The Ibanez SS401-F - Solid spruce top, Sold in Japan, Made in China

[Jim Soloway]

Something I just fund on sale in Japan as a one only used at Ishibashi and I don't quite know what to make of it.

Ibanez SS401F Violin Sunburst [SN S17040106] [10/30] | Reverb Canada

[Cunamara]

Sure looks like it is basically in GB10SE, with a finish that to my eyes is nicer. Different tail piece, only a neck pick up and no fret inlays, which I like. It is sort of like the love child of the Sadowsky Jim Hall and the Ibanez George Benson.

[Jim Soloway]

Sure looks like it is basically in GB10SE, with a finish that to my eyes is nicer. Different tail piece, only a neck pick up and no fret inlays, which I like. It is sort of like the love child of the Sadowsky Jim Hall and the Ibanez George Benson.

I'm not really all that knowledgeable about the Benson models so I had to look up that model. Does the GB10SE have a solid top? It only says spruce top on the Ibanez web site. The SS401F also seems to be about an inch thicker. Really attractive guitars, both of them.

[Jabberwocky]

Ibanez started a series of these 3.5mm thick pressed spruce top guitars in 2010: SS-500 and SJ500. Ibanez have made variations of them over the years since 2010. This is just a variation of the SS-500 with a floating pickup and a different tailpiece. The construction of the guitar is basically the same as the SS-500. I have the 16.5" SJ500. It has a fair bit of acoustic tone but is really not that loud. It is loud enough to practise unamplified.

[Jabberwocky]

Artcore/Artstar Solid Top series | Ibanez Wiki | Fandom

SS500 | Ibanez Wiki | Fandom

[Jabberwocky]

The WIKI isn't correct: the tops are not carved. They are pressed solid spruce tops. The guitars have solid maple backs and rims, also pressed.

[Jabberwocky]

SS401F | Ibanez Wiki | Fandom

[Cunamara]

Seems like that might be a fun guitar.

[Jimmy blue note]

The WIKI isn't correct: the tops are not carved. They are pressed solid spruce tops. The guitars have solid maple backs and rims, also pressed.

Good and important point Jabberwocky. Pressed tops are the sad dogs of tone wood. There's a good reason they're not widely accepted as factory construction materials. Firmly in the Meh lane if you ask me. Not bad, not good, better to be found in alternatives at every level if you look.

Why are they not so good? Carved archtops begin with more wood and is literally carved and sculpted to something that has the essential soul of the wood and nothing else. Pressed tops begin with a lot of wood, steams and squeezes THAT into something that has a shape of a carved top but all the mass of a too massive archtop forced into a shape. It's kind of like the benchmark of athletic movement might be a trained and dedicated ballet dancer, but let's take a short cut and get by without toning muscle in the gym and balance bar. Let's squeeze into a pair of really tight jeans and have them blow dried so they shrink into a tiny profile. Does that make you into someone who can dance or even move gracefully?

Truthfully, I've played really good laminates, spruce laminates that have the ruggedness of a laminate but a response that's light and responsive more than any pressed top I've come across.

In all honesty, I don't know these Ibanez models. I just go by pressed archtops I've played in the past. Their runs never lasted more than a couple years.

[Jim Soloway]

Good and important point Jabberwocky. Pressed tops are the sad dogs of tone wood. There's a good reason they're not widely accepted as factory construction materials. Firmly in the Meh lane if you ask me. Not bad, not good, better to be found in alternatives at every level if you look.

Why are they not so good? Carved archtops begin with more wood and is literally carved and sculpted to something that has the essential soul of the wood and nothing else. Pressed tops begin with a lot of wood, steams and squeezes THAT into something that has a shape of a carved top but all the mass of a too massive archtop forced into a shape. It's kind of like the benchmark of athletic movement might be a trained and dedicated ballet dancer, but let's take a short cut and get by without toning muscle in the gym and balance bar. Let's squeeze into a pair of really tight jeans and have them blow dried so they shrink into a tiny profile. Does that make you into someone who can dance or even move gracefully?

Truthfully, I've played really good laminates, spruce laminates that have the ruggedness of a laminate but a response that's light and responsive more than any pressed top I've come across.

In all honesty, I don't know these Ibanez models. I just go by pressed archtops I've played in the past. Their runs never lasted more than a couple years.

