SA220FM Review

22 medium frets, thin and fast 25.5 scale SA maple 3 pc neck. Mahogany Strat style body with a flamed maple top. Floating SAT30S tremolo bridge. IBZ AH3 humbucking neck pickup and IBZ AH4 humbucking bridge pickup.

Features:	8.3
Sound:	9
Action:	9.5
Reliability:	9.3
Impression:	9.3
Overall rating:	9.1
Users rating:	7.7
Comments:	32

overall: 8.6

Featured review by: shrediquette, on december 12, 2006

Purchased from: L.A. Music

Features:
- 2005, made in Korea.
- 22 medium frets, thin and fast 25.5 scale SA maple 3 pc neck.
- Mahogany Strat style body with a flamed maple top.
- Floating SAT30S tremolo bridge (probably the worst aspect of this guitar's features, it tends to go out of tune easily when you use the whammy bar).
- IBZ AH3 humbucking neck pickup and IBZ AH4 humbucking bridge pickup (not top of the line Ibanez but still solid).
- 5-way pickup selector.
- Standard Ibanez tuners. // 8

Sound: I'm mostly into metal (Lamb Of God, In Flames, Between The Buried And Me, As I Lay Dying, the Black Dahlia Murder) right now and my SA can get really good tone despite the fact that it's a fairly thin guitar. At the moment I use it mostly with my Vox AD15VT, which really allows me to experience the versatility of the SA220. It sound fantastic with the heavy distortion and pretty good in terms of bluesy clean sounds as well. Although it does have a 5-way pickup selector I usually only use 2 or 3 of the options. The bridge pickup is the only way to go with overdrive, anything else just sounds muddy. For cleans I use the neck pickup as well the parallel selection (the neck pickup is parallel connected), you get a pretty bright twang. Sometimes I play around with another option where both humbucks are supposed to act as single coils. The middle selection with both pickups is pretty brutal though, muddy and not really useful for anything. Overall you can get a lot of different great sounds out this guitar. // 9

Action, Fit & Finish: The guitar came to me nicely set-up. Nice low action and virtually no string buzz. The pickups were adjusted perfectly. There were no flaws when I bought the guitar, although I don't really like the little cap on the pickup selector, it can come off easily which would be bad news in a gig. // 9

Reliability & Durability: I personally have never played a Live show but I have No Doubt in my mind that this guitar could take it. There are only two aspects of this guitar that might worry me a bit in the Live setting. The maple top of the SA seems somewhat fragile, I’ve but I small ding in it and when that happened I didn’t really hit it too hard. If you were playing Live and accidentally hit something with the guitar it might chip easily. The other thing is that the strap buttons are pretty slick, I've had my strap slip off the button before but luckily I had a good grip on the neck. I'd advise getting strap-locks before playing Live with this guitar. Other than that the strap buttons are solid, the hardware is solid and I think you could depend on the SA in a gig without a backup. It doesn't seem likely that the finish will wear off at all, but it might chip like I said. // 8

Impression: Overall this is a solid metal axe, and versatile. I've been playing guitar for exactly three years and this is my third guitar. The SA220 has actually been discontinued so you probably wont find too many more in stores. It was definitely the best guitar around in it's price range. I was comparing this guitar to other's that were hundred more in price and the SA beat them out without a doubt. The SA if an extremely comfortable feeling guitar. It's light, looks good and sound great. If this guitar were stolen I would probably spend the extra cash and go for an upgrade, perhaps an Ibanez Prestige S? I hear they're incredible. // 9

overall: 9

Reviewed by: Sasms, on october 09, 2008

Price paid: A$ 800

Purchased from: Holden Hill Music Store

Features: My SA220FM was made in Indonesia (as it says on the back of it's headstock), it has 22 frets with a very fast neck. It has a mahogany body with a maple flamed top. It has a SAT30S tremelo bridge and has two pick-ups: for the neck, it has an IBZ AH3 humbucker and for the bridge, it has an IBZ AH4 humbucker. It has one volume nob, one tone nob and a 5-way pick-up selector. The fingerboard is rosewood and the frets have pearl Dot inlays. // 9

