1997 Ibanez J Custom Spot Model RG1502S Transparent Red w/ Hangtags, Japan

Up for sale, a 1997 Ibanez RG1502S in excellent, 100% original condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original padded gigbag and hangtags. This exceedingly rare RG series Ibanez is a Japan exclusive non-catalog Spot Model, crafted at the venerable Fujigen factory as part of the upscale J Custom line. Top-notch componentry includes Dimarzio humbuckers and a Floyd Rose-licensed Lo-Pro Edge locking tremolo, and tonewoods comprise a figured Transparent Red-finished Kaede maple top, mahogany body, and a maple neck capped with a thick slab 24 fret rosewood fretboard. Weighing 8lbs 2oz, this Ibanez has a strong natural acoustic resonance, pairing the warmth of mahogany with the treble detail and note attack of maple, qualities faithfully captured by the stock pair of Dimarzio humbuckers. The Air Norton in the neck position is warm and full while retaining definition, and the Steve’s Special (SFP) high-output humbucker in the bridge position is big and bold, with scooped mids for cutting clarity in high gain scenarios. The five-way pickup selector functions as a coil split in positions 2 and 4, yielding single coil spank and snap. This RG1502S has been professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with 10-46 strings, slinky action, and spot-on intonation. The three-piece maple neck has Ibanez’s RC J Custom Ultra profile, a slender C-shaped carve with generous shoulder, bordering on D-shaped, measuring .820” deep at the 1st fret and .870” at the 12th. The thick slab rosewood fretboard has a 12” radius and sports offset abalone dot inlay and practically perfect stock jumbo frets, exhibiting just a hint of wear beneath the plain strings on the crowns of frets 1-6. This Ibanez plays cleanly up the 25 1/2“ scale with a straight neck and a responsive, optimally-adjusted truss rod. The Top Lok III locking nut measures a full 1 11/16” in width, and the headstock features black Gotoh SG38 tuning machines which turn smoothly and hold pitch as they should. All of the electronics function as intended, with the Dimarzio humbuckers wired to the stock harness and governed by a five-way selector switch and Master Volume and Tone controls. The black hardware is all notably clean, including the dome-topped knurled knobs and the Floyd Rose-licensed Lo-Pro Edge tremolo, which actuates smoothly and snaps quickly back to pitch. The Transparent Red finish highlights the dynamic flame in the two-piece flame maple top, curlier in its figuring on the bass side, and tighter and more uniform on the treble side. Cosmetic wear is limited to a handful of minor chips and dings along the lower bout body edge, with one small chip on the top edge at the arm contour and some light scuffing on the treble side of the strum path. The smooth gloss finish on the neck profile is flawless and highlights subtle flame figuring in the central third of maple. The original Ibanez-branded padded gigbag is included, along with the factory hangtags.