Pricing and availability

We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 7 stores. Prices updated .

Sweetwater
5.0 (14)
$417.09
Guitar Center
4.5 (12)
$429.99
Amazon
4.1 (45)
Musician's Friend
5.0 (1)
$429.99
zZounds
5.0 (8)
$379.95
Thomann
4.8 (4)
$398.00

Average Price: $416

Standard/Professional

$400

$1001+

Price Tier

Budget

Standard

High-end

Price History

Based on price data from 5 merchants for "Ibanez S Series". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.

* Product prices and availability are updated by Equipboard every 24hrs and are subject to change. Equipboard may receive compensation for purchases made at participating retailers linked on this site. This compensation does not affect what products or prices are displayed, or the order of prices listed. For more information, please refer to our affiliate disclosure.

Description

The Ibanez S Series effortlessly blends form and function for the modern guitarist, offering a lightweight meranti body that complements its sleek, ergonomic design. Whether you're shredding solos or laying down heavy rhythms, the Wizard III neck delivers an unparalleled playability with its thin, fast profile. This neck, crafted from maple, is adorned with a rosewood fretboard featuring 24 jumbo frets, making it perfect for intricate fretwork and extended range performances.

Underneath its polished exterior, the S Series is equipped with dual Quantum humbuckers, providing a versatile sonic palette from warm, articulate cleans to aggressive, snarling overdrives. A five-way pickup selector switch expands your tonal options far beyond the typical dual-humbucker setup, ensuring you can dial in the perfect sound for any style. The fixed bridge design enhances tuning stability and sustain, making it a reliable companion for any live performance or recording session.

Ideal for both burgeoning musicians and seasoned players, the Ibanez S Series is a testament to the brand's commitment to quality and innovation. Its Cosmo Black hardware adds a touch of sleek sophistication, while the offset dot inlays on the fingerboard provide a modern aesthetic.

Key Features:

  • Body: Meranti
  • Neck: Maple, Wizard III profile
  • Fingerboard: Rosewood with offset dot inlays
  • Scale Length: 648 mm (25.5 inches)
  • Frets: 24 Jumbo
  • Pickups: Quantum Humbuckers (neck and bridge)
  • Bridge: Fixed
  • Hardware: Cosmo Black
  • 5-way pickup selector for expanded tonal options

Product specs

Number of Strings 6
Left-/Right-handed Right-handed
Body Type Solidbody
Body Shape S521 Standard
Body Material Meranti
Body Finish Gloss Polyurethane
Neck Material Maple
Neck Shape Wizard III
Neck Joint Bolt-on
Radius 15.75"
Fingerboard Inlay Offset White Dots
Number of Frets 24, Jumbo
Scale Length 25.5"
Nut Width 1.692"
Nut Material Plastic
Bridge/Tailpiece F106 Bridge with Individual Saddles
Tuners Ibanez Closed Gear
Neck Pickup Quantum Humbucker
Bridge Pickup Quantum Humbucker
Controls 1 x master volume, 1 x master tone
Switching 5-way blade pickup switch
Strings D'Addario, .010-.046
Case/Gig Bag Sold Separately

FAQs

What type of music is the Ibanez S Series S521 Electric Guitar best suited for?

The Ibanez S Series S521 is versatile and well-suited for rock, metal, and fusion genres due to its fast neck and powerful Quantum humbucker pickups, which deliver a wide range of tones from crisp cleans to heavy distortion.

What is the neck profile of the Ibanez S521 guitar?

The Ibanez S521 features the Wizard III neck profile, known for its slim and fast design, making it ideal for players who prefer quick, comfortable access across the fretboard.

Is the Ibanez S521 suitable for beginners?

Yes, the Ibanez S521 is suitable for beginners due to its lightweight body, comfortable neck profile, and versatile tone options, providing an excellent starting point for various playing styles.

What are the pickup configurations on the Ibanez S521?

The Ibanez S521 is equipped with Quantum humbuckers in both the neck and bridge positions, offering a 5-way pickup switch for a variety of tonal options, from warm and smooth to bright and aggressive.

Does the Ibanez S521 guitar come with a case or gig bag?

No, the Ibanez S521 does not come with a case or gig bag; these must be purchased separately to ensure protection during transport and storage.

Darrell Braun Guitar

Darrell Braun Guitar

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Darrell Braun Guitar

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Rob Chapman

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Brian Bower

Video thumbnail for Ibanez RG vs S Series Shootout!- The Differences & Which Is Best For YOU - History & Review by PMTVUK

Ibanez RG vs S Series Shootout!- The Differences & Which Is Best For YOU - History & Review

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PMTVUK

Video thumbnail for Ibanez RG vs S series - what's the difference? by Gear4music Guitars

Ibanez RG vs S series - what's the difference?

