2005 S2075 Log Out | Topics | Search
Moderators | Edit Profile

Ibanez Collectors World » Cool Contemporary Electrics (1980s and Later) » 2005 S2075 « Previous Next »

Author Message
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Michaelkaufman
Username: Michaelkaufman

Registered: 11-2002
Posted on Saturday, October 15, 2005 - 10:01 am:   

I know it's made in Korea... Can anyone compare it vs. the SA2020 or SZ2020? They all have a Prestige neck. The S2075 has H-S-H pickup configurations and the others are H-H.

Does anyone own any of these?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Funkle
Username: Funkle

Registered: 12-2001
Posted on Sunday, October 16, 2005 - 1:17 am:   

It's really apples and oranges. They all have different neck profiles, different bridge types and different bodies. Although you may not be able to find these specific guitars, your local guitar store should have lower versions of these models, so you could get a feel for how different these guitars are.

-Sven
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Michaelkaufman
Username: Michaelkaufman

Registered: 11-2002
Posted on Sunday, October 16, 2005 - 6:35 pm:   

I've been fortunate to check out a whole bunch of Prestiges and a Jem. I'm very close to pulling the trigger on the S2075. I like the middle single coil pickup and the Prestige neck is real nice. I guess that very few of these have been sold?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Johns
Username: Johns

Registered: 02-2001
Posted on Monday, October 17, 2005 - 12:30 am:   

I haven't played or even seen an S2075. But I have been fascinated by it ever since seeing a picture of it. Please tell us all about it.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Michaelkaufman
Username: Michaelkaufman

Registered: 11-2002
Posted on Saturday, October 22, 2005 - 1:16 pm:   

OK folks: Recently, I walked into Sam Ash and they had about 5 Prestiges. I was shocked as they typically don't carry higher-ended Ibanez guitars in stock. After trying them all out, I decided to purchase the S2075FWHS. It was the only Prestige with a H-S-H configuration. All of the others are H-H. The neck is fabulous and I really like the 25.5" scale length. After playing Artists with 24.75" scale lengths for so many years, chords played at the high end of the neck on the Prestige are easier to play and clearer sounding.

All-in-all, these guitars are very different from my Artists. They are extremely light and that's putting in mildly. I can practically lift this guitar with my pinky. The combination of the Prestige neck and the light guage strings that came with the guitar make it very easy & fun to play. Sound-wise, it's certainly closer to a Strat than a Les Paul. It didn't take me long to adapt.

I used the new guitar at my gig in Manhattan last night. I has a blast. I mostly played straight single coil. It was very strat-like and I've been looking for that sound for a while. At times I used the neck humbucker and even though it was not as thick and warm as the Artist, it still worked.

In terms of my style of playing (rock - lead & rhythm), I found that my sound stood out more with my Prestige. All of my bandmates noticed the difference and were very complimentary. All-in-all, I'm a happy camper.

Here's the Ibanez link to the S2075:
http://ibanez.com/guitars/guitar.asp?model=S2075FW

FYI...the 'S' Prestige guitars, as opposed to the 'SA' & 'SZ', don't come with a case. This caused confusion at Sam Ash. I was able to find this guitar for less, including a case and no sales tax. Sam Ash matched the price, including lowering it to cover the sales tax. Overall, they sold it to me for $200 less than their already discounted price, and it included the case! It pays to do your homework...

By the way, besides this guitar, I highly recommend checking out the Steve Via Jem 7VWH and possibly others. It also has a H-S-H configuration and has IMO, the nicest feeling Pretige neck I've tried. It's a thin nick and I have small hands. It may not be for everyone, however, I would check it out. This Jem is almost three times the cost of the S2075, however, I liked it very much. Oh, by the way, it comes with a vine inlay!!

Here's the Jem link:
http://ibanez.com/guitars/guitar.asp?model=JEM7V

So many guitars...so little time...
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Funkle
Username: Funkle

Registered: 12-2001
Posted on Sunday, October 23, 2005 - 8:39 pm:   

I was down in LA over the weekend, and also went to Sam Ash, and tried all the new MIK Prestiges. They were all nice, but I'd have to say not as well finished as the MIJ Prestiges. The SA2020 was nice, but didn't offer anything I couldn't get from my current guitars. The SZ was a screamer! Very bright and raunchy. The favorite of the bunch was actually the S2075. Not as meticulously finished as a MIJ or J Custom, but good looking, and a very friendly, easy guitar to play. The neck felt as good, maybe better than my S1520 Prestige. Plus it was much lighter, and had better tone.

The nicest guitars I played were actually at the Carvin store. What wonderful necks they have! My favorite guitar was the HF2 Holdsworth - the resonance of this guitar was amazing, and completely unlike any other guitar I've played.

