S-520 opinions - sound? neck? frets? feel?

[woodshed]

Anyone here had the pleasure of playing or owning an S-520? Yes, like the one M.F. has for $750.00. It looks great but it's close ($200) to a Prestige S model 1520B...curious.

[kirk]

I'm torn on this one too . *The finish is a toss up, if I am not mistaken the one you're talking about has an oil finish (which I love.) *The headstock on the Prestige is much cooler though (MOP inlayed) and the marker-less fingeboard is very cool.

Here's a few more differences, the S520 has Ibanez "V" pickups whereas the S1520 has QMs. *The QMs, IMHO, are not as good sounding as the Ibanez "V" pickups. *When I had the S1520, I swapped the pickups out (so now I'm way over a grand on the Prestige.)

The neck on the Prestige is incredible, the finish on the back is perfect, very smooth and fast. *No heavy lacquers (or whatever they use these days) on the back of the neck.

Either way, basically they're both great guitars. *If you plan on replacing the stock pickups, and have over a grand, buy the S1520. *But, if you only have enough to buy the S1520, and want to replace the pickups, go for the 520.

[Noodles]

I say go for the prestige model. You also get a lo pro edge and the headstock is sweet. If I were in the market for one of these I would try to get one used because ot only do you get a good deal(I have seen them for $550) but imo the old inlay is much better looking than the new one.

[BatmanNick]

I just got an S520 two weeks ago and I really like it.I had an S1520BP and sold it to get an RG1680.The 520 is a real good guitar IMO.It's very much like a raw S.The Edge trem is more prominant than a Lo-Pro and the finish gives it a stripped down attitude.The neck is smooth and doesn't get sticky easily but the Prestige neck is better. I personally like the Quantum pick ups much more than the V pick ups the 520 came with.Actually I think the Quantums are the best pick ups Ibanez has ever made.The 520 gets a really high mark from me.If you want a smoother guitar go for the 1520 but,if you want a little more attitude I'd go with the 520. If you only have about $850-$950 to spend the 520 may be a better choice because you can replace the pick ups if you don't like them sooner than you could if you got the 1520 and didn't like the pick ups. *Either way,both of those are good choices and I don't think you would be making a mistake getting one or the other.

[kirk]

Noodles made a good point that I missed. *There are a bunch of S1520's on the used market. *They have been selling on eBay for around $500-700, which IMHO is a steal.

I just "sold" mine (only because noone's developed a cure for GAS) for about $650-800 (traded for a JemRB.)

[gitarrero]

I have the S1520FB and I can definitely fully recommend it. As Kirk has stated here and in another thread, the Prestige neck finish is really top of the line. There could not be a better feeling neck IMHO.

The Quantum pickups have a little less output than the V series, hands down; but still enough to make a preamp scream. Harmony Central user reviews always whine about the strong mids of the QMs, and I was thinking about putting in a FRED at the bridge, but I have found that with "brighter" strings (for example Blue Steel or Pyramid) the sound will clear up tremendously, making the 1520 really versatile.

Thumbs up!