Question about IBZ pickups circa 1989

Gibletpie · #1 10-18-2002, 12:36 PM

I have a 1989 RG560 I bought new back in the day. I was wondering if anyone knows anything about the pickups on this guitar. The two singles are labeled IBZ S1 and the 'bucker (in bridge position) is labeled IBZ V2. Were these IBZ pickups co-designed by Seymour Duncan? What's the general opinion on their quality? I haven't played many different guitars, so I don't have a lot to compare them to.

Also, in regard to an earlier thread on model features, my 560 has a black headstock. It is not color-matched to the body, which is a sort of purple-ish burgundy, depending on the light.

Thanks guys,
Gibletpie

sniperfrommars1 · #2 10-18-2002, 01:38 PM

They werent co designed by duncan. They arent really high end pickup but will serve your purpose quite nicely. They are essentially alot more like a dimarzio but are not codesigned by them.

horstausmforst · #3 10-18-2002, 03:25 PM

They ARE codesigned by DiMarzio.

Quoting the 1993 catalogue:

IBZ/USA
An Ibanez exclusive. Codesigned ba DiMarzio and Ibanez (USA) and manufactured by DiMarzio, Inc. IBZ/USA pickups are also available individually through authorized Ibanez dealers.

I only have the IBZ/USA F3, but I quite like it. Nearer to Dimarzio than to Ibanez.

vaijem777 · #4 10-18-2002, 03:31 PM

Actually, the "IBZ" pickups are NOT co-designed with DiMarzio. Only the IBZ/USA pickups were. The S1, V2, etc. were simply stock Ibanez pickups. They're not great, but they're not the worst either.

In the early 90's the IBZ/USA's came into play. They're actually decent pickups. They were usually found on the upper-end RG's (i.e. RG770DX, etc.).

sniperfrommars1 · #5 10-18-2002, 03:45 PM

A little more in detail but all correct vaijem

Gibletpie · #6 10-18-2002, 04:25 PM

Oops, I meant DiMarzio, not SD.

Thanks for the help guys. I'm going to really shine this guitar up this weekend--with help from ibanezrules.com.

Thanks again,
Gibletpie

horstausmforst · #7 10-19-2002, 12:37 AM

oooops, I thought I've read IBZ/USA in the first post..

I'll promise to read questions more carefully in the future

toshiro · #8 10-20-2002, 08:59 AM

IBZ/USA were out before the 90's though... They came stock on my '88 RG750..

sniperfrommars1 · #9 10-23-2002, 02:51 AM

the oldest Ive seen personally were on a 87 rg.