2007 Vintage Reissue to be Announced ...

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Author Message   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Friday, July 13, 2007 - 4:45 pm:    In 2005, it was the Model BW1BS, Bob Weir “Cowboy” guitar. In 2006, it was the Model 2670re, Artwood Twin! In 2007, the third installment in the Handcrafted Re-issue series will be... ...announced at Summer NAMM in Austin, TX on July 27, 2007! But wait! Because of the ICW community's dedication to Ibanez collectibles, this site will be privileged (for the second year in a row) to break the news, first. This will be nearly a week before the official announcement is made to the attendees of Summer NAMM 2007. In honor of the upcoming announcement, HoshinoUSA and ICW have put up some cool prizes (two effects pedals and three ICW T-shirts) for the 2nd Annual, "Guess the Ibanez Handcrafted Re-issue" contest. Click the link below and follow the links to Official Entry form page. (Hint: along the way you'll get a glimpse of another Ibanez related website, from the creators of ICW.) Take me to the Official Contest Entry form! On Monday, July 23, 2007 the big announcements will be made. First, the identity of the 2007 Handcrafted Re-issue will be unveiled and second, the names of the five contest winners. Official Rules: 1) Prizes: First and second prize: choice of either an Ibanez FL9 or CS9 effect pedal. Third, fourth and fifth prize: an official ICW T-shirt. 2) You must be a registered member of Ibanez Collectors World. If you are not already registered, sign up for your free account here: http://www.ibanezcollectors.com/formval.html 3) You must complete the ENTIRE Entry form, including the 8 question survey portion. Incomplete entries will be ineligible. 4) One guess per entry. If more than one entry is submitted, only the first one will be eligible for the contest. BE SPECIFIC about the name and/or model number. Vague entries will be disqualified. For Example, Good: Model 2670, Artwood Twin. Bad: High-end Artist. 5) Eligible entries must be submitted by Midnight (EST) on Sunday, July 22, 2007. 6) Contest not open to employees of Hoshino, HoshinoUSA, Ibanez Collectors World, Phoenix Creative Graphics or any of their affiliate companies. 7) Five winners will be randomly selected from the pool of all correct guesses. The winners will be notified at the address submitted with the entry form. Please be sure that you supply is a valid and working email address.}   Ibanezfreak1960 Username: Ibanezfreak1960 Registered: 3-2004 Posted on Friday, July 13, 2007 - 10:45 pm:    Okay I know our guessing is a bit different this year. It gives everyone else a chance to be a winner and take some more time at it. My guess is the AR5000 Bobzilla's baby. Anyone else wanna share your guess?   Ibanezkid Username: Ibanezkid Registered: 6-2007 Posted on Saturday, July 14, 2007 - 4:14 am:    Yeah,the AR5000 of course!   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Saturday, July 14, 2007 - 8:18 am:    Freak: You're right that the new contest rules make it fairer for more to have a chance at winning something. Bobzilla hasn't voted, yet. But I'm sure he's not going to be happy that you want his beloved AR5000 re-issued. You can debate that with him, later today.   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Saturday, July 14, 2007 - 8:21 am:    Kid: The time stamp on your message is 4:14 a.m. Aren't you supposed to be sleeping?   Ibanezkid Username: Ibanezkid Registered: 6-2007 Posted on Saturday, July 14, 2007 - 10:53 am:    No I had to go with my brother to the airport.   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Monday, July 16, 2007 - 8:32 am:    Keep those guesses coming!   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Monday, July 16, 2007 - 8:44 am:    It definitely won't be an ar5000 so don't waste your guess. My guesses are in now. I guess it's gonna be an ash body so... better figure out which models were ash and that's where I am placing my bets. The ar5000 may be a bit too involved for them to give it a go. If they do an ar5000, I'll be happy for those who obtain one but, you know, I kinda like the fact that there's only apprx. 50 ever made. I'd live though, if they did the ar5000, but I don't think that's the one this time around. Go ash, my advice. Even if I haven't guessed the correct model... do I get a booby prize if it's at least an ash body? Hey... I think I actually messed up and wasted a coupla guesses! Oh well...there's always next year. Dang!   Guitartim Username: Guitartim Registered: 4-2001 Posted on Monday, July 16, 2007 - 10:19 am:    Whatever it is, I really hope that it is something a bit more financially accessible for more than a few players/collectors. The last two reissues were way too expensive in my opinion. $6,999 street price for last year's gorgeous reissue kept would-be purchasers (like me) away. Even if Hoshino produces another super-expensive collectable, why not offer a less expensive version for the masses? A good example is the Prestige AR3000 of a few years ago. That is one incredible, limited production, MIJ, guitar that sold for around $2,000. That's my 2 cents. What do you guys think?   Tbplayer Username: Tbplayer Registered: 4-2007 Posted on Monday, July 16, 2007 - 12:02 pm:    i still say the 2336 artist trio. they are original designs. personally, i'd like to see the 2617 with the script logo, '76 i think. a best guess would be a mr. scruggs   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Monday, July 16, 2007 - 12:19 pm:    Scruggs was my first guess. I guess it doesn't matter if folks know what we guessed right? 2671, ar1200, silver series strat and... I forget my other guess... I hope it was a good one. I think only the first guess counts anyways.   Ibanezfreak1960 Username: Ibanezfreak1960 Registered: 3-2004 Posted on Monday, July 16, 2007 - 12:54 pm:    Tim I agree that they should make more prestige like the 3000. But this one is probably going to have a heavy price tag on it also.   Cmangeot Username: Cmangeot Registered: 4-2005 Posted on Monday, July 16, 2007 - 1:43 pm:    I would say a scruggs too. Chris   Chucke99 Username: Chucke99 Registered: 2-2007 Posted on Monday, July 16, 2007 - 7:07 pm:    I went mainstream: MC550.   Guitarwhisperer Username: Guitarwhisperer Registered: 6-2007 Posted on Monday, July 16, 2007 - 11:51 pm:    I'm guessing Randy Scruggs since that one would probly sell out before it hit the market, but I'm hoping MC550 with the aluminum flight case!   Artfield Username: Artfield Registered: 4-2001 Posted on Wednesday, July 18, 2007 - 8:51 pm:    Hopefully an AM205 !!! these small ES-335's from the big name are popping up alot lately,its time to end that....and give credit to the guys from Ibanez who listened to musicians 25 years ago.   Chazmo Username: Chazmo Registered: 3-2007 Posted on Wednesday, July 18, 2007 - 10:33 pm:    I think, just for the buzz of it, they'll do a Rocket Roll reissue. Put me in for that as a reissue guess, John. - chaz   Bluesmeister Username: Bluesmeister Registered: 5-2004 Posted on Thursday, July 19, 2007 - 12:48 am:    Artfield: Hopefully an AM205 !!! Ah, now you're talking.   Tbplayer Username: Tbplayer Registered: 4-2007 Posted on Thursday, July 19, 2007 - 12:13 pm:    i really don't think they will reissue any replicas. it stands to reason that it would an original design. they probably still have the norlin injunction going on.   Peterdryan Username: Peterdryan Registered: 6-2007 Posted on Thursday, July 19, 2007 - 1:10 pm:    Can it be a bass or an acoustic? Does it have to be a 6/12-string electric?   Tbplayer Username: Tbplayer Registered: 4-2007 Posted on Thursday, July 19, 2007 - 2:16 pm:    hey, what about a black eagle or the artwood series (orient, etc)   Michaelkaufman Username: Michaelkaufman Registered: 11-2002 Posted on Thursday, July 19, 2007 - 3:18 pm:    There's no way that a bass or acoustic will fetch a 'handcrafted reissue' price. I think we're talking something really sexy, like a Scruggs with vine or maybe an MC5000/AR5000. mk   Chucke99 Username: Chucke99 Registered: 2-2007 Posted on Thursday, July 19, 2007 - 4:46 pm:    What about a Musician MC550 style WITH a vine? You could do it up right: Outrageously flamed body, maybe flying pan pickups, a cool vine up the neck. Ooooh.   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Thursday, July 19, 2007 - 5:17 pm:    I think Strings mentioned a 3 pup Artist way back when. Even though it wouldn't be a reissue, I think I would like one if they made one someday just for the heck of it. We've only got a week to go (7/27/07) to find out what it really is. I am not good at waiting for guitar stuff.   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Thursday, July 19, 2007 - 5:39 pm:    Bob: The wait won't be that long. We'll be announcing the model on Monday 7/23/07.   Chucke99 Username: Chucke99 Registered: 2-2007 Posted on Thursday, July 19, 2007 - 5:49 pm:    Whatever it is, I bet it has a vine. Seems like that's what will make it special.   Jchester Username: Jchester Registered: 5-2006 Posted on Thursday, July 19, 2007 - 11:38 pm:    Agreed... the vine is what seems to make the 'special' Ibanezes 'special'. I just can't see a major reissue with 'dots'... or even 'multi-inlaid parallelograms'.   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Friday, July 20, 2007 - 7:36 am:    If you have never owned/played a vine, it does take a little getting used to but once you do... it's fine.   Davehowardcustom Username: Davehowardcustom Registered: 10-2005 Posted on Friday, July 20, 2007 - 10:03 am:    I agree, 'Zilla. I started out playing in my garage bands with a Scruggs & it just took awhile to train the brain that "The big leaves are where the dots are." Not bad, once you get used to it.   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Friday, July 20, 2007 - 3:13 pm:    Less than 4 days to go. Let's keep those entries coming in! Actually, this is another chance to let Hoshino know what you'd like re-issued, in the future. The results of the contest will be sent to Hoshino to help decide which should be the next model to be reborn. So, don't stop with just one guess. Enter as many times as you'd like. But remember, only one model per entry submission!   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Friday, July 20, 2007 - 3:57 pm:    I'd like to clarify the focus of the various "re-issue" programs that Hoshino has in the works. There are the "Anniversary" re-issues that come up, like the Jem 20th and the current RG550s. A JEM 20th is pretty special and with a street price of $4000.00, it's pretty well focused at high-end spenders and JEM fanatics. The RG550s are in the $1000.00 range. Not chicken feed, but still within the reach of many players. These guitars are production-line guitars. Hundreds will be built and sold around the world. However, the "Handcrafted re-issue" program goes above and beyond the Anniversary RIs. It's focused on "vintage and custom" Ibanez models from further back in Ibanez's history. Guitars that are extremely rare and are next to impossible to find. Even when you find them, the prices are extremely high. The Handcrafted RIs are constructed in a small facility that is NOT part of Fuji Gen Gakki. Also, they are NOT production line guitars. They are made from top quality woods, electronics and parts to specifications that match, or exceed the standard of the original issue guitars. The craftsmen that assemble these guitars have a long history with Hoshino and the original Ibanez design guitars. The focus of this program is to re-issue guitars that are historically significant to the Ibanez brand. Therefore, "replicas" of other manufacturers models are not involved...even if they are rare. The list price of the first Bob Weir "Cowboy" re-issue was over $6000.00. List price for the 2670RE was over $9000.00. The handcrafted re-issue program is NOT focused at providing hundreds of players with "cool" vintage guitars. This program is aimed at serious "collectors" who know that they are getting the best hand-built reissue that Hoshino could provide, decades after the original models have ceased production. It's an extremely special celebration of their past. The production numbers are so low on these models (35 in 2006 and 45 in 2007) that they are truly rare, in their own right. So, while there's nothing wrong with wanting re-issues of long gone and less expensive models, let's not ask Hoshino to water down the "Handcrafted re-issue" program. Think expensive and rare. Let Hoshino and Ibanez-lovers be proud and show off, some.   Chazmo Username: Chazmo Registered: 3-2007 Posted on Friday, July 20, 2007 - 5:07 pm:    Well, in that case, I'm going to change my guess from a RI Rocket Roll to a RI AR5000. ;) I'll still put in a plug for a RI solid-wood acoustic, like the maple and jacaranda Concord 67x series... But, I'm sure that won't happen.   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Saturday, July 21, 2007 - 9:06 am:    Two days to go! Don't miss out! Keep those entries coming.   Tubescorcher Username: Tubescorcher Registered: 3-2004 Posted on Saturday, July 21, 2007 - 10:06 am:    I went with the AR5000 Brass Limited!!! I think if they reissue the 5000 they'll take it one more step with the brass!   Tbplayer Username: Tbplayer Registered: 4-2007 Posted on Sunday, July 22, 2007 - 3:17 am:    going on what johns has stated. how about a 2672? that is a 2617 with a vine. look on the home page on the section about the black custom agent and there is a photo of one. but i think the RI will be a blonde.   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Sunday, July 22, 2007 - 7:56 am:    Tick, tock, tick, tock. Only 16 hours to go! Midnight, tonight is the close of the Contest. Stay tuned on Monday for the big announcement.   Gemberbier Username: Gemberbier Registered: 5-2006 Posted on Sunday, July 22, 2007 - 4:59 pm:    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYR-Y6dwwMk&mode=re lated&search= Ginger   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Sunday, July 22, 2007 - 8:13 pm:    less than 4 hours to go!   Ibanezkid Username: Ibanezkid Registered: 6-2007 Posted on Sunday, July 22, 2007 - 9:12 pm:    Can I PLEASE say any Artist, not just the ar5000.   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Monday, July 23, 2007 - 7:29 am:    Well? Is it soup yet?   Sixvsix Username: Sixvsix Registered: 3-2002 Posted on Monday, July 23, 2007 - 8:30 am:    John, It's already Monday in Australia. What's happening? six   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Monday, July 23, 2007 - 9:15 am:    It's soup! It's going to take some time to tally the results and pick the winners. Stay tuned for the Big announcement later today.   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Monday, July 23, 2007 - 9:46 am:    A toaster would have been nice.   Sixvsix Username: Sixvsix Registered: 3-2002 Posted on Monday, July 23, 2007 - 10:00 am:    It's Tuesday now. six   Roadartstar Username: Roadartstar Registered: 8-2004 Posted on Monday, July 23, 2007 - 11:41 am:    I like Toast mmmmmmmmmmmm burnt bread Ze Suspense is killing me......... •••• Mystery Guitars please someone illuminate us.....   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Monday, July 23, 2007 - 12:31 pm:    John..... who actually makes the big decision on these reissues? Is it one guy? One department over there? And... are all the units already produced? Or dio they make the announcement, then start the production run? P.S. - John.... please rip up and throw away all the ar5000 votes! Or just drop one of the zeroes and submit as ar500 votes. ar500 is nice. ar5000 is............. bad.   Jeffm725 Username: Jeffm725 Registered: 6-2005 Posted on Monday, July 23, 2007 - 1:12 pm:    there is a slight dichotomy here for me and here it is. We are guessing at the reissue to win a prize. We are also told that our guesses may be used as the basis (well, one of many, and with an unknowable amount of weight) for selecting next years reissue. The conflict being that my guesses as to WHAT the reissue may be, and my wishes for what I would LIKE the reissue to be are two very,very different items. How did others resolve this conflict of interest in their voting? DId you vote for what you guessed the reissue is, or did you fill in the model based on what you wanted it to be?   Jeffm725 Username: Jeffm725 Registered: 6-2005 Posted on Monday, July 23, 2007 - 1:19 pm:    by the way, the reissue I WANT is an MC5000 (like Orvals but with a more traditional vine than the one that is on that guitar). The reissue I guessed is the 2683. And I wouldnt kick that out of bed either.   Guitartim Username: Guitartim Registered: 4-2001 Posted on Monday, July 23, 2007 - 1:39 pm:    I'm just glad it won't be anything like this... "ON JANUARY 18th 2007, IBANEZ WILL UNVEIL THE WORLD'S FIRST FULL PRODUCTION RG-8 STRING GUITAR TO THE PUBLIC. YOU ASKED FOR IT, WE BROUGHT IT TO LIFE! THIS IS THE CONFIRMATION THAT IT WILL BE THERE..."   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Monday, July 23, 2007 - 1:58 pm:    (Insert Drumroll soundclip here. ) The results have been tabulated and the winners, from the pool of correct answers, have been chosen. The results are: 1st Place jimmys choice of CS9 or FL9 pedal 2nd place jcmc64 choice of CS9 or FL9 pedal 3rd place Dave_g ICW ICW T-shirt 4th place Roadartstar ICW T-shirt 5th place Sweep ICW T-shirt Congratulations to the winners and a thanks from HoshinoUSA and ICW to all who participated in this year's contest! JohnS SysOp To all winners: please respond to the email Notification sent to the address that you submitted with your contest entry. If you do not receive the Notification in the next 24 hrs., please contact me via email.   