Sound: I mainly play metal and although this guitar isn't really big and you wouldn't expect it to have a chunky metal sound, it actually does fairly well when I plug it into my Marshall MG50. I can get a really good distorted sound out of it depite the fact that it is so thin an light. I find it brillient for playing solos because of it's thin, fast neck when eaily allows my hand to slide up and down the neck. On the clean channel, it has a nice bright sound in the Treble notes but when I play some Bass notes, it drowns out all the treble notes and it sounds very unclear. Although I mainly play metal, I play a bit of blues and Jazz, and it turns out really clearly and you can really define each note you play. // 8

Action, Fit & Finish: When I bought this guitar, it had no scratches and the strings that were on them were really good and I have had to replace them yet even though the guitar is a year old. I feel the qualitly in the strings are still there. The only thing I did not receive was a whammy bar which I later got free from the store because they forgot to put it in. Apart from that everything was how it was supposed to be when I bought it. // 9

Reliability & Durability: This guitar is very durable even though it looks as if it will chip easily, I've smacked my guitar around a fair bit when I get carried away playing and all I've had is a tiny chip on the tip of the headstock and the humbucker coming of it's spring. I have no major or visable scratches even though I've performed with this many times. It's is only a year old and it doing rather well for what it's been through and I expect it to last me a lot longer. From what I've been told, the strap buttons aren't very good for holding on straps but I've got a really tight strap and it has never fallen off once, even when I chucked it into the air and caught it by the strap. // 10

Impression: My style of playing metal, I think it is a great guitar and proberly the best one of it's price range. I've been playing guitar for 5 years now and it is God-like if I compare it to my old Monteray and from playing my freinds guitars, I am really happy that I bought this one because it is a very good and affordable guitar. I love it's maple top flamed finish, it looks brillient in the spot light, the only thing I hate is how easily it goes out of tune when I use the whammy bar. If this was stolen, I'd proberly look around a bit and get a Jackson rr series or an Ibanez rg series, I here they're much like this one. // 9

overall: 9

Reviewed by: useyourillusíon, on may 09, 2007

Purchased from: Mansons Guitars

Features: Only bad thing I can really say is that somehow the bridge pickup fell inside the guitar so I had to put the springs back in place, and also the top strap button came loose so I tried to screw it back in but the screw grooves were completely worn! So I had to get a bigger screw but my screw button is too small for it. Oh another problem, the volume control tends to go a bit stiff when it's nearly at max, and you have to turn it all the way down to 0 until the volume actually changes a lot. // 7

Sound: I mainly play rock (Guns N' Roses, Motley Crue, Velvet Revolver, etc), Metal (Metallica, Pantera, Slayer, Dream Theater), and some bluesy stuff like Jimi Hendrix. I play it through a Marshall MG 250 DFX Combo. On clean it sounds very bright. The bottom strings tend to sound louder and bright than the top 3 (that could depend on how I'm picking though). For metal I would say it plays fairly well, depends what your settings are on the amp. It's not exactly the "ultimate metal guitar", but I'd just say it's pretty versatile for all styles. It's really good for blues and jazz. For that I Switch the pickup selector to the 2nd from right. When I play Dream Theater stuff, I'd say it sounds quite close to John Petrucci's sound on the Scenes From a Memory Album. // 9

Action, Fit & Finish: Everything was completely perfect. Mansons always make sure everything is perfect before selling it. The pickup selecter is quite noisey though, when I change pickups it makes a loud echoey sound (the kinda noise like when you knock on the body of the guitar). Also the volume toggle is quite stiff. // 10

Reliability & Durability: I've had this guitar for 1 year and 7 months and it is still in perfect condition. Like I said before though, my strap buttons came loose and I had to replace them with a larger screw until I can find a strap button that will fit the screw. I would depend on it in at a Live show without a backup, my guitar has never failed me and I play it for a good few hours every day. The finish is really good. I have a small bedroom so I'm always hitting it on walls and stuff and there is no visible/hearable damage on it. Just take care of it (like you should with any guitar). // 10

Impression: I play metal, rock, and some progressive, and a bit of blues. This guitar is very versatile and will suit all your needs. I also own a BC Rich Warlock and a crappy ION Strat copy. The Ibanez SA220FM totally slays them. If it was stolen or lost, I would save up my money and get the upgraded version of it (I think it's out of production now. I chose to buy this guitar because I preferred the shape and feel and weight of it to the other guitars in my range that they had in stock. The other guitars I tried out were a Jackson V guitar and an Ibanez RG something, and an Ibanez SZ320MH. The only thing I don't really like is that the strings feel quite tight, and harder to bend that what it would be on say an RG. I'm also thinking about fitting it with some EMG 81 and 85's seeing as I mainly play metal/heavy rock. // 9

overall: 9.6

Reviewed by: Cofflecakes, on september 14, 2007

Price paid: $ 380

Purchased from: KC's Rock Shop

Features: Fairly simple, but that's the way I like it. Came with Allen keys, a small hex wrench and a nylon strap. // 9

