Ibanez SS300 archtop

**Burstbucker** · 04-11-2017, 05:31 AM

Hi everybody, I'm a mid-50s guy who is basically in the Blues/Rock camp but have always loved Jazz too though I don't have the theory background to help in getting a grip on Jazz, but maybe I should try to up my game and try to learn something new before I get too old. So, this website could really help in that endeavour. Looks like a fountain of knowledgeable folks on here.

A couple of weeks ago I had put my Gibson SG Standard for sale on Kijiji but I wasn't getting much attention, low-ball offers and crappy trade proposals, etc... I was just getting ready to yank the ad when all of a sudden a guy emailed me asking if I would be interested in trading my SG for his Ibanez SS300.

At first I thought, what's an Ibanez SS300 anyway? I figured that it would be some less than stellar deal that I was being offered. So I did a Google search and came up with this review by Tom Quayle:
https://www.guitarinteractivemagazin...j300_reviewmp4

He does a review on the SS300 first, then finishes with it's slightly larger bodied big brother the SJ300.

I was floored by what I was seeing in that video. It's like, yeah, lets get busy with that trade!

I read really positive comments on these two guitars on various Jazz forums online, so I thought that it would be something that I'd like to add to my stable.

The guy with the Ibanez lived about an hour away so I said that I could meet him halfway and that's what we did. I met the guy outside of a McDonald's, his guitar was basically in mint condition, as was mine.

During our first couple of emails back and forth, he said that his guitar retailed new for about $500.00 more than a new SG (here in Canada), I checked it out and he was right. So he was kind of looking to even out the trade with me paying him $200.00 cash. I said that I was tapped out but had an old Flanger pedal for sale and he could have that if he liked, he said that he had no use for a Flanger. So that was that. I didn't expect to hear back from him but lo and behold, I got an email saying that he could probably use the Flanger as a Leslie effect, so we were on again.

The Flanger only cost me $60.00 second hand, so that was no big deal. And luckily, I bought the SG used for $750.00 CDN, for a combined total of $608.00 USD

I was totally happy with that deal. When he opened up the case, I was pretty stoked, what a beauty!

I was a bit surprised that this guitar was built in China rather than in Japan but my goodness, the Chinese are building some pretty scary good stuff by looking at this guitar!

I've heard less than flattering comments about MIC guitars but Ibanez sure is doing something right because this thing is soooo beautiful, and with a sound to match. They didn't cheap out with materials either:
Ibanez SS300 Artstar Hollowbody Electric Guitar (with Case)

This is my first Jazz box, too bad I don't play Jazz(but maybe I can start to learn) but it's great all the same.

**Burstbucker** · 04-11-2017, 05:40 AM

It's a pretty well appointed guitar even though it's made in China, from what I can tell the Chinese can come really close to Japan level workmanship, these people have skills!

Yep, 2-ply flamed maple binding all around. Ebony fingerboard, ebony bridge and even ebony pickguard. Solid Spruce top, solid flamed maple back and sides and Abalone fret markers. Great sounding Super '58 humbuckers. Nice gloss finish. The neck is made of strips of maple and walnut, nice strong stuff for a neck. And I believe that the nut is made of bone too.

It's strung with flat wounds but I'm kind of digging it. It comes off as a more affordable made-in-China George Benson model from what I can tell. More than enough guitar for me at any rate!

You can play just about anything but metal on this guitar, it's actually very versatile!

**TOMMO** · 04-11-2017, 07:03 AM

Beautiful guitar! And Welcome!

**Archtop Guy** · 04-11-2017, 07:52 AM

Thanks Burstbucker, Nice guitar and video. You made a great deal! The SS300 reminds me of my Eastman 803 15". Wish I still had it. Welcome to the forum.

**ramsa** · 04-11-2017, 08:54 AM

Really sweet guitar!
I am jealous...

Sent from my SM-S920L using Tapatalk

**Donnie** · 04-11-2017, 11:00 AM

Very nice guitar Brudda, welcome in!

**helios** · 04-11-2017, 11:52 AM

Congratulations on your new guitar! The gentleman doing the review (Tom Quayle) is certainly an excellent player.
I incidentally have Burstbucker pickups in my Ibanez archtop, and I really like the tone!
Welcome to the forum!

**Jx30510** · 04-11-2017, 12:54 PM

It's a great guitar, very confortable to hold and play, super easy neck and very good sound.
The S58 on it are different from the MIJ ones, but have a great "bark", by the way you can very clearly hear that "bark" on the Interactive Guitar video (I really like Tom's phrasing on all his videos)
I think you've made a very good deal.

**Jim Soloway** · 04-11-2017, 03:33 PM

Great trade. Really nice guitar.

