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1st generation SZ vs 2nd generation SZ Options
ginochan
Posted: Monday, November 02, 2009 6:36:59 PM
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Joined: 2/26/2008
Posts: 7
Location: california
hi. someone's selling me an SZ520qm with the duncan/ibanez pickups. did anything
else change besides the pickups from the earlier models to the newer ones?
also, the neck on the SZ520 did not feel as thin as the neck on my 1st gen sz720,
i may be wrong though. is there a consensus on which version of the sz is better?

thanks

ibanez sz720fm trans gray
peavey bandit 65
ibnzdad
Posted: Monday, November 02, 2009 8:48:24 PM

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Location: United States
SZ neck dimensions from 2003 to 2007 all the same on SZ models.

2003 to 2005 SZ1 and SZ2 pickups, 2006 and 2007 Duncan/Ibanez except
SZ Prestige which had the Seymour Duncan IBZ pickups.

2003 to 2005 single tribal flame inlay on the 12th fret for the SZ520,
multiple tribal flame inlay on the SZ720. 2007 wing inlays on the SZ520,
tribal flame inlays (squid) on SZ720

2007 catalog did not list transparent green as a color choice for the SZ520
but it was available.
Tracy Dae
Posted: Monday, November 02, 2009 9:14:26 PM

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ginochan wrote:
...is there a consensus on which version of the sz is better?


I don't think so. I personally like the first generation better. I had a second generation SZ for a short while, but I like my older SZ better so I sold the newer one... I will never part with my beautiful gloss black first generation SZ320. I like the pickups in the first generation SZ's a lot better than the IBZ/SD pickups the second generation SZ's came with... The version of the SZ520's with the heartbeat inlays were the most beautiful in my opinion though. I totally loved those heartbeat inlays.



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ibnzdad
Posted: Monday, November 02, 2009 10:18:02 PM

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The heartbeat inlays are the best but were on the European model.
There was actually one on U.S. ebay this past summer but had to
pass on it.
ginochan
Posted: Tuesday, November 03, 2009 5:48:25 PM
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Location: california
rustyohus, what specific qualities of the sz1/sz2 pickups made you prefer them over the duncan/ibanez pickups? what genre of music do you usually play on your sz's?

i like the hearbeat and the wing inlays too, i just wish they had the wing inlays on a flame top instead of quilt over here in the states.

ibanez sz720fm trans gray
peavey bandit 65
Tracy Dae
Posted: Tuesday, November 03, 2009 10:17:32 PM

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ginochan wrote:
what specific qualities of the sz1/sz2 pickups made you prefer them over the duncan/ibanez pickups?


I am totally terrible at describing tone. So much so that I don't even try anymore. I just like the way the SZ1/SZ2's sound better than the IBZ/SD's did. There is a specific "growl" to them that I really like - and I like it a lot.



ginochan wrote:
what genre of music do you usually play on your sz's?


I currently own only one SZ now, that gloss black first generation SZ320 I mentioned. That is the guitar I grab when I am in the moode to play Joe Walsh type stuff... You know; Lifes been good, Funk 49, Walk Away, etc...



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ibanezrg3202004
Posted: Wednesday, November 04, 2009 6:49:46 AM

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rustyohus wrote:


I currently own only one SZ now, that gloss black first generation SZ320 I mentioned. That is the guitar I grab when I am in the moode to play Joe Walsh type stuff... You know; Lifes been good, Funck 49, Walk Away, etc...




Joe WalshClap Clap, Joe is cool...


by the way, glad that someone posted in this forum again.

RG2EX2
RG320
SZ520
LTD MH103QM
Tracy Dae
Posted: Thursday, November 05, 2009 2:52:23 PM

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ibanezrg3202004 wrote:
by the way, glad that someone posted in this forum again.


I think its interesting that we do not read about anyone getting enthusiastic over the SZR's like they did with the SZ's. I wonder if Ibanez realizes how big a mistake they made when they replaced the SZ with the SZR.

Yes, Joe Walsh is very cool... He isn't hooked up right, but he is still very cool.




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Super Distortion
Posted: Thursday, November 05, 2009 6:25:47 PM

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Location: Mexico
Are the first gen ones the ones with the bigger headstock? Or do you consider first gen anything without Duncan IBZ's? Mine came with stock IBZ SZ pickups, but now has EMG's! :D

ginochan
Posted: Thursday, November 05, 2009 6:44:18 PM
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Location: california
i envy the shiny hardware. the hardware on my sz720 looks relic'd now lol how do you keep them so shiny?

ibanez sz720fm trans gray
peavey bandit 65
Super Distortion
Posted: Thursday, November 05, 2009 10:29:53 PM

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I don't really know, lol. I think 90% of it has to do with picking a good angles for my photos where the wear doesn't show.

The pup rings are pretty crappy right now. I scratched them a lot accidentally while installing the EMG's, plus the bridge one is a bit tarnished from my sweat. The bridge also shows some tiny bits of tarnish/cloudiness, but not so much because my right hand never really touches the bridge when I'm playing.

I do whipe the guitar pretty often, tho.
MaxOfMetal
Posted: Thursday, November 05, 2009 10:32:21 PM

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ginochan wrote:
i envy the shiny hardware. the hardware on my sz720 looks relic'd now lol how do you keep them so shiny?


Clean your hands before you play, and your guitar after.

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lp_dude_2
Posted: Friday, November 06, 2009 12:36:07 AM

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i own two first gen SZ's and love them, the SZ320 with the maple top, and a SZ520 in blue. unfourtnally cause of money problems im forced to sell a few of my guitars and the SZ320 is one of them. it just never gets played, i always pick my blue 520 up first

GRX120
GSA60
RG2EX1
RG7321
RGA121
RGA42
S470
SA160
SR305
SZ320-selling if anyones interested $250 (hardshell case, grover locking tuners, orginal SZ pups, first generation model with maple top)
SZ520
TS9
V10

Ibanez player since 2001
crossbones
Posted: Friday, November 06, 2009 7:03:59 AM

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Did the later models without the binding have no maple cap?

Thats quite a big change IMHO.

Ibanez Gear:- RG270, SZ320, S520EX, DTX120 Destroyer, 1979 Artist 2618.
Check out my Guitar Blog
lp_dude_2
Posted: Friday, November 06, 2009 8:21:04 PM

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yep. when they switched to the Ibanez/duncan pups they also did away with the maple top. you can always tell by the nut. the old ones came with a white one, and the newer ones came with a black one

GRX120
GSA60
RG2EX1
RG7321
RGA121
RGA42
S470
SA160
SR305
SZ320-selling if anyones interested $250 (hardshell case, grover locking tuners, orginal SZ pups, first generation model with maple top)
SZ520
TS9
V10

Ibanez player since 2001
Tracy Dae
Posted: Saturday, November 07, 2009 10:27:54 AM

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Joined: 5/18/2006
Posts: -7
Location: United States
Super Distortion wrote:
Are the first gen ones the ones with the bigger headstock? Or do you consider first gen anything without Duncan IBZ's?


"First Generation" refers to the first batch that were made before any any changes were applied. Its kind of self explanitory. You can use your serial number to figure it out - if your SZ320 is an '02 or an '03 it is certainly a first generation SZ. If it is an '04, it might be a first generation SZ. If it is '05 or later, it is absolutely not a first generation SZ... As another member pointed out, if you can't tell from the serial number, the nut may also be a clue - if it has the original nut.



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Super Distortion
Posted: Thursday, November 12, 2009 11:10:28 PM

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Location: Mexico
Tracy Dae wrote:
Super Distortion wrote:
Are the first gen ones the ones with the bigger headstock? Or do you consider first gen anything without Duncan IBZ's?


"First Generation" refers to the first batch that were made before any any changes were applied. Its kind of self explanitory. You can use your serial number to figure it out - if your SZ320 is an '02 or an '03 it is certainly a first generation SZ. If it is an '04, it might be a first generation SZ. If it is '05 or later, it is absolutely not a first generation SZ... As another member pointed out, if you can't tell from the serial number, the nut may also be a clue - if it has the original nut.


Mine is an '03, but I ask because I've seen some of the first ones have a slightly different, wider headstock shape than mine. Were there any differences between those and mine other than the headstock shape?
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