In theory, I don't disagree with one word your saying ... and yet, in practice, there are recordings by a forum member playing the recent era pressed Gibson Solid Formed Archtop that had, in my opinion, the best tone I had ever heard from him (and I've been watching his wonderful videos for years). But consistent with what you've said, the run of those guitars was over almost immediately after they were released.

[Jimmy blue note]

In theory, I don't disagree with one word your saying ... and yet, in practice, there are recordings by a forum member playing the recent era pressed Gibson Solid Formed Archtop that had, in my opinion, the best tone I had ever heard from him (and I've been watching his wonderful videos for years). But consistent with what you've said, the run of those guitars was over almost immediately after they were released.

And I'll admit, a lot of guitars sound better to the microphone than they feel to the player. My scowls and judgements come from a perspective behind the guitar, impressions are so subjective.

I'm the first person to step firmly to the sidelines if an instrument connects with a player. There are matches made in heaven for ears and hands I have nothing in common with.
Vive la difference.
I'm constantly overwhelmed by the sheer variety of what's available. ' wonder what could become of pressed technology if it truly evolved in the hands of open minded and open eared craftsmen and luthiers.

[Jim Soloway]

And I'll admit, a lot of guitars sound better to the microphone than they feel to the player. My scowls and judgements come from a perspective behind the guitar, impressions are so subjective.

I'm the first person to step firmly to the sidelines if an instrument connects with a player. There are matches made in heaven for ears and hands I have nothing in common with.
Vive la difference.
I'm constantly overwhelmed by the sheer variety of what's available. ' wonder what could become of pressed technology if it truly evolved in the hands of open minded and open eared craftsmen and luthiers.

The only problem with that question is that it would also require open minded players. Those are generally in short supply.

[Jimmy blue note]

The only problem with that question is that it would also require open minded players. Those are generally in short supply.

Amen. You know Jim, I can imagine a thinner pressing technology supported by a different bracing system that WOULD allow for fine tuning the plates through brace tuning. A hybrid of archtop and flat top construction approaches? Something new and innovative? Hmmm
It's up to the small luthiers to make this happen though, and it's hard enough paying bills without mounting a losing campaign for a head butt with tradition.

[Rickco]

I had 2 Peerless Monarchs pressed tops, exceptional guitars never heard better at that price point. Many consider it to be a best for the buck archtop. Also the gibson JD was playing go to the video and listen again then go play your favorite and tell us how much better it sounds. The prejudice about pressed tops is a forum generated opinion and like many not based in fact. Like a lam or carved you can make a great or crappy guitar with either method. I think the players name is Matt Owen who has many videos with his Monarch. If you havent played one you should check for yourself. The Peerless guitars in particular are great examples of excellent quality of sound for far less than a good carved archtop. A great lam sounds great a great carved top sounds great a great pressed top sounds great and (sit down for this one) I heard a carbon fibre acoustic that also sounded great. (not speaking to anyone in particular just pontificating...) as always YMMV

[Gitterbug]

I can't see why a pressed top should be thicker and heavier than carved ones. Rather the opposite. All the "strands" of wood extend throughout, making it structurally stronger than a carved top. I've been wondering what would happen if a laminated top were made of two plies of wood, the bottom one just slightly angled to prevent cracking.

[2bornot2bop]

Who knows of those buying these archtop’s that can afford handmade guitars?

I hate saying this, but frankly there’s a snob element among the guitar ownership community. But fact is, not every individual can afford an ultra expensive guitar. We all buy what we can afford, no matter how or how it isn’t made.

Some live in a palace, others a cul de sac, if you’re one of the lucky one’s able to afford a home. Most can’t today.

I don’t own Peerless guitars because they’re bad guitars, I’ve owned several. But my bias is for a nitrocellulose finish.

The guitar on Reverb will find a home with someone who appreciates it.

[Jim Soloway]

It's hard enough paying bills without mounting a losing campaign for a head butt with tradition.

Been there and very much done that. It brought me a fair amount of recognition but not much money.

[Doctor Jeff]

In the end it’s just a box, with various tensions that change with temperature and humidity.

In theory a carved top will be the best, and who am I to argue a master carver can’t make the best instrument out of an outstanding billet?

But…what if the billet is lower grade? What if CNC does some of the carving?

Being a woodworker I know from experience that plain boards bend and twist over time. Table tops crack. Yet a bent hardwood rocker—those things can be passed down from generation to generation.

I have a couple of Harmony and Kay guitars with pressed tops. They are absolutely stable and have a nice airy quality to them.