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Monday, July 23, 2007 - 2:00 pm:    OK, it’s the moment that you vintage Ibanez freaks have been waiting for. What will the 2007 Ibanez Handcrafted Re-issue be? The answer is……   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Monday, July 23, 2007 - 2:02 pm:    …the AR5000! (Somebody please go to Long Island and scrape Bobzilla off the ceiling! ) At this point in time, I have absolutely NO MORE information about the guitar’s specs, production quantity or arrival dates. I suspect that some of these details might not be revealed until the NAMM Show announcement, at the end of this week. As soon as I hear something I’ll let everyone know.   Ibanezfreak1960 Username: Ibanezfreak1960 Registered: 3-2004 Posted on Monday, July 23, 2007 - 2:12 pm:    Cool I had a feeling it would be that! Well whoever gets one will definitly enjoy it.   Chucke99 Username: Chucke99 Registered: 2-2007 Posted on Monday, July 23, 2007 - 2:23 pm:    Man, that thing would look GREAT with a tremelo and some DiMarzio super-distortions added to it! Just kidding.   Michaelkaufman Username: Michaelkaufman Registered: 11-2002 Posted on Monday, July 23, 2007 - 2:36 pm:    Does the mean I now own another vintage Ibanez amp courtesy of Hoshino? mk   Chucke99 Username: Chucke99 Registered: 2-2007 Posted on Monday, July 23, 2007 - 2:38 pm:    What I love about Ibanez guitars, and possibly the fact that there are only a few hundred of us "rabid" collectors out there, is that this AR5000 will list for something like $7K and retail under $5K (give or take). This guitar BLOWS AWAY something like this: http://www.guitarcenter.com/shop/product/Gibson-Cu stom-Shop-Custom-Limited-Edition-50th-Anniversary- Les-Paul-Goldtop-Electric-Guitar?full_sku=10447542 1 And, for the comparable price, you'd get much "les" Les Paul. -Chuck   Chazmo Username: Chazmo Registered: 3-2007 Posted on Monday, July 23, 2007 - 2:43 pm:    Les is less? ;-)   Ibanezkid Username: Ibanezkid Registered: 6-2007 Posted on Monday, July 23, 2007 - 2:46 pm:    WWWWWWWWWWHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I CAN'T BELIVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!I WANTED AN FL9!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   Guitartim Username: Guitartim Registered: 4-2001 Posted on Monday, July 23, 2007 - 2:48 pm:    Yep, it HAD to be an AR5000! That is fantastic. Gibson, eat your heart out!! Bob, yours will surely increase in value after this beauty is released. Johns, thanks for the fun contest. Congratulations to the winners...especially David_G!   Ibanezkid Username: Ibanezkid Registered: 6-2007 Posted on Monday, July 23, 2007 - 3:11 pm:    ,,!   Davehowardcustom Username: Davehowardcustom Registered: 10-2005 Posted on Monday, July 23, 2007 - 3:51 pm:    Yup, this SMOKES that 50th anniversary Les Paul! And probably for half price! (I guess Ibanez still gives the best bang for the buck). My guess was a little more conservative, but close. I opted for the natural Ash Artist, with the vine inlay & abalone binding. Close, but no ciger, no pedals, and no T Shirt Dang it, (That's what I really wanted, LOL). Congrats to all the winners, and congrats to Ibanez for another STUNNER! What a sweet axe! DHC   Ibanezkid Username: Ibanezkid Registered: 6-2007 Posted on Monday, July 23, 2007 - 4:21 pm:    WHY OH WHY!!!!!!!!!!!!   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Monday, July 23, 2007 - 5:19 pm:    Congrats in advance to everyone who lands one of these. If the reissue is half of what the original is, there's gonna be several happy ar5000"re" owners out there and one morbidlt depressed ar5000LE owner.   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Monday, July 23, 2007 - 5:33 pm:    P.S. - I KNEW when we were asked to start an ar5000 thread that it would lead to this. Believe it or not, I am actually happy for the folks that land one. I can imagine their joy, so that's nice. I'll live. But, you know, it was neat owning an axe that there were only apprx. 50 of... If that. So... that's my only real "disappointment." Otherwise, I think they picked a super axe to reissue. Question becomes... where do they go from here?   Dave_g Username: Dave_g Registered: 1-2002 Posted on Monday, July 23, 2007 - 5:36 pm:    ALL right ! I guess I'll get a shirt afterall ! Can't wait to see the spec's on this one ! What a great choice !   Dave_g Username: Dave_g Registered: 1-2002 Posted on Monday, July 23, 2007 - 5:37 pm:    I'm just courious...How many ICW members have AR5000.....('Zilla, Me, Orval, )   Guitartim Username: Guitartim Registered: 4-2001 Posted on Monday, July 23, 2007 - 6:15 pm:    This is why I thought the Ibanez '07 Reissue model would be an AR5000: http://www.guitarsale.com/Gibson-Les-Paul-Ultima-T ree-Of-Life-i759155.music Now there is real competition in the ornate-fretboard world. I'd take the AR in a heartbeat! How much will the AR5000-RE go for??   Tonedef Username: Tonedef Registered: 3-2004 Posted on Monday, July 23, 2007 - 7:37 pm:    I can't believe my choice of an RS-135 got bypassed... Tonedef   Texasbob Username: Texasbob Registered: 11-2006 Posted on Monday, July 23, 2007 - 8:36 pm:    wow, i guessed right, but i get nothing. My wife asked me what i would like as a consulation prize.   Peterdryan Username: Peterdryan Registered: 6-2007 Posted on Monday, July 23, 2007 - 9:05 pm:    Did you tell her season tickets to the Cowboys? ;)   Sixvsix Username: Sixvsix Registered: 3-2002 Posted on Monday, July 23, 2007 - 11:12 pm:    How predictable was that to the point of being totally boring. Bobzilla...I sympathise To the winners...well done guys To Hoshino...please next year, use your imagination! six   Sweep Username: Sweep Registered: 5-2006 Posted on Monday, July 23, 2007 - 11:12 pm:    Wow! Fantastic! You guys made my day. I just finished my last of four night shifts over the w/end (Fri/Sat/Sun/Mon nights) and I'm always flat for a few days. But then I had a nice e-mail from John waiting for me. Even my wife was pleased so I might get the booby prize too! I hope as many of these great looking guitars make it to players as go to collectors and more than a few to ICW members. Cheers Sweep   Strings Username: Strings Registered: 1-2005 Posted on Tuesday, July 24, 2007 - 1:05 am:    Ditto Six! Should really kill the value of Bob's...bummer! ; Btw John, shouldn't this be moved to the "Contemporary..." section 2007 issue of a post 1980..tisk, tisk   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Tuesday, July 24, 2007 - 7:30 am:    Nothing can kill the "value" of my ar5000 because... it is what it is. The value lies in the totality of the guitar itself, not whether or not other guitars exist around it. The "value" is the enjoyment I get from playing it, the quality of the build of the guitar and the awesome sounds that come out of it.   Cleversj Username: Cleversj Registered: 11-2006 Posted on Tuesday, July 24, 2007 - 7:32 am:    I think the contest was rigged - CHEATERS! How much and when?   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Tuesday, July 24, 2007 - 8:13 am:    Strings: In my mind, the Handcrafted Re-issues are "Custom" guitars. That fact that this one is based on an '81 guitar doesn't change that feeling. Did the 2670re devalue the prices of original 2670s? Nope. Bob and all the other original AR5000 owners have nothing to fear, when it comes to the value of their guitars.   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Tuesday, July 24, 2007 - 8:19 am:    Six: Predictible? I guess so. But only because it really is one of the most requested. The AR5000 garnered 26% of the votes. No other guitar came close. I will compile the list of all guitars that got votes. BTW, this will be a killer playing guitar!   Chazmo Username: Chazmo Registered: 3-2007 Posted on Tuesday, July 24, 2007 - 8:58 am:    John, To really get feedback from our ICW community, it might be cool to start a second thread garnering ideas for what folks would really like Hoshino to consider for next year. I think most of the guesses you see in this thread and in the contest results were what folks thought Hoshino would do this year. Folks, Since when does a re-issue kill the value of a collectible? I think it's exactly the opposite; I think it raises awareness of the original! Do you think that vintage Martin D-45s for example (that have been being built forever) are any less valuable even though you can buy a new one?   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Tuesday, July 24, 2007 - 9:11 am:    A reissue 2670 was $6k. An original was going for $4k before the reissue. We did see one original go for a little over $2k... remember, not long ago? (After release of the 2670re) So... the reissues may quite possibly devalue the originals in this case although I stick by my assesment of "value" stated above.   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Tuesday, July 24, 2007 - 9:12 am:    I'm gonna put my ar5000 up on ebay for $10k and see what happens.   Ibanezfreak1960 Username: Ibanezfreak1960 Registered: 3-2004 Posted on Tuesday, July 24, 2007 - 9:28 am:    I agree with Chazmo about the reissue killing original value. That's a big load of crap. The quanity isn't large enough to even touch it. Besided these are as Johns has said this series is aimed at serious collectors. We all know how great these vintage pieces are thats why we are here on ICW. These handcrafted re-issues are a tribute to us and the guitars we adore. Thank you HoshinoUSA for a fine choice this year.   Sixvsix Username: Sixvsix Registered: 3-2002 Posted on Tuesday, July 24, 2007 - 10:18 am:    No, I don't think it kills the value either. Actually, the first reissue was in 94 with the Weir. Don't see that putting pressure on the originals do we. To be honest, I don't really care what they reissue from now until doomsday but I do think the 'original' 2670 design they did last year was a good choice. The trouble is, a lot of the 'original' series, viney, flashy, fancy looking guitars (that we all love and cherish) were a 'dressed up' version of a Gibson shape. Therefore, Hoshino are pretty limited to what they can legally reissue without upsetting someone. After all, aren't they now the 3rd biggest manufacturer in the world. I doubt they would want to drag their well earned/ respectable name down to the courts again. six   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Tuesday, July 24, 2007 - 10:23 am:    Whether anyone agrees or disagrees on reissues devaluing originals.... what do the FACTS indicate? There must be many examples we can use to determine the facts as opposed to opinions. I thought the 2670 and 2670re example above was a factual indication. But now I might be mistaken.   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Tuesday, July 24, 2007 - 11:04 am:    P.S. - this has come up before, in the same vein.... if an original (doesn't matter which model) went for $4k historically and a reissue comes out with a $6k tag, shouldn't the original now be more "valuable" than the reissue and thus the original is now worth more than $6k? In the end, they are all only worth what folks will pay for them. If one 2670 sells for $4k and another for $9k it's only really an indication of what someone was willing to pay at any moment in time, for whatever reasons the buyer may have had. Example: I paid $5k for my ar5000. It didn't matter to me (in the end) what I paid for it, I wanted the guitar, and that was it. To me, it was worth it, and it still is. However, that was my personal opinion and not necessarily the opinion of others, thus... does what was paid even really indicate anything other than , in my opinion, it was worth $5k? It doesn't necessarily indicate the "value" of it, it does indicate my opinion of it. Yes?   Guitartim Username: Guitartim Registered: 4-2001 Posted on Tuesday, July 24, 2007 - 11:10 am:    Guys, I hate to keep comparing this to Gibson, but hey, look at their boat loads of 'Historic Reissue' Les Pauls. They cost an arm and a leg for these replicas of their originals from 1954, 1956, 1957, 1958, and the vaunted 1959 and 1960. These reissues have established a market niche all their own. The vintage guitar market dictates what the ORIGINALS sell for. And if you have looked at the skyrocketing prices for early Les Pauls from the 50's and 60's it is fairly obvious that there is minimal long-term impact of Reissues on the Vintage guitar market. And there is nothing close to the AR5000 available on the market today...except for original AR5000's that are in very limited supply and in great demand. Basic economics take over from there. For now, let's wait and see what the new AR5000'RE' has to offer...and keep an eye out for any vintage AR5K models that come up for sale. Isn't that part of the fun of buying, selling and collecting cool guitars? Tim   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Tuesday, July 24, 2007 - 11:19 am:    It's fun when it ain't an ar5000!   Ibanezfreak1960 Username: Ibanezfreak1960 Registered: 3-2004 Posted on Tuesday, July 24, 2007 - 11:40 am:    Yeah like Tim says you may be seeing some old 5000's coming out of the woodwork once word hits the internet streets.   Roadartstar Username: Roadartstar Registered: 8-2004 Posted on Tuesday, July 24, 2007 - 11:52 am:    anyone have a flying fingers toaster i can trade my t-shirt for? i like Toast.... 8)   Tbplayer Username: Tbplayer Registered: 4-2007 Posted on Tuesday, July 24, 2007 - 12:07 pm:    remember guys this is a REISSUE. i gibby 1960 les paul classic RI sells for around 2800.00 US new. an original '60.... what about 60k? bad bobzilla's will always be the original. not a copy. bob if you get 10k it's pizza and beer at your place right?   Strings Username: Strings Registered: 1-2005 Posted on Tuesday, July 24, 2007 - 12:20 pm:    Lighten up girls...the wink (";") means I'm 'needling' or joking or tongue-in-cheek or joshing or satire or irony or pokin' or hoodwink or foolin' or jesting...but I exhaustively digress. Truth be told, reissues do nothing for me...so, in my mind (which is lightly stirred,) it increases the value of the originals. On you other point John, I think that you could update your criteria...but that is just one man's noisy opinion...   Chazmo Username: Chazmo Registered: 3-2007 Posted on Tuesday, July 24, 2007 - 12:43 pm:    Six, Great comment about the lawsuit-era stuff. That is exactly right -- you'll never see Hoshino re-issue a non-original design. And, that definitely limits the field for us! From the acoustic point of view, I think that rules out pretty much anything before 1979 or so... (Concords and Artists). Sad, but I definitely have to agree. Bobz, I hear what you're saying, although I'm sure I'd feel differently about this than you (not that I claim to be in your shoes, Bob)... I guess we'll see about this. It's a pet peeve of mine, but I wouldn't use an eBay auction sale price as an indication of true market value. The eBay system doesn't establish a correct market for collectibles like our guitars that we can draw conclusions from. That's just my opinion, and I'm sure some of you snipers out there will disagree... ;)   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Tuesday, July 24, 2007 - 12:54 pm:    Bob: I remember the last original 2670 going for $6000.00. http://www.ibanezcollectors.com/cgi-bin/discus/sho w.cgi?tpc=12&post=66122#POST66122   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Tuesday, July 24, 2007 - 1:02 pm:    Strings: Sorry, I thought that your "wink" was a typo. See, here's a real wink: And here's Bobzilla after the AR5000 announcement:   Strings Username: Strings Registered: 1-2005 Posted on Tuesday, July 24, 2007 - 1:30 pm:    ;   Strings Username: Strings Registered: 1-2005 Posted on Tuesday, July 24, 2007 - 1:34 pm:    Na, yours is the I-had-to-click/scroll-too-many-times-to-be-sincere -for-a-simple-wink...wink. ;   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Tuesday, July 24, 2007 - 1:39 pm:    John, there definitely was one, maybe only a month ago or so. I definitely definitely remember it becuase... I was in contact with the seller and then when I saw what it went for (a little over $2k) I was hocked... and angry. Shocked for obvious reasons and angery because I didn't wind up with it. I would like to acquire the ar5000re. Was that photo you posted above of an old one or a reissue? It looked a bit different than mine. The overall color of the wood is different and I also think mine has more of a fade from dark to light, from the edge of the guitar in towards the middle of the body. Tell them they should use pearl tuners on the reissue, they look good on this model.   Jeffm725 Username: Jeffm725 Registered: 6-2005 Posted on Tuesday, July 24, 2007 - 1:41 pm:    It was worth having the AR5000 reissued just for the Bobzilla meltdown factor . I won the personal, off-board over/under of 36 hours before Bobzilla mentioned the possibility of selling his AR5000! It took less than 20 hours. It is pure entertainment, I have friends who are not even ibanez owners or collectors who are hooked on lurking this site simply to read Bobzilla's posts! I get to gigs and the first thing bandmates and regular "fans" ask me is "Did you see what 'zilla posted today! Bobzilla is a modern day legend. Bobzilla, you are truly one of a kind and I mean that in a good way. It is refreshing to have someone who wears their heart on their sleeve, not afraid of posting their views, •••• what the masses think. I wonder what would happen if the guitarist of "Early Grace" played a high profile Telvision spot playing the song "Tombstone Bound" , with a Reissue AR5000 ?! It think it would cause some kind of seismic reaction and the world would collapse in on itself or shrivel up like a grape does when it turns in to a raisin! (By the way, preceding meant for humor only, I totally feel for Bob and am behind him 100% in the copyright infringement case of his well written song. I truly hope Bob gets what he deserves from his song.)   