Ibanez SA260 MIJ (2000) – Rare First-Year Production

For sale is a 2000 Ibanez SA260, made in Japan at the Fujigen factory. This is one of the very first SA260 models ever produced and was only manufactured in Japan during the initial production run in 2000, before production moved to Korea. The serial number F0007573 confirms its Fujigen origin.

Unlike the later Korean-made SA models, the Japanese SA260 features a solid mahogany body and was equipped with Japanese-made hardware and pickups. According to the original specifications, it comes fitted with:

• Bridge: Ibanez V6F (H)
• Middle: Ibanez RTS2 (S)
• Neck: Ibanez RTS1 (S)

These pickups were also used on a number of Japanese Ibanez models of the same era, including several Prestige instruments.

The HSS pickup configuration combined with the 5-way selector switch makes this an exceptionally versatile guitar. The single coils deliver warm, clear tones with plenty of sparkle, while the bridge humbucker has a tight, aggressive character that works beautifully for high-gain sounds. Whether you're playing blues, funk, classic rock or modern metal, the guitar easily adapts to different styles.

What impressed me most about this guitar is the neck. Quite simply, it's one of the most comfortable necks I have ever played. The fretwork is excellent, the neck is perfectly straight, and the larger frets combined with a very low action make it incredibly easy to play. Despite the low setup, there is no fret buzz, and the instrument feels effortless while still offering excellent control for more technical playing.

If I had to mention one personal criticism, it would be the position of the volume knob. Like on many Ibanez guitars, it sits quite close to the strings and can occasionally get in the way of the little finger when playing high up the neck. Some players prefer replacing it with a lower-profile knob or relocating the controls, but this is entirely a matter of personal preference. The guitar itself remains completely original.

Condition

Considering that the instrument is around 26 years old, it is in exceptionally well-preserved condition. There are no chips, no significant scratches, and no structural issues. The frets are in excellent condition with very little wear.

All hardware, electronics and pickups are 100% original. The guitar has never been modified, making it an increasingly difficult example to find today.

The guitar will be shipped in a hard case and carefully packed in a double-wall cardboard box to ensure it arrives safely.