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Ibanez S520EX S-Series Electric Guitar

Mahogany body. Three-piece maple neck. ZR tremolo. Ibanez Infinity humbuckers.

Overall User Ratings

Overall:
           9 out of 10
Features:
           9 out of 10
Quality:
           9 out of 10
Value:
           10 out of 10
I Want It:
           10 out of 10
Sound:
           9 out of 10
Ease of Use:
           9 out of 10
Support:
           9 out of 10
 
 

"The Wonderful Shiny Black Beast."

Overall:
          10 out of 10
Features:
          10 out of 10
Quality:
          10 out of 10
Value:
          10 out of 10
I Want It:
          10 out of 10
Sound:
          9 out of 10
Ease of Use:
          10 out of 10
User: a customer from hotmail.com
Submitted: 7/27/2007
Style of Music: Rock, METAL
Musical Experience: Hobbyist
Location: Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin, USA

 

 
Feature:
For an Ibanez, this is awesome. 1 volume, and 1 tone for an Ibanez is standard, but it also has an incredible ZR tremolo that will never go out of tune, so you can dive bomb all day.

Quality:
I really like how everything is built solidly, and the tone and volume knobs are staying tight, so a 10 for this is well earned.

Value:
A friend of mine has a guitar at the same price from a more well known company. I think that all $600 of this guitar came out into the guitar, while others have a certain amount going into the name...

Desirability:
This guitar is absolutely gorgeous. The pictures don't do justice to how much it shines.

Sound:
On clean...this thing is a beast. On distortion, this thing is a beast with a nuke. This thing just sounds good all around. I can't complain at all about the sound, or tone of it.

Ease of Use:
Even if you aren't too good, it'll sound great. The Wizard necks are absolutely wonderful, so you can play ultra fast.

Overall:
I plan on buying a different guitar in maybe a few years. In the future, I plan on buying another Ibanez.

6 of 6 people (100%) found this review helpful. Did you?    
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"Go get it now!"

Overall:
          10 out of 10
Features:
          9 out of 10
Quality:
          9 out of 10
Value:
          10 out of 10
I Want It:
          9 out of 10
Sound:
          8 out of 10
Ease of Use:
          9 out of 10
Support:
          9 out of 10
Submitted: 10/1/2007
Style of Music: Grindcore, Hardcore, and Metal
Musical Experience: Active Musician
Location: Philadelpha, PA. USA

 

 
Feature:
The ZR Bridge is a nice touch. Give you the flexibility of a floyd rose without all the hassle of a licensed or official floyd rose bridge. Once you have it in tune and you have your bridge flat. You can wale on that wammy bar all you want and it will never get out of tune.. thanks to the ZR spring tensioner and neck locks.

Quality:
Nice wood quality. All parts are solid on this bad boy.

Value:
Great guitar for metal, so thin and so light. Takes a beating on the bridge and never goes out of tune. Even in drop C sets where your strings are loose and flying everywhere. Very Good buy.

Desirability:
Yes. S-Series Body. Nice Neck. Glossy Black. 'nuff said.

Sound:
The Ibanez infinity pickups it comes with are ok, if your running a noise gate or something of that nature to supress the hum you get from these unbalanced pickups. A few days after I bought my s520ex, I purchased a set of EMG KFK. My S520EX now screams like a beast! and sounds so beautiful and clean. I barely need to use the EMG Afterburner switch for soloing.

Ease of Use:
Wizard 2 Neck is very nice to the touch. If your going live, and obviously sweat it a huge factor in your soloing, and can slow you down compared to 3-piece necks or unfinished wood necks. But all and all a nice neck for the price.

Support:
Didnt need any yet!

Overall:
F'in well worth it.

4 of 4 people (100%) found this review helpful. Did you?    
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"sexy quality in a mahogany plank"

Overall:
          10 out of 10
Features:
          9 out of 10
Quality:
          10 out of 10
Value:
          10 out of 10
I Want It:
          10 out of 10
Sound:
          10 out of 10
Ease of Use:
          10 out of 10
Support:
          10 out of 10
User: a customer from gmail.com
Submitted: 1/9/2008
Style of Music: all
Musical Experience: hobbyist
Location: somewhere in the United States

 

 
Feature:
This guitar rocks. it has the infinity 2 humbuckers, a zr tremolo with a locking nut. the only thing i would wish for is a middle pickup.

Quality:
the guitar is of extreme quality and is crafted to perfection, has everything you want-believe me!

Value:
too much value to write about...well, you get my point

Desirability:
that sexy beast!!!

Sound:
The ibanez s520ex is a great overall guitar. the tone is amazing, the locking nut does it's job and we're all winners:)

Ease of Use:
great!!!!!!!!!!

Support:
No needed repairs-like i said, we're all winners:)

Overall:
I like it all man!

