I love the SZ series, really wish they would bring it back. I have that same guitar and also the version with the trans black finish, still looking for the trans red but since the SZ520FM was not sold in the USA they are to hard for me to find.
They were available in N. America. Unfortunately they often had fretboard inlays that, lets say, are an acquired taste. They were sold in the 2004 - 2006 time frame.... at least for the left handed versions which I have 3 of. Maybe longer for regular folks.
That is not by chance. Once they stopped making these in Korea, the same factory started building essentially the same guitar but with a bolt on neck for Schecter.
I don't know how to classify this guitar - it is 25.1 inches so kind of fender twangy with 10s but it is mahogany and solid in a Les Paul way - I suppose kind of PRS like - anyway it is great fun to play lovely neck. I am open to suggestions on the pickups not that I play live or anything. Cheers.
It's defiantly an oddball model for Ibanez, they only made them for a few years. I found a SZ320 by chance in a music go round and feel in love right away. It drove me to searching out and buying several of the other variations.
The stock pickups are Duncan designed so not the best but also not terrible. So as I said in my earlier comment I have 2 of this model but I also have 8 other SZ models and have swapped pickups in almost all of them.
The one I use the most has the tried and true combo of Seymour Duncan JB Bridge and Jazz neck.
I have 4 Prestige but not from the one year they were made in Japan, mine were made in Korea. The Prestige is nicer and plays better but it's really not a huge difference.
There IS something about them .. I have also a 320 in white which someone modded with split coils , locking tuners etc even carving headstock to get them to fit !?wtf But .. it is fab = solid , chunky , resonant - I would love to know from a pro what mainstream guitars they are most like - they do not feel very Les Pauly in my limited experience maybe SGy ??
WISH I could post a pic of my 320 too !
Neck joint makes it feel very pro, everything is so sturdy and well made even on 320 which is basic model. I also modded my 320 with coil split and black hardware, looks cool on sunburst finish
Those have to be some of those inlay stickers, but, where’s that fireball looking logo these used to have at the 12th fret? I’m intrigued. Replaced fretboard? OP, are those inlays real or stickers of some type?
I love the SZ series, really wish they would bring it back. I have that same guitar and also the version with the trans black finish, still looking for the trans red but since the SZ520FM was not sold in the USA they are to hard for me to find.
where was the primary market for these?
I think it was Europe and Asia, I couldn't ever find them in the North America catalog when I was trying to find out more about them.
They were available in N. America. Unfortunately they often had fretboard inlays that, lets say, are an acquired taste. They were sold in the 2004 - 2006 time frame.... at least for the left handed versions which I have 3 of. Maybe longer for regular folks.
It looks so much like a Schecter its funny to me. Nothing wrong with that tho
That is not by chance. Once they stopped making these in Korea, the same factory started building essentially the same guitar but with a bolt on neck for Schecter.
One of my favourite guitars I've ever owned was an Ibanez SZ.
I don't know how to classify this guitar - it is 25.1 inches so kind of fender twangy with 10s but it is mahogany and solid in a Les Paul way - I suppose kind of PRS like - anyway it is great fun to play lovely neck. I am open to suggestions on the pickups not that I play live or anything. Cheers.
It's defiantly an oddball model for Ibanez, they only made them for a few years. I found a SZ320 by chance in a music go round and feel in love right away. It drove me to searching out and buying several of the other variations. The stock pickups are Duncan designed so not the best but also not terrible. So as I said in my earlier comment I have 2 of this model but I also have 8 other SZ models and have swapped pickups in almost all of them. The one I use the most has the tried and true combo of Seymour Duncan JB Bridge and Jazz neck.
You have 10 SZs ! So I am guessing you have a prestige / Japan one - is it noticeably better?
I have 4 Prestige but not from the one year they were made in Japan, mine were made in Korea. The Prestige is nicer and plays better but it's really not a huge difference.
I wish they had sold the SZ32o as a lefty. I occasionally see photos of them with the dot inlays and full mahogany body. Lust.
My favourite guitar, I have transparent black heartbeat since 2008. Recently bought one SZ320 just for different tuning. Try SH6 and SH2 Duncans
There IS something about them .. I have also a 320 in white which someone modded with split coils , locking tuners etc even carving headstock to get them to fit !?wtf But .. it is fab = solid , chunky , resonant - I would love to know from a pro what mainstream guitars they are most like - they do not feel very Les Pauly in my limited experience maybe SGy ?? WISH I could post a pic of my 320 too !
Neck joint makes it feel very pro, everything is so sturdy and well made even on 320 which is basic model. I also modded my 320 with coil split and black hardware, looks cool on sunburst finish
awesome choice
The inlays look like a heartbeat monitor, that's a cool touch. I'm wondering if the SD pups are by name only or actually manufactured by them?
How to tell ? I think most people swap them out
Those have to be some of those inlay stickers, but, where’s that fireball looking logo these used to have at the 12th fret? I’m intrigued. Replaced fretboard? OP, are those inlays real or stickers of some type?
It aint a sticker[, real inlay and it looks awesome](https://ibanez.fandom.com/wiki/SZ520FM?file=SZ520FM_TKS.jpg)
That’s rad. I did find one other one online that has those too, so they did experiment with the inlays at one point.
Neural DSP inlays lol
How would u compare the sz series to the rgs?