Rogue! - Ibanez SAS36FM – Korean-Made Flame Maple HSS Electric Guitar

Ibanez SAS36FM Korean-Made HSS Electric Guitar

Meet Rogue, a Korean-built Ibanez SAS36FM combining the slim, ergonomic feel of Ibanez's S-family designs with a beautifully figured flame-maple top, abalone binding, versatile HSS electronics and fixed bridge.

Finished in a dramatic transparent crimson/red burst fading into black around the edges, Rogue arrived at The Stray Chord after her previous owner discovered that bass was simply more his thing.

She required no major cosmetic reconstruction, but an intermittent pickup-selector fault and unfinished fretwork prevented this increasingly uncommon Korean Ibanez from performing at its best.

Following electronics repair, complete fretwork and a professional setup, Rogue was successfully rehomed for £335.

About Rogue

The discontinued Ibanez SAS36FM comes from an interesting period of Korean Ibanez production, combining the company's reputation for fast, modern instruments with considerably more decorative appointments than its understated shape initially suggests.

Rogue's slim, lightweight body is topped by beautifully figured flame maple beneath a rich transparent burst finish. Shimmering abalone body binding follows the outline, catching the light and providing a striking contrast against the darker edge of the burst.

Around the back, the sculpted All Access Neck Joint removes much of the bulk traditionally associated with a bolt-on neck heel, making access to the highest frets considerably more comfortable.

The maple neck is paired with a rosewood fingerboard, providing the fast, familiar feel associated with Ibanez's performance-oriented instruments.

HSS electronics

Rogue uses an HSS pickup configuration, combining a bridge humbucker with two single coils.

This provides a much broader tonal range than a conventional twin-humbucker layout, moving from bright, articulate clean sounds and blues tones through to the thicker output required for rock and heavier styles.

Shortly after arriving at The Stray Chord, Rogue developed an intermittent selector-switch fault that caused the bridge humbucker to lose connection.

Rather than treating the symptoms, the switch was properly repaired and tested, restoring reliable operation across every pickup position.

The result is exactly what an HSS guitar should be: versatile enough to move between dramatically different sounds without requiring a change of instrument.

Restoration & setup

Rogue arrived in good overall cosmetic condition, so her rehabilitation focused predominantly on electronics, fretwork and playability.

During her time at The Stray Chord she received:

• Complete professional setup
• Intermittent pickup-selector fault diagnosed
• Selector switch properly repaired
• Bridge humbucker connection restored
• Electronics tested across every pickup position
• Complete fret level
• Frets individually recrowned
• Frets polished
• Fret ends carefully dressed and rounded
• Rosewood fingerboard edges hand-rolled
• Fingerboard thoroughly cleaned
• Rosewood conditioned and rehydrated
• Neck relief precisely adjusted
• Fixed bridge action optimised
• Full intonation
• Pickup operation and balance checked
• Body and hardware thoroughly cleaned
• Fresh set of strings fitted
• Final electronics and playability inspection

The result was a smooth, fast-playing SAS36FM with reliable electronics and the comfortable, broken-in neck feel that extensive fret finishing can provide.

Specifications

*If we have the original Ibanez catalogue colour code/name for Rogue, I'd replace this description with the official finish name.

Rogue's adoption

❤️ REHOMED ❤️

Rogue wasn't abused, abandoned or broken beyond recognition.

Her previous owner simply discovered that he'd rather play bass.

Sometimes a Stray really does arrive through no fault of her own.

After electronics repair, extensive fretwork and a complete professional setup, Rogue found her next home and is no longer available for adoption.

Her page remains permanently in The Stray Chord Rehomed Archive, documenting her rehabilitation and providing a reference for players researching the discontinued Korean-built Ibanez SAS36FM.

Rescue • Restore • Rehome