Ibanez's Lack of Maple-Fretboard Guitars...

[dave_mc]

^ they're korean, I think- the older s series models were made in Japan.

[Philly Q]

I'm kinda with you on that - but my love of the Iceman - originally called The Artist in the 1970s

Yeah, the Iceman was mighty cool too (no pun intended), but I can't quite get over the Paul Stanley association - although he always claims the PS models were completely different from the Iceman.  :roll:  :lol:

a ZR trem (ball bearing pivot, d-tuner and trem-setter built in)

It's off-topic (sorry), but what are those ZR trem units like?  The design sort of appeals to me, not being a Floyd fan, but I've never tried one.  Does it feel a bit more like a Kahler?  And if it's as good as it sounds, why don't they (AFAIK) use it on the top-spec models?

[dave_mc]

^ it feels different, I guess some people prefer the feel of a knife-edge trem.

[indysmith]

^ they're korean, I think- the older s series models were made in Japan.

no the prestige models are mostly all made in japan - all the prestige s-series are. ibanez lowered their prices significantly a few years back, although i'm not sure why or how. I think they are far better value for money nowadays - and i'm sure the quality hasn't dropped

[indysmith]

a ZR trem (ball bearing pivot, d-tuner and trem-setter built in)

It's off-topic (sorry), but what are those ZR trem units like?  The design sort of appeals to me, not being a Floyd fan, but I've never tried one.  Does it feel a bit more like a Kahler?  And if it's as good as it sounds, why don't they (AFAIK) use it on the top-spec models?

I've never played a kahler, sorry. the zr trem is silky smooth up and down - feels very diffferent - hard to describe - not a negative point though. they hold tune FOREVER no matter how much crazy trem use yu get up to, and palm muting won't send them out either. They don't suck sustain as much as a floyd, however if yu want it to behave more like a floyd you can take the trem-setter out and switch to fully floating mode easily peasily. The only downside to it i've come across so far is that they are very technical - hence more to go wrong, and being a very new design few people know about how to set it up - although the manual that came with mine was very helpful -(aswell as my tech).
As for them not being used on the top-spec guitars...they are? only the S-Series have them, but they are on them right up to the top of the line.

[Philly Q]

As for them not being used on the top-spec guitars...they are? only the S-Series have them, but they are on them right up to the top of the line.

Ah, that's my misunderstanding - I don't know much about the current Ibanez range.  :oops:

It sounds like the ZR is a bit like a Kahler.  The Kahler has a cam system which I guess is similar to the ZR's ball-bearing system, it feels completely smooth whether you're pushing down or pulling up.  It doesn't "stick" at the zero/equilibrium point like a knife-edge system (sometimes) does.  I think I'm going to put my old Kahler back on my Hamer Special next year and give it a complete overhaul.

[FELINEGUITARS]

I'm kinda with you on that - but my love of the Iceman - originally called The Artist in the 1970s

Yeah, the Iceman was mighty cool too (no pun intended), but I can't quite get over the Paul Stanley association - although he always claims the PS models were completely different from the Iceman.  :roll:  :lol:

Funnily enough it was Stanley that got me obsessed with the Iceman.
The PS10 was nice and did differ from the other Icemans in terms of construction- built a bit more like a Les Paul and had a few other minor changes.

Here's one I made for a friend but with a more classic LP color scheme

[Philly Q]

Now that I like!   :twisted:

It's a bit of a classic shape, isn't it?  I don't mean you could imagine jazzers or country players using it, but there's a nice flow about the lines.  Obviously some thought went into it.

[dave_mc]

^ they're korean, I think- the older s series models were made in Japan.

no the prestige models are mostly all made in japan - all the prestige s-series are. ibanez lowered their prices significantly a few years back, although i'm not sure why or how. I think they are far better value for money nowadays - and i'm sure the quality hasn't dropped

i thought s-series prestiges were shipped off to korea a few years back? and only the threat of a major backlash by ibanez fans prevented the same from happening to the RG's?

http://www.jemsite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=50138&highlight=s-series+prestige+korean

just by way of example.

[indysmith]

oh it looks like your right - mine's relatively recent (2004 i think) and says made in japan on it... *shrugs* i don't know what the hell they're doing - why couldn't they have left it as prestige=mij and non prestige=mik... so much simpler. yet more $%&#ups by ibanez

[dave_mc]

^ yeah. it was pretty recent that they switched, perhaps 2005. you were lucky, lol.

:drink:

[Kilby]

As I'm down to 1 1/2 guitars (and the good one isn't even a 6 string), I have been very interested in an Ibanez S series. As I find a lot of guitars are a bit fat (hence my weakness for SGs too)

I'm very interested in a S 2170FW, but to be honest I am a bit wary of spending so much on a Korean built instrument (heard there are some serious QC issues). But a mahogany guitar, with a nice neck & a pair of Rebel Yells sounds like a good idea (dunno about the single coil though)

Rob..

[dave_mc]

As I'm down to 1 1/2 guitars (and the good one isn't even a 6 string), I have been very interested in an Ibanez S series. As I find a lot of guitars are a bit fat (hence my weakness for SGs too)

I'm very interested in a S 2170FW, but to be honest I am a bit wary of spending so much on a Korean built instrument (heard there are some serious QC issues). But a mahogany guitar, with a nice neck & a pair of Rebel Yells sounds like a good idea (dunno about the single coil though)

Rob..

s470? I'd look into that, just watch out for the quality control (I've heard of one guy who got one with the pickup selector in back to front :lol: )

[Muzzzz]

The Ibanez PGM (Paul Gilbert) has a 1 piece maple neck and fretboard.
My current dream guitar.
Mainly coz of the fake f-holes  :D

[gingataff]

The Ibanez PGM (Paul Gilbert) has a 1 piece maple neck and fretboard.
My current dream guitar.
Mainly coz of the fake f-holes  :D

The latest models don't have a one piece neck anymore, its a five piece made of 3 pieces of maple with thin walnut veneers between them, very niely done though.