Ibanez S470, Joe Satriani Model, or '62 Strat Reissue.... Opinions??

[Buck62]

I'm tossing around the idea of investing in a new electric guitar and have narrowed it down to two models by Ibanez... the S470 and the Joe Satriani Model, and the '62 Fender Strat Reissue.
Both of the Ibanez guitars are similar in many respects, but after reading many of the reviews at harmony-central.com , most of them are not very complimentary of the Floyd Rose locking-trem.
The opinions on the Strat are mostly positive... especially on the Jap-made models.

Does anybody own any of these guitars?
If so, are you pleased with the sound, build quality, and playability of your guitar?
When I buy a new axe, it's usually a keeper.
I've owned a few of my guitars for 20+ years (purchased new)... and will probably pass my collection on to my (soon to be born) son.

Any input would be appreciated. The more detailed, the better.
Thanx...

Buck

 

[steveaustin]

I love my RG 550s (early 90's model). Then necks have a flat radi & jumbo frets. Very easy to play, great inotation & virtually indistructable. Basswood bodies w/ a thin sound. The PUs r ok, I changed mine. A great rock/metal guitar. I have no complaints on the tremlo. It is different & those opinions are probadly coming from hardcore Floyd fans. I block mine sometimes, gives bending a unique feel. Check out americanmusical.com, their having a closeout on 470s!!

 

[steveaustin]

oh...I just noticed that model in a catalog. Never played it. The mahagony body does sound nice & the PUs are better than the 470s, same tremlo though.

Good luck w/ your baby boy. I have a 2yr old. Looked around 1 day & he was standing on TOP of my Seagull acoustic!!

 

[Elco]

If you can find a Joe Satriani JS 1000 , you might like the lo pro edge whammy better on it compared to the 470 and Joe Satriani JS 100. It's also supposedly designed to Joe's exact specifications and it's got a cool coil tap switch for single coil sounds. I have a S-520 that has a lo pro edge and it just doesn't go out of tune! Used to have a really nice jap strat too...I wanna get another strat sometime, cause it's great to have that straty tone around. steveaustin is right on the money about those RG-550's...great playing guitars but with average stock pickups, kinda thin toned, but boy can you shred on 'em! I used to own a metallic blue 550 with a maple neck and fretboard, wish I still had that just for old times sake.

 

[vox]

I have the JS 100 , the cheaper of the satriani models, it has the AH pickups that they (used to?) put in the Iceman models. It is REALLY light and is probably the most comfortable body that I have ever played, definately a good 'live gig' guitar. However because the body is so small and light the guitar doesnt have that heavy bottom end to its tone that's so great for metal palm mutes, the tone lends itself more to those sweet satriani solo tones like 'always with you, always with me'.
You can get a pretty heavy tone, but i think the RG series is better for that type of sound. The clean tone is pretty nice, but i wouldn't call it exceptional. of course you know that tone varies from guitar to guitar even if they are the same model, so you may find that others have a killer clean tone.
The coil tap pull switch changes the 2 humbuckers to single coils and with that and the 3 position toggle you can get a decent range of tones.

 

[Vease]

I don't know how much the'62 reissue strat retails for, but I got one of the new American Series strats a month ago, and it is fantastic - easily the best guitar I have owned in 20+ years of playing. Of course it hasn't got that real 'thud' in the bottom end that you might want for some hard rock sounds, and you only get 'infinite' sustain if you plug it into the right box, but if you want a strat, then you don't get it for those things anyway. From the factory the action was way too high, but I have had it set up from the place I bought it, and now it is just sooo nice to play, I can't keep my hands off it.