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Published on 11/25/11 at 10:55Made in Japan
Strat-style guitar with different cosmetic stylings
Alder or Ash body
Maple neck
21 frets
3 single coil pickups with no visible pole pieces
Knife-edge and fulcrum based vintage-style tremolo system
1 volume, 1 tone, 1 5 way switch
V-shaped strap buttons for strap stability
UTILIZATION
This is basically Ibanez's 1980s entry into making a Strat-style guitar with (then) modern styling. It is configured like a Strat, plays like a Strat, feels like a Strat, and sounds like a Strat. The bridge system vibrato works like a Strat. For all intents and purposes, this is basically a Stratocaster. The think is, the headstock and body shape are different enough to make the guitar a distinctive entry into the electric instrument world.
I made the dreadful mistake of selling mine a few years ago. I loved this guitar, and I actually liked this guitar better than many Fender American Strat guitars I've played. The worksmanship on the axe is excellent, and it plays very well.
SOUNDS
This guitar nails any Strat-type tone imaginable: Hendrix, SRV, Clapton, John Mayer, Robert Cray, Buddy Guy, Eric Johnson...the list could go on for days. But, being as how this is virtually the same guitar as a good Strat, those same capabilities apply. The versatility is such that it can handle blues, classic rock, jazz, country, metal, reggae, and anything in between. The pickups are especially good - I'd honestly swap a set of these pickups out on my current Fender Strat if I had them.
OVERALL OPINION
For the price, this guitar is unstoppable. I've seen them going for as little as $200, up to around $500 on the used market. Even at $500, this guitar is a fantastic instrument, and I'd recommend to any Strat lover to check it out if they can find it.
Strat-style guitar with different cosmetic stylings
Alder or Ash body
Maple neck
21 frets
3 single coil pickups with no visible pole pieces
Knife-edge and fulcrum based vintage-style tremolo system
1 volume, 1 tone, 1 5 way switch
V-shaped strap buttons for strap stability
UTILIZATION
This is basically Ibanez's 1980s entry into making a Strat-style guitar with (then) modern styling. It is configured like a Strat, plays like a Strat, feels like a Strat, and sounds like a Strat. The bridge system vibrato works like a Strat. For all intents and purposes, this is basically a Stratocaster. The think is, the headstock and body shape are different enough to make the guitar a distinctive entry into the electric instrument world.
I made the dreadful mistake of selling mine a few years ago. I loved this guitar, and I actually liked this guitar better than many Fender American Strat guitars I've played. The worksmanship on the axe is excellent, and it plays very well.
SOUNDS
This guitar nails any Strat-type tone imaginable: Hendrix, SRV, Clapton, John Mayer, Robert Cray, Buddy Guy, Eric Johnson...the list could go on for days. But, being as how this is virtually the same guitar as a good Strat, those same capabilities apply. The versatility is such that it can handle blues, classic rock, jazz, country, metal, reggae, and anything in between. The pickups are especially good - I'd honestly swap a set of these pickups out on my current Fender Strat if I had them.
OVERALL OPINION
For the price, this guitar is unstoppable. I've seen them going for as little as $200, up to around $500 on the used market. Even at $500, this guitar is a fantastic instrument, and I'd recommend to any Strat lover to check it out if they can find it.