540s vs 470s

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Author Message Fburke73 Username: Fburke73 Registered: 08-2005 Posted on Wednesday, August 24, 2005 - 10:45 pm:    What is the difference between the 470s and the 540s? (saber) I owned a 540s and I sold it (regrettably) about 6 years ago. Now I have the itch and miss my ax. I’m looking to buy another one but my local store has a 470s available and it looks very similar. I haven’t played in a while so I forget the specifics. They also had a 540 with 3 switches my original one had a 5 way is there pro’s can cons of the 3 switches vs. the one 5 way? What ever happened to this series of guitars? In looking for information on the web I feel like I’m looking for a relic out of the 80’s isn’t much out there on this model. Thanks Johns Username: Johns Registered: 02-2001 Posted on Thursday, August 25, 2005 - 9:53 pm:    Fburke73: Here's some URLs to the 1991 catalog that shows some of the various S540 models and their specs: http://www.ibanezrules.com/catalogs/us/1991/s.jpg http://www.ibanezrules.com/catalogs/us/1991/s_2.jpg The pickups look to be SSH (except for the S540SLTD which is HSH) with a mahogany body and a high end Lo-Pro Edge trem. Does anyone know if these were made in Japan? What year S470 are you looking at? For quite a few years the pickups have been HSH configuration and low(er) end Lo TRS II tremolo. The bodies are all mahogany. The 2005 "S" models all have the new ZR trems which I haven't heard anyone complain about. The last year the two were offered in the same catalog was 1998. Here's the URLs to both pages of the catalog showing the S series and specs: http://www.ibanezrules.com/catalogs/us/1998/98016.jpg http://www.ibanezrules.com/catalogs/us/1998/98017.jpg Personally, I think '97 and '98 were great years for both of these guitars. If I could back in time, I'd take the S2540NT. Funkle Username: Funkle Registered: 12-2001 Posted on Friday, August 26, 2005 - 12:41 am:    FBurke73, to add to John's info: They are both part of the popular S series, which is still in production, and very popular today. In '93 they moved the 'S' to the front of the model number: S470, S540. The 540 was a more upscale model. The major differences were in finish and hardware, as you can see in John's links. Both were well made Japanese instruments. The 3 toggle switches are found on the earliest examples, before they were replaced with the easier to use 5-way switch. The toggles may have a slight edge in versatility, but they are fussy to use. The earliest models seemed to be extremely thin and light. Somewhere around '96, they switched production of the 470 to Korea. The higher end 'Prestige' models of the late '90s and 2000+ are made in Japan, and are quite nice. Whether you opt for the svelte 80s models, the thoroughbred mid '90s models, or luxurious Prestige, you'll get a great guitar. The S variants are worth checking out as well if you don't want a Floyd style bridge. I'm a big fan of the SC, SA and SV series. -Sven Mr_roadstar Username: Mr_roadstar Registered: 06-2002 Posted on Friday, August 26, 2005 - 2:21 pm:    The 470S (which became the SF470) is a unique model in the "S" (saber) series. In addition to the hardtail bridge, it has a 24 3/4" scale and a Viper neck. These features are not found on any other "S" model. An S470 and a 470S are two very different guitars. Steve Fburke73 Username: Fburke73 Registered: 08-2005 Posted on Friday, August 26, 2005 - 9:19 pm:    Wow my bad. I didn’t realize the S series was still in production. In doing internet searches I just get either postings about them or an ad from the 80’s describing the features. I do get a bit confused on all the models and start second guessing myself. I have been out of it for a while and just looking to buy back the one guitar I loved (The person I sold it too still has it and won’t sell it back..lol).