What is the difference between a *540S and S470 Sabre ??

[SurfMonster]

Wondering what the difference is between a circa 1990 540S with S-S-H and one of the earlier Japanese version of the S470 Sabre S-S-H? *Hardware looks to be identical. *Was there a diff just in the stock pickups ? *How do you identify a 540S ... there are no distinct model markings? *The 540S I am looking at used was manufactured in Bensalem, PA as marked on the neck plate. * Is this the real diff?

Much appreciated.

[JESTER700]

It may have been ASSEMBLED in Bensalem from parts made in Japan...

I think at that time the diff was mostly the pups. *As a lower line, the parts may have had lower QA, but that's only a possibility; I dunno. *But those old ones had the Edge, and since that's the most popular beef with newer 400 series axes, the 470 should be nice.

I know with the Radius 540 vs. 440, the dot markers were bigger on the 440...

[Jimi D]

The S470 was introduced in the '92-'93 catalog in the US as a stop-tail version only, but there were vintage trem and an Edge equipped versions in the 1993 catalog. The 470 was available exclusively with dot inlays, and the 540's that were it's contemporaries had oval or shark's tooth inlays... The '91-'92 catalog has the 540SFM with dots, but there's the "Custom Made" inlay at the 21st fret, which is absent on the 470... Production prior to '92 probably assures a 540... Otherwise, the 540 has the Dimarzio-made IBZ/USA "F" and "C" marque pickups to distinguish it from the 470's "V" pickups... Both models are mahogany, but the 540 offered maple fretboards with oval markers from time to time...

[SurfMonster]

Thanks for the great info. *Big help! * One other question... The 540S is a 1990 and goes by the nomeclature 540S-LR. * What does the "LR" mean? * BTW it plays WAY better than a current day S470. * This particular one is in fantastic shape with comfortable break in. *

[JESTER700]

"Lipstick Red"