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Tuesday, July 24, 2007 - 1:42 pm:    (how do you like that chord I'm playing up there?) It's Z minor7th. Yes.... Z.   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Tuesday, July 24, 2007 - 1:50 pm:    And... thanx Jeff. I was totally kidding about my ar5000 on ebay. I was waiting for someone to catch that. They'll bury me with mine. No foolin', I still get a big kick every time I open the case and see that axe. It's one of the hundred reasons I could never adequately repay Dave for his kindness towards me. WHEN I win that lawsuit, maybe then I can figure out something to thank Dave with. Lawsuit is in the bag. I hope we get the production #'s and cost of the ar5000re pretty quickly, I can't wait to hear what it is. I guess it would be cool if they made 56 like the first batch. (I think it was 56.) It would also be nice if all 56 of the re's somehow sunk to the bottom of the ocean upon leaving the factory (without loss of life.) But... I digress.   Ibanezfreak1960 Username: Ibanezfreak1960 Registered: 3-2004 Posted on Tuesday, July 24, 2007 - 3:10 pm:    Jeff who are the masses? Other ICW members?   Jeffm725 Username: Jeffm725 Registered: 6-2005 Posted on Tuesday, July 24, 2007 - 3:49 pm:    Freak, nah, not ICW members; masses in general. No single person or group specific. I just meant it in a way that his posts are unfiltered. Many people may temper or filter their thoughts or feelings as to not put too much of thmselves out there on a message board. Bobzilla lets it all hang out without apparent thought to how it may come across (just my opinion). It is unique and refreshing.   Ibanezfreak1960 Username: Ibanezfreak1960 Registered: 3-2004 Posted on Tuesday, July 24, 2007 - 9:48 pm:    Yeah I had the privilage of meeting Bob at the guitar show a few weeks ago. We hit it off pretty well. I don't know why I even asked you that question. I guess its the way I read it.   Sixvsix Username: Sixvsix Registered: 3-2002 Posted on Wednesday, July 25, 2007 - 2:51 am:    Bob... you crack me up I love that Z chord. six   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Wednesday, July 25, 2007 - 7:33 am:    Six, I can switch to that chord, like I switch to any other chord. It's actually that Hendrix chord the E7 9. I basically cross my middle finger over my index finger and play the chord that way. Whenever I have to play that chord, that's the only way I play it. It's stupid but true. I just got used to it that way. When I was a kid, the only way I would watch TV was if I was standing on my head. I just got used to it and I wouldn't watch TV any other way. Again, stupid but... well, that led to an eye operation and so I was convinced by the elders not to watch TV that way anymore.   Ibanezfreak1960 Username: Ibanezfreak1960 Registered: 3-2004 Posted on Wednesday, July 25, 2007 - 9:35 am:    Bob did you used to flip the TV set to make the image right side up or watch it upside down? PS I did a google search on Bobzilla. It turns up a few cool things. Check it out.   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Wednesday, July 25, 2007 - 10:42 am:    Freak, the TV stayed on its feet, I have no idea why I preferred watching the tube that way, I just thought it was more interesting I guess. I'd back up against wall so I had the wall for support. It did screw up my eyes. Then, when my eyes were all bandaged up after the operation, in the hospital, a kid a few beds over threw a book and hit me right in the eye with the corner of the book (a hardcover childrens book). I knew it was a book from the impact, I couldn't see it coming, my eyes were completely bandaged shut. That kinda stunk, it hurt pretty bad. I saw stars... literally. I do not suggest watching TV standing on your head for prolonged (years) periods of time. It seems nothing good can come of it.   Ibanezkid Username: Ibanezkid Registered: 6-2007 Posted on Wednesday, July 25, 2007 - 3:05 pm:    AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!   Michaelkaufman Username: Michaelkaufman Registered: 11-2002 Posted on Wednesday, July 25, 2007 - 3:14 pm:    btw...I think that BobZ has been a one person marketing & PR firm for Ibanez and specifically the AR5000. I wonder if the recent FREE publicity for the AR5000 (thanks to BobZ) had anything to do with the decision to reissue the model. It certainly represents an opportunity to sell more product. Personally, I think Ibanez should give an AR5000RE to BobZ as a sign of appreciation. mk   Ibanezfreak1960 Username: Ibanezfreak1960 Registered: 3-2004 Posted on Wednesday, July 25, 2007 - 4:27 pm:    MK I can answer that for you. Probably no. Simply because they never saw the article. I had metioned it to my contact and was asked to lend it to her to show everyone but I forgot. I also belive that this was planned well in advance way before the article.   Jcmc64 Username: Jcmc64 Registered: 6-2006 Posted on Wednesday, July 25, 2007 - 4:44 pm:    Zilla... Write a book, bro !   Ibanezfreak1960 Username: Ibanezfreak1960 Registered: 3-2004 Posted on Wednesday, July 25, 2007 - 4:53 pm:    MK that doesn't mean that anyone else didn't bring it to thier attention! So who knows. Either way the timing is great. Also Bob was advertising it at the Guitar show a few weeks ago without even knowing it. Bob is right it blows away the les pauls and strats.   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Wednesday, July 25, 2007 - 9:50 pm:    Bobzilla: The image I used is from the '82 catalog. It does look like there is a difference in the finish of the burst between the '81 and '82 catalog pictures. There is a difference in the control knobs ('81 had wood, '82 had brass). I'll bet that Ibanez is showing off a prototype this week. Hopefully, they'll send me something to post here. Jcmc64 is right...you should write a book!   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Wednesday, July 25, 2007 - 10:04 pm:    MK: I heard in Jan. that the 2007 re-issue had already been selected. (No they didn't tell me what is was. ) Bob's article didn't hit the newstand until sometime in March, I believe.   Strings Username: Strings Registered: 1-2005 Posted on Wednesday, July 25, 2007 - 11:00 pm:    Eddie Munster...   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Thursday, July 26, 2007 - 7:35 am:    Folks... that's so nice of you to even say something like that. MK.......will you marry me? Well, 600,000 folks just saw the ar5000 in NY from the Newsday article, that's good timing. And...the April 2007 20th Century Guitar magazine article wasn't long ago so.... there's a bunch of axemen who got to see the ar5000, that's good timing too for Ibanez. The rude T-shirt was pretty recent.... good timing for Ibanez. I want one of the new ones pretty badly, I will obviously have to purchase one... if finances allow. Right now, finances don't allow for bubble gum let alone an ar5000re. But I think this reissue is something definitely worth going into financial difficulties for. This should be it, know what I mean? You either have one of the originals, this reissue or.......... that's it. I think anybody seriously interested should do whatever is necessary and feasible to get one. I'm gonna try real hard. Real hard. It doesn't look promising right now but once I start straining my brain, maybe I can figure it out. I sill have the Ibanez plates on my car. Somebody smashed me in the back while I was stopped at a red light last week and dented my Ibanez plate back there. It's a little worse for the wear but it's still fine.   Tbplayer Username: Tbplayer Registered: 4-2007 Posted on Thursday, July 26, 2007 - 9:14 am:    have those hosebags "early grace" get you a couple. Z chord? maybe you should change your name to djangozilla. hang in there bob.   Strings Username: Strings Registered: 1-2005 Posted on Thursday, July 26, 2007 - 9:43 am:    Yup...somehow it ends up... "All about Bob!" no wink...   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Thursday, July 26, 2007 - 11:02 am:    Strings... I thought you'd be in a better mood considering the good news you gave us recently. Don't forget that you're my idol so... take it easy on me. If I've done something to offend you, I apologize and whatever it was had to be completely unintentional. Sorry.   Roadartstar Username: Roadartstar Registered: 8-2004 Posted on Thursday, July 26, 2007 - 5:12 pm:    Love the Keyboard Scarf for some reason that pic of bob reminds me of Dr. Teeth of Electric Mayhem You know the Muppets band (Im a big fan of the drummer Animal) anyway it must be the dope Keyboard Scarf that does it i like! Bob i guess you can never have to many Ar5000's LOL   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Friday, July 27, 2007 - 7:22 am:    I have owned the ar5000 for a while now. To this day, every time I pop open the case I go "Woooooooooooooo, nice axe!" It's neat to have, it really is a special guitar. I don't know why it took 'em so long to reissue it but, they picked a good one for sure.   Ibanezkid Username: Ibanezkid Registered: 6-2007 Posted on Friday, July 27, 2007 - 7:35 am:    Bob,you told me that I was your idol!   Ibanezfreak1960 Username: Ibanezfreak1960 Registered: 3-2004 Posted on Friday, July 27, 2007 - 7:53 am:    Well today it will be displayed at NAAM hope someone can give us a picture soon. Orval are you at NAAM?   Texasbob Username: Texasbob Registered: 11-2006 Posted on Friday, July 27, 2007 - 9:36 am:    How soon will the 5000re be available to the 'MASSES"?   Ibanezfreak1960 Username: Ibanezfreak1960 Registered: 3-2004 Posted on Friday, July 27, 2007 - 9:49 am:    the limited masses!   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Friday, July 27, 2007 - 10:12 am:    TexasBob: At this time, I have no idea. Last year the first 2670REs got to the US at the end of Dec. If you want one, you should talk to your local Ibanez dealer and ask if their sales rep can get one.   Guitartim Username: Guitartim Registered: 4-2001 Posted on Friday, July 27, 2007 - 12:42 pm:    Johns~ Any word yet on the pricing? Or is it like the old yacht sales slogan: "If you have to ask, you can't afford one!"   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Friday, July 27, 2007 - 12:48 pm:    I hope everyone that voted for the ar5000 gets one. Otherwise.........what was the sense of voting for it? Unless of course it was just to tick me off!!! (joke/relax!)   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Friday, July 27, 2007 - 4:34 pm:    GuitarTim: No, I haven't heard anything yet. BTW, the only thing that anyone will hear is the Manufacturer's List Price. This figure may be much higher than "street price".   Chazmo Username: Chazmo Registered: 3-2007 Posted on Friday, July 27, 2007 - 8:10 pm:    Hey, Bobzilla... I just took a close look at your AR5000 pic above, and I was wondering what the fugatz you were doing with your left hand in that picture??? Looks like you're playing an A7-F-U chord. Were you crossing your fingers for luck? I'll have to pay closer attention next time.   Orval Username: Orval Registered: 3-2001 Posted on Friday, July 27, 2007 - 9:30 pm:    johns, im not at summer namm, i just returned from a 3250 mile roadtrip in the northwest. while out, i toured chesbro music in idaho falls, who was and is the western usa hoshino wholesaler. my contact there was the person who arranged the deal with tom tanaka in the early 70's to distribute the hoshino line. they still have an artwood twin re in stock if anyone's interested. i also heard the story about the stolen ibanez acoustic that was to be presented to elvis in vegas.   Chazmo Username: Chazmo Registered: 3-2007 Posted on Saturday, July 28, 2007 - 6:50 am:    Orval, son of a gun!!! I'm an S2000 owner too; mine's an MY02. If you ever visit www.s2ki.com, I'm Chazmo over there, too.   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Saturday, July 28, 2007 - 12:22 pm:    John, I heard the following about the ar5000re. Let me know if you hear/heard the same. 1) List: $5999 2) retail: $4500 3) Qty. available in the USA: 12 (they may let the left coast of the USA have a few more, depending on supply/demand there.) 4) Release date: Fall 2007. 5) I also heard that despite the quantity of the the original ar5000's manufactured that we have discussed here on ICW, that there were actually far fewer than 56 of the originals produced. "Far fewer." Unquote. All of the above I heard (sort of) directly from Ibanez, not a dealer. Whaddya think?   Mr_roadstar Username: Mr_roadstar Registered: 6-2002 Posted on Saturday, July 28, 2007 - 3:30 pm:    "chesbro music in idaho falls, who was and is the western usa hoshino wholesaler" For the record; Chesbro is an independent distributor. Hoshino USA in PA is the only US factory distributor. Goegraphy has nothing to do with it. All of our Ibanez guitars came from/through Hoshino USA. We had no dealings whatsoever with Chesbro. And apparently, Hoshino USA has nothing to do with Chesbro either. We had a customer come into out store with a warranty issue. After contacting Hoshino USA for instructions, they informed us that the customer needed to contact Chesbro. When we asked why, we were told that the guitar had not been sold through an authorized Ibanez dealer. After asking our customer about it he admitted buying it from an independent dealer who, in turn, buys wholesale from Chesbro. The Bear   Orval Username: Orval Registered: 3-2001 Posted on Saturday, July 28, 2007 - 6:01 pm:    bear, there is some information in "ibanez the untold story on pages 68 and 69". i am not sure about territory boundaries but according to the book that was written by hoshino usa, chesbro still has presence in what is refered to as midwest. montana is only one state away from the ocean, so i am not sure how that could be called the midwest. a lot of the early literature and price lists from the western usa has chesbro's stamp on it. in the beginning for the usa it was elger and chesbro. elger became hoshino usa. chesbro buys directly from hoshino japan and has models available that are only made for their distribution. i saw at least 4 of them in the retail showroom in idaho falls and met the purchasing agent that talks directly to hoshino japan. i specifically asked about the relationship to hoshino japan and this is what i was told.   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Saturday, July 28, 2007 - 6:57 pm:    Thanks to RNRCRAZYKNIGHT62, I got an official PDF of the AR5000RE sell-sheet. I cut it up into smaller images. Here it is:   Mr_roadstar Username: Mr_roadstar Registered: 6-2002 Posted on Sunday, July 29, 2007 - 2:48 am:    Orval, Chesbro buys directly from the manufacturer, but they are not a factory distributor. I guess the easiest way to explain it is that Hoshino owns Hoshino USA. They do not own Chesbro. Chesbro distributes a lot of merchandise from many manufacturers. Hoshino USA only sells Hoshino products. "what is refered to as midwest. montana is only one state away from the ocean, so i am not sure how that could be called the midwest. " This made me laugh. It all depends on where you live I guess. I have never understood how ANYTHING east of the Rockies could be considered any kind of WEST. To my way of thinking (Left Coast), the Rockies divide the west from the middle and the Mississippi divides the middle from the east. BTW, Montana is TWO states from the Pacific Ocean. Chesbro is located in Idaho. The Bear   Ibanezfreak1960 Username: Ibanezfreak1960 Registered: 3-2004 Posted on Sunday, July 29, 2007 - 4:40 am:    "Hoshino USA only sells Hoshino products" HoshinoUSA used to sell Laney amps at one time.   Orval Username: Orval Registered: 3-2001 Posted on Sunday, July 29, 2007 - 11:26 am:    bear, my example of montana was made because chesbro supplies stores in montana. chesbro covers at least 3 states east of the rockies but the rest are mountain states, or by my point of reference in the midwest, western states. isnt it strange how discussion turns into debate here.   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Sunday, July 29, 2007 - 11:59 am:    John, I didn't notice anything about the binding in the description posted. The original ones had that faux tortoise shell binding I believe. Do you know anything about that? What about production #'s? I think other than the binding, the description above is exact to the original. Looks like they even have the limited edition inlay in 20th fret. I like the pearl tuners on this guitar and they may have considered issuing it that way but they stuck pretty exact to the original it appears. Nice. It's an extremely versatile axe and looks mighty fine too. Tell them to make 3 cherry sunbursts while they've got their tools out. That would be nice. I think a CS would be very very very nice.   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Sunday, July 29, 2007 - 12:30 pm:    Bobzilla: The picture isn't clear enough to tell what the binding is made of. I'll see if I can get any better pictures from Hoshino. The thing I wonder about is the large control knobs. They are Sure-Grip 2s, right? I thought that they had either wood or brass knobs?   Orval Username: Orval Registered: 3-2001 Posted on Sunday, July 29, 2007 - 1:13 pm:    johns, paul s said he would try to get a photo for me on monday,   Yogi Username: Yogi Registered: 4-2003 Posted on Sunday, July 29, 2007 - 2:51 pm:    JohnS, thanks for posting the sale-sheet! I think the prototype looks great and I'm eager to see if the production models will look the same since the specs mention "Gibraltar II / Quik Change II" hardware while the prototype has Gibraltar I parts. About the knobs: Those seem to be Brass Sure Grip II like the ones that were used on the AR4000. Not "historically correct" but still very beautiful. Juergen   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Sunday, July 29, 2007 - 3:08 pm:    John.... sure-grips. Anything on how many re's being produced?   