}} Should I look for older models? To compare with the 540s ltd that I had or would I be able to find a newer one similar. How are they priced? I have seen a few on eBay go for around $300 to $450 depending on the condition which isn’t bad considering I paid over $900 for the one I had and sold it for $500. Johns Username: Johns Registered: 02-2001 Posted on Friday, August 26, 2005 - 11:49 pm:    Fburke73: I don't think there is a right answer to your questions. Sounds like you have experience with the S540LTD which is one of the highest end Sabers you could get in the late 80s. But they improved the 540S in the 90s and even added maple top/mahogany bodied models. Take a look at these pages from the '97 and '98 catalogs. Great Ss! http://www.ibanezrules.com/catalogs/us/1997/97010.jpg http://www.ibanezrules.com/catalogs/us/1997/97011.jpg http://www.ibanezrules.com/catalogs/us/1998/98017.jpg Also, have you ever heard of the FGM400? It was the top-of-the-line Frank Gambale model, based on the S series. Very cool and rare. Check it out: http://www.ibanezrules.com/catalogs/us/1998/98019.jpg There were FGM200s and FGM300s that were variants of the S540 (one even had sharktooth inlays) Any modern S with a Prestige neck will probably blow you away. There are so many Ss to chose from. I started looking for a '94 S540FM or S540BM, almost got sidetracked by 2004 S1625B (sorry JeffS), finally stumbled onto a '97 S3040BS J-Custom which I absolutely LOVE! Funkle Username: Funkle Registered: 12-2001 Posted on Saturday, August 27, 2005 - 10:59 am:    "An S470 and a 470S are two very different guitars. Steve" Thanks for catching that Steve! I don't know why I said that. And I actually owned a 470S, which I regretfully sold for too little. It would have been the 440S which became the S470 in '93. And the fixed bridge 470S became the SF470. -Sven Mr_roadstar Username: Mr_roadstar Registered: 06-2002 Posted on Saturday, August 27, 2005 - 8:06 pm:    Sven, Do you still have the Blue 470S? Steve Mr_roadstar Username: Mr_roadstar Registered: 06-2002 Posted on Saturday, August 27, 2005 - 8:08 pm:    Nevermind! I read the post wrong. Steve Johns Username: Johns Registered: 02-2001 Posted on Monday, August 29, 2005 - 9:45 pm:    Guys: Are these the SF470 and SV470 you are talking about? http://www.ibanezrules.com/catalogs/us/1993/s_2.jpg http://www.ibanezrules.com/catalogs/us/1994/94029.jpg Funkle Username: Funkle Registered: 12-2001 Posted on Monday, August 29, 2005 - 11:58 pm:    Yes John, those are the ones. Steve, you still have the green machine? -Sven Funkle Username: Funkle Registered: 12-2001 Posted on Thursday, September 01, 2005 - 10:10 pm:    Here is a 470S on ebay http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7347751926 Completely mislabeled (he calls it an S470 in one place and an S240 in another. Almost all the specs are wrong), and way overpriced for the condition it's in. Gotta love the experts at Guitar Center. -Sven Johns Username: Johns Registered: 02-2001 Posted on Thursday, September 01, 2005 - 11:22 pm:    Funkle: If these guitars were only available in '93 and '94 how's come this one from GC has a serial number like F156236? That would be a '91. Should be F3xxxxx or F4xxxxx, no? Also, the "F" would mean these are Japanese, not Korean. Correct? Looks like someone used this as a club! Funkle Username: Funkle Registered: 12-2001 Posted on Friday, September 02, 2005 - 12:36 am:    Yeah, it's too bad. It would make such a nice sibling for my red SV470TR. It's definitely a MIJ 470S, because it doesn't have an AANJ. I think it's one of these http://www.ibanezrules.com/catalogs/us/1992/s.jpg It is very common to see a production date a year before the catalog date, so I'd say it was produced in '91, and is a 470STR as shown in the '92 catalog. Johns Username: Johns Registered: 02-2001 Posted on Friday, September 02, 2005 - 9:58 am:    Funkle: You are right about the SF470 being in the 1992 catalog. I thought I had checked that one but must've missed it. A late '91 serial number does make sense. Mr_roadstar Username: Mr_roadstar Registered: 06-2002 Posted on Friday, September 02, 2005 - 7:45 pm:    Hey! That one is just down the road from my house. I'll have to check it out. It's a good excuse to go harass the competition too... Steve

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