2 of 2 people (100%) found this review helpful. Did you?    
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"GREAT GUITAR"

Overall:
          10 out of 10
Features:
          10 out of 10
Quality:
          10 out of 10
Value:
          10 out of 10
I Want It:
          10 out of 10
Sound:
          10 out of 10
Ease of Use:
          10 out of 10
Support:
          10 out of 10
Submitted: 1/30/2008

 

 
Feature:
This guitar has the ZR Locking System on it and you pretty much have to try to get it out of tune it is really hard to make it go out of tune. The neck on this guitar is also amazing its small enough and thin enough so its like your fingers glide over the strings. The only draw back to this guitar is that it has no fret designs to help you. so if you are looking for a challenge get this guitar.

Quality:
great quality light weight heavey sound. perfect black coating

Value:
personally i think its a good deal compared to the pretige models that are like Bill Gates expensive this moderate priced guitar still sounds like its worth a million bucks

Desirability:
just read above it will answer this question

Sound:
The sound on this guitar is amazing you can go all out heavey screamo music with this thing and then you can if you want drop it down to a clean sustainable sound the sound on this guitar is incredable worth every penny

Ease of Use:
well it depends on the type of pedals you use if you use a heavey distortion pedal you will get what you want.

Support:
havent had any problems with it yet.

Overall:
The best guitar i have bought so far. I will be using this thing for quiet a while.

1 of 1 people (100%) found this review helpful. Did you?    
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"Best bang for the buck"

Overall:
          10 out of 10
Features:
          9 out of 10
Quality:
          9 out of 10
Value:
          10 out of 10
I Want It:
          8 out of 10
Sound:
          6 out of 10
Ease of Use:
          10 out of 10
Submitted: 1/22/2008

 

 
Feature:
If it had another volume knob and better pickups, I'd give it a 10. I NEED a volume knob for each pickup. Anyway, the tremolo is awesome, the switching is very, very quiet, and it's really ergonomic and light in weight.

Quality:
I haven't seen or played a better guitar for the money than the Korean Ibanez's. You can find some with pretty tops and stuff, but they don't feel and play like the Ibanez. Don't get me wrong, it's not got the mojo of a good ole USA axe, but it's still a hell of a guitar. After you change the pickups...

Value:
See above. This guitar is a great value.

Desirability:
A nice and practical addition to my setup.

Sound:
...but now a 10. I found the stock pickups to be pretty muddy sounding. After a month or so, I replaced them with nickel covered Duncan 59's and the guitar came to be one of my favorites. For a guitar with such a thin and light body, it projects tons of warmth. Mahogany body helps, I'm sure. Frets were pretty clean with no buzzing, although the edges needed some attention. Then again, this thing didn't cost much...

Ease of Use:
I've got tons of guitars. Too many. But I'll get some more anyway. And that's another story. I like this thing a lot... shaped for playability, well balanced on a strap, has a great trem (it's HARD to get this guitar out of tune. It can be done, but it takes a lot of wailing), volume knob placement is set perfectly. I also find palm muting to be easier on this guitar than my other trem-equipped guitars (Jackson, Fender, G&L).

Overall:
I'll definitely not sell this guitar. It sounds great, looks cool, and the finish on this one was perfect.

1 of 1 people (100%) found this review helpful. Did you?    
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"Best Buy For the Buck"

Overall:
          10 out of 10
Features:
          10 out of 10
Quality:
          10 out of 10
Value:
          10 out of 10
I Want It:
          10 out of 10
Sound:
          9 out of 10
Ease of Use:
          10 out of 10
Support:
          10 out of 10
Submitted: 5/1/2008

 

 
Feature:
Love it the locking system is incredible and you could play almost anything.

Quality:
The quality is awesome it has a great shape and look. And truly is worth the price.

Value:
Best buy for the buck

Sound:
The Sound of this guitar is just amazing. It gives you a good distortion (if used with certain pedals or amps)and if you want to bring the tone down a little it can give you that classical guitar feel when it is on a clean station. Great sound the only problem i have with it, is that it has alot of base output which you can fix but its going to be hard. Otherwise its great.

Ease of Use:
The ease of use on this thing is great. The Type II wizard neck is really flat so you can move faster with less effort.

Support:
haven't had anyproblems with it yet.

Overall:
I expect this guitar to last a long time before i get enough money and want to start expiermenting with other brands...if you are unsure about what ibanez to get, get this one it fits every style of music and you can go from there.

