Trying to find some info on this 1989 540S LPF (Low Profile)

[cudacrazy72]

Hi Everyone,

This is my first post on this forum.  I hope someone here might be able to shed some light on this guitar. 

Earlier this year I purchased a 1989 540S LPF from a gentleman at work.  He lived in Japan from 1988 to 1992. He purchased this guitar for Ishibashi Music in Tokyo.  He also gave me all the original documentation and a 1990 Japanese Ibanez Proline catalog.  95% of the catalog is in Japanese but there is some descriptions in English.  It appears that there were 4 different models of the 540S. They had the 540s LPF, standard 540S,  540S-TN(double neck), and 540S-CT6. 

On page 23 in the catalog in big letters it Say's Frank Gambale and and the rest is in Japanese. it list the Specification for the 540S LPF Model

• Mahogany body
• Low Setting tremolo & Low Profile cavity
• 1 Piece Maple neck
• Rosewood fingerboard
• Ibanez Edge & Toplok III tremolo system
• Cosmo Black hardware
• IBZ/USA F1, F2 & C2 pickups
• Automatic Duo-Sound wiring
• 1 Volume & Tone control

Was the 1989 540S LPF the guitar that the FGM was model after? Was this a Japanese only model? I tried to do some research from the internet, but I have not found anything.   

Any information this guitar would be appreciated.
Regards,
Cudacrazy72

Here are some pictures.

[peterdryan]

Cudacrazy72 -

I couldn't find any mention of a 540S LPF model in the western catalogs.

Visually, however, your guitar looks like a dead ringer (to me) for the 1989 540S LTD model.

http://s93105080.onlinehome.us/Ibanez-Catalogs/catalog/1989/06.jpg

If you look in this 1990 catalog, you'll see Frank Gambale actually posed holding an LTD:

http://s93105080.onlinehome.us/Ibanez-Catalogs/catalog/1990/07.jpg

And in this 1991 catalog, the FGM100 model is introduced stating:

The new Frank Gambale signature model, the FGM100 is part of the '91 Ibanez line. Frank chose the 3 dimensional shaped 540S as its base model. The FGM100 distinguishes itself...yada yada yada

http://s93105080.onlinehome.us/Ibanez-Catalogs/catalog/1991add/20.jpg

Hope this helps.

[cudacrazy72]

Thanks Pete,

Ya I seen the Western Catalogs and none of them have the 540S LPS listed in them.  Some of the differences between the 540S LPF and 540S LTD are.

The 540S LPF has recessed tremolo and pickup and it also has the matching headstock like the FGM's. The 540S LTD did not have recessed tremolo and pickups and the had black headstocks. If I remember correctly 1989 was the first year for the "S" series as we know it.  I will try to copy the Japanese catalog and post it tomorrow.

[aliensporebomb]

That's a real beauty too - I love the matching headstock/body color. 

I like the little "stage magic" paraphernalia that came with it too.  Nice!