SAS32FM Review

Similar in tone to an Ibanez S, the Ibanez SAS32FM mahogany body gives a warm sustained sound, but with a standard, flat back. A 25.5" scale set neck offers the narrow feel and tight tension similar to a Ibanez RG.

Features:	8.8
Sound:	10
Action:	9.5
Reliability:	8.8
Impression:	10
Overall rating:	8.7
Reviewer rating:	9.4
Users rating:	7.9
Votes:	91

overall: 9.4

Reviewed by: IvoP, on august 08, 2006

Price paid: $ 667.8

Features: My Ibanez SAS32FM has flamed maple top/mahogany body. It has 22 medium frets. Scale is 648mm/25.5". Neck is 3pc SA set-in neck (rosewood fingerboard, I absolutely love it). It has 2 humbuckers (neck pickup AH3(H), bridge pickup True Duo Bucker(H)) and 1 volume and 1 tone control. Bridge is SAT Pro bridge. The only thing I plan to change after some time is tremolo. I also got some tools and cable with this guitar. // 9

Sound: I play everything, rock, blues, metal. This guitar offers many options. It has 5-way pickup switch. I mostly use 5th position for great lead sound, 2nd and 4th for clean stuff and 3rd for blues. The best thing on this guitar is sound. It is just amazing! I use it on Microcube and I also tried Cube 30 and Cube 60 and it just rocks! // 10

Action, Fit & Finish: When I bought it it had low action. I like it and I haven't changed it since. Finish is dark red sunburst and it didn't contain any flaws or anything else, like the rest of guitar. It was in perfect shape when I bought it. Pickups don't make any noise and I am satisfied with them. // 10

Reliability & Durability: I have owned my babe for only 3 months so there is no much to say about this. I haven't performed live yet since I bought her, but I haven't had any problems with her for this 3 months so I'll give her 8. I don't know what else to say here. I'll know more after some time. // 8

Impression: Like I already said, I play many things and this guitar is perfect for it. I've been playing for 2, 5 years but I heard many guitars, crap guitars like cheap Arias, Squire, and some Les Pauls and other Ibanezes, and this one is one of the best I heard! It also looks fantastic and I wouldn't change it for any guitar that costs that much! Many guitar players have tried my guitar and they all absolutely love it! Go get this guitar! // 10

overall: 9.6

Reviewed by: JF91, on january 23, 2008

Price paid: $ 603.9

Purchased from: Pro Music Technology

Features: The Ibanez SAS32FM has 22 medium frets on a set in neck with abalone inlays and body binding. It features dual buckers and a 5 way, which lets you get a good variety of sounds from this guitar. Also, the volume control is a push/pull pot which splits the pickups in positions 3, 4 & 5. Compared to Les paul style guitars it weighs a hell of a lot less. The one problem with this guitar is that SAT pro bridge. It takes a long time to settle and not go out of tune everytime you use the trem, but installing a tremsetter later will sort that right out for me. // 9

Sound: I'm using this guitar with a trusty little Roland microcube at the moment, and even though I know it doesnt't do this guitar justice the 2 still make an impressive combination. The variety of sounds is really good, heavy sounds from the neck bucker or a nice twangy Fender Strat sound from the rear pickup (split) and everything that comes between. In total there's 8 different pickup selections (check the Ibanez site) Also, there's zero fret buzz from this guitar, which is nice. // 10

Action, Fit & Finish: As I got my Ibanez from a local music shop it was all set up and ready to go, the action is super low, fast adn easy playability. The finish is great, nice "trans lavender blue" which is more purple then it seems to look on most of the pictures on the net. I can't really fault anything about the setup or finish. // 10

Reliability & Durability: I definitely wouldn't take this to a live set until a tremsetter or some locking tuners are installed. But other than that it's pretty solid. Knocked it about a few times and it all seems fine. The strap buttons are nice, the shape of them means your strap wont just fall off on you like on a Strat or les paul. // 9

