Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: indysmith on June 14, 2007, 02:00:01 PM

Title: Ibanez S540OL
Post by: indysmith on June 14, 2007, 02:00:01 PM
I just found out that this guitar exists!

(http://www.nspirepc.com/540sol_03.jpg)

I'm not really sure why I'm telling you all; other than to let you know too because if you're anything like me you've been dreaming of a natural finish Ibanez sabre with a maple fretboard for all of your life aswell.
I just HAVE to find one, and put some VHIIs and a Trilogy in it; a beautiful contrast to my flamed maple ibanez prestige sabre with rosewood fretboard and nailbomb/trilogy/coldsweat.
Title: Ibanez S540OL
Post by: sgmypod on June 14, 2007, 03:35:13 PM
yup like the look of that
Title: Ibanez S540OL
Post by: _tom_ on June 14, 2007, 03:40:48 PM
I want one of those in hardtail but I know I couldnt stand the neck :cry:
Title: Ibanez S540OL
Post by: dave_mc on June 14, 2007, 04:24:14 PM
by "exists" do you mean current model?

I'm not too fussed on the pearl inlays, black'd be nicer.
Title: Ibanez S540OL
Post by: gingataff on June 14, 2007, 04:52:29 PM
Def not a current model, other than the fact that it's not in the current brochure they haven't put a knife edge bridge on an S series for a few years now.
That said it does look nice. I played a 1989 S540 a while back and it sounded huge, even with the thin body. I think the mahogany and maple make a nice balance as well.
Title: Ibanez S540OL
Post by: Oli on June 14, 2007, 05:48:56 PM
I don't like the pickup selector on that series of guitars- why the nasty black plastic surround? Why not just have a nice slot like the other models!

Aside from that, the guitar looks really nice, big fan of maple fretboards.
Title: Ibanez S540OL
Post by: indysmith on June 14, 2007, 05:49:52 PM
thats what i think about my Ibanez S; it sounds massive. it is aural destruction, and you couldn't find a prettier of comfier axe either! It has sustain to rival both of my les pauls, and the bolt-on neck makes it sound fantastically tight. The new ZR bridges are the bizz; all in all i think that the Ibanez S series is a dramatically underrated range, all the way down the scale. My friend has a very low end model S with a warpig in the bridge that sounds even bigger than mine (although i prefer my nailbomb), and while the neck may not be quite as nice, it is an incredible axe for the money.
Title: Ibanez S540OL
Post by: indysmith on June 14, 2007, 05:51:20 PM
Quote from: dave_mc
I'm not too fussed on the pearl inlays, black'd be nicer.

yeah, i know! Black dots or even sharkfins would look cool... only thing letting the guitar down really visually but it's not that much to complain about.
I'd kill for this guitar.

...and no i meant exists as in exists - just about - they're very rare with the maple fretboard
Title: Ibanez S540OL
Post by: _tom_ on June 14, 2007, 06:02:15 PM
Quote from: Oli
I don't like the pickup selector on that series of guitars- why the nasty black plastic surround? Why not just have a nice slot like the other models!

Aside from that, the guitar looks really nice, big fan of maple fretboards.


I hate that plastic bit on the S series as well, so ugly. I really like the look of the Ibanez S models at the minute, but I think I'd hate the necks - do they do any that look like the S or SAs, but without that uggo plastic surround and a thicker/less wide and flat neck profile?
Title: Ibanez S540OL
Post by: Davey on June 14, 2007, 06:23:41 PM
like the looks, but i hate so many aspects of that guitar, it's not even funny
Title: Ibanez S540OL
Post by: Transcend on June 14, 2007, 07:37:19 PM
Quote from: _tom_
Quote from: Oli
I don't like the pickup selector on that series of guitars- why the nasty black plastic surround? Why not just have a nice slot like the other models!

Aside from that, the guitar looks really nice, big fan of maple fretboards.


I hate that plastic bit on the S series as well, so ugly. I really like the look of the Ibanez S models at the minute, but I think I'd hate the necks - do they do any that look like the S or SAs, but without that uggo plastic surround and a thicker/less wide and flat neck profile?


the sz' has a thicker neck and is neck thru on most models and set thru on the cheaper ones. some are hardtail too
Title: Ibanez S540OL
Post by: Philly Q on June 14, 2007, 07:45:13 PM
Quote from: Oli
I don't like the pickup selector on that series of guitars- why the nasty black plastic surround? Why not just have a nice slot like the other models!

I think it's because the body gets so thin, as it tapers towards the edges, that it's not quite deep enough for a regular 5-way switch.  So the ugly black surround thingy raises the top of the switch above the body.
Title: Ibanez S540OL
Post by: _tom_ on June 14, 2007, 07:49:54 PM
Quote from: hate_growth
Quote from: _tom_
Quote from: Oli
I don't like the pickup selector on that series of guitars- why the nasty black plastic surround? Why not just have a nice slot like the other models!

