PS10
Neck: Maple (set) w/ 22 fret rosewood fingerboard
Inlays: Pearl block with abalone diagonal center, "Paul Stanley" inlay at the 21st fret
Body: Mahogany
Top: Maple
Color: black
Binding: "Deluxe" (extending to headstock)
Bridge: Gibraltar bridge w/ sustain block
Pickguard: Chrome
Pickups: Ibanez V-2
Chrome hardware
Available 1978-1981, the model changed ever so slightly over the production run.
Ibanez produced a total of 1,526 PS10 during this period. An early 1978 b/w ad features the name IC-1000 which would make it the top-of-the-line of the IC model but in the 1978 catalogue it is listed as the PS10. (Curiously enough Paul is mentioned in the 1977 Ibanez catalog in relation to the newly christened IC model line.)
IC1000BK/PS10R (20th Anniversary model)
Neck: Maple (set) w/ 22 fret rosewood fingerboard
Inlays: Pearl block with abalone diagonal center, "20th Anniversary" or "Limited reissue" inlay at the 21st fret
Body: Mahogany
Top: Maple
Color: black
Binding: Multiple-layer with abalone center (extending to headstock)
Bridge: Gibraltar II bridge w/ sustain block and Quick Change II tail piece
Pickguard: Chrome
Pickups: Ibanez V-1 and V-2 humbuckers
Chrome hardware
Available 1992-1993. Commemorating the 20th anniversary of KISS (since neither the IC line nor the PS had any sort of anniversary in 1992-93). First the issue of what this model is really called. The production total for this anniversary model was just over 500 (the number 511 pops up here and there). 200 of these were for sales in the US and these have the "20th Anniversary" inlay at the 21st fret as seen above. These 200 are probably the ones that Jim McCloskey at Ibanez have referred to as the IC1000BK. The remaining ones had a "Limited reissue" inlay at the 21st fret and were earmarked for the European and Japanese markets. These appear to have had the model name PS10R. (This Dutch price list from 1992 actually shows the model name and any Google search for PS10R will return a huge majority of Japanese web sites.)
The number stamped at the 22nd fret could be the production number but nobody seems to know for sure. Apart from the obvious differences in the inlay at the 21st fret the neck inlays on the reissue also differs from the original. In 1992 the inlays had a marked split between the pearl and abalone section while they were tightly joined on the original. Other differences include an updated bridge/tail piece combo, a different neck pickup, and the lack of the square output jack cover.
According to the auction listings from Butterfields at least three IC1000BK were used on stage: 2 during the Revenge tour and 1 during the Reunion/Lost Cities tour.
PS10LTD
Neck: Maple (set) w/ 22 fret ebony fingerboard
Inlays: Pearl block with abalone diagonal center, "PS10LTD" inlay at the 21st fret
Body: Mahogany
Top: Maple
Color: black pearl with gold sparkle
Binding: Eight-layer with abalone center (extending to headstock)
Bridge: Gibraltar bridge w/ sustain block
Pickguard: Gold
Pickups: Ibanez V7 & V8
Gold hardware
Available 1995. Binding extends around the neck/body joint. Production totals unknown. Serial numbers were handwritten by Paul on the certificate of authenticity. Ibanez re-created the 1978 catalogue shot of the PS10 for a print ad for the PS10LTD.
PS10II
Neck: Maple (set) w/ 22 fret rosewood fingerboard
Inlays: Pearl block with abalone diagonal center
Body: Mahogany
Top: Maple
Color: black
Binding: Multiple-layer with abalone center (extending to headstock)
Bridge: Full-tune bridge
Pickguard: Chrome
Pickups: Ibanez AH1 & AH2
Chrome hardware
Available 1995-96. The catalogue return of the PS10 with a few minor changes. Most obviously the 21st fret inlay has no text, despite what the catalogue photo might suggest, but the pearloid tuning pegs also have a new shape (while both the IC1000BK/PS10R and the PS10LTD has the original "notched" version). One curious fact about the PS10II is that I've seen at least two that has the inlay reversed at the 5th fret. If this was a common "fault" or not is unknown. I've also seen several PS10II's for sale that have had chrome humbucker rings. These are obviously easily replaced but none of the ads have mentioned the guitars being anything other than original. Perhaps that is what you get when it says "Made in Korea" on the back of the headstock.
PS10CL
Neck: Maple (set) w/ 22 fret rosewood fingerboard
Inlays: Pearl block with abalone diagonal center, "Paul Stanley" inlay at the 21st fret
Body: Mahogany
Top: Maple
Color: black
Binding: "Deluxe" (extending to headstock)
Bridge: Gibraltar bridge w/ sustain block
Pickguard: Chrome
Pickups: Ibanez V-2
Chrome hardware
Available 1996. CL stands for "classic" and this is more or less the 1978 model put back into production. According to the auction listings from Butterfields Paul used at least two of the PS10CL on stage for the Reunion/Lost Cities tours.
Only one interesting thing to note here and that is about the photo of Paul in 1996 Ibanez catalogue which shows him holding an IC1000BK/PS10R rather than any of the models actually offered in the catalogue.
And then things get weird. Some time in 1996 Paul severed ties with Ibanez and acquired all the remaining stock of the PS10LTD and PS10CL. The reason for this becomes fairly obvious when the 1996 Worldwide tourbook features this ad for direct sales of both models (perhaps inspired by Gene's foray into direct sales of the Punisher). The prices in this ad are "suggested retail" which have been crossed over. 1997's Lost Cities tour book features the same ad but with actual prices. This turn of events explain the following barrage of 1996 Ibanez catalogs and their contents:
PS1 (CM)
Neck: 3-piece maple (set) w/ 22 fret ebony fingerboard
Inlays: Acrylic block with abalone diagonal center, "Paul Stanley" inlay at the 21st fret
Body: Mahogany
Top: Maple
Color: n/a
Binding: "Deluxe" (extending to headstock)
Bridge: Gibraltar bridge w/ sustain block and Quik Change Classic tailpiece
Pickguard: Mirror
Pickups: Seymour Duncan 59/Custom 5
Chrome hardware
Available 2015-present. The shattered mirror top isn't actually a mirror but rather acrylic which enables the, more or less, authentic replication of the "cracking pattern" of the original 1979 Shattered Mirror PS10. (This comparison between the two is fairly inctructive. I've "greenlighted" two pieces that look good while the "redlighted" is a mistake on the PS1CM which has fused two pieces together. Overall the look is very well done but the discerning eye sees the irregularities.) Each PS1CM is handmade in Japan.
PS10 (BK)
Neck: 3-piece maple (set) w/ 22 fret ebony fingerboard
Inlays: Acrylic block with abalone diagonal center, "Paul Stanley" inlay at the 21st fret
Body: Mahogany
Top: Maple
Color: Black
Binding: "Deluxe" (extending to headstock)
Bridge: Gibraltar bridge w/ sustain block and Quik Change Classic tailpiece
Pickguard: Mirror
Pickups: Seymour Duncan 59/Custom 5
Chrome hardware
Available 2015-present. The PS10 has the same shaped heel as the PS1CM. It's almost a shame to call this a PS10 since it actually differs quite a lot from the original 1978 PS10. Made in Japan like the PS1.
PS120 (BK)
Neck: Mahogany (set) w/ 22 fret ebony fingerboard
Inlays: Acrylic block with abalone diagonal center, "Paul Stanley" inlay at the 21st fret
Body: Mahogany
Top: Maple
Color: Black
Binding: "Deluxe" (extending to headstock)
Bridge: Full Tune III bridge w/ Quik Change III tailpiece
Pickguard: Mirror
Pickups: Seymour Duncan 59/Custom 5
Chrome hardware
Available 2015-present. The PS120 has a "clumsier" shape to the heel compared to the PS10. Other differences not mentioned above includes the frets; tuning heads; knobs are regular Speed Knobs rather than Sure Grip; and single-ply binding on the headstock.
PS40 (BK)
Neck: Maple (bolt-on) w/ 22 fret rosewood fingerboard
Inlays: Dot
Body: Poplar
Top: n/a
Color: Black
Binding: n/a
Bridge: Full Tune III bridge/tailpiece
Pickguard: Mirror
Pickups: Infinity R
Chrome hardware
Available 2015-present. Unlike the rest of the PS family this budget version has Paul's signature on the pickguard rather than the truss rod cover.