Frank Gambale Sabre style guitar

mxr2000 · #1 05-10-2007, 11:14 AM

hello my friends out there what you can say about this Ibanez guitar ? how different is from the others Sabre guitars.. any scoop?

pera_a777 · #2 05-10-2007, 02:52 PM

I had it, and it was great..
But i never had any other S to compare it..
I guess they are prettym much the same..
Gambale has deeper recessed pickups and tremolo..in order to achieve better sustain..not sure if it helped..

Mine was fgm100dy..93. or 94. ..not remember..
Simply, great guitar!

RGR570 · #3 05-10-2007, 08:06 PM

Having owned both, I can say IMO that I prefer the 540SLTD, I still have my original from '91.

Essentially, the main differences where: on the FGM the pick up rings were mounted flush to the body, the neck pocket was deeper too IIRC, to allow the neck to sit lower. Add to that,the obvious cosmetic differences; finishes, colour matched inlays etc.

I prefered the playability of my 540SLTD, that's why I still own it 16 years on.

mxr2000 · #4 05-11-2007, 11:21 AM

ok thanks guys

S-man · #5 05-11-2007, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RGR570

Having owned both, I can say IMO that I prefer the 540SLTD, I still have my original from '91.

Essentially, the main differences where: on the FGM the pick up rings were mounted flush to the body, the neck pocket was deeper too IIRC, to allow the neck to sit lower. Add to that,the obvious cosmetic differences; finishes, colour matched inlays etc.

I prefered the playability of my 540SLTD, that's why I still own it 16 years on.

+1... I have a 90 S540LTD...I've had it for 17 years! Great guitar.

Aussie_Rocker · #6 05-16-2007, 07:30 AM

He aimed to achieve ultimate low action didnt he?

Us aussies get our action down low

OLIE_ROCKS_THE_80'S · #7 05-16-2007, 07:04 PM

The Frank Gambale models are far superior to their Sabre counter parts IMO.
I own 2 FGM's 100 and 200 and a Prestige S and have played many 540's
and I just love the Gambales sound, tone,looks and playability!

Drow Swordsman · #8 05-16-2007, 08:10 PM

I'm pretty sure it's mostly personal, like the Jem's to the RG's.

Some prefer their FGM's to their S's....but some of course like some S's better than other S's...so I wouldn't say it does all that much to compare them in terms of playability because that will normally differ (unless the neck is a different model but I'm assuming it isn't which may be an error) whether it's an FGM vs an S or an S versus another S or an FGM versus another FGM.

In terms of looks and hardware however, I have no clue but I think it would better be compared if those were spoken of.

RGR570 · #9 05-16-2007, 08:29 PM

I think the reason why I prefered the playability of my S540LTD over my FGM, was that the Wizard on my S is by far, the thinnest I've ever played. Cosmetically, the old FGMs are second to none, maybe the RG770DX, but it's all subjective, I guess.

Anyway, I sold my FGM over 10 years ago, still have the S in my collection though.

Dee · #10 05-16-2007, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drow Swordsman

(unless the neck is a different model but I'm assuming it isn't which may be an error)

FGM has a Wizard neck.

RGR570 · #11 05-18-2007, 11:34 PM

Is it just me, or did the old S Wizards seem the thinnest and most comfortable?

**jono** · #12 05-19-2007, 06:37 AM

I think it's the older necks i general, my 1990 RG550 has a thin RG neck. I'm getting old, so I find the thicker necks more comfortable these days

I'll be looking for a vintage strat next, not even to play, but just to look at - HELP!!!!

Dee · #13 05-19-2007, 07:09 AM

LOL!

Regarding the thinness, my RG 20th has a thinner neck than my 1990 RG750 which is STUPID thin, but the 20th has more "meat" in the shoulders, I think, know what I mean? The edges of the neck are thicker, I'm sure of it. To look at, you'd swear the 750 neck was thinner, but measuring, the 550 is about 1 mm thinner at the 1st fret and 0.5mm thinner at the 12th. It's almost TOO FAST. Actually, I think that because the 750 neck has binding, that must be why it looks thinner.

IbanezGirl · #14 05-19-2007, 08:16 AM

Dee, i agree about the RG 20th having a thinner neck than the 750. This was the first thing i noticed as soon as played the 20th, especially at the first fret. It feels like there's not enough wood too grasp.

Interestingly enough, if you put both guitars side by side and look at the neck sideways, you'll see that the 20th is really, really, flat. It makes the 750 look more beefier from the 3rd fret onwards.