Ibanez screws it’s S buyers over again.. - Page 8

toshiro · #**106** 01-02-2007, 04:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich

The necks are replaced at the distributor, they don't make it out for you to see. Not that some won't go bad over time, but the 3-6 months it takes from build to warehouse to distributor is ample time for a bad neck to present itself and get flagged.

Ah, okay, that makes more sense.

Still, I'd rather have an older late 80s/early 90s guitar than current production, especially when it comes to the S-series. The Xiphos is the only thing from them I'm interested in, and it's got a damn W2. LOL

Ke^in · #**107** 01-02-2007, 04:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich

There were a few JC HH neck thru's

http://www.ibanezrules.com/used.htm#JCustoms

How much do they run? *ducks*

Ke^in · #**108** 01-02-2007, 04:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dee

Kevin, have you thought about getting a neck shaved down to original Wizard spec?

I have an original wizard spec on my neck.

Ke^in · #**109** 01-02-2007, 04:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toshiro

Ah, okay, that makes more sense.

Still, I'd rather have an older late 80s/early 90s guitar than current production, especially when it comes to the S-series.

The 99-2003 S series is just as good as the years you listed. I've tried them all out. I actually like the necks better because of the Prestige finish and AANJ.

toshiro · #**110** 01-02-2007, 05:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ke^in

The 99-2003 S series is just as good as the years you listed. I've tried them all out. I actually like the necks better because of the Prestige finish and AANJ.

I refinish my necks in tung oil myself, so the prestige tag means little to me, as does the AANJ, I get around fine on my old heel RGs.

There were also more options, finishes, and models in 1990 than 1999-2003 combined.

From a used standpoint, it just makes more sense to me, not to say that the 99-03 guitars are bad or anything.

Ke^in · #**111** 01-02-2007, 07:18 AM

I don't buy mine for the options, but the playability.

Eggy · #**112** 01-02-2007, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ke^in

Here is what Ibanez has to offer us S users this next year

The first would be KILLER if it didn't have
• Middle pickup
• Overly obnoxious binding
• Wizard II neck instead of Wizard I

The second would be killer if it had
• Wizard 7 neck

The third would be KILLER if it didn't have
• Middle pickup
• Wizard II neck instead of Wizard I

The fourth would be KILLER if it didn't have
• Wizard II neck instead of Wizard I

The fifth would be KILLER if it didn't have
• Wizard II neck instead of Wizard I
• Silly claw inlay.

I am willing to overlook the ZR because it's a KILLER system.

But the Wizard HAS to make a comeback to these guitars.

Why wouldn't Ibanez put it's thinnest neck on it's thinnest guitar?

Atleast on ONE model. I don't think that is much to ask.

Erm , if you don't buy yours for the options and are mainly concerned with playability then what's all this whinning at the begining of this thread ?

Ben

toshiro · #**113** 01-02-2007, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ke^in

I don't buy mine for the options, but the playability.

Man, we're beating a dead horse here. If you only like 4 years worth of S-series guitars, and only want Prestige, then only buy used guitars from those years. I know, you say you want to buy new once in a while, but if a company doesn't offer what you want, compromise must come in somewhere. Reshape the neck if it bugs you so much. Have the radius of the board flattened to W1 spec, have a completely custom neck made, whatever.

My 93 S540LTD plays great, IMO, doesn't need the Prestige logo, and has an AANJ(even though I'd still love it with a strat heel). The mid 90's had a ton of Wizard spec S guitars with the AANJ.

Ke^in · #**114** 01-02-2007, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eggy

Erm , if you don't buy yours for the options and are mainly concerned with playability then what's all this whinning at the begining of this thread ?

Ben

I am referring to colors etc. Necks and such falls under playability.

Ke^in · #**115** 01-02-2007, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toshiro

If you only like 4 years worth of S-series guitars, and only want Prestige, then only buy used guitars from those years.

I don't ONLY like those models and years. Those are just the most recent. And I have bought one. But it would be nice to be able to buy a new Ibanez once in awhile. One that isn't a screwed up version of the S.

I mean I don't think wanting Ibanez to be a better company is a bad thing. I've owned Sabers since 1988. I've owned about 9 over the years. I believe the 99-2003 Prestige versions are the pinnacle of mass production S series guitars.

Quote:

I know, you say you want to buy new once in a while, but if a company doesn't offer what you want, compromise must come in somewhere.

