Introduced in the late 1980s, the S Series is notable for being a streamlined mahogany-bodied guitar with a maple neck that plays comfortably while retaining the resonance of mahogany.

Like many Ibanez guitars of this era, the Sabers were equipped with a double locking Edge tremolo system, licensed under Floyd Rose patents.

[citation needed] In the USA S models, they installed a counter-tension system called the Backstop in the springs cavity, a device that helped keep the guitar in tune after a string-break and helped return the bridge to zero point, although the action of the tremolo was stiffer.

Originally, they were equipped with Edge and Lo-TRS series double locking tremolos, depending on the model.

Unlike the S or SA, it has a 3-way selector switch, at which the mid position is two single-coil (inner coils of the humbuckers) instead.

Like the SZ, it has a thicker and heavier body and an even shorter 24.75" set-in neck, similar to Gibson guitars.

Prior to the 2008 model year, the SA series was Ibanez' only standard (non-budget) range of solid-body guitar that used a non-locking vibrato system.