-Sven
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Michaelkaufman
Username: Michaelkaufman

Registered: 11-2002
Posted on Tuesday, November 08, 2005 - 5:10 pm:   

The middle (single coil) pickup on my S2075 produces a significant amount of noise (hum). What would you recommend?

mk
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Michaelkaufman
Username: Michaelkaufman

Registered: 11-2002
Posted on Tuesday, November 08, 2005 - 5:49 pm:   

I was given another S2075 as a replacement, however, it had the same hum in addition to other issues. The pickups just didn't seem to put out as much as with the original guitar. Regarding the him, Ibanez thought about it for 60 seconds and then claimed that it was normal. The tech at Sam Ash didn't think so.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Michaelkaufman
Username: Michaelkaufman

Registered: 11-2002
Posted on Tuesday, November 08, 2005 - 5:50 pm:   

Meant to say "regarding the hum"
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Funkle
Username: Funkle

Registered: 12-2001
Posted on Wednesday, November 09, 2005 - 11:38 am:   

Ah, the bane of the single coil pickup! Welcome to H-S-H land. This has bothered me greatly, and I may have some solutions for you. I believe your S2075 has a DiMarzio/IBZ single coil pickup. Most of my complaints have been directed toward the Ibanez S1, probably a very similar pickup. On it's own, it's a great sounding single coil pickup. But it buzzes like a swarm of bees. When it mixes with a coil from either humbucker, it cancels hum nicely. A second problem which your Dimarzio/IBZ may or may not have is an excessively strong magnetic field like the S1. This actually creates enough magnetic pull that it affects the vibration of the string, messing with intonation and tone. If you raise the single coil close to the strings, does the sound get garbled and warbally? and then it cleans up as you lower it?

My solution to both problems is installing a hum canceling pickup with low magnetic pull. These usually use an Alnico 2 or 3 magnet, which has the added benefit of being more musical than ceramic. Either a stacked or twin-blade style will work. I have been experimenting with both designs. Do you want a fairly legitimate strat sound from the middle PU or an other type of sound? The stacks come closest to the real thing, while a twin blade is usually fuller, but come in a variety of flavors.

It is possible to wire most stacked PUs so that in position 2 and 4, the lower coil is bypassed, and the PU still cancels hum when mixed with the outer coil of either humbucker, pretty slick, eh? I have DiMarzio Virtual Vintage 2.2s in my SA1260, and Kinman AVN Traditional MkIIs in my Starfield, and I can say the Kinmans kick butt. Most of the hype on his site is true, although they do not sound exactly like a genuine vintage strat PU. He has several different varieties, all based on the classic strat sounds. I will be pulling the DiMarzios in my SA in favor of Kinmans.

You can use a twin blade if you're OK with a fuller, less characteristic tone, AND positions 2 and 4 aren't as important to you. A blade design will not mix as well with the outside coil of a humbucker - you'll get some hum, and much less quack (you can forget about getting a convincing "reelin in the years" tone), but for standalone use it has it's applications.

Let me know if you want any specific recommendations. I have tried all the DiMarzio blade designs in addition to the stacks I mentioned.

-Sven
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Michaelkaufman
Username: Michaelkaufman

Registered: 11-2002
Posted on Wednesday, November 09, 2005 - 11:58 am:   

I have hum in positions 2, 3 & 4. In position 4 (2nd from the bottom), I get a very nice authentic strat quack, which I love. I definitely don't want to lose it. The tech was surprise at the buzz in positions 2 & 4 due to the single coil being combined with the double. He was not surprised about the middle position hum. It's all quite annoying. I play with a guy who has an Eric Claption strat (S-S-S) and he never hums.

Yes, the guitar has 3 IBZ/Dimarzio pickups. Except for the 4th position, I'm not excited about any of the pickup sounds, therefore, I'm open to swapping out the pickups, as long as I can still get the strat sound. The S2075 is H-S-H. I assume a 'stacked' pup would fit in the middle position?

I'm not sure if I can do this, however, can the humbuckers give me something similar to the older Ibanez Super 58's or V2 and the single give me the strat quack? Maybe two PAF type doubles w/ a P90? in the middle? I assume matching pickup output (strength) is important.

tnx,
mk
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Funkle
Username: Funkle

Registered: 12-2001
Posted on Wednesday, November 09, 2005 - 12:34 pm:   

Mike, even if you put V2s in your guitar, it won't sound like an AR etc. because it has a spaghetti thin neck, body and double locking hardware. They are inherently bright. Super 58s and other PAF style PUs are actually on the bright side, and they'll just bring out the thin, edgy qualities of your guitar. This is why I have gone to the more traditional S variants like the SA and SC -the tone is every bit as good as my AR. Anyway.. I'd try the SD SH-11 Custom Custom in the bridge. It is very mellow tone wise, and will take the edge off while still providing good drive and output. It reminds me very much of those '70s "good time rock" bands. You may want to think about DiMarzio Air Zone or Tone Zone - these were designed specifically to tame the bright qualities of this type of guitar - Tone Zone is a heavy duty PU though!

Matching output is important, but you're never going to get it perfect - you can fine tune it by adjusting the height of the middle PU. Based on what you've said, I think a Kinman AVn 56 in the middle would be the ticket, but I recommend reading Chris's descriptions and listening to his sound samples.

http://www.kinman.com/

Add Your Message Here
Post:
Bold text Italics Underline Create a hyperlink Insert a clipart image

Username: Posting Information:
This is a private posting area. Only registered users and moderators may post messages here.
Password:
Options: Enable HTML code in message
Automatically activate URLs in message
Action:


Thank you for supporting Ibanez Collectors Forum. Please help your favorite Ibanez guitar site as we endeavor to bring you the latest information about Ibanez custom vintage electric and acoustic guitars. Here you can discuss ibanez, guitars, basses, acoustics, acoustic, mandolins, electric guitar, electric bass, amplifiers, effect pedals, tuners, picks, pickups.