Gemberbier Username: Gemberbier Registered: 5-2006 Posted on Sunday, July 29, 2007 - 3:25 pm:    That's a good one, Bob! I hope tons! ... and for the price of the Sure Grip II ($6.-) Ginger   Lespaul Username: Lespaul Registered: 10-2004 Posted on Sunday, July 29, 2007 - 4:49 pm:    The brass knobs are on the Brass Beauties too. P@ul   Yogi Username: Yogi Registered: 4-2003 Posted on Sunday, July 29, 2007 - 5:16 pm:    Yep, but the knobs on the Brass Beauties, AR3000 and AR5000 were Sure Grip I. Juergen   Lespaul Username: Lespaul Registered: 10-2004 Posted on Sunday, July 29, 2007 - 5:58 pm:    Ah, I didn't notice the AR4000 has SGII's. And you even stated it in your post...... P@ul   Tubescorcher Username: Tubescorcher Registered: 3-2004 Posted on Sunday, July 29, 2007 - 10:28 pm:    Hey Mon! Hey guys! I was working on a photo shoot in Jamaica and finally got to read this post. I hope I can some how snag one of these beauties. It was my ultimate quest to find an original. For all who own one I envy you!!!! Peace!   Strings Username: Strings Registered: 1-2005 Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 12:17 am:    Hey Bob ; ...but then again, I had a double-bogey on the first hole, missed SIX putts inside 8 feet for birdy :^/, made an eagle on 16 and still shot 78.....so ;   Bruceswar Username: Bruceswar Registered: 5-2005 Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 1:39 am:    Just got back from the dealer show. Would you guys be interested in a photo of the re-issue?   Bruceswar Username: Bruceswar Registered: 5-2005 Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 1:40 am:    I forgot to add this guitar is a killer looking guitar in hand. Yummy!   Bruceswar Username: Bruceswar Registered: 5-2005 Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 1:44 am:    Sorry for the multiple post but here is a picture of this nice guitar!! Enjoy! http://musiciansheadquarters.com/riib.jpg   Jcmc64 Username: Jcmc64 Registered: 6-2006 Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 4:21 am:    Bruces-- A beauty...WOW ...thx for the pic...any more?   Sixvsix Username: Sixvsix Registered: 3-2002 Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 5:25 am:    Personally, I'd expect a better looking top for that kind of money. six   Sixvsix Username: Sixvsix Registered: 3-2002 Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 5:35 am:    Orval said.... "Isnt it strange how discussion turns into debate here." I guess that's what happens when you let loose a bunch of middle aged old farts (me included) on the internet. six   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 8:11 am:    For some reason, the tops on the old ar5000's are kinda deceptive in photos. Maybe that's the case w/the proto as well. I know mine can look drastically different depending on light and angle in photos. I wonder what they are using for serial numbers on these and what the production numbers are. If there's only 12 available in the USA, how can one even expect to land one. John. I gotta figure yours is already in the bag.   Ibanezfreak1960 Username: Ibanezfreak1960 Registered: 3-2004 Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 8:33 am:    Nice! I like it better with the original Gibralter bridge too. Bruce was there s sustain block on the prototype?   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 9:02 am:    I see that what I thought were plastic SureGrip IIs are brass versions. Thanks for the clarification. Here's a smaller version of Bruce's picture from NAMM. Thanks very much Bruce!   Jimmys Username: Jimmys Registered: 5-2003 Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 10:23 am:    Hey I won!!!!!! I can't believe it. What a great guess. I've been busy selling some of my guitars on eBay and then i was away and didn't think to check this site for a week. Ha ha. How do I claim my prize John? What's better - a CS9 or an FL9 pedal? Awesome stuff. I wouldn't mind getting one of the reissues - might have to talk to Captain Ibanez seeing as I am downunder!James   Jimmys Username: Jimmys Registered: 5-2003 Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 10:27 am:    Don't worry John. I just saw your e-mail in my inbox (which I hadn't checked for a few days). Thanks for running the contest, James   Jimmys Username: Jimmys Registered: 5-2003 Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 10:34 am:    John, I just sent you a response. I have chosen the Flanger. Thanks again, James   Rnrcrazyknight62 Username: Rnrcrazyknight62 Registered: 7-2007 Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 4:35 pm:    This my first post here. So, hello to everyone!!!!! My name is Scott and I've been a fan of Ibanez guitars since 1978. My first guitar which I still own is a Paul Stanley Iceman (bought new in '78). Please feel free to email me if you're interested in getting one of these; the rep for my area has one allocated and is still available. My email address is scott.conner@insightbb.com Once again HELLO and I look forward to posting and talking to you all. Scott...   Bruceswar Username: Bruceswar Registered: 5-2005 Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 5:08 pm:    Sorry I did not take more photos. In my haste I simply forgot. IF1960, I did not notice a sustain block but then again I could have missed it. Overall when I took a look at the guitar, I was rather impressed.   Strings Username: Strings Registered: 1-2005 Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 5:31 pm:    Six...you mean something like this:   Strings Username: Strings Registered: 1-2005 Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 5:46 pm:    Huh, wonder which machine handles they've settled on. Whereas 'NAMM baby' has pearloids...and they don't look very authentic in the pic above, John's "Official Sheet" higher up the thread has what look like brass non-stock Schallers on an old Gibby LP Custom I have. so, what's it gonna be?   Strings Username: Strings Registered: 1-2005 Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 5:54 pm:    Oh, and first and foremost...WARMEST WELCOME SCOTT!! Very nice offer to those in need of one of these!   Ibanezfreak1960 Username: Ibanezfreak1960 Registered: 3-2004 Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 10:47 pm:    Strings is that your baby?   Strings Username: Strings Registered: 1-2005 Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 11:16 pm:    Nope...still Yogi's...and still my favorite!   Sixvsix Username: Sixvsix Registered: 3-2002 Posted on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 - 7:12 am:    Yeah Yogi's is a nice looking top. I was thinking more like one of my Les Pauls actually (sorry Bob) six   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 - 8:08 am:    Six: I have seen many of the 2670REs and the tops vary tremendously. Maybe that will be the same with the flame on the AR5000RE. Yogi's and Bob's do look more intense than the prototype.   Rnrcrazyknight62 Username: Rnrcrazyknight62 Registered: 7-2007 Posted on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 - 12:07 pm:    I just got off the phone with our rep, and he is holding the guitar for me for a couple of days. If anyone is interested, please call me at work, 502-966-2424. I'll be here until 9 PM EST. And, I'm off tomorrow. You can still email me at home, scott.conner@insightbb.com I've got a special deal for ICW members. Later, Scott   Strings Username: Strings Registered: 1-2005 Posted on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 - 12:33 pm:    John, to me the 5000 (everyone that I've seen in pics) and the 3000 shown here look vastly different to me. The 5000s all seem to have a very tight set of 'stripes' that look "forced", canned or unnatural to me. Perhaps most see that as more desirable. Where as Yogi's (and most other ARs from that period) seem to have a much wider variety offering a more natural layout (for lack of a better description.) In another exmple, I can't stand the Prestige - look almost painted...so actually less intense is better, but that's just my NSHO Six, thanks for the pic...she's a beaut!!   Ibanezfreak1960 Username: Ibanezfreak1960 Registered: 3-2004 Posted on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 - 1:20 pm:    Scott you are in Kentucky?   Tbplayer Username: Tbplayer Registered: 4-2007 Posted on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 - 2:10 pm:    hey scott, i guess you dedcided not to score one for yourself. will stop by the store sat. to hi.   Rnrcrazyknight62 Username: Rnrcrazyknight62 Registered: 7-2007 Posted on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 - 5:25 pm:    "Scott you are in Kentucky?" Yes, I live in KY. I live in Mt. Washington and work in Louisviile. "hey scott, i guess you dedcided not to score one for yourself. will stop by the store sat. to hi." I've got other fish to fry. Will see you this weekend. As for the AR5000RE; it is sold.   Fox Username: Fox Registered: 2-2003 Posted on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 - 7:22 pm:    Hi there again! I'd like to put up a couple of photos (again) just for comparison..And of cours to prove that also Ibanezes can have "pretty spectacular" tops.. For your viewing pleasure: The vintage Limited Editions and a closeup from AR 3000 LE: Plus a bonus AR 500..   Ibanezfreak1960 Username: Ibanezfreak1960 Registered: 3-2004 Posted on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 - 10:16 pm:    Fox I love those "meaty" frets on the 3000LE. I am drooling big time.   Strings Username: Strings Registered: 1-2005 Posted on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 - 10:46 pm:    case in point...wow. So now, which of the three tops is your fav? Anyone?...Anyone?   Lofapco Username: Lofapco Registered: 7-2007 Posted on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 - 11:28 pm:    Cherry Burst of course!   Lofapco Username: Lofapco Registered: 7-2007 Posted on Wednesday, August 01, 2007 - 12:29 am:    Anyone for a re-issue of the Custom Agent 2405? Dave G might like that! ;)   Ibanezfreak1960 Username: Ibanezfreak1960 Registered: 3-2004 Posted on Wednesday, August 01, 2007 - 7:16 am:    Strings mine would be the AR3000LE I love the binding on it.   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Wednesday, August 01, 2007 - 7:24 am:    That 3000 is something else. Nice. Nice.   Chazmo Username: Chazmo Registered: 3-2007 Posted on Wednesday, August 01, 2007 - 10:31 am:    Is the 3000LE also MIJ, or did Hoshino do that one elsewhere? Just curious. Agreed, it's gorgeous. Ibanez RULEZ!!   Fox Username: Fox Registered: 2-2003 Posted on Wednesday, August 01, 2007 - 1:02 pm:    Chaz, all those vintage Limited Editions are MIJ as well as all those older Artists.. I think that first non-Japanese Artists were those 90's reissues and AR 250's..   Chazmo Username: Chazmo Registered: 3-2007 Posted on Wednesday, August 01, 2007 - 1:48 pm:    Fox, thanks. I wasn't paying attention, and for some reason I thought the 3000 limited shown by strings above was some sort a re-issue. Am I correct, though, that a few other Artists have been brought back into production in recent years (not counting the Cowboy or Artist Twin reissues from 05/06)? Do we have a list of those somewhere?   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Wednesday, August 01, 2007 - 2:36 pm:    Has anyone heard anything about the quantities of the ar5000re being made available yet? I heard 12 in the USA. If that's true, I would imagine it's gonna be tough to land one, no matter how bad you want it. John? John, can you ask them to do a few in CS?   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Wednesday, August 01, 2007 - 3:39 pm:    Bob: I just heard from my source at Hoshino that the total production will be 80! That's right: eight...zero. And there will be 30, possibly more, coming to the US.   Rockon2112 Username: Rockon2112 Registered: 3-2007 Posted on Wednesday, August 01, 2007 - 4:27 pm:    Word from the Northwest (through my local music store and long time Ibanez dealer) is that there were 4 allocated for the Northwest Region. The IB rep said they were all spoken for already. I guess I should've made the call Monday...   Spiro Username: Spiro Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Wednesday, August 01, 2007 - 10:21 pm:    Hi everyone!!! Long time no speak.. Just a heads up that I have secured at least 1 of these for australia and possibly 2. 1 is already accounted for and the other is up for grabs.. So all you Australians let me know who wants it!!!   Ibanezfreak1960 Username: Ibanezfreak1960 Registered: 3-2004 Posted on Thursday, August 02, 2007 - 6:43 am:    Spiro, It took an AR5000re to bring you back! Anyway Hello!!   Jimmys Username: Jimmys Registered: 5-2003 Posted on Thursday, August 02, 2007 - 6:47 am:    So, it was you Spiro who had placed the first order. I called the importer yesterday, and was told that one had been ordered and that maybe one more could be obtained, but they weren't sure. I'd have to order it through my local Ibanez dealer. Then the guy told me that it would be $9-10kAUD and I thought that I would just remain happy with the guitars I already have. I could sell these and buy the AR5000RE though and that is kind of tempting. Maybe importing one from the US would be cheaper!   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Thursday, August 02, 2007 - 9:17 am:    First of all. 80 is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too many! They only did 45 of the 2670, why 80 ar5000's? That's dang near twice as many as the originals production numbers. If they are doing 80, they should certainly do some Cherry Bursts. They reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeally should do a few. I'd like one in cherry since I already have the other. In any event..... 30 avail. in the USA is not so many to be fought over. But... 80 total is better news for us because at least they're out there. With 80 total, most likely everyone on ICW that wants one will have the ability to easily get their hands on one. May have to import it in to wherever you are but 80 is a whole bunch. (Not in the scheme of life but 80 avail. should allow for ICW guys to land one.) If I had $320,000 I'd buy them all. (80 x $4000). Then, I'd let you guys have some and throw the rest in the ocean. I'd give them to you free of charge.   Mitch236 Username: Mitch236 Registered: 7-2007 Posted on Thursday, August 02, 2007 - 10:28 am:    In the original picture I saw a MAP price. What does that mean?   Mr_roadstar Username: Mr_roadstar Registered: 6-2002 Posted on Thursday, August 02, 2007 - 11:44 am:    MAP = Minimum Advertised Price Or as retailers refer to it: Maximum Asking Price The Bear   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Thursday, August 02, 2007 - 12:13 pm:    John, are they gonna be numbered on the back like the 2670's? Can you ask them to make a few CS while there's still time to influence them? I don't see much sense in me getting a new one when I have an old one but if they did have a CS, Then I think I'd be inclined to try for one.   Gemberbier Username: Gemberbier Registered: 5-2006 Posted on Thursday, August 02, 2007 - 1:07 pm:    I think I'm going to be a beachcomber... or a lumberjack Ginger "I'm a lumberjack, and I'm O.K. ..."   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Thursday, August 02, 2007 - 1:13 pm:    "I work all night and I sleep all day?" I put on women's clothing and hang around in bars."   Gemberbier Username: Gemberbier Registered: 5-2006 Posted on Thursday, August 02, 2007 - 1:22 pm:    That's the one... As long as I find one of your pieces of wood in the water... Ginger   Spiro Username: Spiro Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Thursday, August 02, 2007 - 6:18 pm:    Jimmy, We have re negotiated the price and it will be much cheaper than that. More like the price in the states. Considering that the Aussie dollar is strong they will be "affordable" to buy from here. Anyways I have now secured both of the ones coming to Australia.   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Thursday, August 02, 2007 - 7:31 pm:    Go Spiro! Jimmy wants an AR5000re to go with the new Ibanez CS9 pedal that he won in the re-issue contest.   Strings Username: Strings Registered: 1-2005 Posted on Friday, August 03, 2007 - 2:11 am:    2+ weeks with a good heads-up and not one ICW is expecting?! Lot o Monday Morning QBs lettin' 'em slip away. Maybe they picked the wrong model...maybe the interest just isn't there....hmmmmm Bob.......Bob! They never released one in CS so why would the redo on the model have one? You can send my free AV as soon as you get them tho... Sir O? Ever silent   Jimmys Username: Jimmys Registered: 5-2003 Posted on Friday, August 03, 2007 - 9:24 am:    Hi Spiro, That's great news but when you say you have "secured both of the ones coming to Australia", what do you mean? Do you work for a shop or retail outlet? If I wanted one, would I only be able to get one through you or could I still go to my local music store who is an Ibanez reseller? Yes, John, I think the guitar would go well with the pedal! Not sure my wife agrees though! Thanks, James   Jimmys Username: Jimmys Registered: 5-2003 Posted on Friday, August 03, 2007 - 9:26 am:    Oh John, I picked the FL9 pedal, not the CS one. Just checking that you got my email confirming this. Thanks, James   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Friday, August 03, 2007 - 12:45 pm:    Jimmys: You're correct about choosing the Flanger. I got you mixed up with the other winner who chose the Chorus. His names is Jim, also.   Mitch236 Username: Mitch236 Registered: 7-2007 Posted on Monday, August 06, 2007 - 11:28 am:    So if I am offered one for the MAP am I getting a good deal? It seems that I am being assured of getting one at MAP.   