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Historic Guitar

Ibanez

The Ibanez Story.

This is a long and winding road of a story and I will skip some detail in the interests of clarity. In about 1954 an American entrepeneur was having difficulty stocking his store and after various initiatives started importing guitars from the now famed Hoshino Gakki Gen company - Japan. Made in Japan was not a great selling point at that time and a Spanish company called Ibanez was bought for the name to ease this problem. The early Ibanez guitars were even finished in USA . By 1971 with a firm foothold in USA Ibanez started copying the guitars of Fender, Gibson and Rickenbacker. Not great at first but by 1977 the Ibanez guitars were starting to worry the parent company of Gibson who filed a lawsuit on a design technicality involving the headstock. These are the now famed Lawsuit guitars.

After this period Ibanez produced guitars loosely based on the USA makers but with some original content. This was the era of the Artist - The Musician - The Studio- The Iceman - to name but a few and they were GREAT guitars and still made in Japan and represented ( and still do ) extremely high value for money. Ibanez were now matching Gibson and the like but with their own designs.

Much of Ibanez production is now sadly not in Japan apart from the high end stuff with high end price tags. The Korean made instruments are no better or worse that a dozen other Korean mass producers lacking any individuality or soul ( In my opinion ).

Our Opinion:

The copy era guitars were good at the end but never really matched that which they were copying -despite the claims of many sellers on un named internet auction sites. From about 77/78 onwards however when Ibanez launched their own new Fuji Gen designs such as the Artists / Musicicians / Performers / etc.etc. they were at their peak and matching the big boys head on.

Useful Ibanez Links ( Click to open )

Wikipedia

Ibanez Catalogues / Info

The Ibanez Registry

Ibanez Musician Brochure

Ibanez Artist Brochure

Ibanez Professional Brochure

Ibanez Musician MC150 - Superb -

Post Lawsuit - Japan 1982-

These are now rare and snapped up as soon as they appear. In this condition they are VERY rare and only two small dinks stop me from describing this one as mint condition.(even these are on the top edge out of sight ). The original white pearlescent has beautifully yellowed like an old ivory but still retained all of its sparkle and the 150 unlike some of the Musician range is almost sensuous with curves in places that other guitars don't even have places.

The 150 boasts a pair of brilliant Super 58's with two tone, two volume and 3 way PLUS push pull switches on the tone pots that can turn each humbucker into single coil mode. Add to that the through neck design, Gibraltar bridge and fast load tail and you have a guitar to be recond with.

Playing this guitar with its low smooth action and tones that challenge the very best is a dream.

This guitar is also reportedly previously owned by Ray Wilson of Genesis.

IBANEZ MUSICIAN MC150DS - 1981-

Brilliant Rare Special Edition - Gold Hardware -

I have probably said enough about the musician but the 150 model has to be my personal favourite and this one is a cracker in 9/10 condition with just a couple of small but expertly touched in dinks barely noticeable. The shape is sublime and the versatility enormous. This isn't just a Musician - It is a Special Edition which you can See - Feel and Hear . Magnificent-

All original with a pair of magical Super 58's, two volume, two tone each with coil tap and three way switch , the best hardware Ibanez ever produced and that wonderful thro neck for monster sustain make this a guitar fit for any purpose.

Highly prized and getting harder and more expensive to find by the week.

Ibanez Musician MC 300DS

1976 and Unmarked

Phoar ! was my first thought when I saw it. A 1976 Musician that obviously has been loved to death. It has been played but I would say wiped down and carefully put in its original hardcase immediately afterwards every time. The only thing I can really fault is that after 30 plus years the gold on the bridge has suffered a bit from light corrosion. No dinks , fretwear etc. etc. etc. Just loverly.
The 300 range adds to the through neck , velvetune tuners , and sheer attention to detail that all of these have by adding a bunch of switches ( Tri Sound ) to coil tap , cross phase those magnificent high output Super 88s so it will handle just about everything you can throw at it.
Again as all of the musician range the neck is an artform and playabilty is just sublime. Yes we like this one.

Ibanez Musician Bass 1986

Just take a look at that neck.

This is just a great guitar. I don't play bass but I just love wearing it - Weird or what ? It must be some kind of fetish .

Fabulous Fuji Gen bass version of the Musician in a fantastic natural finish with a truely awesome neck and active pups that just thump out the bassline. Bass guitars just don't get any better than this. Sting used one in Police but apart from that its got everything going for it.

This is in 8.5/10 condition with just a few mini dinks in the varnish and some light belt scratching on the back but none of it shows and none of it matters.

I think I may take up Bass guitar - Its gotta be easy hasn't it, only 4 strings and all ..

Ibanez Performer

PF 200

Ibanez went through about 4 distinct periods. The first was when they were a Spanish acoustic guitar company minding their own business. Then they became Japanese owned and started copying USA Fenders and Gibsons in Japan and almost got their a**ses sued. Before they fully broke through to their own designs there was a period where they produced a handful of guitars almost of their own design but still showing the influence of Les Pauls etc. The Performer along with the Concert is one of those and fabulous they were as well. Superlative craftsmanship and sublime bolt on necks and now very highly prized .

This one is not far short of mint bar a couple of minor edge scuffs and considering it was made in 1978 and a true vintage guitar makes it pretty special.

Ibanez Concert CN100. 78 Japan

100% Original with the Awesome Butterfly Pickups.

Fuji Gen

The CN100 Concert is a rare and not often seen only made in 1978 and 1979. This was a period immediately before the famed lawsuits when Ibanez were just starting to produce guitars of their own design rather than copying others. The guitars of this era used all of the knowledge gained during their copy era and were the finest Ibanez instruments ever produced. Other Ibanez of the same era included the Artist / Musician / Performer and Studio but the Concert is probably the rarest and most collectable of the lot.

Hardware is the same as the Artist with the awesome Butterfly Super 80 pups, Gibraltar bridge , quick load tailpiece and even that little cloud shape on the end. The pickup covers feature the cherished butterfly .

Action is low, smooth and fast and the sound ranges from oily blues to out and out grunge , matching the best and leaving the rest for dead.

As a bonus this guitar is in brilliant 9/10 condition with just a few slight tiny marks but even they are around the back, no wear anywhere and all original.

A beast of a guitar and beautiful at the same time. Even has its original case - not shown.

Ibanez Artist AR 300 CS

Japan 1983.

The ibanez Artists of the late 70's early 80's are amongst the most sought after vintage guitars on the planet and have earned virtual legenday status. Made when Ibanez were introducing their own designs at the end of the Lawsuit era and before they progressed to the spikey Joe Satriani efforts they produce today. These Artists were to become the best Ibanez guitars ever produced - In my opinion ( I have to add that ) Just wonderful.

Body Mahogany
Top Carved Flame Maple
Neck Maple 3plyMachine Head velvetune
Pickups Super 58
Controls 2 volume,2 tone,3 way toggle, 2 Tri sound switch
Bridge Gibraltar
Tailpiece Quik Change Gibraltar
Hardware Gold

Add to that the beautiful MOP and Abalone Inlays and the wonderful bookmatched maple top and we have a masterpiece.

The writing on the back says it all -

The Ultimate expression of Crafstmanship -

The condition is excellent with just a few minor cosmetics but none of the normal gouges and the ebony fingerboard and frets are showing no wear.

There ain't nothing out there that plays or sounds quite like an Artist - It has a voice of its own.

1981 Ibanez Artist -AS-80-

A Beautiful Blond - Crafted in Japan -

The AS-80 was produced in the Fujigen factory in Japan when Ibanez were at their absolute peak showing the world what they could do with a quality of build and use of superlative materials. Many consider that they have never been equalled.

This is a dream guitar , in excellent almost mint condition which does everything brilliantly and is every inch as good as the 335 which it emulates.

Everything you would expect from the Fujigen Ibanez Artist series of the 1980's - Just brilliant -

Ibanez AS-80 Artist

Fujigen 1983 - Cherry

Like the Blond one above this is also in great condition with just one tiny touched in dink on the headstock corner and that's it . There has been an act of mild sacrilidge though where someone has fitted a pair of chrome pickup surrounds but it looks kinda cool so we left it. Easily and cheaply reversed if needed . The Super 58's are still there though and what a pair of pickups these are . So All original except the surrounds - Nice -

The AS 80 Artist nearest equivalent of the period was of course the Yamaha SA1000 and there is absolutely nothing to choose between them - If anything Ibanez paid a little more attention to selecting well grained wood but both are superbly made guitars. Both are of course challengers to the USA Gibson 335 and I would say a challenge well made.

Ibanez AM60

Blond Bombshell

One model up from the AM 50 the changes are not that big and not necessarily higher specification but just different. This differs from the AM 50 with the addition of this blond model plus the addition of the versatile bad ass quick change bridge. It is also Mega Rare and this is the only one we have ever seen.

There are two ways of making an arch top and the best is by carving it. The complex grain patterns beautifully bookmatched on this can only be achieved by carving. There is a flame in the centre section where it is higher and a more open grain further out on the lower sections. Quite unusual and very tasty.

This has been fitted with an 80’s ESP humbuckers in the bridge position to give that extra bit of sparkle and has the original Super 57 at the neck for those crunchier full tones . An amazing pair of pickups and well matched.

Just a couple of minor pinhead dinks and a couple of the normal hairline laquer cracks of no significance by the neck strap button. Overall Most Excellent and a stunner.

With the Bad Ass bridge set it up anywhere you want but at the moment it is lower than a snakes belly and sublime.

Ibanez Artist AM70 – 1988

Fujigen Japan.

The AM 70 differs from the AM 50 with the addition of a killer Short Stop Bridge and the awesome IBZ pickups otherwise very similar with the same beautifully proportioned body and superb quality condtruction. Condition is Superb with just one tiny touched in headstock corner dink , One small in the varnish dink on the front and a small area of light scratching on the back . Being black a lutheir could easily fix these very small issues but we consider the odd mark to be a part of the history so we leave em. Black was the only colour the AM70 was produced in giving a very smart but slightly mean look. It also shows every fingerprint and the little pinkfluffy bits from the case lining . The Performance and playability of this is just awesome and one of those you just can’t put down with a sustain almost as long as a piece of string. Comes in the hardcase it started life in also in great condition. Highly sought after and desireable and much rarer than the AM 50 which is pretty rare anyway.

Ibanez Artist AM255 – 1983

TOP of the Class

I keep using the expression “ It doesn’t get any Better than this “ and then something like this comes along and proves me wrong. I really can’t see how it can get much better than this though – It is Magnificent -

The AM series is essentially a more comfortable smaller bodied 335 but amazingly loses nothing in the size reduction. The dimensions are perfection. This is the AM255 which sits at the very top of the AM series and is not only rare but mega on the desireability scale . Amazing build quality from the Fujigen Factory never really equalled and a stunning looker with a Burl Mahogany top and back –Mahogany Neck – Ebony Fretboard – Super 58 Pickups etc. Not only that but the wood used in those times for high end guitars was slow grown South American exotics which have been illegal from around 1991 and which contributed so much to the sound.

The 255 differs from the 205 with the addition of a trem but this one has been locked down because it never got used. Easily unlocked if you need it.

A few normal use marks and some little cracks in the varish by the jack socket ( easily fixed ) and a real beauty.

The playability rivals any guitar I have ever played and the sounds are just awesome.

Highly sought after and desireable. .