Sound: I mostly play metal & punk, and it sounds amazing. I also used it in school for jazz, blues & funk, and it sounded great there too. Depending on the player, it can get nearly every kind of sound your after. It's not very noisy at all, and 4 of the 5 pickup selections work great. The middle choice sounds a bit muddy. I mostly use it with a Marshall DSL50 head, and 1960AV cabinet. A few of the local bands around here use this guitar, and my friends are always asking to borrow it for their shows. // 10

Action, Fit & Finish: Action was super low, it feels perfect. The pickups were great too. The setup was simply amazing. There was no problems with the wood or any of the hardware. When I got it, the only flaw was the bridge strap button was loose. And buy loose, I mean it held tight, but it spun around when you twisted it. // 10

Reliability & Durability: This guitar has seen about 45 shows since I bought it, although most of them not with me, and it's doing great. All the hardware is still going fine. The finish is still perfect, despite being dropped, thrown around, swung and having beer spilled on it. You can depend on it, but to gig without a backup is just plain stupid. I always have 2 guitars with me, in case I break a string or something else goes wrong. But that all comes down to the musician, not the guitar. // 9

Impression: I play metal, screamo & pop-punk music, and this guitar did great for them all. I've been playing for a few years, and I'm not going to spend an hour listing all my gear. I love the feel, the weight and the look of this guitar. The only thing I don't like is. Well, I love it. For 500AUD, I haven't seen a better deal out there. I compared it with heaps of different guitars, and the only ones in this style that matched or beat it on sound were 3 times it's price. I liked it so much, I bought a 2nd one a week ago, and I'm about to buy a 3rd, to have them set up for my different styles & tuning. // 10

Comments

[schwedengitarre]

Its no metal axe! It goes even better with usual rock and blues, the clean sounds are billiant! Very nice guitar but I prefer the Ibanez SAS32 FMDRS

[CorkHunter]

i got that guitar SAS32FM

it is superb

[TheGuitaristMan]

this guitar is suppose to be awesome

[deathbyungabung]

yeah no Metal axe for sure, I prefer the Ibanez Destroyer

[( o )===#]

Id rather have 24 frets on my RG.

[anthman]

I have this guitar and I love its blues tone, even though it ROCKS ;

[bigsanta33]

it sux i have used it and the pick ups are shit
don't buy it

i have an esp h-202 if u wan a half decent metal guitar try that

[schwedengitarre]

Yeah the SAS 32 is one of my newer guitars and it's worth the (low) price!
The RG is ok it has a super fast neck but its not very versatile because the pus have a hard sound, good for metal but that's all

[the.spine.surfs]

Guys, guys, guys. Who cares if it's overly "good" for metal? A strat sounds "good" enough for metal to most of us with enough pedals and cabs.

[steveoondyou]

the.spine.surfs :
Guys, guys, guys. Who cares if it's overly "good" for metal? A strat sounds "good" enough for metal to most of us with enough pedals and cabs.

no... no it doesn't. A strat is good for.... umm.... is a strat good for anything? Oh, right, STRATS ARE FOR POSERS

[Neon Knight]

Good guitar, unfourtantly the stock pups are horrible.

[sexmeister]

i have this guitar its not bad i like it when u play solos it doesnt sound that bad and when u play riffs and shit it sounds amazing and i would say its worth it for the price all ibanez guitars r pretty good i would have 2 say but thats just me

[Indie Purist]

that thing looks rad. got a jackson king v right now, i'm pretty happy with it

[Miggy01]

yeah steve
sure
cuz the guitarist of Iron Maiden are definetely posers
fag

[br4d]

i played that guitar and was going to buy it but someone else beat me to it im devistated...

their so sexy but the only thing i dont like is the wammy bar style

[Number_7]

Ya ill stick to my Warlock and my Jackson DNK SA thanx

[musicmydrug16]

ibanez guitars are good but i dont like the shape

[Glen'sHeroicAct]

i have that guitar, its pretty good, i don't have enough distortion on my amp for metal, and all i have for pedals is a wah and a fuzz, so i have no idea what its sound for metal would be. im guessing it wouldn't be that great, especially with the stock pups. however, it's real solid, and its extremely comfortable to play. it sounds good on distorted blues stuff, and great on cleans. im probably gonna get new pickups for it, but its a good deal stock. if you saw one, i'd suggest it.