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Monday, August 06, 2007 - 12:20 pm:    Mitch236: It's kind of like going to the supermarket and seeing you're favorite ice cream with a price sticker on it. If you really want it, you know how much you'll be paying and there'll be no surprises when you get to the cash register. Now, if you also had a coupon and got a discount, then I'll bet that ice cream would taste even sweeter. If you get an AR5000re for less than SMAP, that would be a "great" deal! But you're probably going to have to ask for a deal and be prepared to haggle with the dealer.   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Tuesday, August 14, 2007 - 12:35 pm:    Has anyone "secured" one of these ar5000re's yet? Any final production #'s? Availabilty date?   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Wednesday, August 15, 2007 - 8:42 am:    I would have thought we were scrambling our brains trying to land one of these. From what I understand, Ibanez has the USA divided into "territories" and that there are 6 territories and 2 ar5000re's available per territory. Was told that if you haven't "secured" one by now, .... good luck. That's what I was told, I don't want to put out any misinformation, just stating that's what I was told. Could me incorrect for all I know. If any of you guys land one and you're not far from NY, maybe we can get an old one and a new one together and see how they match up? I'm still interested to see what the deal is with the binding. John.... how about a t-shirt (or something) for the first ICW member who lands an ar5000re and can post a photo with it in hand? I can't wait to see one and finally find out the final (true) production quantity and compare an old one and a new one. I think it's strange that with all the votes and drooling that no one here has landed one. John, I thought you'd be the first and it would look real nice next to your 2670.   Guitartim Username: Guitartim Registered: 4-2001 Posted on Wednesday, August 15, 2007 - 10:30 am:    When is the 'official' press release/announcement to be made on the AR5000re?? Nuthin' at Ibanez.com or H.Central as of this writing. Wassup?! http://news.harmony-central.com/General/headlines. html?manufacturer=Ibanez   Dave_g Username: Dave_g Registered: 1-2002 Posted on Wednesday, August 15, 2007 - 10:10 pm:    I got a call back from the guys I bought the cowboy from and was told that I have a AR5000 on reserve, details to follow tommorow Ok, I can wait another day   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Thursday, August 16, 2007 - 8:15 am:    Nice Dave.   Guitartim Username: Guitartim Registered: 4-2001 Posted on Thursday, August 16, 2007 - 10:07 am:    Way to go, Dave! I knew you'd get hooked up. You KNOW we'll need a full photo-essay after you receive her.   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Thursday, August 16, 2007 - 12:51 pm:    Dave, did they give you an indication of when they'd get it to you?   Dave_g Username: Dave_g Registered: 1-2002 Posted on Thursday, August 16, 2007 - 6:39 pm:    Bob, I'm still waiting on details...I just hope my other AR5000 is finished before it arrives   Cleversj Username: Cleversj Registered: 11-2006 Posted on Thursday, August 16, 2007 - 6:45 pm:    Dave, Are there any others available? Jack   Dave_g Username: Dave_g Registered: 1-2002 Posted on Thursday, August 16, 2007 - 10:23 pm:    Got a call back today with a price , I told them to lock it in and get back to me with the details. This dealer is very well known in NJ, but somehow I doubt he knows what he is talking about ! He seemed to think that the availability was within 30 days ! Needs a 20% deposit   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Friday, August 17, 2007 - 7:20 am:    Dave, I was told "available in the fall" so... 30 days may be correct. I think the fall is officially 9/21/07. It would be nice to have your other one done by then. If I know you, it will be done. I hope you're taking photos of the work you're doing on it. You may be the only guy on Earth with 2 ar5000's. Would you play them both or just play the original and keep the re in pristine shape?   Jcmc64 Username: Jcmc64 Registered: 6-2006 Posted on Tuesday, August 21, 2007 - 6:12 pm:    I secured one the week it was announced. I've been told early October, and only 30 available in USA. The rep spoke directly with his distributor at Ibanez in NJ (I think it was NJ) so it seems reliable, but who knows.   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Tuesday, August 21, 2007 - 9:41 pm:    I got one.   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Wednesday, August 22, 2007 - 7:26 am:    That leaves 28 for the rest of the ICW members. Congrats John. a 2670 and an ar5000 sitting next to each other is a wonderful thing.   Dave_g Username: Dave_g Registered: 1-2002 Posted on Wednesday, August 22, 2007 - 7:51 am:    27   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Thursday, August 23, 2007 - 7:33 am:    Does that mean you got 2 of them Dave? One to play one to keep pristine maybe?   Ibanezfreak1960 Username: Ibanezfreak1960 Registered: 3-2004 Posted on Thursday, August 23, 2007 - 7:43 am:    Why has there not been any press release other than ICW about this guitar?   Dave_g Username: Dave_g Registered: 1-2002 Posted on Thursday, August 23, 2007 - 7:43 am:    Bob, do the math again   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Thursday, August 23, 2007 - 8:11 am:    Ok, let's see.... Start with 30. You get one, leaves 29. John gets one, leaves 28. Ahhhhhhhhhh I missed one Jcm64 gets one.... leaves 27. I hadn't noticed Jc's! There you go. 27 left for ICW. I thought ICW would have jumped on more of them. If you missed the first batch (1981) and this is gonna be it on these ar5000's... I would have thought we would have jumped on more of them. I can't believe nobody here can't contact the right person and get a CS or two made. I don't mean to harp on it but what the heck, now would be the time to try to get it done. I would take a CS ar5000 if I had the opportunity to purchase it. Dave, do you think they'll have that "tortoise shell" ? Pearl tuners should be stock on these. P.S. - I still think it's 12 available in the USA not 30.   Mitch236 Username: Mitch236 Registered: 7-2007 Posted on Thursday, August 23, 2007 - 8:56 am:    I have mine promised as well. That leaves 26.   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Thursday, August 23, 2007 - 9:00 am:    Bob: The "80 pcs worldwide. 30 pieces allotted at this time for USA" came to me directly from HoshinoUSA.   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Thursday, August 23, 2007 - 10:24 am:    OK John, I believe you. The info I got came from a pretty reliable source too though. Congrats Mitch, Dave, John, Jc.... I hope you guys are better at waioting for guitar stuff than I am. If I was in your guys shoes right now I couldn't stand the wait. If any of you guys notice a conflict between the ar5000 and whatever pedals you use (when your axes arrive) please let me know because I can't use my ar5000 with the Zoom G2 pedal I have. I think the electronics in the ar5000 coflict drastically with the electronics in the pedal and actually renders it useless (the pedal). Pedal works fine with all my other guitars. If any of you guys start hearing a firm delivery date, let us know. I wonder how much time the finish needs to settle down. They're such new guitars, they're still building them so I wonder about the finish "curing" or whatever. I think the '81's had 10 coats of hand-applied finish. And what about the necks? I think they say "rock maple" on the 81's is that the case with the re's? I love the neck on the ar5000. Does the new one have the volute? Ummmmmmmm too many question's and not enuff ar5000re's in hand to answer them.   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Wednesday, September 05, 2007 - 1:18 pm:    Hoshino USA says.... on 9/5/07.... 40 total units (ar5000re) being produced worldwide. If so, that would make me think the info I got on only 12 avails in the USA may make sense. It would be nice when they make the final/real numbers available to the public.   Jcmc64 Username: Jcmc64 Registered: 6-2006 Posted on Wednesday, September 05, 2007 - 3:18 pm:    Bob, where are you getting this info from?? Several here have spoken directly to Hoshino USA...please give the source to end confusion. If it has changed to just 40, maybe due to low # of orders.   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Thursday, September 06, 2007 - 7:38 am:    Jc... that came from Hoshino (Pa.) yesterday. I am expecting a call back from them on Monday so if he tells me anything different, I will let you know. My good friend is the one who arranged the Steve Vai/Ibanez association. So I can find out info through him but... the "40 pcs." total info was given to me over the phone yesterday, I was speaking directly to them. I guess until they just come out and post something on their site, we'll be getting conflicting info but that's what I was told yesterday. In a few weeks, I am supposed to be going there with my friend (mentioned above) and my original ar5000, if I go, I would imagine I can get to the bottom of it. Basically though, I'd trust Johns info above all.   Strings Username: Strings Registered: 1-2005 Posted on Thursday, September 06, 2007 - 8:06 am:    Jc, "Hoshino" "them" "they" "him" "he" "good friend" all = specific source Bob, Sounds like 40 may be a glut. Looks like there will be lots to choose from...   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Thursday, September 06, 2007 - 8:48 am:    Strings, if you want specific names, I can give them to you but... I didn't want to post them here without asking permission. If you don't mind, I prefer to wait til that follow up call on Monday and at that point I'll ask if "they" mind if I mentioned their names. I'll also try to post whatever "back-up" info they give me to support the numbers they gave me. There's a big diff. between 40 and 80. I kinda trusted the original info I got which stated "12 available in the USA, maybe more for the left coast if they need/want them." That original info I got was from my friend of Steve Vai's. Steve is a "local." It's amazing how many famous musician's/bands have come from my neck of the woods (Long Island, NY.) Steve is one of them.   Jcmc64 Username: Jcmc64 Registered: 6-2006 Posted on Thursday, September 06, 2007 - 4:14 pm:    Strings...Hilarious!! Bob, I too was on speakerphone directly to Hoshino, but during the week RE was announced. This store, who moves serious boatloads of Ibanez equipment, called them right in front of me on speaker phone, so I heard entire conversation with Hoshino. 80 and 30 were the numbers. If your "source" aka Deep Throat, is right, then they obviously have weened down the numbers. JohnS, interested in helping here?   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Thursday, September 06, 2007 - 5:42 pm:    I sent an email to my contact at Hoshino USA. But haven't heard back from him. I'll let you know when I hear something.   Snowjays Username: Snowjays Registered: 9-2004 Posted on Thursday, September 06, 2007 - 8:03 pm:    Bob (or anyone), if that's the case, can anyone tell you where the rest of these guitars are going to be distributed to other than the U.S.?   Strings Username: Strings Registered: 1-2005 Posted on Thursday, September 06, 2007 - 10:57 pm:    No, Bob, I don't need names. But while I'm stirrin' the ****, I do like the Mr. Vai drop...Perhaps you should secure his permission... See, I believe this "Hoshino" place you guys talk about is really just a small mfg co named "ACME" ... now run by a one Wile E. Coyote ;   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Friday, September 07, 2007 - 7:48 am:    I think I can find out the whole story on Monday. Right now, I'd trust whatever info John has. My connection is real good though and I see no reason why I would be given misinformation. With so many different numbers being mentioned though... I'd gotta figure John has access to the best info at this point. Why all this is unsettled, I don't know. If they announced they're doing the reissue, you would think they would tell folks what the numbers are. When I bought my limited edition Hot Rod Deluxe, I knew how "limited" it was before I bought it. I think the production numbers are a small part of the enticement to buy so I don't know why it's so hard to nail down the numbers. But, then again, maybe a post above does have the correct info already and so we do have it. P.S. - I betcha Steve Vai could have a CS ar5000re if he wants one. I certainly cannot.   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Friday, September 07, 2007 - 11:43 pm:    Here's what I got today from my contact at Hoshino: "80 pieces world wide with about 30 pieces for the USA. I say about 30 because I don't know how many Chesbro, our sister distributor in Idaho Falls has ordered at this time." Nothing on delivery time, as yet.   Ibanezfreak1960 Username: Ibanezfreak1960 Registered: 3-2004 Posted on Sunday, September 09, 2007 - 11:12 pm:    Johns you got mail!   Jcmc64 Username: Jcmc64 Registered: 6-2006 Posted on Monday, September 10, 2007 - 1:34 am:    Thx John for putting this one to rest.   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Monday, September 10, 2007 - 9:12 am:    Hoshino USA National Sales Manager says (on 9/10/07) and I quote "40 units worldwide, apprx. 20 in the USA."   Ibanezfreak1960 Username: Ibanezfreak1960 Registered: 3-2004 Posted on Monday, September 10, 2007 - 12:26 pm:    According to this thread no one knows exactly what's going on with these AR5000re's. I think it's funny!   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Monday, September 10, 2007 - 2:08 pm:    Freak, I think it's funny. And... a teensy bit annoying. It would just be nice to have a concrete, no-way-around-it definite answer. You would figure the National Sales Mngr. would know. Here'a number, if anyone else cares to call: 215.638.8670   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Monday, September 10, 2007 - 5:13 pm:    All: I just got this piece of clarification from my contact at HoshinoUSA: "A number of people have been calling here asking about the bridge on the AR5000RE. They are correct: The bridge is the original Gibraltar, not the Gibraltar II that the sales sheet said."   Ibanezfreak1960 Username: Ibanezfreak1960 Registered: 3-2004 Posted on Monday, September 10, 2007 - 6:21 pm:    Yeah baby!!   Strings Username: Strings Registered: 1-2005 Posted on Monday, September 10, 2007 - 10:26 pm:    Annoying, Bob?   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Tuesday, September 11, 2007 - 7:25 am:    "Teensy bit" annoying, to the extent that... it would just be nice to have a public statement from them with actual prod. #'s. No big deal.   Mitch236 Username: Mitch236 Registered: 7-2007 Posted on Tuesday, September 11, 2007 - 8:02 am:    While you guys are asking, could you find out about the release date?   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Tuesday, September 11, 2007 - 8:32 am:    Release date, "In the fall." Fall is Sept. thru Dec.   Mitch236 Username: Mitch236 Registered: 7-2007 Posted on Tuesday, September 11, 2007 - 9:33 am:    Is that the same as "There will be 40 -no wait, 80 pieces worldwide"???   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Tuesday, September 11, 2007 - 9:39 am:    yes, exactly.   Jcmc64 Username: Jcmc64 Registered: 6-2006 Posted on Tuesday, September 11, 2007 - 2:31 pm:    My own ears heard Hoshino say mid Oct...what does that mean? I dunno, sometime between January - December...?!   Gemberbier Username: Gemberbier Registered: 5-2006 Posted on Wednesday, September 12, 2007 - 3:24 am:    Mid October IMO means about October the 15th. About the bridge: now we know why 4goodvibrationz is trying to get double money for his Gibraltar bridges, before we can order them from Hoshino at normal prices. I hope they make many many spares. AND KNOBS... MANY MANY SURE GRIP I KNOBS in order to stop this knob madness! Ginger   Ibanezfreak1960 Username: Ibanezfreak1960 Registered: 3-2004 Posted on Wednesday, September 12, 2007 - 8:31 am:    Ginger I said before when you commented on one of the other reissiue threads about making parts available in mass quantities(I sound like a conehead) you won't see this model on the parts list. Most likely they are using NOS stock.   Guitartim Username: Guitartim Registered: 4-2001 Posted on Monday, September 17, 2007 - 12:17 pm:    I spotted this thread over at the 'Gear Page'. There are some great photos from NAMM where the AR5000RE was introduced. Lots of cool stuff!! http://www.thegearpage.net/board/search.php?search id=4000827   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Monday, September 17, 2007 - 1:01 pm:    Tim: The link is coming back: "Sorry - no matches. Please try some different terms." I did a search on AR5000 and came up with 2 threads, but nothing with any photos.   Guitartim Username: Guitartim Registered: 4-2001 Posted on Monday, September 17, 2007 - 4:41 pm:    Yes, it gave me the same thing. That's strange! Maybe it doesn't like ICW or non-members peeping in on their site. OK, try searching as 'AR5000RE' and you should come up with the thread with the NAMM photos. The AR500RE is buried in the second page of three pages of comments and photos. http://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php   Jcmc64 Username: Jcmc64 Registered: 6-2006 Posted on Monday, September 17, 2007 - 4:52 pm:    You might need to have an acct and be logged in to see that particular thread   Jcmc64 Username: Jcmc64 Registered: 6-2006 Posted on Monday, September 17, 2007 - 4:57 pm:    Someone please post the pics...Gearpage will not allow me to sign up due to my having free mail accts...whatever.   