New 2003 Sabers with the ZR Trem...they're incredibly heavy!

gitarrero · #1 03-10-2003, 04:55 AM

Hi there,

at the Frankfurt Musikmesse (music fair) I checked out the new Prestige Saber models with the new ZR Trem. I was shocked that they became heavy as hell (regarding weight, not sound!

) because of the ZR. I picked up a S1620 at the Ibanez booth and I had the feeling it weighed considerably more, let's say at least 1 pound, than my trusty S1520 at home. The reason is the awful lot of metal involved in that ZR system; you know, the ball bearing pivots, the zero setter, everything. This is IMHO a step backwards and it's a contradiction to one of the Sabers' original and most important intentions, that is low weight. I'm a little disappointed.

Just a note
Oliver

sam669 · #2 03-10-2003, 07:45 AM

hmm, as long as an axe doesnt weight like a les paul, i rarely complain
i'm not into s series anyway!

JESTER700 · #3 03-10-2003, 09:34 AM

One reason I dig my hardtail sabre is it weighs less than tremmed models - 6 1/4 lbs. for my SC620. I agree it's a step back in THAT respect.

Rich · #4 03-10-2003, 02:50 PM

According to Rich Lasner

"I was trying to achieve two points with the Saber- One was to have a body with the same basic dimensions as a Strat that looked much thinner and sleeker. Second was to make a guitar with the tone of a Gibson SG crossed with a Strat."

Weight savings was never in the original design criteria

LucasKotzen · #5 03-10-2003, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich

Weight savings was never in the original design criteria

But weight surely became a reason to buy them, right

? Well, say every rose has its thorn...

BrianH · #6 03-10-2003, 04:10 PM

The big hype at the time the S came out(or I found out about it) was its weight. Jennifer Batten(no longer with Ibanez) went on and on about how light it was etc... I think Batten is with Washburn now?

anyhoo... the S models I've owned seemed to vary in weight considerably.

Rich · #7 03-10-2003, 04:13 PM

Anybody ever put a lacewood 5400 on the scale?

sniperfrommars1 · #8 03-10-2003, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich

Anybody ever put a lacewood 5400 on the scale?

Lacewood or zebrawood will break your frickin shoulder off. heavy guitars never really bother me that much as long as they were well balanced

littlegreenman · #9 03-11-2003, 03:25 AM

even my mahogany S540 from years ago was as heavy or heavier than any basswood RG I've played

gitarrero · #10 03-11-2003, 04:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich

Weight savings was never in the original design criteria

The catalog 1988 (see 1988/s_3.jpg on your site) says

"Its carefully calculated mass yields a full, powerful tone from such a surprisingly light and aerodynamic guitar.".

You can't deny that this statement indeed reflects some implicit unofficial weight considerations.

Rich · #11 03-11-2003, 04:19 AM

I have no doubt they would have hawked "lightweight", I was just saying it wasn't part of the design criteria [which I had just read about 6 hours before your post]

gitarrero · #12 03-11-2003, 04:30 AM

Low weight is my personal #1 criteria for the Sabers, along head-to-head with the body shape. I guess that's actually what caused my disappointment when I picked up the new ZR-equipped models.

I always thought it was the "triangle" of shape, mahog tone and less weight that led to the big success in the first years up until now. At least two thirds of this opinion was seconded by you and Rich Lasner.

Rich · #13 03-11-2003, 04:45 AM

Not me, it's that flyweight and thinness I don't like about them

gkelm · #14 03-13-2003, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich

According to Rich Lasner

"I was trying to achieve two points with the Saber- One was to have a body with the same basic dimensions as a Strat that looked much thinner and sleeker. Second was to make a guitar with the tone of a Gibson SG crossed with a Strat."

Weight savings was never in the original design criteria

That in part explains my original affinity for S models...my first electric was a beat up old mid-60 SG special. I was also enchanted by the neck and the light weight of the guitar.

Greg