oooh nice :D
Title: Re: NGD
Post by: FernandoDuarte on June 27, 2013, 03:54:29 PM
Looks nice! I'm not much fan of HSS, but latelly I'm growing on H-S pickup configuration!
Title: Re: NGD
Post by: Toe-Knee on June 27, 2013, 04:21:45 PM
Nice guitar. It should have the model number on the back of the headstock. Every Ibanez guitar i've played other tha really old 80s ones have this.
Title: Re: NGD
Post by: Andrew W on June 27, 2013, 05:13:03 PM
Nice guitar. It should have the model number on the back of the headstock. Every Ibanez guitar i've played other tha really old 80s ones have this.

Thanks. There's a serial number (which shows it as being a '92 built instrument) and the "Made in Japan" logo but no model number that I can see.
Title: Re: NGD
Post by: Kiichi on June 27, 2013, 05:32:52 PM
Nice guitar. It should have the model number on the back of the headstock. Every Ibanez guitar i've played other tha really old 80s ones have this.

Thanks. There's a serial number (which shows it as being a '92 built instrument) and the "Made in Japan" logo but no model number that I can see.
With my newer S series from indonesia they also added the model, but it seems back then things were different.

Have you tried somethings like this http://www.guitardaterproject.org/ibanez.aspx (http://www.guitardaterproject.org/ibanez.aspx) to maybe get some info on the model out of the serial?
Title: Re: NGD
Post by: Andrew W on June 27, 2013, 06:28:54 PM
Have you tried somethings like this http://www.guitardaterproject.org/ibanez.aspx (http://www.guitardaterproject.org/ibanez.aspx) to maybe get some info on the model out of the serial?

I did, that very one in fact. It gave me a manufacturing year and a factory (Fuji-gen) but that was it. I suppose it doesn't really matter which model it is, I'm just interested from a historical interest perspective. Whatever model it is, it's a good guitar. :)
Title: Re: NGD
Post by: 38thBeatle on June 27, 2013, 07:42:09 PM
Nice buy.
Title: Re: NGD
Post by: 1reeper on June 27, 2013, 07:47:14 PM
If it's from Fujigen then you've got a Japanese made guitar there.  Depending on the year, that might have a Lo-Pro Edge, can't be sure without some closeups, but that'll be a really well-built guitar either way.  I love the 540 Sabres.
Title: Re: NGD
Post by: Andrew W on June 28, 2013, 09:42:38 AM
I think I've ID'd the little swine and I reckon it's a 440S which seems to be the same as its contemporary 540S other than the pickups are cheaper, it has dot markers, and it has the original Edge rather than a Lo Pro Edge:

(http://www.ibanez.co.jp/anniversary/190/12.jpg)

I'd probably change the pickups at some point anyway (quel surprise) and the original Edge is good enough for Messrs Satriani and Vai so I guess it'll do for me too. It looks like the 440S might have been an EU only model as I don't see it any of the US catalogues. I'm wondering if it was a briefly produced model to use up already built stock of the older dot marker necks and HSS bodies as the newer 540S had the sharks fin inlay and HSH pickup layout?
Title: Re: NGD
Post by: Kiichi on June 28, 2013, 09:59:05 AM
Dat double neck oO WANT!
Title: Re: NGD
Post by: Philly Q on June 28, 2013, 02:47:30 PM
I think I've ID'd the little swine and I reckon it's a 440S which seems to be the same as its contemporary 540S other than the pickups are cheaper, it has dot markers, and it has the original Edge rather than a Lo Pro Edge:


I think I may have a copy of that catalogue at home!  What year was it?

(Blimey, those neck dimensions!  :o  )
Title: Re: NGD
Post by: Andrew W on June 28, 2013, 04:14:49 PM
I think I may have a copy of that catalogue at home!  What year was it?

(Blimey, those neck dimensions!  :o  )

1992 I think.

And yes the neck is not at all what I'd normally choose. That said it does force me to play more "properly", i.e. thumb behind the neck rather than over the top of the board so it might teach me some good habits... It's certainly an interesting experience. :)
Title: Re: NGD
Post by: FELINEGUITARS on June 28, 2013, 05:42:12 PM
Lovely stuff Andrew -
I love the Sabre/S type, although my tastes in necks are a bit thicker now

My own SF470 underwent a stupid amount of pimping to meet my tastes - Earvana, Refret with Dunlop 6000, strip finish, fill middle pickup, veneer front and rear with pommel sapele and refinish

Before:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v662/felineguitars/pimped/ibanezsf470003.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/felineguitars/media/pimped/ibanezsf470003.jpg.html)


After

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v662/felineguitars/pimped/ibanezsf470008.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/felineguitars/media/pimped/ibanezsf470008.jpg.html)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v662/felineguitars/pimped/sf470.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/felineguitars/media/pimped/sf470.jpg.html)
Title: Re: NGD
Post by: Kiichi on June 28, 2013, 06:09:53 PM
You madman...that looks really, really nice.
Title: Re: NGD
Post by: dave_mc on June 28, 2013, 07:12:01 PM
far as i'm aware the edge and lo-pro are of the same quality, just one is low profile and the other isn't. at the time (this is before i played guitar, so i'm just guessing here) I would imagine the newer lo-pro was considered by ibanez to be an upgrade, but i know now that they're considered to be equal, in fact most players probably prefer the original edge. :lol:
Title: Re: NGD
Post by: FELINEGUITARS on June 28, 2013, 07:32:06 PM
far as i'm aware the edge and lo-pro are of the same quality, just one is low profile and the other isn't. at the time (this is before i played guitar, so i'm just guessing here) I would imagine the newer lo-pro was considered by ibanez to be an upgrade, but i know now that they're considered to be equal, in fact most players probably prefer the original edge. :lol:

spot on!
Title: Re: NGD
Post by: Andrew W on June 28, 2013, 10:15:14 PM
That's amazing work, as always, Jonathan. I don't think I'll be going quite that far in any mods I might attempt. Incidentally, what pickups did you put in your Sabre, and do you like 'em?

I'm thinking I quite like the idea of white pickups, Strat type knobs and switch tip with a chrome humbucker surround to give it a hair metal meets David Gilmour vibe but we'll see.
Title: Re: NGD
Post by: Telerocker on June 30, 2013, 02:17:36 AM
That's the ultimate makeover! Looks great!