Ibanezfreak1960 Username: Ibanezfreak1960 Registered: 3-2004 Posted on Monday, September 17, 2007 - 10:22 pm:    http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t= 273613&highlight=ibanez+ar5000re   Ibanezfreak1960 Username: Ibanezfreak1960 Registered: 3-2004 Posted on Tuesday, September 18, 2007 - 6:33 am:    Jcm64, follow the link I posted and it should take you right to the thread and the ar5000 is on page 2. If not let me know. But there is no new pics of it. Only the same ones we see above in this thread.   Guitartim Username: Guitartim Registered: 4-2001 Posted on Tuesday, September 18, 2007 - 10:15 am:    Thanks, Freak. Yea, those are the same AR5000re pics in this thread, but all of the other cool NAMM guitars were the bonus here. Have any of you lucky AR5Kre owners received your gits yet? Can't be. There are no photos posted here at ICW.   Ibanezfreak1960 Username: Ibanezfreak1960 Registered: 3-2004 Posted on Tuesday, September 18, 2007 - 9:43 pm:    Yeah there are some nice pics of other stuff there. Also some great threads.   Jcmc64 Username: Jcmc64 Registered: 6-2006 Posted on Wednesday, September 19, 2007 - 3:14 am:    Thx Freak, got it. Yeah, its kinda unbelieavable Ibanez doesn't do a much better job marketing there RE's. Granted they probably don't need to for sales alone of the RE as most probably are sucked up already. But it seems counter productive for the brand not to buzz the •••• out of it. After all, it is the best that Ibanez produces, these beautiful vine ladies the last 2 years. What other company leaves a complete void of marketing, and info when something this special and rare is created? I can get catalog's and info on $200-500 Ibanez's all day long before release, but zilch on these...??? Just google AR5000Re and you'll see what I mean. There website? Nothing, there Forum board, nothing...NOTHING! This Namm pic seems to be the only pic in the world right now, and the 07' RE is due out in a month!   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Wednesday, September 19, 2007 - 7:38 am:    How much can they spend on advertising so few guitars? Know what I mean? Their profit margin would be zilch on 40 units if they spent all their dimes advertising it. I've worked in advertising for 15 years. It's an expensive proposition on a local level... so... on a global level, they'd lose all their profits on such few units. (I guess.) For example... in NY it can cost $2000 per :60 second spot on the radio. At $2000 for each :60 seconds you can easily see what it would cost them to advertise the re's atround the world. I guess NAMM is the way to go, let the world come to you as opposed to you going to the world. If it turns out there's only 12 available in the USA, it would make absolutley no sense to advertise it. They should have something on their website though, they are already paying their webstaff. (New word?)   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Wednesday, September 19, 2007 - 8:45 am:    Bob: Very good points. I wonder if the recent Platinum Summer Edition 2007 booklet from Guitar Center that featured the 2670re along with the PRS Dragon doubleneck, was a co-op piece with Hoshino footing some of the bill? Having the 2670re on the same page as the $32,000.00 PRS was actually very good exposure for Ibanez. Why spend advertising dollars when you can get free advertising and reach the exact target audience? Let's see, where could Hoshino get to survey/announce/advertise and reach thousands of Ibanez vintage fanatics/potential customers?   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Wednesday, September 19, 2007 - 9:26 am:    Yeah, John, obviously they can do that right here on ICW but, to my recollection, I've never seen Hoshino post here. It would be nice to have a section (ala the Jim Donahue section) that was for a Hoshino guy to respond to ICW inquiries and, in general, just a place to exchange info/ideas/questions/answers.   Chazmo Username: Chazmo Registered: 3-2007 Posted on Wednesday, September 19, 2007 - 9:28 am:    John, you're right about them hitting their target audience right here! But, you gotta' remember Ibanez/Hoshino is really bizarre when it comes to their advertising. Forget about the 5000RE, they don't even list catalog information on mainstream items! I just found out there's a cordia exotic wood (EW) 12-string acoustic available in the UK. Do you think it's even in their catalog or web site...? No. I'll never figure these guys out. But, as long as they keep making awesome instruments, I don't care. I guess it's part of the mystique.   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Wednesday, September 19, 2007 - 10:06 am:    John, can you get me a job at Hoshino? I'll take care of all this stuff.   Jcmc64 Username: Jcmc64 Registered: 6-2006 Posted on Thursday, September 20, 2007 - 6:12 am:    Friends, It cost very little to advertise on the web, very little to post a thread on Ibanez's own website for petes sake! Or have a link added to their home page. Give background on the original, do a feature on the original luthiers, show these RE in production, etc, on and on. Cost nothing. No guitar company does advertising on radio. Miss my point... Heck, they could do a spot on you tube for all I care. Just something! The advertising\marketing I speak of cost practically nothing in this technical age. I can think of a dozen things off the top of my head that would be very little expense and lots of exposure for the brand. But that is just my ex corporate mindset speaking here. Once I have it in my hands, who cares!!   Ibanezfreak1960 Username: Ibanezfreak1960 Registered: 3-2004 Posted on Thursday, September 20, 2007 - 7:08 am:    I'll have to agree with Johns here. I think they thought this out and left it up to word of mouth throug ICW to see how it goes. I put a pic up in the 2007 catalog download thread on the Ibanez forum almost 2 months ago asking why this (the naam pic of the re) wasn't included and did not get even 1 reply. Someone else just recently posted it again in the Artist thread and its not getting much attention. Thats because all the interest and buzz is here on ICW. We are the ones that love this guitar.   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Thursday, September 20, 2007 - 7:38 am:    We are also the ones driving the costs of all the old IBZ';s up. Nature of the beast.   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Thursday, September 20, 2007 - 12:37 pm:    Jcmc64: I do agree with you about the free web advertising...especially on Ibanez.com. I have spoken to them and they are aware of it. In the meantime, our little secret is actually good for ICW members.   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Thursday, September 20, 2007 - 1:02 pm:    Jc... I only used the $2000 radio spots as an example so you'd get the point. And... guitars are advertised on the radio. Mostly through dealers Like GC and so forth and believe me, there's manufacturers co-op $$$ involved there but guitars are certainly advertised on the radio. TV as well. I've seen manufacturer TV ads, as opposed to dealer. Few and far between but I've seen 'em. And at the end of that staement, I did say it don't cost nothin' for them to post some info on their website.   Roadartstar Username: Roadartstar Registered: 8-2004 Posted on Friday, September 21, 2007 - 1:58 am:    Hey i never did get that free T-shirt from the 2007 contest did anyone else get there pedals and shirts? johnS Anyone?? Ralph   Jcmc64 Username: Jcmc64 Registered: 6-2006 Posted on Friday, September 21, 2007 - 2:22 am:    I got my pedal today in fact...way to end the week. Thx Hoshino!!   Jimmys Username: Jimmys Registered: 5-2003 Posted on Friday, September 21, 2007 - 8:15 am:    I got my flanger pedal yesterday. I am very happy. Thanks John S for organising this and chasing it up. Thanks Hoshino also!   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Friday, September 21, 2007 - 4:25 pm:    Roadartstar and others expecting a T-shirt: Sorry about the delay. Having problems with the vendor. But one way or another, the shirts will definitely arrive.   Jcmc64 Username: Jcmc64 Registered: 6-2006 Posted on Friday, September 21, 2007 - 7:35 pm:    Ooops...thx John too for facilitating!   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Sunday, September 30, 2007 - 9:54 pm:    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FROM IBANEZ GUITARS (Please note: While some information was released this past summer on the AR5000RE, the images and some information were not based on the final version of the AR5000RE. It should also be noted that the AR5000RE on display at the Summer NAMM Show also differed slightly from the final version. This press release includes the actual image of the final version as well up-to-date specs and available quantities information.) IBANEZ DEBUTS THIRD HANDCRAFTED REISSUE 1980 Artist AR5000 Follows Bob Weir and 2670 Double-Neck Reissues AUSTIN – For the third Summer NAMM musical instrument convention in a row, Ibanez debuted a handcrafted recreation of one of the ornate vintage Ibanez guitars that are now highly sought collector’s items. This year the must-have-and-hide-the-receipt-from-the-spouse instrument was the Ibanez Artist AR5000RE, a stunning combination of hi-tech (well, hi-tech for the ‘80s) electronics and Japanese Old World craftsmanship. Like the original, AR5000RE reissue features a mahogany body with a flamed maple top, a stunning vine neck inlay and more than enough knobs and switches to satisfy the most obsessive tone control freak: nine if you include the coil tap switches, pre-amp controls, etc.—ten if you include the standard pickup selector switch. The AR5000RE has a list of $5999.99, a far from paltry price, but practically a bargain if one compares that amount with the formidable sums required for some of the historical reissues of some of Ibanez’s respected competitors. Which is as it should be. After all the first Ibanez Artist of 1975 was originally conceived as the affordable original-design alternative to the Gibson Les Paul, the big name in mahogany body, two-humbucking pickup electric guitars. The 1980 AR5000 was a somewhat more expensive alternative. As a matter of fact, the original AR5000 wasn’t even for sale; it was designed to be a one-of-a-kind head turner for exhibitions and trade shows. In this it was quite successful, turning so many heads that Ibanez was inundated with enough requests to finally offer the guitar as a limited edition model. From 1980-81, at the end of the era that Ibanez vintage collectors refer to as the “Golden Age of Ibanez,” Ibanez shipped just slightly less than 50 (no one seems to knows the exact number) of the limited edition AR5000 models. The 2007 AR5000 Handcrafted Reissue will be limited to 80 pieces worldwide with approximately 30 of those (at this time) destined for the United States. As with the previous two Ibanez Handcrafted Reissues, the Bob Weir and the 2670 Double-Neck, the AR5000RE is crafted in a small shop in Japan by luthiers who were actually involved in making the originals.   Zenday Username: Zenday Registered: 2-2007 Posted on Monday, October 01, 2007 - 1:05 am:    Nice   Jcmc64 Username: Jcmc64 Registered: 6-2006 Posted on Monday, October 01, 2007 - 1:09 am:    AHHH, some info leaking out on eve of Oct 1! They read my earlier post I noticed the TP is different than early pics at Namm... better,accurate. She is a Beaut! Time to call the store and get some delivery time info!   Jcmc64 Username: Jcmc64 Registered: 6-2006 Posted on Monday, October 01, 2007 - 1:41 am:    I'd like to see the binding on her, see if they decided to make same as original. Sure do hope they did. Also interested in electronics\pots. Stock 58's or some special wound vintage spec 58? (would be nice). More Info!!!!   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Monday, October 01, 2007 - 7:33 am:    Those look like pearl tuners to me! Yes? Maybe they do spy ICW.   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Monday, October 01, 2007 - 7:44 am:    And... at least that's some info but... it's still pretty lacking in information. Very lacking.   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Monday, October 01, 2007 - 9:00 am:    There were specs that went along with the press release and picture, but I had some questions. I hesitated releasing them until I heard back with clarifications. But, what the heck... Model AR5000RE List $5999.99 Finish AR5000 Antique Violin Body Material Mahogany Body/Flame Maple top Neck Material 3 pc Maple Neck Scale/Type 24 3/4”/Neck Thru No. Frets/Type 22/Medium Fingerboard Ebony Inlay Vintage AR5000 Vine Pearl Inlay Bridge Gibraltar with Quick Change II Tailpiece H/W Color Gold Neck Pickup Super 58 Bridge Pickup Super 58 PAF Controls Master Volume Master Tone EQ Level EQ BassNeck ThruEQ Middle EQ TrebleNeck ThruPower Indicator EQ On/Off Switch Tri Sound Switches (parallel-tap-series) for Neck and Bridge Pickups Other Special Features Gotoh Die-Cast Machine Heads Half-Bone/Half-Brass Nut Brass and Striped Ebony Truss Rod Cover Case Special Hardshell Included The binding looks very dark all around. What's the color on the originals? Im not sure that the tailpiece is any different than the prototype, shown at NAMM. Regarding the Super 58 pickups, I've never seen the "PAF" designation in the bridge pickup spec before. That's one of the clarifications I'm waiting on. The other is the "Neck Thru" item. Unless they've changed the fundamental design of the guitar, it probably should be "Set Neck". Besides the pearl tuners (which were on the prototype shown at NAMM) another difference from the original PR photo is the toggle switch tip looks like it's brass. I'm waiting for a higher res photo to see if there are any more details to be gleaned. I'll post larger, more detailed images of the "new official" photo, ASAP. Bob, what other info are you looking for?   Jcmc64 Username: Jcmc64 Registered: 6-2006 Posted on Monday, October 01, 2007 - 12:46 pm:    John, the namm photo and the pdf photos have GB I TP, the new photo you just posted as the GB II TP (slanted slots)...correct? Neck thru??!!!! WOW that would be VERY interesting. That seems a mistake...a huge departure form original. I only know what I've learned here on ICW, never owned one, but the original 3000\5000's had the deep brown unique binding. So what you report is a good sign. 2 different pups? Another interesting feature. Starved for info!! But thx for reporting what you got! I will be calling store today or tomorrow.   Dave_g Username: Dave_g Registered: 1-2002 Posted on Monday, October 01, 2007 - 12:55 pm:    Interesting....the Cowboy is a neck thru...   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Monday, October 01, 2007 - 1:14 pm:    This just in from Hoshino: AR5000RE is Set-in neck. Pickups are Super 58   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Monday, October 01, 2007 - 2:01 pm:    John, the original has the "faux tortoise shell" binding so I was interested in that. Release date, I was interested in that. The specs, I was interested in that but you posted it so that's cool, thanx. I'm glad to see your original statement of 80 total units seems to have held up. Why would the national sales manager say 40? I dunno. Well, I wish they only made forty but since it's 80... that means everybody here that voted for the ar5000 should be able to get one, so that's cool. Also, I believe they described the original neck as "rock maple" so... I was interested in that. The neck on the original is one of the big endearing qualities about the guitar, to me anyways. I love that neck so I was interested to see if they called it "rock maple" or whatever. The neck on the original has a certain feel to it that's real real nice. So... it will have pearl tuners... correct/incorrect? I put them on mine and man, they're nice up there, it should have the pearl tuners. Description says otherwise about the tuners, not pearl? I'm confused, sorry. I'm posting this shot of the original, just in case anyone wants an easy comparison to view.   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Monday, October 01, 2007 - 2:04 pm:    sorry, wrong photo, I meant this one. John, you can delete the first one if you'd like.   Trisound Username: Trisound Registered: 1-2006 Posted on Monday, October 01, 2007 - 3:35 pm:    ...and of course, what do I focus on, the fact that the trisound switches are chrome instead of black. BobZ/Brad P: What happened to the facelift...?   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Monday, October 01, 2007 - 4:41 pm:    JCMC64: I see what you mean about the slanted slots on the tailpiece. Personally, I like the slanted. Trisounds: I'd rather have black or gold mini-switches. The chrome ones look out of place to me. Bob: The move to pearl tuners rather than the gold doesn't bother me, but I'm curious why they changed the spec for the original. I hope that the binding is the faux tortoise shell rather than just plain black.   Trisound Username: Trisound Registered: 1-2006 Posted on Tuesday, October 02, 2007 - 11:17 pm:    Johns: I agree. I like the black as well, that's why they kind of jumped out at me. Interesting why certain details like that are different on the reissues. Still, what else can you say other than it's an amazing looking guitar...   Snowjays Username: Snowjays Registered: 9-2004 Posted on Tuesday, October 02, 2007 - 11:31 pm:    Has anyone ordered one??   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Wednesday, October 03, 2007 - 12:51 am:    Snowjays: Yes!   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Wednesday, October 03, 2007 - 7:34 am:    Snow, a few folks mention above they've got one on the way. With only 30 in the USA and 50 abroad, probably a good time to make a call to your local dealer. I think someone above mentioned Oct. 15 as a possible avail date. I was playing mine last night. It still amazes me. Nice guitar for sure.   