Impression: I'm really happy about this guitar, at first I was worried it would be just another Ibanez metalhead axe, but it's much more than that. It can be anything you want it to be and that's why I love it. Just be aware that the trem has the same pro's and con's as a Floyd Rose though. I looked around for a seriously long time for a decent guitar at this price. And I'm glad I didn't just Rush out and buy an Epi Les Paul Standard or something. This is lighter, more comfortable & more versatile. Awesome piece of gear. // 10

overall: 9.4

Reviewed by: Inversemetal, on october 05, 2010

Price paid: £ 120

Purchased from: eBay

Features: It's a 2004 model, Korean made, has 22 medium frets with abalone inlays. The neck is a dream to play, especially as I have small hands due to a disability. It's a vanished neck too and is extremely fast. There is abalone binding all the way around the body too which is beautiful. It has a mahogany Strat shaped body with a flamed maple top which is AWESOME! I've always been a fan of flamed and quilted tops on guitars and this is just amazing. It has a HH setup with a 5 way selector Switch with the 4th and 2nd positions splitting the coils (I think) to give a crisp Strat like clean tone. My favourite thing is the tuners. They are so stable and rarely need using. Unbelievable. My only fault is the bridge. I'd prefer a string thru. But hey ho we can work around that. // 8

Sound: I play lots of stuff depending on my mood. From Metallica to Neil Young, I have a broad spectrum, but this guitar is so versatile. As I mentioned it has the coil tap for gorgeous clean tones and the bridge pickup has decent treble and bass, although I am looking at a DiMarzio D Activator. But it's great overall. I'm running through a few amps as I have the bands amps at my house. Got the Fender Frontman 65r, Marshall MG30 and an Orange Crush. It sounds great through all of them although I prefer the gain out of the Orange & Marshall. We use an Orange Rocker 30 in the band and I'm currently looking at a Tiny Terror because this guitar sounds amazing with the gain maxed out. // 10

Action, Fit & Finish: When it arrived. It was a used guitar, so it was in bad condition. Dirty strings, high action and a filthy fretboard. It's discontinued now too so I can't say what it would be like new. The pickups were awesome heightwise. Other than the first bit I can't find any faults with anything on the guitar. // 9

Reliability & Durability: I gig with this guitar without backup, now I know some guitarists see that as sin. But I really don't think I need a backup and I'd only back it up with another SA. The strap buttons are immense on this guitar, very big and very reliable, however i'm still looking at straplocks just incase.

When I got the guitar, there was some wear on the back from a belt buckle I presume but since I've got it, it's not scratched. I'm a careful owner too, so if it scratched I think I'd die. // 10

Impression: Overall this guitar is perfect for me. It's extremely light, it's beautiful and it's a perfect guitar for someone who can't afford a Fender or Gibson. The action is also perfect for me. I have a disability in my left hand so it's harder for me to play. But with this guitar, it's so easy. I love everything about it. If it got stolen or lost, I'd find the Culprit and tear their eyebrows off and probably buy another, and another. // 10

Reviewed by: unregistered, on january 08, 2009

Price paid: $ 740

Purchased from: Kley Zemer (Israel)

Features: My guitar made is made in Korea in 2006. It has 22 medium frets, Rosewood fingerboard with abalone inlays. Mahogany body and neck-thru. Flamed top with a transparent dark-blue (Sometimes it seems to be black, sometimes a dark-blue. however, it is not purple... ). In the shape of Ibanez S series but with flat back. It has 1 volume knob which is used for turning on the true-dou single coil (pulled up), 1 tone knob and a 5-way pickup selector. It has neck Humbucker and a bridge Humbuker\Single-coil (depends if the volume knob is pulled up or pushed down). // 9

Sound: The sound of the guitar is it's best attribute. The neck humbuker has a rich, full and warm soundm, the bridge humbuker has a sharp and bright sound. I use the pickups like this: neck Humbuker for clean and soloing; neck Humbucker which is parallel connected for chords in clean; the middle selector with single coil for an acoustic sounds and for gentle solos; the 5th bridge humbuker for power-chords and heavy solos. I play mainly rock, heavy rock, and metal. However, I'm sure this guitar will perfectly fits jazz and blues as well. I use with it and Ibanez15RX Amplifier and Zoom G2.1u multy-effect. // 10

Action, Fit & Finish: The guitar has a very low action which is great. It came well from the factory, Everything was set-up good. There were no flaws at all. The pickup were well adjusted. In addition, This guitar looks amazing! // 9

Reliability & Durability: I played it Live once and my first string torn, but it isn't the guiar's fault. This is the problem of the guiat, the it doesn't stay tuned if you play more than 2 hours or if you use the tremelo too much. It doesn't bother me that much cause I can tune it once in a while in 2 minutes. The guitar seems very solid, the finish is great and everything is fine. Howevert I suggest to take a backup with you just in case... // 8

