Ibanez 430S II

Light Satin white type finish over a super lightweight Mahogany body, Srat Style with 3 Active EMG pickups. 5 way switch with a volume and tone control. One piece maple neck with a Rosewood Fretboard, Jumbo frets. 1990 Made in Japan. Stnadard Ibanez Strat Stle tremolo with Gotoh Tuners and Ibanez Hard shell Case

Rich full sound with plenty of bite the pickups are super quite and the neck or neck and middle position is not as Strat like as you would think. The Mahogany body may aide in that giving it a fuller sound. The Bridge pickup is ver much Strat like but use the Bridge and middle together and it really changes the sound. The tone control is actually very good and you can mellow out the bridge pickup or make the neck pickup sound like a Buck Owens Tele or a David Gilmour Strat with the use of the tone control. The nek is wide but very thin which allows for fast plsying yet comfortable because of the width.

The action fit and finish is great on the guitar the only flaw and it seems to be a flaw in SO many Ibanez guitars is it develops finish cracks near the neck pocket. Only in the finish not the wood but the problem seems to be across the board on many eighties and nineties Ibanez guitars. This model also seems to have a light paint which doesn't chip but shows more arm wear. It doesn't bother me I like the vintage look but I thought I would mention.

Seventeen years old and plays great. The hardware has held up well but as I said earlier the finish is thin. Large oversize stap buttons keep you from worring about dropping your Guitar. Never gig without a back up. This Guitar is very reliable but anything can happen.

Even though this model is long gone Ibanez is very helpful with information. I have even got information from them on a 1973 Strat Copy in the past.

I have been playing 29 years and was looking for a Strat Style Guitar with active electronics. Wow did I find the one. I own 3 American Strat's 79, 91, 99, A 1956 Les Paul Jr a 1957 Les Paul Special and a Aria Lawsuit Les Paul Custom. I play Blues and Rock, Allman Brothers, SRV, Old Yardirds (Blues) as well as some Funk, James Brown, Ohio Players, Rick James in two Bands. As far a the way this Guitar plays, it's light weight and overall usefulness I stak it up with any of my other Guitars. If it were stolen I would seek out another one but they are hard to find. If you see one grab it. I have owneed for 5 years and have never seen another one ecect on the net and not for sale.

I heard it was Japanese made, but I am not sure what year it was made. It's a 22 fret instrument, with a basic single color finish. I basically bought this guitar because it was a a three single coil configuration, like a strat. I always wanted an Ibanez S series with a stratocaster

I play a little of everything. At times I like to play punk rock like The Ramones, or something jazzy like The Style Council, or shoegaze like Ride, or post punk like The Smiths or The Sundays.

I basically bought the guitar because of how it looked. But, I was taken by surprise. Where most single coil instruments are articulate, this guitar was a little brighter and more soulful than a strat that would equal it's price. It's surprisingly not as thin as some lower priced Fenders would sound.

If you use distortion or overdrive, naturally, you won't get much bottom out of this instrument. But, utilizing the treble and midrange, this baby can sign, and sustain pretty well. You will love soloing on this guitar. It wasn't designed for riffing, but I like to riff on it because it has a natural tone that gives the bass player some proper space in the mix.

There is only one tone knob, which may or may not bother some players.

If you want any brighter, you'd probably prefer an Ibanez Talman. But, the tone on this guitar is well worth it considering the price.

One thing that most players should be aware of is the neck. It's wide, however, it's the thinnest radius neck I have ever seen on a guitar. I found it comfortable, but a player like Jeff Beck would hate it. For this reason, it's not a very good idea to string it with 11s, 12s, or 13s. But, the neck has some very low action, and since it is unfinished, it is quite fast. I don't struggle with runs like I would on a Squire.

The output jack is actually routed in the guitar, which I found odd, but proved to be practical, as I have never had cable snags. What did irk me was how small the control cavity was routed. That might bother some players.

But, my biggest complaint was that the truss rod bolt is adjusted by a wrench, not a hex.

I tell you, I've fucked this baby up over the years. And, she's still with me. She's been dropped, chipped, her finish is not like it used to be. But, she has outlasted any other guitar I have ever owned. And I don't even own a hardshell case!

I never had to deal with Ibanez, but I have to say, there is next to no information on this guitar that I know of.

Bottom line, the guitar that is really meant for you is the one that you are most comfortable with. I looked at this guitar at the shop I brought it from, and knew from the first moment that I wanted it. Like any instrument, it has it's limitations, but as performers it's up to us to work within those limitations and make the music our own. This guitar helped me accomplish that. It never sounded better than a Les Paul, never will. But for the price I paid for it, and the workable features that it has made it special and invaluable. A Talman might even sound better. But it is lightweight, sturdy, plays well, and sounds great.

This guitar has been discontinued, and will never return. But, I am proud to say that I have one of the last ones in existence. It has become my main instrument. If this one is stolen, I'd find the bastard who stole it and kill him!