Snowjays Username: Snowjays Registered: 9-2004 Posted on Wednesday, October 03, 2007 - 7:56 am:    Bob, maybe I should have asked if anyone outside the U.S. has ordered one. I still can't find a sales rep, or dealer anywhere here in Australia who can get one ata reasonable price.   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Wednesday, October 03, 2007 - 8:03 am:    Snow... with 80 total, that's kinda understandable. maybe someone here in the states can hook you up and help you out? But... with 30 here... it's still tough. Less than one per state. Alot less than one per state actually. It'a a half an ar5000 per state in the USA. Could you imagine if it would have turned out to be only 40 total... like I was told. Yikes.   Snowjays Username: Snowjays Registered: 9-2004 Posted on Wednesday, October 03, 2007 - 8:32 am:    Yeah, I get what your sayin', but how come Hoshino in Japan aren't sayin' anything to anyone about this re-issue other than in the U.S.   Emilio Username: Emilio Registered: 9-2004 Posted on Wednesday, October 03, 2007 - 8:54 am:    Hi Bob, what about that "piano scarph", does it has a serial number?   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Wednesday, October 03, 2007 - 10:43 am:    Emilio... yes... that's #1. believe it or not, every time I wear that thing... folks seem to comment on it/like it. A girl I work with here had me track down two of them for her. One for her, one for her beau. Dude... what about that chord I'm playing? And Snow... good question, that's a derivative of the question folks all over the globe have been asking but... who knows? I dunno why the info has been either slow in coming or non-existant. Johns just pulled a major score on info and posted it but.. it's still lacking in critcal tidbits of desired info like......... RELEASE DATE/AVAILABILITY DATE!!!!! On a related topic, in regard to this ar5000re and it's "list price" can someone explain to me what the heck the "list price" has to do with anything? "List Prices" on axes seem silly to me as they never really seem to be pertinent come purchase time. Is there a mathematical formula they use to derive the actual sale price from the list price? Idf so... to me... that's silly and an excercise in futility/stupidity. How about just saying "this is what we're selling the dang thing for." Because.. in the end , the list price was irrelevant in the first place so why even bother mentioning it, it never has any bearing on anything that I can figure out with my peanut-sized brain. Is there something I am unaware of in regard to "list price" on guitars?   Guitarwhisperer Username: Guitarwhisperer Registered: 6-2007 Posted on Thursday, October 04, 2007 - 10:18 am:    Hey 'zilla! What's going on with your fingers in that picture of you with your AR5000? It looks like they're crossing over each other or something.   Talajuha Username: Talajuha Registered: 11-2006 Posted on Thursday, October 04, 2007 - 10:52 am:    }Zb-chord, can't you see it. Juha   Grateful66 Username: Grateful66 Registered: 8-2007 Posted on Thursday, October 04, 2007 - 11:48 am:    That's the "H" chord.   Guitarwhisperer Username: Guitarwhisperer Registered: 6-2007 Posted on Thursday, October 04, 2007 - 10:51 pm:    Secured mine from Guitar Center today! GC is allowed to sell 5 of them, mine is the third sold, so they have 2 left. I was told delivery would be near the end of November. Better hurry up if you want one!   Mitch236 Username: Mitch236 Registered: 7-2007 Posted on Friday, October 05, 2007 - 7:21 am:    Did you get yours? Or do you mean you secured a spot? (I have mine "secured" with GC too, I just want to get it NOW!!!)   Guitarwhisperer Username: Guitarwhisperer Registered: 6-2007 Posted on Friday, October 05, 2007 - 8:44 am:    I was told the guitar was expected to be finished and delivered to the store near the end of November. Guitar Center is allowed to sell 2 more if anyone else wants one from GC and doesn't know where else to get one from. Man, this thread is getting huge!   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Friday, October 05, 2007 - 9:13 am:    Can someone please choke them and get a CS version b4 it's too late and they've got them all painted. It's not like asking to sit with the Pope, it's just dang paint that's all. And ... one phone call to the guy who's painting them. "Dude, when you're spraying those things up, do one in CS, some pain in the butt in NY has an old one and he'd buy the new one if it's CS so... can you take 3 minutes and paint it CS?" I mean... that's all it takes and life goes on. It takes 3 minutes to spray the paint. Compared to brain surgery, tea with the Queen or sending a probe to Jupiter... getting paint on a guitar really shouldn't be so difficult. One phone call, that's all I'm asking. One measily 30 second phone call. back on topic... now it's late November? What happened to "Oct. 15" and "in the fall."   Guitarwhisperer Username: Guitarwhisperer Registered: 6-2007 Posted on Friday, October 05, 2007 - 7:15 pm:    'Zilla, I know what list price is, but they told me to keep silent about it. Or else. I don't want to find out what "else" is.   Chazmo Username: Chazmo Registered: 3-2007 Posted on Friday, October 05, 2007 - 8:20 pm:    Congrats, guitarwhisperer and mitch. Bob, do not go gentle into that good night...   Careycorson Username: Careycorson Registered: 7-2007 Posted on Saturday, October 06, 2007 - 9:24 pm:    I am a bit slow on the uptake here, but it took me until now and I just realized that there will soon be more AR5000's than AR3000's. Well, maybe not more AR5000's but maybe more AR5000re's.   Guitarwhisperer Username: Guitarwhisperer Registered: 6-2007 Posted on Sunday, October 07, 2007 - 9:08 pm:    Hey Chuckee, I'm thinking about adding one of those car part looking tremelos and some dimarzio super distortions to my AR5000RE when it arrives. What do y'all think? Anybody know where I can get one of those tremelos?   Jcmc64 Username: Jcmc64 Registered: 6-2006 Posted on Wednesday, October 10, 2007 - 4:14 pm:    The Store I'm gettting it from says Nov. 6th. Whether that means in my hands Nov. 6th, In the Stores hands, or shipped to the Store...I do not know. At least a date is getting firmer...I knew Oct wasn't gonna happen.   Guitarwhisperer Username: Guitarwhisperer Registered: 6-2007 Posted on Wednesday, October 10, 2007 - 5:36 pm:    Hey, my birthday's November 3rd, maybe I'll get mine on my birthday!   Mitch236 Username: Mitch236 Registered: 7-2007 Posted on Thursday, October 11, 2007 - 1:36 pm:    My birthday is Nov 5th!! I can only hope!   Mitch236 Username: Mitch236 Registered: 7-2007 Posted on Thursday, October 11, 2007 - 2:04 pm:    BTW, I just got off the phone with GC and he called the rep and was just told that Ibanez pushed back the delivery date to sometime in December... Also, I asked if I could get CS finish. No way! Oh well.... the wait continues   Guitarwhisperer Username: Guitarwhisperer Registered: 6-2007 Posted on Thursday, October 11, 2007 - 2:18 pm:    Maybe I'll get mine for Christmas! My mom's birthday is November 17.   Jcmc64 Username: Jcmc64 Registered: 6-2006 Posted on Thursday, October 11, 2007 - 3:41 pm:    Oh boy...shall we call it the 08' AR5000RE? It looks like that is where its heading! Johns...?????? !!   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Friday, October 12, 2007 - 8:43 am:    I haven't been told anything about delivery dates. I first saw my '06 2670RE on 12/18/06. At that time, only 11 had arrived from Japan. By 1/28/07 I heard that nearly 2/3 of the US orders had arrived. So, it's possible that many of the '07 AR5000REs might not get delivered until sometime in '08.   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Friday, October 12, 2007 - 11:13 am:    They must wait til they know how many confirmed orders they have until the start making them. With no other advertising on them other than NAMM, it's understandable that it may be '08 or '09 for that matter.   Guitarwhisperer Username: Guitarwhisperer Registered: 6-2007 Posted on Friday, October 12, 2007 - 7:00 pm:    I wonder how many have been ordered so far?   Mitch236 Username: Mitch236 Registered: 7-2007 Posted on Tuesday, October 16, 2007 - 7:39 am:    I would think that it doesn't matter how many of "us" have put deposits down. Ibanez sells to stores. Wouldn't GC and such buy up the 50 or so pieces?   Guitarwhisperer Username: Guitarwhisperer Registered: 6-2007 Posted on Tuesday, October 16, 2007 - 8:18 am:    Hoshino limits how many each store sells, so that they can be fair to everybody. If they sold them all through Guitar Center or Sam Ash or somebody, they'd .... off all their dealers, so Guitar Center is allowed to sell 5. They're selling them as special orders, which means that they don't buy the guitar untill they get the deposit from you. At the time that I placed my order, I was the third one that they'd sold. So the stores are basically brokers on these types of deals. I hope they get enough orders and don't cancel the production. Does anybody know if that could happen?   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Tuesday, October 16, 2007 - 8:58 am:    Guitarwhisperer: Your description of how Hoshino distributes to stores sounds similar to what I have heard. While anything can happen, I seriously doubt that Hoshino would cancel the entire AR5000RE production because of lack of upfront orders from retail customers. Many of the dealers that attended Summer NAMM in July put in their order for the AR5000RE at that time. So there are enough "commitments" to get the line production started. Nothing is set in stone, though. Notice that there is some flexibility in how many are to arrive in the US, per the above press release: "...approximately 30 of those (at this time) destined for the United States." The first time I heard this, it sounded more like "it was possible that more than 30 could be acquired, if the demand is there." These guitars are handmade in a small facility that has the ability to start and stop production much more quickly than a factory like Fugi-gen. If worldwide interest drops off before 80 are produced, I'll bet they would just limit the final number produced. If that happened they would probably have extra wood (which could always be used for other guitars) and hardware sitting around that would have been used to build the rest of the 80 guitars. Not a terribly big risk to take for such a special guitar.   Mitch236 Username: Mitch236 Registered: 7-2007 Posted on Friday, October 19, 2007 - 12:34 pm:    So if GC is only allowed to sell 5 but Hoshino is distributing to whomever gets deposits, I would think that GC should be allowed to sell as many as they can get firm orders on. That shouldn't upset any other retailer as they had a chance but couldn't sell any. First come, first served. The truth is that there is no public knowledge of this guitar. At GC, when I ordered mine, none of the sales staff even knew this guitar existed. They went to their webpage and found it, but obviously Ibanez was not actively promoting this. I wonder why?   Mitch236 Username: Mitch236 Registered: 7-2007 Posted on Friday, October 19, 2007 - 12:41 pm:    In fact, do a web search for the AR5000re. It is non-existant. Go to Ibanez's website, isn't there either. Go to a vendor's website, isn't there either. In fact, if it wan't for this thread, there probably wouldn't be any orders other than what was written during NAMM.   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Friday, October 19, 2007 - 2:29 pm:    Can I have the phone number of that small shop that's making these things.... please.   Jcmc64 Username: Jcmc64 Registered: 6-2006 Posted on Friday, October 19, 2007 - 2:49 pm:    Read above...read above. Its been discussed. Its just the way Ibanez is, no info, very little details (only through ICW), no advertising...Heck they do not even inform there distributors! It was the same when I went to the store to order--"Whats that? AR what?" None of them had a clue. I had to explain it to them, as there's barely even 1 pic available on it, other than on this site...ridiculous. I told them to call Hoshino! At this point, I believe it must be intentional by Hoshino. They do not care about the potential attention, benefits of advertising. In the past, I'd get emails constantly from GC on all their top end reissues months before they came out, sponsored by Gibson, Fender , etc. The Frankenstrat, The Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton models. Ad nauseum. This 5000RE to me, blows all those away, and you just can't find anything anywhere on her. What Custom Shop anywhere behaves this way? What is even more bizarre is Ibanez is a MAJOR brand, though when it comes to the RE's, their marketing is like Jose's Diner. Good thing we got ICW, if it werent for this site, we'd never know about em either. HAIL, HAIL ICW !!! rant over.   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Friday, October 19, 2007 - 4:41 pm:    There is a picture of an AR5000re in the last issue of Vintage Guitar mag. Just a picture and caption for the coverage of the 2007 Summer NAMM show. The other side of the lack-of-advertising coin is that we can be sure that the die-hard fans at ICW are getting plenty of time to grab up these beauties, rather than having to fight the "rest of the world". If GC, Sam Ash or other dealers had been getting calls for these months in advance, think of what the pricing wars would be like.   Chazmo Username: Chazmo Registered: 3-2007 Posted on Friday, October 19, 2007 - 7:06 pm:    Thumbs up, John. Right on! Wish I had the cash! I just saw some folks discussing the AR5000re on the Ibanez.com forum. Word is getting out.   Jcmc64 Username: Jcmc64 Registered: 6-2006 Posted on Friday, October 19, 2007 - 10:57 pm:    True that...In the end it definitely benefits us, no doubt about it. I would of had one either way as I put in my order first few days it was announced. Its just That demonic corporate side of me from 15 years in that world keeps gnawing at me. But its cool, keep the numbers sold real low, more collectible. As for Ibanez website discussing the RE, my last time I ranted on this subject, there was nothing over there about it...going there now!   Grateful66 Username: Grateful66 Registered: 8-2007 Posted on Saturday, November 03, 2007 - 12:00 pm:    Dig this! http://www.j-guitar.com/sp/sea/view_detail/s183265 19.html Does this mean it's making progress?   Grateful66 Username: Grateful66 Registered: 8-2007 Posted on Saturday, November 03, 2007 - 12:06 pm:    MAN that's a pretty guitar.   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Saturday, November 03, 2007 - 6:22 pm:    It does look nice. Is that brass on the back?   Jcmc64 Username: Jcmc64 Registered: 6-2006 Posted on Saturday, November 03, 2007 - 7:29 pm:    Very rare pics of a real RE !!! 2 things I notice. The bridge seems to have the single sided saddles vs the Gib 1 2-sided type saddles...I don't know the proper name, just a "Gibraltar" ? Also, the tuners have the 6 O'clock mount holes vs the 8-9 o'clock mount holes you normally see on these newer pearloids. That might make it easier to drop in some real vintage pearloids! That would be awesome. I really don't like these reissue Pearloids very much. Things could change on the real rollout, but If Your reading this Hoshino,,,Leave the 6 oclock tuner mount holes so we can drop the real deal right in there!! I also wonder how they will Serial number these and where. I'm sorry but the Gold sharpie method on the cavity cover doesn't do it for me. I hope they come up with something unique, or even better something like the originals.   Chucke99 Username: Chucke99 Registered: 2-2007 Posted on Saturday, November 03, 2007 - 7:53 pm:    588,000 yen works out to $5,124.85 USD.   Grateful66 Username: Grateful66 Registered: 8-2007 Posted on Tuesday, November 06, 2007 - 11:25 am:    So I sent that shop in Japan an email. I said I wanted to buy one. Here's the reply: Thank you very much for your inquiry. Please be noted, Ibanez AR5000RE is sold. Only 6 were made. We are sorry for this inconvenience. If you have questions, please let me know. Best regards, T.Kurosawa & Co., Ltd.   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Tuesday, November 06, 2007 - 12:18 pm:    He probably meant he had six available to him, not that 6 was the total made. Strange how one shop would get 6 of them though, that sounds a bit whacky but, could be true. Can you e-mail the guy back and see if he physically sold actual units as opposed to,... he has orders to buy all 6? E-mail him and ask him that. I bet it's the latter, he's taken 6 orders.   Guitarwhisperer Username: Guitarwhisperer Registered: 6-2007 Posted on Tuesday, November 06, 2007 - 8:28 pm:    Hey, at least we know they're actually making them now at least! My birthday passed, and mine hasn't arrived yet.   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Wednesday, November 07, 2007 - 8:15 am:    I e-mailed them this morning with a few questiions like... "have you actually had one physically in your possession?" and a few more questions, if they respond, I will post it.   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Wednesday, November 07, 2007 - 8:26 am:    when i clicked on the link above to view the ar50000re today, most of the info and photo were gone. i wanted to see it again because it struck me that i didn't really see a flamed top on it, it just looked plain, now i can't access it to verify.   Ibanezfreak1960 Username: Ibanezfreak1960 Registered: 3-2004 Posted on Wednesday, November 07, 2007 - 11:31 am:    Bob, i just sent them off to you. They are typical Hoshino bland pics that do not compliment the guitar. Probably much better in real life.   