Complete Ibanez S770CZM Review and Demo (hands-on)

The 770 is definitely a specialist in the lead guitar category, so potential buyers need to realize they're getting a guitar specifically built for that style of play.

This is definitely not a chunky, rhythmic guitar and I had a hard time getting much thud out of the lower end in a standard tuning. This isn't necessarily bad, as long as you know that you're getting a guitar designed specifically for lead. 

The appeal is in the brighter, searing upper register. You can even get a nice ripping sound from the lower register and thicker strings.

At the same time, it didn't feel overwhelming or untamed. The guitar is controlled and doesn't sound chaotic, unless you try to force too much low end. 

DiMarzio pickups, which show up a lot on Ibanez guitars, are exceptionally good at this type of sound without being too messy. 

All of this combined with the Ibanez neck makes this guitar very easy to play and a great fit for modern speedsters.

Controls and Onboard Flexibility

Most of the time you have an HSH pickup configuration, you'll have a five-way pickup selector. This is how the S770CZM is set up and it's one of the most flexible electric guitar configurations available.

That said, the 770 is flexible within its very specific style - fast, lead/melody, and high gain playing.

So even the lower neck pickup stays faithful to those sounds and doesn't seem to deviate a lot from the guitar's assignment.

But flexibility is flexibility, and the 770 can move around a lot before you have to touch your amp's EQ. You'll notice in the video there's a lot of variety between the bridge and neck humbucker, but they're both built for lead tones.

Cost and Overall Value

At the time of writing this review, the 770 was a bit over $1000 on Sweetwater and comparable markets. High-end pickups like DiMarzio are not always a guarantee at this price point, so it's great to see Ibanez include them. This significantly increases the value, and arguably pushes the 770 into aristocratic Ibanez status. Bridge hardware, body design, neck, and pickups are all high-end, so the $1000 price point is fair and maybe even a little on the low side given the specs sheet.

Current Ibanez S770CZM Pricing from Sweetwater (includes multiple versions)

Prices updated from Sweetwater in real-time.

This guitar is definitely a specialist in the lead category, which means value will be in the context of that style. Guitarists looking for a heavy guitar with a lot of punchy rhythm should look elsewhere, but speed-focused players who want comfort for demanding technical styles will be completely happy with the Ibanez S770CZM, especially at the current price tag.

If you have questions about my review or my experience with the guitar, drop them in the comments section below, and check out the guitar on Sweetwater

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