Slim, Fast, and Built for Players Who Mean Business
The Ibanez S Series has earned a reputation for guitars that feel like they were designed by someone who actually plays fast — a lot. The S521 carries that tradition forward with a silhouette so slim it barely feels like it's there, paired with a Wizard III neck that practically begs you to explore the upper frets. If you've ever felt like your guitar was fighting you instead of playing with you, this one might change your mind.
Underneath the striking Blackberry Sunburst finish is a Meranti body — a tonewood Ibanez specifically selects for the S Series — mated to a three-piece maple Wizard III neck via Ibanez's All Access Neck Joint. The result is a guitar that's both resonant and responsive, with a fixed F106 bridge that keeps sustain going longer than you'd expect from an instrument this light.
This B-Stock S521 is a great opportunity to get into one of Ibanez's most player-friendly platforms at a value price point, with the understanding that the cosmetic detail noted below does nothing to affect playability or tone.
This item is a B-Stock guitar sourced directly from the manufacturer. It is new and has never been previously owned. The photos shown are of the exact instrument you will receive. Before shipment, our licensed technician will inspect and professionally set up the guitar to ensure it is playing its best. During our inspection, we noticed Flaw on poly near bottom strap button. (see pictures) Please note, these may not be the only cosmetic imperfections. As a B-Stock instrument, there may be additional minor blemishes that are small in nature and do not affect playability or performance.
A Neck You'll Keep Coming Back To
The Wizard III neck profile is one of Ibanez's thinnest and flattest designs — measuring just 19mm at the first fret and 21mm at the twelfth. At 43mm wide at the nut and with a 400mm (approximately 15.75") radius fretboard, it encourages a relaxed, low-effort grip without sacrificing accuracy. Twenty-four jumbo frets cover the full two-octave range, so nothing on the fretboard is off-limits.
The rosewood fretboard features offset white dot inlays — tasteful and functional without being distracting. The bolt-on neck joint (AANJ — All Access Neck Joint) is carved to allow your thumb and palm to slide up smoothly without running into a heel block.
More Tonal Options Than You'd Expect
At first glance, two Quantum humbuckers and a fixed bridge sounds pretty straightforward. But Ibanez fits the S521 with a five-way lever switch rather than the standard three-way, which opens up parallel and coil-split configurations in addition to the expected neck, bridge, and both. That gives you single-coil-ish clarity in positions two and four alongside the full-throated humbucker tone in positions one and five.
Both Quantum pickups are passive ceramic designs, with the neck and bridge units voiced differently to complement each other. One master volume and one master tone keep the control layout simple and intuitive — no menu-diving, just play.
Fixed Bridge, Cosmo Black Hardware
The F106 fixed bridge keeps everything locked in place — string height is adjustable independently on each saddle, so intonation and action can be dialed in precisely. A fixed bridge also contributes meaningfully to sustain and tuning stability, which matters when you're leaning into the Wizard III neck and playing fast. All hardware is finished in Cosmo Black, giving the guitar a clean, uniform look against the Blackberry Sunburst body.
Product Features:
- Body: Meranti, solid body construction
- Neck: 3-piece Maple, Wizard III profile, bolt-on (AANJ), 19mm at 1st fret / 21mm at 12th fret
- Fretboard: Rosewood, 400mm radius (~15.75"), offset white dot inlays
- Scale length: 25.5" (648mm)
- Frets: 24 jumbo
- Nut: Black plastic, 43mm width
- Pickups: Ibanez Quantum H-H (passive/ceramic), neck and bridge
- Controls: Master volume, master tone, 5-way lever switch
- Bridge: F106 fixed bridge with independent saddle adjustment
- Hardware: Cosmo Black finish
- Finish: Blackberry Sunburst
Brand: Ibanez
Model: S521 Blackberry Sunburst
SKU: S521BBS-2ND|I251112516
Condition: B-Stock
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