Again I've already bought a 2000 Prestige because of this isssue.

Me wanting Ibanez to stop producing crappy S series guitars shouldn't be such a big deal. Nor should I be getting "flack" for saying so.

Not only that I was REALLY wanting a neck-through S series. For about a decade now. Kinda disappointed Ibanez muffed it up.

Can't buy an old one of those.

RCB · #**116** 01-02-2007, 10:12 AM

I owned several S series:

540S7
S540LTD
S470 with ZR bridge
FGM300 (which I currently have)

O owned many more RG/jems

I have to say that I never had twisted neck (even though several of my necks were refinished in tung oil and had more than 12-15 years), but I can see that happening with such a thin profile.

The neck profile on the FGM300 is incredibly thin (too thin for my tastes).

Back on topic, I dont see what all the complaining is about. The ZR is a pretty good tremolo, and the wizard 2 is still a pretty thin neck.

I wouldnt say that either the ZR or the wizard 2 are worst than the Lo Pro Edge and the wizard.

If you like the old S series, just buy one of those, they are widely available.

I think its a good thing that Ibanez keeps changing the specs and features of the guitars every now and then. The new 3 piece/5 piece necks are cool, I also like the fact that there are new trems.

I ve been plying Ibanez guitars for 15 years, and I owned lots of them (I think around 30, 25 of which or more were MIJ)

So, if it wasnt for the specs change, I would ve owned may be 5 or 10.

They changed the edge to the Lo Pro, then introduced the Edge Pro and the ZR. The had several neck profiles, and even the same neck profile wasnt always the same (the jem neck profile is not the same in all jems), then they changed the construction of the necks, intriducing 3/5 piece necks with and without volute, they also had several neck finished (glossed, raw, prestige). They changed the pups on each series: V1, V2, V7, V8, the old Di MArzio IBZ, regular DI MArzio pups, the new Di Marzio IBZ, the new Seymour Duncan IBZ.

They introduced different wood option in series that were concieved and designed as basswood guitars.

When you think about it, all those changes, sometimes for the best, sometimes for the worst (best or worst often changes over time as your tastes change) are what made me come back again and again, because there always something new to try out.

S-man · #**117** 01-02-2007, 11:01 AM

Sometimes it's about options...

You used to be able to get either a Wizard I or Wizard II and there were 2 trems availble, even though the trs kinda sucks. There were more finishes availible as well.

The quality was better than the korean stuff I've seen.

S-man · #**118** 01-02-2007, 11:27 AM

Plus the "better" S guitars always had the Wizard and the cheap ones came with Wizard II.

I think some people are assuming we are discussing the differance between the old Wizard I, current Wizard I, Super Wizard specs. We are not. Alot of people would be happy with the Current Wizard I spec. or even a profile/shape that is similiar. The current Wizard II is shaped WAY differant. And even Rich has said that the profile/shape of the Wizard II on the current S series is wacky.

It's also not about 1pc. vs. 3pc. vs. 5pc. or any kind of crazy talk about glue joints slipping or whatever that one guy was trying to say. I personally think he was all over the map and agrueing just for the sake of agrueing.

Beyond the shape, the depth of the neck pocket on the new guitars is wacked. Just look at the pics I posted earlier in this thread. Anyone with half common sense can see that fretboard is sitting way high. As a matter of fact, Rich will be passing the problem onto the Ibanez guys at NAMM this year. I think that says alot.

So instead of discounting this thread, thinking it's just a thread comparing a 1mm differance between necks, why not take the time to read what is being said?

The whole "if you don't like it buy something else or used" is kinda lame IMHO. I already have 3 S series guitars. This is more about letting Ibanez know what we think about the changes they have made to the new S.

I have a 90,97, and 06. I can compare them back to back.

Ke^in · #**119** 01-02-2007, 11:59 AM

exactly.

-Rhaab · #**120** 01-02-2007, 08:02 PM

wizard I is thicker than II?
Personally, I'd rather get an S and get it repainted, which is what im doing. Since theres no color options and Im sure everyone has said that. and for the middle pickup i have no problem with it, I dont really use it and i dont think it looks bad. If i had to i'd put a blank in it. But i shall take it out one day and see what affect it has on sustain cause thats the only reason i would take it out.
I know im interest in the 7 string S. I've always wanted a 7. and im in love with the zr and i prefer mohogany, so im gonna look into that, and pay extra to get it repainted if i dont like it