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"Yeah I own it"

Overall:
          8 out of 10
Features:
          9 out of 10
Value:
          9 out of 10
Sound:
          9 out of 10
Ease of Use:
          8 out of 10
User: a customer from msn.com
Submitted: 9/13/2006
Style of Music: Metal, Hardcore, Blues
Musical Experience: Hobbyist, Active Musician
Location: Robstown ,TX, USA

 

 
Feature:
Its ZR trem is great mine rarely ever falls out of tune maybe a little flat at most you can yack on it doing dime tricks and what not

Quality:
I've been rough on it I gots a few dings hear and there and its kept up really well

Value:
I've gotten word from many other specs and according tough its made in korea this guitar has got to be the best in its branch

Sound:
This sound is heavy, loud and bassy, I playing a spring of heavy music hardcore, metal, and it can get the job done and also has a very deep mellow sound for clean playing

Ease of Use:
well for the most part this guitar is very good in styles of metal and blues well for my tastes

Overall:
this guitar can shake the glass off your windows with out that much pump

1 of 1 people (100%) found this review helpful. Did you?    
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"Incredible Guitar for the Price"

Overall:
          9 out of 10
Features:
          9 out of 10
Quality:
          9 out of 10
Value:
          9 out of 10
I Want It:
          8 out of 10
Sound:
          8 out of 10
Ease of Use:
          9 out of 10
Support:
          9 out of 10
Submitted: 2/12/2009
Style of Music: Rock, Metal, Instrumental
Musical Experience: Active Musician
Location: San Diego, CA

 

 
Feature:
Other than 1 Vol pot, 1 Tone pot, and a standard pick-up selector switch, it's biggest feature is the ZR Trem. Stays in tune no matter what you do to it. Like any locking trem, it is still a bit fiddly if you are one that likes to switch tunings often, but it works as well as advertised.

Quality:
This overall quality is easily that of a guitar that would have cost $300 - $400 more. Being an S series, it is very thin and sleek.

Value:
This guitar would definitely be worth buying at a higher price. And is well beyond most other guitars at this same price point.

Desirability:
The lack of fretboard inlay markers, and the slightly chessy claw scratch inlay at the 12th fret may not be for everyone, but this guitar can draw the attention of most guitar player on a wall full of guitars.

Sound:
The stock pick ups are pretty good, especially if you are fairly new to playing. Those that a bit more picky about their tone, will want to upgrade the pup first thing. I exchanged the stock set with Seymour Duncan Hot Rodded Set (SH-2 Jazz Neck PUP and an SH-4 JB PUP. This thing is incredible. You'd be hard pressed to find a guitar at this price that sounds this good.

Ease of Use:
The Wizard neck is one of the most comfortable necks I've ever played on. Fast and smooth. The ZR trem works pretty much the same way most locking trems work, however, the ZR has an adjustment in the back that helps to lower and raise the angle of the bridge without the use of tools. Very helpful when changing string gauges. IT also comes with a built in intonation tool that screws into, and blend well, the bridge when not in use.

Support:
Have had this guitar for over a year now and have not had to call for any support whatsoever.

Overall:
Expect to keep this guitar for as long as possible. I'd liek to have many guitars, so I am sure this won't be my last, but I actually debating on buying another one just to set it up slightly differently than I did with this one.

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"buy this guitar it is gr8!!!"

Overall:
          10 out of 10
Features:
          8 out of 10
Quality:
          9 out of 10
Value:
          9 out of 10
I Want It:
          10 out of 10
Sound:
          10 out of 10
Ease of Use:
          9 out of 10
Support:
          9 out of 10
User: a customer from hotmail.co. uk
Submitted: 5/28/2006
Style of Music: heavy metal
Musical Experience: in a band
Location: England, manchester

 

 
Feature:
wicked tremelo, an amazing pickups

Quality:
just a great guitar

Value:
completely worth its weight in hundred dollar notes

Desirability:
this guitar plugged into a line 6 spyder II amp is sex with strings... loud sex with strings!

Sound:
this things a monster, perfect 4 metal players

Ease of Use:
thin neck for eazi shreddin, bit annoyin not havin any fret inlays but worth it an eazily fixed by sum stickers...

Overall:
never stopps bein fun 2 pick up an play

1 of 2 people (50%) found this review helpful. Did you?    
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"S470"

Overall:
          8 out of 10
Features:
          10 out of 10
Quality:
          8 out of 10
I Want It:
          10 out of 10
Sound:
          8 out of 10
Ease of Use:
          7 out of 10
User: a customer from yahoo.com
Submitted: 7/21/2007
Style of Music: Metal, Hardcore, Thrash
Musical Experience: hobbyist, investor in instruments
Location: Maitland, FL USA

 

 
Feature:
The ZR tremolo is incredible for string bends and dive bombs. You can also learn some pretty cool tricks through using a ZR tremolo.

Quality:
Its made pretty well. beautiful color. Great neck.

Desirability:
incrediblely good looking guitar.

Sound:
good, not great, but good. Could use an EMG 81 in the bridge

Ease of Use:
Its got a nice pickup set up. the 2 humbuckers and single coil, but the action is pretty bad

Overall:
i expect to like this guitar forever, but i got over my "love" for this guitar pretty quickly. Its a good guitar, just needs to be adjudested. Its one of those guitars you play with(fix up) until you get it prefect.

1 of 2 people (50%) found this review helpful. Did you?    
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