**Burstbucker** · 04-11-2017, 04:22 PM

Thanks for the warm welcome guys!

Yup, it's such a nice guitar that it will probably inspire me to pick it up often and maybe even learn a bit of Jazz while I'm at it but like the great B.B. King once said "I've got stupid fingers"! LOL

The guitar now has a set of flat-wound strings with a wound G string. I was toying with the idea of installing a Tune-o-Matic bridge and replace the wound G string with a plain G string to allow easier bends but maybe that'll lessen the Jazzy vibe?

Do any of you guys have a plain un-wound G string on your guitar?

**Burstbucker** · 04-11-2017, 04:33 PM

Yes, I did read something about the Super '58s not all being the same. But I do like the sound of whatever it is that's in my guitar and yes, Tom Quayle's playing and tone were pretty amazing in that video.

BTW, I've fallen down the guitar pickup rabbit hole a few times too many in the past with various guitars, spending lots of money and swapping out pickups but I eventually had to admit that the change in tone was negligible and ended up costing quite a bit. So, I'll be okay with these stock Ibanez pickups.

Actually, just for fun I plugged into a couple of my distortion pedals and cranked up my amp and to my surprise, these pickups weren't microphonic at all, just the regular white noise that you get with a humbucker. But you have to keep the palm of your picking hand close to the strings just in case you have to dampen the strings if it starts to howl.

But I have other guitars on hand for high gain rocking, so as long as you're reasonable with the gain levels this guitar works just fine and really versatile too.

**Max405** · 04-11-2017, 04:38 PM

Welcome to the forum.
And thanks for showing us your beautiful new Guitar. We love seeing someone who is smitten over a nice new axe. Especially, when it has flame maple bindings like that.
Beautiful. Thanks for sharing.
Joe D.

**Burstbucker** · 04-11-2017, 04:46 PM

Hey, Max405(Joe D.),

Thanks for the friendly welcome! And it is my pleasure to show off this beauty.

BTW, the only down side to my trade deal was that I didn't get the original Ibanez archtop hardshell case that was supposed to come with this, it's just an acoustic guitar hardshell case and slightly a bit too big for this guitar, I only found out about the original Ibanez case after I traded guitars.

The guy that I got it from might have kept it or it could have been somebody else before him, I doubt that he was the original owner as he said that he couldn't bond with archtops and does a lot of wheeling and dealing.

I don't go out with my guitars as a rule so it's not a major deal but I might invest in a better case down the road.

**silverfoxx** · 04-11-2017, 05:51 PM

Welcome to the forum Burstbucker,
Like the look of your new axe, you will glean lots of very useful information here
a great bunch of guys and girls, ask away to your heart's content pretty much
whatever you desire to know about Jazz Guitar, there are lessons available from
our in- house experts, Matt Warnock , our Administrator Dirk. , and from Jamie
Holroyd. You will meet some extraordinarily good players who will point you in
the right direction. When you have a moment seek out Videos posted by our
very own JoeD ( Max405 ) and others. to whet your appetite.

Silverfoxx

**citizenk74** · 04-11-2017, 06:33 PM

Plain G strings are fine. I use 0.18 to 0.20, depending on the set size. I also use wound Gs, depending on the guitar. On my classical, I use a wound G and wound B. Horses for courses, as they say. Congratulations on your spiffy new axe, and play it in good health!

**lammie200** · 04-11-2017, 06:58 PM

I would be tempted to change the tailpiece, but that is a really great looking guitar, Burstbucker.

**Jabberwocky** · 04-11-2017, 07:11 PM

Congrats again, BB. Note that Ibanez supplies 2 wooden compensated saddles with the SS3000. One is for a plain G. The other is for the wound G.

Did you get both with your SS300?

**Burstbucker** · 04-11-2017, 07:51 PM

Thanks again everybody for the warm welcome and all around good vibes, friendly place this is!

No, unfortunately I didn't get any other bridge with this guitar. It probably went AWOL along with the original Ibanez archtop hardshell case, oh darn! Too bad, quite a loss for me and what are the chances that the guy who kept it even needs it!

In the video that Tom Quayle did covering this guitar he mentioned that a metal bridge was included as part of the package, maybe he was mistaken and it was actually a compensated ebony bridge for a plain G string?

I wonder if I can order that through Ibanez, I believe that this model is no longer in production. I was going to buy a metal tune-o-matic bridge, I never even thought of a compensated wooden bridge, that would probably be even better.

I am going to go on a hunt for that compensated ebony bridge now that I know that they had one for a plain G string. Maybe I can find an original hardshell case too but that is probably stretching it a bit.....