Aside from that, the guitar looks really nice, big fan of maple fretboards.


I hate that plastic bit on the S series as well, so ugly. I really like the look of the Ibanez S models at the minute, but I think I'd hate the necks - do they do any that look like the S or SAs, but without that uggo plastic surround and a thicker/less wide and flat neck profile?


the sz' has a thicker neck and is neck thru on most models and set thru on the cheaper ones. some are hardtail too


Oh yeah I played some SZ a while back, felt nice, but the 3 knob layout looks kinda weird to me - I also have no use for a 2nd tone knob on a HH guitar really, so its sort of useless having the extra knob. Shame really, coz they look and feel pretty good apart from that. I think I prefer the "normal" ibanez headstock as well actually :lol:


edit - just went on the Ibanez site and compared the neck specs, the SZ has a kinda similar neck to the SA2160FM, which I quite like the look of actually.. I want to play one now!
Title: Ibanez S540OL
Post by: Woogie on June 14, 2007, 07:53:46 PM
If only it had a brass hardtail, black dot inlays and a chunkier neck!!
Title: Ibanez S540OL
Post by: Mr Ed on June 15, 2007, 08:53:59 AM
I love the Ibanez S types, soooo much better than the R's.
Title: Ibanez S540OL
Post by: indysmith on June 15, 2007, 09:32:15 AM
Quote from: Davey
like the looks, but i hate so many aspects of that guitar, it's not even funny

care to elaborate?

i never understand why the RGs get so much more attention than the S-series... The sabres not only look better and feel better, but also sound better (imo); the mahogany of an S, despite being so thin, makes it a pretty thick sounding guitar. The other thing the S has on the RGs is the far superior tremolo. And it's not as if it's due to poor marketting either - i always see reviews of s-series guitars in magazines, and people like Herman Li and Frank Gambale endorsing them.
Title: Ibanez S540OL
Post by: Kilby on June 15, 2007, 10:19:03 AM
I almost bought one of the low end ones just after christmas, but had some issues with the build quality.

Which was a real shame as the neck & body felt excellent, as did the trem. It even souded good enough with stock pickups !

I also dislike the black plastic around the switch, particularly on the poplar fronted one which lands in at 900 quid or so.
Title: Ibanez S540OL
Post by: indysmith on June 15, 2007, 12:01:53 PM
Quote from: Kilby
I almost bought one of the low end ones just after christmas, but had some issues with the build quality.

Which was a real shame as the neck & body felt excellent, as did the trem. It even souded good enough with stock pickups !

I also dislike the black plastic around the switch, particularly on the poplar fronted one which lands in at 900 quid or so.

yeah i think all of the current S-series is built in korea :? I'm not sure about this - but the necks are now Wizard IIs as opposed to the Super-Wizard that's on my MIJ sabre. I hate that now not all of the prestige models are MIJ; it makes things so unnecessarily complicated.
Title: Ibanez S540OL
Post by: gingataff on June 15, 2007, 01:11:03 PM
Speaking to Doug from Blackmachine he said that he had an S series guitar and that's what made him realise that you can get great tone with a thin body if you use the right kinds of wood.
Title: Ibanez S540OL
Post by: Kilby on June 15, 2007, 01:15:02 PM
Quote from: indysmith
yeah i think all of the current S-series is built in korea :? I'm not sure about this - but the necks are now Wizard IIs as opposed to the Super-Wizard that's on my MIJ sabre. I hate that now not all of the prestige models are MIJ; it makes things so unnecessarily complicated.


As far as I know the beautiful 3K+ Geiger model was also a made in Korea model.

A MIJ with the ZR trem would be a nice option these days. I have to admit I would like a different headstock as it's a bit 'too metal' for somebody of my advanced years ;)

Hmmm an S with Rebel Yells would be so nice, as I find the other SZs etc too thick for my liking
Title: Ibanez S540OL
Post by: dave_mc on June 15, 2007, 02:46:09 PM
Quote from: gingataff
Def not a current model, other than the fact that it's not in the current brochure they haven't put a knife edge bridge on an S series for a few years now.
That said it does look nice. I played a 1989 S540 a while back and it sounded huge, even with the thin body. I think the mahogany and maple make a nice balance as well.


good spot, i didn't notice that (the trem).

:drink:

Quote from: indysmith
yeah, i know! Black dots or even sharkfins would look cool... only thing letting the guitar down really visually but it's not that much to complain about.
I'd kill for this guitar.

...and no i meant exists as in exists - just about - they're very rare with the maple fretboard



:drink:


Quote from: indysmith

yeah i think all of the current S-series is built in korea :? I'm not sure about this - but the necks are now Wizard IIs as opposed to the Super-Wizard that's on my MIJ sabre. I hate that now not all of the prestige models are MIJ; it makes things so unnecessarily complicated.


i agree, prestige should = fujigen.

Oh, and i like rg's.

 :lol: