Ibanez 540PIII-PN Purple Neon

How rugged is this Ibanez 540PIII-PN Purple Neon!

In the late 1980s, Ibanez set the tone with its Power Series, and one model immediately stood out: the 540PSH. Built in Japan in 1989 by FujiGen, this guitar immediately stood out with its distinctive "reverse RG" shape, featuring a long, sharp lower horn that not only looked bold but also contributed to excellent playability. With this design, Ibanez abandoned the earlier Power body design from 1987, laying the foundation for what would later become the iconic RG style.

That same philosophy lives on in the Ibanez Made in Japan Genesis Collection Limited Edition 540PIII. This is an instrument that effortlessly transitions between comfort, speed, and versatility—exactly what you expect from a classic Ibanez. The lightweight basswood body feels instantly familiar and provides a perfect foundation for tight riffs and flowing solos. The 24-fret rosewood fingerboard encourages fast playing across the entire neck, while the double locking tremolo ensures stability, even with heavy use.

The pickup configuration underscores this guitar's rock and metal DNA. The combination of humbucking and stacked pickups, featuring both ceramic and alnico magnets, delivers a powerful, defined sound that holds up well at high gain, yet still offers sufficient nuance for more subtle passages. Everything about this 540PIII exudes that typical, timeless RG spirit: built in Japan, uncompromising in finish, and crafted for guitarists seeking precision, speed, and character in a single instrument.