**Jabberwocky** · 04-11-2017, 08:19 PM

You could get a wooden compansated saddle from Roger Sadowsky. There is one for a plain G, another for a wound G.

Ibanez US looks like a nice company. Write to them and see if they could send you one gratis.

The original case isn't much to write home about. Ordinary black vinyl case with gray fur. Not worth pursuing. Looks like an $85 Gator plywood case.

It comes with a Chinese-made TOM. Weighty thing that damps the acoustic tone. The wooden saddle is much better. I got two wooden saddles and a TOM with my SJ500VLS. I wondered why Ibanez provided a wooden spare and was also flummoxed by the wound G string being consistently off. Someone here advised me that one was for a plain G, the other was for a wound G. Struck me with the subtlety of a sledgehammer. Surely nobody uses plain Gs with archtops? Duh!

**Max405** · 04-11-2017, 10:01 PM

Originally Posted by silverfoxx

Welcome to the forum Burstbucker,
Like the look of your new axe, you will glean lots of very useful information here
a great bunch of guys and girls, ask away to your heart's content pretty much
whatever you desire to know about Jazz Guitar, there are lessons available from
our in- house experts, Matt Warnock , our Administrator Dirk. , and from Jamie
Holroyd. You will meet some extraordinarily good players who will point you in
the right direction. When you have a moment seek out Videos posted by our
very own JoeD ( Max405 ) and others. to whet your appetite.

Silverfoxx

thank you brother. Once again, we are so lucky to have you back buddy.
Joe D

**cosmic gumbo** · 04-12-2017, 12:36 AM

I like the commando grip on those knobs.

**GNAPPI** · 04-12-2017, 02:32 AM

Originally Posted by Burstbucker

I've fallen down the guitar pickup rabbit hole a few times too many in the past with various guitars, spending lots of money and swapping out pickups but I eventually had to admit that the change in tone was negligible and ended up costing quite a bit. So, I'll be okay with these stock Ibanez pickups.

Welcome, and thanks for posting that git, I've never seen one.

I think it's few who came to the conclusion you did about the "rabbit hole" of swapping pups, and I am loathe to do it myself.

Enjoy that git it looks as good as it gets.

**Jx30510** · 04-12-2017, 02:42 AM

I buyed this exact guitar new and it did come with the TOM metal bridge mounted out of the factory.
I'm pretty sure that, if you want that "spank" in the sound as in the Interactive video, you'll need to put the TOM bridge.
The guitar comes with a spare ebony from the factory. The perfect fit if you want to buy one is a Gotoh TOM bridge. I liked the SS300 better with the TOM bridge, but I'm more an electric guy, so it depends of eaches tastes

**Aquilador** · 04-12-2017, 02:58 AM

Originally Posted by Burstbucker

This is my first Jazz box, too bad I don't play Jazz(but maybe I can start to learn) but it's great all the same.

Hi Burstbucker, I did the same as you and came across an Ibanez AG95, a smaller bodied arch top, and was blown away with the build quality of the Chinese made guitar.
Yours is very similar to mine...
I also have a Collings acoustic which was more than six times the price of my Ibanez, but the love I have for my AG95 is SO intense!
Welcome to the forum too, I am newer than you are so see you around!

**Aquilador** · 04-12-2017, 04:44 AM

Originally Posted by Burstbucker

Thanks for the warm welcome guys!

Yup, it's such a nice guitar that it will probably inspire me to pick it up often and maybe even learn a bit of Jazz while I'm at it but like the great B.B. King once said "I've got stupid fingers"! LOL

The guitar now has a set of flat-wound strings with a wound G string. I was toying with the idea of installing a Tune-o-Matic bridge and replace the wound G string with a plain G string to allow easier bends but maybe that'll lessen the Jazzy vibe?

Do any of you guys have a plain un-wound G string on your guitar?

My AG95 was supplied with 11's wirewound with plain G, but I replaced these with Thomastik Infeld chrome flatwound 12's with wound G.
The difference to me was amazing, particularly as I was trying to find that 'Wes Montgomery' tone and as you said about string bending, I was trying to get away from doing that anyway.
In fact, I might even consider going for 13's next time, but these Thomastik strings are really expensive and last a long time (so they say...) so I'm more than happy with what I have for the present.

It's interesting you were thinking about replacing your bridge with a Tune-o-matic version, which mine already has, because I was actually asking myself would the guitar sound even more jazzy if I installed the wooden compensated bridge that your SS possesses?
Can anybody verify that this would indeed be likely?

I was also interested to read here that a different compensated bridge would be required depending on whether one was using a plain G string or wound G string.
I would never have realised that!