[N_I_N-621]

steveoondyou wrote:

the.spine.surfs :
Guys, guys, guys. Who cares if it's overly "good" for metal? A strat sounds "good" enough for metal to most of us with enough pedals and cabs.
no... no it doesn't. A strat is good for.... umm.... is a strat good for anything? Oh, right, STRATS ARE FOR POSERS

oh, and what uber kvlt metal guitar do you have? a BC rich...?

get bent.

ESP FTW.

[OrdinaryManKJS]

steveoondyou wrote:

the.spine.surfs :
Guys, guys, guys. Who cares if it's overly "good" for metal? A strat sounds "good" enough for metal to most of us with enough pedals and cabs.

no... no it doesn't. A strat is good for.... umm.... is a strat good for anything? Oh, right, STRATS ARE FOR POSERS

oh yeah i forgot Jimi ****in Hendrix was a poser. thanks for reminding me how bad Jimi sucked. a start worked just fine for him.

[OrdinaryManKJS]

*strat

[Fender_For_Life]

strats are good guitar all round. a quality guitar for any genre really. metal guitarists have played a strat shaped guitar before. its really what pickups are in your guitar. EMG are great. what matters most with a guitar is how you like the feel and the sound of the pickups. if u like the feel but not the pickups then buy new ones. its that simple. i dont see why everyone is at each others throats about this.

[breadstick]

steveoondyou wrote:

the.spine.surfs :
Guys, guys, guys. Who cares if it's overly "good" for metal? A strat sounds "good" enough for metal to most of us with enough pedals and cabs.

no... no it doesn't. A strat is good for.... umm.... is a strat good for anything? Oh, right, STRATS ARE FOR POSERS

are you kidding me!?!?! strats are the most basic guitars around. If you want to look like a poser then get yourself a friggin bc rich or a guitar with pentecost friggin symbols as the friggin inlay. u friggin guitar NOOB

[dentaro16]

steveoondyou wrote:

the.spine.surfs :
Guys, guys, guys. Who cares if it's overly "good" for metal? A strat sounds "good" enough for metal to most of us with enough pedals and cabs.

no... no it doesn't. A strat is good for.... umm.... is a strat good for anything? Oh, right, STRATS ARE FOR POSERS

is this strat good for something?


EMG-81/SA/SA (active set) / Fishman Neo-D (clipped)(passive) w/ variance resistor

wa wa wa

[dentaro16]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v517/dentaro16/121406_0028.jpg

here is the URL

[Ischi]

Strats are awesome

[sexmeister]

starts r ok i guess they r good for beginners and that also depends on what your taste is like the guitarist from deep purple plays a strat and hes an awsome guitarist because of his strat so steve go **** yourselfyour a just a wanna b who thinks hes good like seriusly get a life or learn how 2 play guitar fagget

[grantmotion]

i have this guitar and i love it, the neck is so easy to move your hand across and it sounds really good for solos. I am gonna get some EMG pick-ups for it though so it will sound even more awesome

[Coldmystery]

This guitar is plenty good for metal. Metal is seriously 80 percent play and additude and 20 percent equipment. This guitar is very slick.

[Sasms]

i got this and love the thin neck, heaps good for playing fast metal solos

[ihavenoname93]

steveoondyou wrote:

the.spine.surfs :
Guys, guys, guys. Who cares if it's overly "good" for metal? A strat sounds "good" enough for metal to most of us with enough pedals and cabs.

no... no it doesn't. A strat is good for.... umm.... is a strat good for anything? Oh, right, STRATS ARE FOR POSERS

riiiiight

[LYSEYKO]

I have this guitar but in purple colour...

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s151/cabbage head6969/DSCF5782.jpg

Im no Steve Vai. But this is an amazing sounding guitar. The neck is nice n thin, and easy to move around on. The ONLY thing I dont like is when I have my cable in, it seems a tiny bit loose. Other than that, this guitar is amazing. I also have a metal zone mt-2 that ****in rocks it even more!
10/10