Product: Ibanez 540P Roadstar Pro Radius
Price Paid: US $810
Submitted
02/19/2002
at
08:44am
by
Ben
Features
:
9
Jewel Blue Basswood Body made in Japan in 1989. Is the precursor to the Joe Satriani model. Has the same shape with a S-S-H configuration. IBZ USA pickups with Floyd Rose tremolo. 5 way selector with 22 fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays and med/jumbo frets.
Sound
:
10
This is a very versatile instrument. You can get a very musical sound of of the pickups and the basswood body really sustains wonderfully. The pickups are very powerful but also sound very musical. You can get anything from your vintage strat sound to a very bright lead tone. I have compared the sound to a USA strat and a G&L Legacy. The strat sounds very generic and thin while the G&L sounds very acoustic and possesses that punchy strat sound. The Ibanez does not possess that acoustic sound but it is just a lot more versatile in my opinion and can get that strat tone and a more modern vibe as well. Very good for rythm or lead work but would not recommend for Jazz. I am sure that they did not make this guitar with Jazz in mind in the first place but figure it is worth noting.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
10
Guitar is made perfectly. No room in the neck/body joint. The frets are flawless and the maple on the neck is figure with a very dark rosewood fingerboard.
Every bit as nice as the Satriani model & I don't understand why the resale on this guitar is not higher. I have compared both head to head and based on your pickup config. preference and neck preference you could go either way. The nice Satrianis are made in Japan as is this guitar.
Reliability/Durability
:
8
Very durable however the switch they used on this guitar is not the greatest. I might have to replace that soon but that it is 13 years old so what can you do. Never had a problem and played the heck out of this thing.
Customer Support
:
10
Contacted them to ask about this guitar. Very informative since the neck plate says Bensalem, PA. Well I thougt is was made in the USA but Ibanez corrected me saying it was made in Japan and the exchange was in PA, hence the plate reference.
Overall Rating
:
9
Overall rating is a 9. I can't get rid of this guitar even though looks wise it kind of fits into that Heavy Metal vein. I have had plenty of electric guitars and currently own a G&L ASAT Classic, ASAT III, Ibanez AS200, and the Ibanez Radius, but I can't seem to sell this one. The sound and playability are just so nice for so many types of music.
I play the ASAT Classic and Ibanez AS200 for Jazz.
If this guitar were lost or stolen I would be very, very upset. I have bonded with this and would look for a new one but they are hard to find.
