Ibanez SC420

My baby was purchased through a musicain's network, used, for $400 even.

This is a hard rock guitar, no qualms about it. The five way selector switch is great, but when you flip it down, stomp on a distortion or metal pedal (might I recommend running it through an SM7?), you'll get the hard rock bite you're looking for. I've been playing mine for four years now. It's the older SC420 in black with a mahogony line around it and amber tuning pegs. I find it works best for rhythm work, but if you're about riffing and rocking, it gives you a clean, articulate, and piercing Ibanez rock bite.

I find that the gain of the guitar can be a bit lacking on occasion, but I believe that's more due to age and the need of new/resprung pickups than anything else. On my particular guitar, the 19th fret on the B string is dead, sounding a half-step lower than it should, but I've only experienced that on my guitar, never any other SC420s I've played (I've played two others). I also don't like that I know that John Petrucci played this guitar once, because it makes me realize the guitar will never sound that good again, because I suck, and he's great.

Rock solid. It's been dropped twice and didn't even go out of tune. The neck is thin but REALLY durable. After several years of abuse (like I said, I play heavy rock!), the only marking on it is on the back where a belt buckle of mine scratched it a few times. Otherwise, it's awesome.

I love my baby. If you're looking for something that's going to cut through and give you a solid rock sound, you can't go wrong with the SC420. I applaud Ibanez for making such a great axe.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I purchased this guitar at GuitarTrader.com and couldn't be more satisfied. I bought it based on the look at first

the action is great and the tone is awsome. Ibanez has done a great job of desiging a guitar to rival schekters models and also the ESP's H series. I really like the way the v1 and the v2 Pickups sound. and the five way pick-up switch lets me get even more tone out of it.

If I could change one thing is that I would make a model that comes with a single coil center. and I would also provide a 7-string model

the construction is set up similar the the H-202 with two hums (bridge and Neck) and has five positions. (all of which you can see at the wwebsite) it provides a great vintige jazz/blues sound but is also great for beyond heavy distortion.

I'm 19 and have owned four guitars including jacksons, fenders, and gibson, and I have to say this beats them all!!!

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

This is a Japanese made PRS knockoff. It has a 25" scale, 22 frets, dot inlays, and a wrap around bridge.

The bridge is awesome because even though its a wrap around it still features adjustable saddles, so you can intonate it in whatever tuning you like.

Has master tone and volume controls as well as a 5 way selector switch. I can't comment on the function of the 5 way switch because I got mine used with aftermarket pickups and the switch had been wired weird, so I replaced it with a 3 way switch. The stock potentiometers are really high quality.

The body has the typical s contours so its really light and still sounds awesome.

A random feature I really like is the minimalistic routing they did for the controls. They took out as little wood as possible, which is great for the guitar's resonance in my opinion.

The neck is the best part of this guitar. Its thin without being super thin, and its not the typical flat Ibanez neck. Its a really nice c contour with medium frets. It also has a satin finish on it so it doesn't get sticky.

UTILIZATION

The upper fret access is very nice, just like a typical s series guitar.

This guitar is very light but still balanced, at least mine was.

All the hardware and electronics were surprisingly high quality, MIJ quality is great.

SOUNDS

I can't comment on the quality of the stock pickups, I got my SC420 used and it had Seymour Duncans in it. They sounded pretty good, but they're far from my favorite SD pickups. I know this guitar would sound awesome with good pickups, as it sounded pretty good with a set I normally hate.

OVERALL OPINION

These guitars aren't manufactured anymore but they can be found used for a steal. I got mine for $250, which is an absurd price for this quality a guitar.

The more classic features like a c shaped neck, medium frets, and mid gain pickups might turn off the typical Ibanez users but if you're looking for a classy, high quality, great sounding guitar for cheap, look no further. The Ibanez SC420 fits the bill.