Impression: This guitar for me as a rock-metal player was great choice. I enjoy it very much, the sound of it is amazing. I would buy it again if it got stolen, I love this gutar. My favorite feature is the great sound of it, and the comfortablity playing it. I also tried Ibanez RG something, Epiphone les paul. // 10

Comments

[yamahano1]

i soo totally agree, i got this guitar a few months back and i love it, the red sunburst looks soooo gd in the light

[elmolikepie]

Why on Earth do Ibanez guitars have such stupid names? It makes it impossible for me to actually remember which ones Iv played and thought were good

[schwedengitarre]

Its a really amazing guitar! And who cares about the names???

[Necronomicon]

The names give specific features on the guitar. SAS32FM = SA-series, S32-model, FM-flamed maple top.
RGT42DX = RG-series, T-tremelo, 42-model, DX-deluxe?
anyway if you look at the names and features you can figure it out. The only problem I have with this guitar or any of the S series is that they only have 22 frets

[^Aquila^]

Actually, the T in RGT means it's a neck-thru design :p

[Muppet]

The tremolo on that guitar is the worst piece of crap ever inventet. The SAT trem is more unstable than a Fender trem. I had a guitar with that trem. Make a tremolo vibrato and it goes out of tune.

[Stagg_300]

Awsome guitar but i'd change the pick-ups for some DiMarzio or EMG

[suminorudder]

i love ibanez guitars. i have just a cheap g10 and it plays ten times better then a comparably priced squire or other starter.

and in response to muppet: did you check to make sure your strings are locked? thats one possibility.

[IvoP]

well tremolo is bad but if i'm not too harsh with it (i mean if i don't use it like satriani uses it), it works very well.

[timnofy]

It's hard to get a good tremolo without paying top dollar. I just got an Ibanez s520 (not in production or on ebay anymore), and the tremolo is great. It is just like the s520ex, but the body is different. You however should try getting a locking nut, for it makes all the difference. Cheap tremolo + locking nut = less retuning..... or broken strings lol. but mine is fine \(>.

[schmittblessit]

I have the Sa260FM. Its also an great guitar. The body sits so perfectly on the strap when seated and standing. Its the perfect shape and the single coil pickups both sound spot on. The humbucker offers a surprisingly wide range of harmonics and the tremolo system is fantastic too. I am shortly getting the trust rod adjusted and the frets dressed. I would recommend this guitar to anyone looking in this price range. I got mine for £299

[CustomCustom]

you know with the straight string path and tilt back headstock with no string trees a set of sperzels would prob keep this baby in perfect tune. A PRS for less?

[NASA]

only 22 frets? Booh!!! It might as well have 21 or 17 1/2 frets for that matter. Ibanez makes some really good instruments, but comparing it this guitar to a PRS is just plain nonsense

[bluesblaster]

i like the low action but an original floyd rose and a rear-loaded gibson 500t would make it sing

[unce_trev]

man this guitar kicks ass! couple of problems though:1) the screws holding the pickups in fell out, so i had to tape over them, 2)if you detune, the whammy bar has no threads, so itll fall out if you turn around . .. . dont knock the trem cos for its price (i got it for 330 quid) it does the job. otherwise this is a f*cking aaaawesome guitar. rock on y'all!

[sexmeister]

sexy i would stick my penis in it if the hole was big enough lmao jkz ALL IBANEZ GUITARS KICK ASS!!!!! NIGGA

[Mikey p]

Ive bin playing for 5 years and this is my second guitar. I was gunna get an SA 260 FM but when i saw this i fell in love with it. the only thing I have found a bit annoying is that the slightest tweak with the whammy bar makes it go out of tune but i lost my whammy bar so i dont care. Its is an awesome guitar and it plays anthing form bluesy stuff to Trivium or metallica sounds with ease. the humbuckers are so powerful and now i got it set up theres alot more warmth and power from the pickups. BUY IT but dont mess around with the whammy bar and youll be fine. NICE

[zoranrataj2000]

If anybody have problem with detuning with tremolo should check this sites:
http://www.hipshotproducts.com/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=11
5
I do not using tremolo at all and my SAS32FM does not detune.Zoran
Zoran

[ScottA]

Bow down to the SAS32FM

[Tspoon_mcgaia]

I love this guitar!! I figured its better to have this than some cheap, imitation epiphone sg. Besides in my opinion Gibsons are way overpriced/rated. Quick question, and yes it sounds dumb, but im thinking of switching the pickups to a pair of SD Invaders. So when i push/pull the volume down/up, there will be no difference, right?

