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For other 540S models, see 540S (disambiguation).
1987 PRO540-Saber SR
540S Sunset Red 1987-1990 (more images) Red copyright sprite

The 540S is an S series solid body electric guitar model introduced by Ibanez for 1987. It was originally called the PRO540 Saber as part of the Roadstar II/Roadstar Pro series. The 540S was produced in Japan by FujiGen.

The 540S was the initial model in what would eventually come to be known as the S series. The series is distinguished by the sleek double cutaway body shape which is arched on the top and back resulting in a fairly light guitar with thin edges.

The 540S features a mahogany body bolted to a maple Wizard neck with a 22-fret rosewood fretboard with dot position markers. It uses IBZ/USA pickups made by DiMarzio with an F2 humbucker mounted in a pickup ring at the bridge and C2 noiseless, stacked single-coils (which Ibanez describes as "vertical humbucking" pickups) in the middle and neck positions. Components include a double locking tremolo bridge with a locking nut and Gotoh tuning machines.

The 540S has a traditional bolt-on neck joint with a stamped metal plate.

For 1991 the original Edge tremolo was replaced by the new low-profile version.

The 540SL is a left-handed version. The 540S-TC is a version with a triple-coil pickup at the bridge. The 540SFM is a similar model with a flame maple top. The 540SLTD is a similar model with a humbucking pickup in place of the single-coil in the neck position (i.e. HSH pickup configuration).

In 1992 a new version of the 540S was sold alongside this model in the United States. The new version has a humbucker replacing the single-coil pickup in the neck position and a maple fretboard. For 1993 the HSH version would be renamed the S540 and continued while this HSS version of the 540S was discontinued.

Specifications[]

Related content: Roadstar Pro series | S series | Models-icon
Specifications for 540S / PRO540 Saber
Model name: 540S / PRO540 Saber
Year(s) offered: 1987–1992
Sold in: Worldwide
Made in: Japan
Finish(es): Atlantic Blue (AB) 1988–1990 / Black Cherry (BC) 1987–1991 / Black (BK) / Caribbean Blue (CB) 1988 / Crystal Pearl - Paisley (CP) 1990–1992 / Cranberry Red (CR) 1990 / Desert Sun Yellow (DY) 1988–1989 / Laser Blue (LB) 1991 / Lipstick Red (LR) 1988–1992 / Oil finish (OL) 1991 / Ruby Red (RR) 1991 / Sunset Red (SR) 1987–1990 / White (WH) 1989
Body
Body type:
Solid body
Body material:
Mahogany
Neck joint:
Bolt-on (traditional)
Bridge:
1987–1989: Edge w/ Back Stop
1990: Edge tremolo
1991–1992: Lo-Pro Edge tremolo
Hardware color:
1987: Chrome
1988–1992: Cosmo black
Neck
Neck type:
Wizard
Neck material:
1-piece maple
Scale length:
648mm/ 25½"
Fingerboard material:
Rosewood
Fingerboard inlays:
Pearl dot
1990–1992: 'Custom Made' placard at 21st fret
Frets:
22 / jumbo
Nut:
Top-Lok III
Machine heads:
Gotoh SG38
Electronics/ Strings
Pickup configuration:
HSS
Bridge pickup:
IBZ/USA F2 (H)
Middle pickup:
IBZ/USA C2 (S)
Neck pickup:
IBZ/USA C2 (S)
Controls:
1987–1988: 1 volume w/ push/pull coil split / 1 tone / 3 pickup toggles (see below)
1988–1992: Master volume / master tone / 5-way lever pickup selector
Output jack:
¼" stereo barrel (angled face mount)
String gauge (factory):
.009/.011/.016/.024/.032/.042
Factory tuning:
1E,2B,3G,4D,5A,6E (E Std.)

Controls[]

Before it was equipped with the now common five-way lever pickup selector, the 540S had individual on/off switches for each of its three pickups. On the 1987 models, the volume pot had a push/pull switch for coil splitting the bridge humbucker.

For 1988, this functionality was provided via a three-way toggle (position 1: off; position 2: coil split; position 3: on) in the 540S sold in the United States. In the 1988 European 540S these three switches are replaced by a five-way lever. This simplified 5-way switch approach was adopted worldwide in 1989.

Images[]

Other available finishes
1990 540S AB
Atlantic Blue
1988 540S BK
Black
540S BC
Black Cherry
1988 540S CB
Caribbean Blue
540S CR
Cranberry Red
1992 540S CP
Crystal Pearl - Paisley
1991 540S LB
Laser Blue
1988 540S LR
Lipstick Red
1991 540S OL
Oil finish
1991 540S RR
Ruby Red
1989 540S WH
White
1989 540S WH rear
White (rear)


Sources[]

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