Gear4music Guitars

Gear4music Guitars

Reviews

PROS

  • Lightweight and ergonomic, perfect for extended playing sessions

  • Fast and smooth neck ideal for quick movements

  • Versatile sound suitable for metal, rock, blues, and jazz

  • 5-way switch allows for diverse tonal options

  • High-quality finish and attractive design options

  • Consistently stays in tune despite heavy play

  • Great sustain for long, resonating notes

  • Thin contoured body makes it comfortable and easy to handle

  • Easy to set up and adjust for personal preference

  • Well-suited for both beginners and experienced players

CONS

  • Some units reported with poor build quality and assembly issues

  • Occasional finish defects and blemishes noted

  • Reports of knobs and controls being improperly installed

  • Frets may require additional finishing for smoothness

  • Bridge location issues affecting intonation on some guitars

5.0 out of 5

Based on 1 Review and 8 Ratings

5 star
4 star
3 star
2 star
1 star
rhargrave1966

Ibanez S Series Guitars

I've always loved my Ibanez Saber Guitars, I have three, And have had four, I love the Wizard II Neck, The pickups and the feel of the Guitar, It's lightness.I'm not a really good guitarist but the sound you can get out of them is incredibly varied from Blues to Jazz to Funk to Metal and Rock, all from three pickups , I bought them and look what happened to me, I can't stop talking, I know It's Mad..

Artist usage

Add artist
See how Tim Henson uses Ibanez S Series

Tim Henson

Guitarist, Music Producer

Polyphia

...
Verified via YouTube

At 6.52 you can see he uses this guitar.

I am saying that this is just a standard as the specific model has been discontinued, and no longer exists on the Ibanez website.

See how Plini uses Ibanez S Series

Plini

Guitarist, Composer

Plini

...
Verified via YouTube

Besides Strandberg, what other guitars are in your collection?

I have my first “real” guitar – an *Ibanez S-series* – and a couple of Nylon and Steel string acoustics.

See how Scott LePage uses Ibanez S Series

Scott LePage

Guitarist, Music Producer

Polyphia

...
Verified via YouTube

In the official music video for "James Franco" by Polyphia, Scott LePage is seen playing an Ibanez S Series electric guitar.

See how James "Munky" Shaffer uses Ibanez S Series

James "Munky" Shaffer

Guitarist

Korn

...
Verified via YouTube

Throughout the "Blind" video he uses a custom Ibanez S5407 first seen at 0:15.

See how Jacky Vincent uses Ibanez S Series

Jacky Vincent

Singer, Guitarist

Falling In Reverse

...
Verified via Photo

Jacky is seen here playing a banged up, heavily modded Ibanez S Series guitar

See how Paul Waggoner uses Ibanez S Series

Paul Waggoner

Guitarist

Between the Buried and Me

...
Verified via Photo

IN this post Paul posted a old live photo. He can be seen using his ibanez s series guitar. this is the guitar that he modeled his signature guitar after

See how Matt Lange uses Ibanez S Series

Matt Lange

Singer, Guitarist

...
Verified via MusicRadar

In the MusicRadar feature "Me in my studio," Matt Lange is shown with an Ibanez S Series guitar, visible on the rack in his studio setup.

See how Luke Hoskin uses Ibanez S Series

Luke Hoskin

Guitarist, Keyboardist

Protest the Hero

...
Verified via Vimeo

"This is an Ibanez S. It's an old one. It's all dinged up, but that gives it character."

See how Rick Hunolt uses Ibanez S Series

Rick Hunolt

Guitarist

Exodus

...
Verified via Photo

he can be seen with the guitar in this image

See how M3RKMUS1C uses Ibanez S Series

M3RKMUS1C

Guitarist

...
Verified via YouTube

M3RKMUS1C shows this guitar in his "My RARE Guitar Collection!" video at 0:57. He shows an old (now private) video of his back from July 2009 displaying the guitars he had at the time. This S Series is no longer his possession as he has sold it at an unknown point of time after the video was taken. The guitar was given to M3RKMUS1C by his older brother after he quit playing.

See how Marko "Nuclear Holocausto" Laiho uses Ibanez S Series

Marko "Nuclear Holocausto" Laiho

Singer, Guitarist

Beherit

...
Verified via Photo

Marko's actual guitar

See how Kevin Palmer uses Ibanez S Series

Kevin Palmer

Singer, Guitarist

TRUSTcompany

...
Verified

According to this site, Kevin uses Ibanez S Series guitars.

Album Usage

The Ibanez S Series has been featured on the following albums:

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Ibanez S Series, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

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Community setups

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mburridgemusic

mburridgemusic

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