subversion
Moderator
Ibanez SZ320
List: $800
I already own the SZ320, a very fine guitar per se, even Marty Friedman was impressed by it, it`s his current guitar of choice. I was moved to try the 2005`s manifestation because it features Duncan/ Ibanez pickups…
The SZ is a departure form the skinny necked RG models, it`s also set-necked as opposed to the RG`s bolt-on assembly. Frets are the jumbo make this time round (as oppossed to the medium version, previously). The headstock is also a peculiar sight, 3-tuners per side, unlike majority of Ibanez solid bodies, which sport 6-a side layout. The body`s thicker, than the RG & it only features a rear chamfer (depression like the Fender strat, so that your rib cage fits snugly in there), because the top is an arched construction, think Les Paul… the scale length is also slighly shorter than an Rg`s- 25.1"
The rather meaty, rounded, C-profiled neck, is no hindrance if you are a shred-head, just need a little getting use to. Unlike the proverbial set-neck construction we know too well in a certain singlecut guitar, the SZ`s version allows for immaculate upper fret access with only a hint of bulk at the 20th fret. Not excuse for not being able to reach the remaining 2 frets. My gripe with the electronics here is the mini, pickup toggle switch which is very stiff, appreciate if it would be slightly bigger too… The highlight of the SZ model is of course its (Gibraltar III) bridge- it was conceived especially for the SZ, devoid of sharp edges & it proved its worth; very comfortable picking palm placement indeed. This feature, coupled with the through-body stringing, make the SZ a sweet, sustain machine. How are those Duncan Ibanez humbuckers then?
Seymour Duncan collaborated with Ibanez for selected models this 2005 to give you, a more expansive tonal palette. In addition to the Dimarzio-IBZ pickups in other guitars, this move is a plus for us tone mongers. I had a very high expectation from this guitar prior to this try-out simply because I`m a Duncan convert (but I still adore certain Dimarzios), I`m happy to report the present tonal difference (applause all round, please). The superseded default Ibanez SZ humbuckers were no different from those notorious Powersound, Infinity & Axis pickups, in many entry-level models that we kept auditioning & dislike. The Duncan Ibanez models here had their top end trimmed but not excessively because the neck unit gave off the much needed clarity when one plays the upper frets. Back your volume off & you`ll hear the Alnico Pro-type vintage overtones, which is so pleasing, with lots of upper end transparency. Blues? No problems… The bridge humbucker also performed equally well treble-wise. Clean, these pickups are above-average but it`s nothing like what the Ibanez Super 58 units would offer. To be precise, both these pickups were modelled after 2 popular Seymour Duncan units currently offered in the market- the Distortion (bridge) & `59 (neck).
It`s good to know that the `05 SZ320 maintained its high construction (forgot to mention the superb body binding- no frayed ends anywhere + well-dressed frets) & tonal standards. Kudos to Duncan for this long awaited collaboration, we hope to see more Ibanez with similarly voiced pickups in time to come.
