"Custom Made" S-series - What's the deal with them?

pawel · #1 07-14-2001, 07:08 AM

I have a chance of getiing a Japanese made Ibanez S540. It is one of the models with the "Custom Made" inlay on *the 21st fret, and I'm wondering if someone could explain to me what it means. I know that they are quite a lot of S540's with this feature, so i'm asking myself whether this is just a cheap marketing trick, or is it really a limited edition?

PS: If somebody had a chance of getting their hands on this thing, i would really appreciate their comments...

Jesse Greenawalt · #2 07-14-2001, 09:48 AM

For a while, they ALL said that. *Definitely NOT custom.

But good guitars, nonetheless. *What's the pup config? *Shark or oval inlays? *Color?

Two hands31 · #3 07-14-2001, 10:12 AM

Yeah, there's one of those at my local guitar shop. *It's really nice, hum-single-hum configuration, Edge, bright yellow body, Wizard neck, Sharkfin inlays, of course "Custom Made" inlay... *All in all, a pretty cool guitar.

rickboot · #4 07-15-2001, 05:52 AM

The "custom made" inlay was common with the 540s.
I know these weren't custom made to the user's specs, and I don't believe these went anywhere near the custom shop.

I think This is just one of those weird yet fascinating idiosyntrasies of the Japanese. I believe the word "Custom" is being used like the "deluxe".

However, I wish I really could get a custom made Ibanez!

Christopher Chen · #5 07-15-2001, 07:49 AM

I think the worst bit of it all, is how ibanez newbies get ripped off by dealers and other sellers saying that it's a custom made axe...rip offs!

Chris

pawel · #6 07-15-2001, 09:45 AM

Thanks for the info, I was sure it wasn't a custom made axe, but I thought it might have ben a limited series or something of this sort...

The guitar is in a brownish burst, has golden hardware, lo-pro edge trem, and the inlays are rombus-shaped, located where normal dots would be...

It is a well playing guitar, but i'm undecided, since I've had bad experience with locking trems... (although i know that the lo-pro edge is probably the best one on the market)

Jesse Greenawalt · #7 07-15-2001, 02:28 PM

You can always block your trem, but then what's the point of having it?

You might look for an sc620 or sc1620 - they're the "hardtail" sabres. *I just got a 620 and love it. *But the necks are thicker - NOT the wizard type...

gkelm · #8 07-15-2001, 10:38 PM

Hey pawal-
Even thought its not really custom made, it's a great guitar if you like S bodies.
Greg