The 540S is a model of solid body guitars produced by Ibanez which had a number of iterations and variations over its lifespan. It is the precursor to the S series.
These variants all share some common traits including:
- a mahogany "Sabre" offset double cutaway Strat-style body with arched top and back resulting in a very thin edge and
- a thin, wide, flat neck profile.
Except as noted, all 540S models have:
- a double locking tremolo bridge,
- rosewood fretboards,
- traditional bolt-on neck joint with a stamped metal plate and
- dot fretboard position markers.
Differences between these models include the pickup configuration, exotic top veneers, fretboard material and inlays, neck joint type, the number of strings and even the number of necks.
The 540S consists of these distinct models:
- 540S (1987–1992); HSS pickup configuration
- 540S (1992, maple fretboard); HSH pickups
540S variants[]
Many 540S variations were produced including:
- 540S-TC (1987); Triple-coil & single-coil pickups, Edge tremolo, traditional bolt-on neck
- 540S-CT5 (1988–1990); HSH pickups, synchronized tremolo, AANJ, oval fretboard inlays
- 540SC (1989); HSH pickups, synchronized tremolo, AANJ, oval fretboard inlays, a.k.a 540S Classic
- 540S-CT6 (1990); HSH pickups, synchronized tremolo, AANJ, oval fretboard inlays
- 540SLTD (1988–1992); HSH pickups, sharktooth fretboard inlays
- 540S-HH (1988–1989); HH pickups
- 540S-SH (1988); HS pickups
- 540S-LPF (1989–1990); HSH pickups w/ pickups set flush with the body (LPF = low-profile)
- 540SFM (1991–1992); HSS pickups, flame maple top and back, oval fretboard inlays
- 540SBM (1992); HSH pickups, burl mahogany top and back, oval fretboard inlays
- 540SQM (1992); HSH pickups, quilted maple top and back, flame maple fretboard with oval inlays; only sold in Japan
- 540SSM (1992); HSH pickups, striped maple (?) top and back, unknown fretboard with oval inlays; only sold in Japan
- 540S7 (1991–1992); seven-string model; HSS pickups
- 540STN (1990–1991); twin-neck model; 6-string: HSH/ 12-string: HH
Related models[]
- S540; replaced the 540S in 1993