Ibanez Paul Stanley Signature PS120SP – Eccentric But Powerful

Body And Neck:
Electronics:
Hardware:
Sound:
Value:

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As rock legends go, there are few more distinctive than KISS frontman Paul Stanley. And his trusty signature Ibanez is just as familiar to classic rock fans, having been a regular feature of his performances on stages across the globe since 1977. Ibanez offer several versions of his signature axe, with this higher end – but still affordable – PS120SP showing off original style and sound that just ooze classic rock appeal.

Body And Neck

This extreme guitar takes the distinctive Iceman body, with its exaggerated teardrop shape and huge single-cutaway fishhook, and adds some glam rock attitude with a super sparkly silver finish. This model features a solid mahogany body (24.7” scale length) with a maple top. The three-piece mahogany neck is set into the guitar, and sports a thin profile carved to Paul Stanley’s strict specifications, so you know speed won’t be an issue. Sitting on the neck is a bound ebony fretboard with eye-catching acrylic and abalone block inlays, and 22 medium frets. This truly is a striking guitar – photos don’t do it justice!

Hardware

The PS120SP does more than just look pretty, and is clearly built to perform – as you’d expect from a guitar in this higher-end category. While it’s not swimming in hardware, it still features solid, reliable chrome components, and sticks to Paul Stanley’s specifications. On the headstock – sporting Stanley’s signature on the truss rod cover – you’ll find six chrome tuners, that are smooth to use and keep you relatively stable in tuning. There’s also an Ibanez-designed Full Tune III bridge, and a Quik Change III tailpiece, for good sustain and stability, and makes string changes very smooth.

Electronics

Despite the outrageous glittery looks, it’s the electronics where this signature guitar truly shines, with two excellent Seymour Duncan passive covered humbuckers, offering killer classic rock tones. There’s a vintage-inspired ‘59 at the neck position, and a powerful Custom 5 at the bridge. Controls are simple: three responsive top-hat tuners, comprising two volume controls individually tending to each pickup, and a master tone control. The guitar also features a slightly inconveniently placed three-way pickup selector switch, to choose your pickup.

Sound

Whether you’re playing the anthemic Rock and Roll All Nite, the Black Diamond outro solo, or pretty much any classic rock number, this guitar has you covered. The PAF-influenced ‘59 humbucker in the neck is warm but clear, with huge sustain and attack. For lead playing, the Custom 5 is another awesome vintage-sounding humbucker, but with a beefier tone and huge output. Together the pickups balance each other nicely, and lend themselves to any style of music – although on this PS120SP, unless you’re playing classic rock you are doing it wrong!

Conclusion

You don’t have to be a die-hard KISS fan to see the appeal of this signature guitar – it rocks. The extroverted style screams the loudest, but thankfully the aesthetics are matched all the way by the super playability and the excellent humbuckers.

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