Ibanez JS240PS-CA

Ibanez JS240PS-CA review

The Ibanez JS240PS-CA is Joe Satriani's signature, ST-style electric guitar, built around a clear purpose: expressive lead playing with long sustain and a stable tremolo. Its feature set is specialized rather than aimed at covering every familiar guitar sound. The model has been available since April 2020, and the listed price is 1499. It comes in Candy Apple red and includes a gig bag, but not a hard case.

Its American basswood body has no separate top. A bolt-on maple and bubinga neck meets a rosewood fingerboard with white dot inlays and 24 medium frets. The 648 mm (25.51-inch) scale and 42 mm (1.65-inch) nut width give it familiar full-size dimensions. Ibanez specifies a JS neck profile, a 250 mm (9.84-inch) fingerboard radius, and neck thicknesses of 20 mm at the first fret and 22 mm at the twelfth. One owner also reports titanium inserts in the neck, though this detail is not included in the supplied specification list.

Neck feel and setup

Player reports regularly praise the neck's feel, the body's comfort when seated, and the guitar's balance and playability. Several describe a low, comfortable action and a strong sense of sustain even with the Sustainiac switched off. The rounded body shape is also reported to sit comfortably on the player's leg. These impressions point to a guitar well suited to long lead parts and fast movement across the neck.

Setup quality, however, is not consistent across the reports. Some buyers received instruments that played well straight away, while others describe high action, buzzing around the fifth fret, uneven frets, or a locking nut that did not sit flush. One player found a neck shim and tremolo adjustment improved the setup. These are individual experiences, not proof of a recurring defect, but they make an in-person inspection worthwhile. Check fretwork, nut seating, action, and tremolo position before relying on the factory setup.

Pickups and controls

The bridge pickup is a DiMarzio The Satchur8 humbucker, while the neck position uses a Sustainiac Driver single-coil pickup. The bridge humbucker is described by players as strong and clear under overdrive and high gain, where its output suits focused lead tones. Clean sounds are usable, but the overall pickup arrangement does not offer the broad range of a guitar with several conventional pickup combinations. The neck pickup's main role is tied to the Sustainiac system, rather than providing a completely different, traditional single-coil voice.

A three-way toggle selects the pickup arrangement. The volume control has a push-pull function described as a high-pass filter, and the tone control's push-pull switch turns the Sustainiac on or off. One important point from owner feedback: the volume control's high-pass label can be misleading. A player found that the circuit preserves treble as the volume is reduced, rather than cutting bass in the way many people might expect from a high-pass filter. Treat it as a treble-preserving volume function, not a switch for a thinner, single-coil-like tone.

Reports also differ on how the battery affects operation. The pickups are described in one review as passive, with the battery primarily needed for the Sustainiac. Another owner reports lower pickup output and a less clean neck sound when the battery is depleted. Keeping a fresh battery installed is the sensible approach, especially if clean neck tones or the sustain effect matter during a performance.

Edge tremolo and performance use

The Edge tremolo is a major part of the guitar's appeal. One player reports that it returned to pitch reliably, while other setup accounts show why correct adjustment matters. A floating tremolo can feel excellent when the bridge, strings, and neck are properly set, but a poor initial setup may affect both action and stability. The JS240PS-CA also has a locking nut and Ibanez machine heads. The supplied specs do not identify the tuners as locking tuners.

The Sustainiac is the defining feature for players who want sustained notes and feedback-like textures. Reports praise the effect and describe substantial natural sustain even when it is off. Its push-pull activation is less convenient for some users than a dedicated switch, particularly when quick access matters. That is a control-layout preference, but it is worth trying before buying.

Verdict

The Ibanez JS240PS-CA makes the most sense for players drawn to Satriani-style lead work, a comfortable JS-profile neck, a powerful bridge humbucker, and sustained notes from the Sustainiac. Its hardware and core design earn strong praise from many owners, while setup complaints mean a careful fret and action check is prudent. The focused pickup arrangement and specialized controls are less appealing if broad, traditional tonal coverage is the priority. A gig bag is included; buyers who want a hard case should budget for one separately.