[RG_FANMAN]

Can you still get this guitar in stores? If so, what's a good price?

[Guitar Sletten]

I got exactly the same guitar as in the picture
Unbelievely great guitar, with a incredible sustain, and it NEVER drops out of tone!!

[Lin]

i got this at a shop in doncaster about 2 years ago. it was retailing around £400, but you can and should haggle to around £350 as that is the price it goes for online

it would be a really great guitar, but mine needs to be retuned every 10 minutes. seriously. i never even touch the tremolo on this thing any more because it goes out of tune so easily. i think there is something up with the tuning pegs because no one seems to be able to fix it.

the colour is deceptive; the lavender blue version i have is far more purple than it appears on the ibanez website. i think the mother of pearl is a little gaudy.

it is very light and comfortable however

i am keeping this guitar as a spare for gigs and for teaching with, but i am getting an s470 to serve as my main guitar, simply because i want to be able to touch the tremolo. when oh when will ibanez make a medium fret guitar with a string lock on the headstock?

[zoranrataj2000]

I have before the same problem and I just leave open back cover from tremolo all the time.
About complain tremolo!If you already do not know,back cover on guitar must be open and guitar must stay about 1 hour in the same place when you play.Then tune up and tremolo will work well.And do not use 8- string but from 9 up,beacuse they can not 100% tune with 8 thin string!

[HiMyNameIsMatt]

At my local music shop a guy told me you can open up the back cover, and put something in behind the bridge to stop it from pivoting and that sorts the whole tremolo issue...
dunno if its that easy, but yeah I have the same slight tuning issues.
But other than that its a sweet piece of gear!
light, sexy and comfy as hell, could play it for days.

[Jeroen HP]

Which one 's the best: a 'SAS-36 FM DRS' or a 'SAS-32 FM DRS'??
I think the '36' is more beautiful then the '32'. But on the other side I think this one 's better. Or maybe not, I don't know...

[Jeroen HP]

[[(Made a mistake. I meant a 'SAS-32 FM TL' instead of 'DRS'. Srry!!)]]

[Tspoon_mcgaia]

^^(Side note)Im not sure they continue making the 32 model in DRS in the US, but I'm pretty sure that it has been discontinued in the UK.
The 36 model looks much better, and if you love singlecoils then it's for you. The 32 model, however purple it may look, has the better tonal range. If you pull the volume pot (splitting the bridge 'bucker), and put the switch in position 4, then it splits both 'buckers giving you a nice sounding pair of singles. Great (Y).

[ayreon37]

Got this guitar a couple of weeks ago... it's my first electric, second guitar, and I've gotta say, I love this piece. I've got the SAS32FM, it looks almost identical to the picture... a bit darker. I've got a similar problem to everyone else with the tremolo, but a guitarist friend of mine said an extra spring in the back would fix that. I have a Pignose tube amp (it was cheap and sounds lovely compared to other cheap-ies) and I get a lovely vintage sound out of this baby. Keeps up with Opeth and classic rock both. No complaints but for the tuning!

[Mikey p]

To be fair, the tuning stability (on mine at least) is hardly is a big issue, and is sort of to be expected with a floating bridge and all. About being discontinued, Ibanez have changed the look of the model,from the look of their 2008 catalogue, and so if you've got one of these earlier ones you're lucky cos you cant get them anymore!

[langulo91]

i was just wondering which would be better the SAS32FM or the s520ex because i have the choice between the 2 but im not sure which one would be better for me...i play mostly metal and alternative

[Walshy200]

Langulo91 you be better off asking on the forums :P it takes ages for people to reply on review comments

[Metal Jay]

Excellent guitar! Got mine a while ago and it's really grown on me.
I have used it for many kinds of music and it is perfect for it all.
Great sound, awesome feel, sleek and attractive...and super flexible electronics. Definitely worth more than the price tag...better than a Fender, Cooler than a Gibson!!

[Inversemetal]

Just wanted to say, i've since bought a second one of these as my Drop B guitar, lovely guitars.