DoctorPaul's Guitar Emporium - Sold Guitars

(FOR SALE)

1997 Ibanez S540LTDBK

"Moses"

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This is similar to (but older than) "Twiggy", my other Ibanez Sabre.  The similarities (given that both guitars are from the 'S-Series', which was formerly the 540 Sabre ... hence the 'S') include the body shape; a natty affair which is full-thickness towards the centre, but narrows right down to only 10mm thick (or so) around the body edges).  The similarities end there, however.  This one has a mahogany body (two-piece, with a centre-seam just visible in the right light ...) with a one-piece maple neck and rosewood board.  The inlays are old-school 'sharktooth' with the usual 'Custom Made' inlay at the 21st fret.  Which of course it isn't.  Custom Made, I mean.  It IS made at Fuji-Gen (great news) but is a production line guitar, so goodness knows where they got the 'Custom Made' idea from. 

 

Now then.  That neck.  The neck is one of the reasons that I wanted this ... I wouldn't normally buy two guitars that were very similar (honestly!).  Whereas "Twiggy" has a Wizard-II neck, this one has the original Wizard ... only 17mm thick towards the nut.  That means this is one SUPER-SKINNY-ASSED neck, great for thumb on the back of the neck playing, but admittedly eventually a little uncomfortable for thumb over the top stuff.  Whatever, for legato stuff this is awesomely good.

 

Hardware is typical late 90's Ibanez, with a decent Lo-Pro Edge trem and Gotoh tuners.  The original electronics have been ripped out entirely and dumped ... it would originally have been fitted with 'IBZ-QM' pickups, which I understand are ok but uninspiring.  In their place is a Seymour Duncan 'Dimebucker' at the bridge, a DiMarzio 'True Velvet' single in the middle and a DiMarzio PAF-Pro at the neck.  This is an excellent combination, with the creaminess and richness of the neck and middle offset by the savagery of the Dimebucker ... that thing screams, and makes harmonics jump out from all over the place.  Excellent! 

 

Now, it appears that this was owned previously by the guitarist from "Cradle of Filth", a moderately successful, but 'niche' English extreme metal band.  YouTube them ... I dare you.  However, I don't give a SINGLE shit about them owning this ... I certainly wouldn't consider them as an influence and only mention it because there might be someone out there who actually GIVES a shit ... all that pseudo-satanic horseshit means that I can't possibly take them seriously.  Really ... lighten up lads ... the world isn't SUCH a bad place. 

 

Whatever ... the guitar is MINE now!  A great player.  I like it a lot.