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Wednesday, November 07, 2007 - 11:45 am:    I got them Freak, thanx. certainly the photos don't indicate any special attention paid to finding nice flames. Does look like brass plating on the back and pearl tuners. I see no indication of serial numbers either on the headstock or written by hand. I still can't see if it has the faux tortoise shell binding like the original. I have not gotten a response to my e-mail to japan. maybe a time difference factor.   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Wednesday, November 07, 2007 - 7:26 pm:    Here are the pictures of the AR5000RE from the j-guitar.com site:   Jcmc64 Username: Jcmc64 Registered: 6-2006 Posted on Wednesday, November 07, 2007 - 7:29 pm:    Just avg flame on all the photos I've seen to date, however lighting and angle is the key to see flame well.   Michaelkaufman Username: Michaelkaufman Registered: 11-2002 Posted on Wednesday, November 07, 2007 - 8:20 pm:    I guess they slightly changed the switches/led layout from the original? mk   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Thursday, November 08, 2007 - 7:14 am:    Here's the response I got. Cut and pasted. Dear Bob, Thank you very much for your inquiry. Please be noted, we had 1pc Ibanez AR5000RE but it is sold. Only 6 were made. We are sorry for this inconvenience. If you have questions, please let me know. Best regards, Takeshi Seki /T.Kurosawa & Co., Ltd.   Guitarwhisperer Username: Guitarwhisperer Registered: 6-2007 Posted on Thursday, November 08, 2007 - 8:49 am:    Sounds to me like only 6 were made for Japan, and these guys only got 1 of them. I didn't figure they'd use mega-flame tops, but THIS one looks REALLY bland! Looks like they kept the dot markers for the knobs! The binding looks like what's in the original AR5000 pictures that've been posted, stripes on top, tortoise on the side with a white accent below the tortoise. looks to me like the originals have a steeper carve on the top, too.   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Monday, November 12, 2007 - 7:33 am:    Response #2 from Japan (cut and pasted): Dear Bob, Thank you for your message. Ibanez AR5000RE - Only 6 were made and they are gone. Only 6pcs world wide---This is information/announcement from Ibanez. We phisically had 1pc but it is sold. Ibanez does not mention about the availability of this model in the USA. We are sorry for this inconvenience. Best regards, Takeshi Seki /T.Kurosawa & Co., Ltd.   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Monday, November 12, 2007 - 10:21 am:    I'll bet that only 6 stayed in Japan, just like the 30 slated for the US. I know of 6 that are going to ICW members in the US alone. According to my sources at Hoshino USA, 80 are scheduled to be made for worldwide distribution. Who knows if all 80 will be made, though.   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Monday, November 12, 2007 - 12:41 pm:    Well, someone physically had/held an ar5000re in their hands and completed a transaction/sale with it. I would take that as a good sign for the lucky ICW folk who have them on order. Who's gonna compare the LE to the RE.... when they (re's) are born?   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Monday, November 12, 2007 - 2:52 pm:    Bob: It does make sense that the Japanese market would be the first to get the AR5000RE. No delivery to another part of the planet by cargo ship needed.   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Monday, November 12, 2007 - 3:14 pm:    Yes, I agree, it does make sense. The info I was really after though was... to determine the validity of his statements in 3 e-mails he generated. Obviously, his responses could have been interpretted in various ways and I was trying to dig to find just where he was getting his information from. I figure... if it's one small shop making the ar5000re it could/should take a significant amount of time to produce 80 guitars. They're no "production line" axes and so... it WOULD take quite a considerable amount of time to produce 80 of them. I guess they have 74 to go. Did you notice (and I quote)... "Ibanez AR5000RE - Only 6 were made and they are gone. Only 6pcs world wide---This is information/announcement from Ibanez." Evidently, he was told directly by Ibanez that only 6 were made worldwide. I don't think he's making that up. But, obviously, that's open to interpretation too. Suppose, just suppose, he's got it right, they made 6 and... that's the end of it. I've picked this guys brain 2x now and I think that's it. No sense in hammering the guy. All this makes this ar5000re a more interesting beast as far as I am concerned. A great axe with the mystery factor attached.   Guitarwhisperer Username: Guitarwhisperer Registered: 6-2007 Posted on Monday, November 12, 2007 - 6:26 pm:    GC is still telling me end of November. We'll see! As soon as I get mine I'll post pictures! Maybe it'll be one of six made worldwide! That would make it even more rare than the original! (I doubt it, but a bloke can only hope, right?)   Jcmc64 Username: Jcmc64 Registered: 6-2006 Posted on Monday, November 12, 2007 - 10:42 pm:    Obviously the guy is mistaken, probably the "6" is in Japan.   Spiro Username: Spiro Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Tuesday, November 13, 2007 - 4:41 am:    I had heard the same that is why I couldnt get any for Australia.. I was told only 6 were going to be available and at over $7000 USD.. list..   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Tuesday, November 13, 2007 - 7:29 am:    Somebody, somewhere on this planet must know exactly how many are being made. Who would that person be? Someone has to make a concrete decision, give the instructions to the builders. Why is it so difficult to find that person and ask him to sort it out? Maybe Hasenobu can help? Everyone here that has given their thoughts on production seems to have reliable sources and yet... it still comes across to me like nobody really knows for 100% certain. Now... I hope they only make 6 for my own selfish reasons but man, I would hate to see ICW folk who have them on order be so disappointed (if 6 really is the magic number.) One would think it does not make sense to only make 6 guitars but... stranger things have happened. I can think of a few guitars Ibanez has made less than 6 of so... it's not out of the realm of possibilities although, on the surface, it would not seem to make sense.   Snowjays Username: Snowjays Registered: 9-2004 Posted on Tuesday, November 13, 2007 - 7:59 am:    Well, that a similar story to what I was also told. The total price I was given was the $7000 US plus import duties and freight totalling just over $10000 Aust.   Michaelkaufman Username: Michaelkaufman Registered: 11-2002 Posted on Tuesday, November 13, 2007 - 8:33 am:    Call Paul Specht? @ Hoshino. mk   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Tuesday, November 13, 2007 - 10:02 am:    MK, Bob, and everyone else interested: I did talk to Paul. The information I posted from the official HoshinoUSA press release, on Sunday, September 30, 2007 - 9:54 pm was prepared by Paul. As far as he is concerned, it is "the truth" about the "planned production". HoshinoUSA is a subsidiary company of Hoshino Japan. Japan makes the decisions and communicates with HoshinoUSA. While not infallible, I would put more stock in HoshinoUSA'a word, rather than a dealer in Japan...especially regarding what's happening in the US. What's happening in the rest of the world is not really the highest priority for HoshinoUSA. However, continuing to say that there will be 80, when in fact there will be less, doesn't really help with the "rarity" factor of the AR5000RE. So, why keep saying it, if it isn't true? I agree that getting accurate info about production numbers is important to customers/collectors. As far as I'm concerned, my new AR5000E will be 1 of 80, until I hear differently. When and if I hear differently, I will post the info on ICW.   Ibanezfreak1960 Username: Ibanezfreak1960 Registered: 3-2004 Posted on Tuesday, November 13, 2007 - 2:31 pm:    John I remeber you waiting longer than you thought for your 2670re but they came through with it in the end and it was worth it I'm sure.   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Tuesday, November 13, 2007 - 6:36 pm:    Freak: Yeah, it was worth the wait for the 2670re.   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Thursday, November 15, 2007 - 8:50 am:    I wonder if the one ar5000re that the guy purchased in Japan is indicated with the #1 as the serial number. An ICW member should get #1, that would be nice.   Jim777 Username: Jim777 Registered: 1-2004 Posted on Thursday, November 15, 2007 - 1:30 pm:    I spoke to a US dealer today and he told me he was getting 2 of these...   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Thursday, November 15, 2007 - 2:40 pm:    I was told one per salesman's territory in the USA and there are 12 territories.   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Thursday, November 15, 2007 - 2:41 pm:    or... 2 per territory and there are 6 territories. Either way... total would be 12 in the USA.   Guitarwhisperer Username: Guitarwhisperer Registered: 6-2007 Posted on Thursday, November 15, 2007 - 9:25 pm:    That territory thing sounds about right, I think I remember the GC guy telling me that GC covers 5 territories or something.   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Friday, November 16, 2007 - 11:57 am:    Stay tuned to this thread for important AR5000RE developments. I should have very important news to report before 5 p.m. EST, today!   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Friday, November 16, 2007 - 1:30 pm:    As long as it's not... "They only made one and that guy in Japan got it" ... any news would be welcomed.   Grateful66 Username: Grateful66 Registered: 8-2007 Posted on Friday, November 16, 2007 - 1:33 pm:    <refresh> <refresh> <refresh>   Mitch236 Username: Mitch236 Registered: 7-2007 Posted on Friday, November 16, 2007 - 2:52 pm:    Does that mean my 5000 is on the boat?   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Friday, November 16, 2007 - 5:32 pm:    The good news is that the first half of the USA-bound, AR5000REs have hit the shore! That's 15 beautiful re-issues! Here's mine, number 004:   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Friday, November 16, 2007 - 5:40 pm:    The other 14 should be at the stores in the next week (however, the Holiday could screw that up). I don't know anything about the timing for the next 15 to arrive and have not heard anything about non-USA orders. Here's a closer shot of the body. Also, the final production number will be 80, worldwide.   Grateful66 Username: Grateful66 Registered: 8-2007 Posted on Friday, November 16, 2007 - 5:49 pm:    Outstanding   Jim777 Username: Jim777 Registered: 1-2004 Posted on Friday, November 16, 2007 - 6:04 pm:    Nice!   Chazmo Username: Chazmo Registered: 3-2007 Posted on Friday, November 16, 2007 - 7:11 pm:    Awesome, John! That's a picture for the ages! Congrats, by the way, on your own baby!   Trisound Username: Trisound Registered: 1-2006 Posted on Friday, November 16, 2007 - 7:13 pm:    Touchdown!!! Congrats Johns. Hope it brings many hours (years) of enjoyment. The flame on that top is fantastic. Much more so than any of the pictures we've seen to date. Enjoy!!!   Jcmc64 Username: Jcmc64 Registered: 6-2006 Posted on Friday, November 16, 2007 - 8:43 pm:    WOW!! Good news. The Top does look better than in prototypes (probably only due to poor angle and lighting of those initial pics though) John, how did the rest of the RE's compare top wise? Where are you at in that group photo? What are they Serial #'s you saw? Since I think I was one of the first ICWer to order one in USA, I think one of those should mine! "So close, yet so far away!"   Guitarwhisperer Username: Guitarwhisperer Registered: 6-2007 Posted on Friday, November 16, 2007 - 8:53 pm:    I'm definitely "Guitarded" at this point. I can't wait to get mine!   Ibanezfreak1960 Username: Ibanezfreak1960 Registered: 3-2004 Posted on Friday, November 16, 2007 - 10:06 pm:    Nice John, I knew they were on the way! Nice pic of your pick.   Munch Username: Munch Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Friday, November 16, 2007 - 10:50 pm:    Hi John, This must the penultimate Ibanez moment for you. And I'm sure that #004 was the pick of the bunch!!!! Congratulations, Munch   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Saturday, November 17, 2007 - 12:17 am:    The group shot was taken in the repair room at Bensalem, PA. It was very hard to pick out just one guitar. I had help from several Ibanez employees who weighed in with their preferences. If it wasn't for their input, I'd probably still be there. There was one out of the 9 that had an "angled" flame, rather than straight. It was a lot like Fox's AR5000LE in the picture he posted above on July 31. It was really hard not to get that one because it was so unique. It was 003. Whoever gets that one, will be very happy. BTW, the serial numbers are in 2 places. Very dark, under the polyester and almost invisible, on the back of the headstock AND engraved into end of the fretboard like the very first serial numbers. A very cool, retro touch!   Guitartim Username: Guitartim Registered: 4-2001 Posted on Saturday, November 17, 2007 - 1:52 am:    Congratulations, John! #004 has found a good home...and it is much more beautiful than the NAMM pics.   Ibanezfreak1960 Username: Ibanezfreak1960 Registered: 3-2004 Posted on Saturday, November 17, 2007 - 3:27 am:    Cool John I wasn't sure that you shot the pics in the repair room becuase it wasn't as messy as the last time I'd seen it. The giveaway for me was that purple guitar of Steve Vai's hanging to your right.   Michaelkaufman Username: Michaelkaufman Registered: 11-2002 Posted on Saturday, November 17, 2007 - 9:50 am:    Beautiful!   Chazmo Username: Chazmo Registered: 3-2007 Posted on Saturday, November 17, 2007 - 12:07 pm:    John, Is there anything engraved (or supposed to be) on the truss rod cover? Just curious.   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Saturday, November 17, 2007 - 3:52 pm:    Nice John!!!!   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Saturday, November 17, 2007 - 4:28 pm:    Chazmo: Nothing engraved on the TR cover. I believe that's the case with the original issues, also.   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Saturday, November 17, 2007 - 7:33 pm:    There was nothing on the original truss cover. Underneath that wood veneer on the truss cover, it's brass. So that... you can engrave the truss cover if you wish and whatever you engrave up there, the brass will show through and you'd have a wood veneer truss cover with whatever you want, showing in brass. I guess most folks that have it engraved might put their name up there but I personally don't suggest you do that. Then again, it's your axe... engrave away! John, the top does look much better than previous looks at the re's. You picked a nice one for sure. Was #1 there as a choice for you? If it was, I may have picked it, just for the low number if the rest of the qualities you look for were acceptable. If I had 15 AR5000'S AT MY FEET, I MAY HAVE FAINTED. I CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE BEEN HYPER-VENTILATING! That's a neat photo. John, did it have the tortoise binding? have you played it yet?   Guitarwhisperer Username: Guitarwhisperer Registered: 6-2007 Posted on Saturday, November 17, 2007 - 8:10 pm:    Hey Bob, you're awefully excited (or awefully caffeinated). Did you ever order one?   Chazmo Username: Chazmo Registered: 3-2007 Posted on Saturday, November 17, 2007 - 11:14 pm:    Cool, John. Very cool! I'd engave it with "2470 Single Neck" just to really confuse everyone! j/k. I do think a brass TRC would really look cool, but truly this guitar needs no additional ornamentation. What a honey!   Michaelkaufman Username: Michaelkaufman Registered: 11-2002 Posted on Sunday, November 18, 2007 - 12:38 pm:    So what's the deal with the EQ/pre-amp? With the Weir Cowboy, I saw it referred to as a 'special Bob Weir EQ' or something like that. It's unique in that it has separate individual pickup level adjustments on the back of the guitar. It doesn't look like the AR5000 has those adjustments, so, I assume it has a different, yet also newly designed EQ/pre-amp? mk   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Sunday, November 18, 2007 - 1:31 pm:    I don't drink coffee.   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Thursday, November 22, 2007 - 11:07 am:    MK: I got a chance to take the control cover off and take some pictures of the innards. I don't have a Cowboy to compare with, but doubt that the EQs are the same. Notice how the board is labeled AR5000 V07:   Ibanezfreak1960 Username: Ibanezfreak1960 Registered: 3-2004 Posted on Thursday, November 22, 2007 - 12:12 pm:    I see they went with large pots cool. Bob lets see a shot of your cavity as well for comparison.   Michaelkaufman Username: Michaelkaufman Registered: 11-2002 Posted on Thursday, November 22, 2007 - 8:12 pm:    The Weir pre-amp is a different animal all together: mk   Guitarwhisperer Username: Guitarwhisperer Registered: 6-2007 Posted on Thursday, November 22, 2007 - 9:48 pm:    That Weir preamp looks like it has the micro-caps and micro-resistors and stuff, while the AR500RE preamp looks like the one in my AR500. Yay! I prefer the full size components to the micro components. I know a lot of people think resistance is resistance, and capacitance is capacitance, but I don't think so. The tone controls that I've experimented with differed signifigantly when going from a ceramic disc cap to the orange-drop style. I also think the EQ sytems in my vintage Ibanezes sound signifigantly better than most of what's being put out for guitars nowadays. They're warmer, hiss less, and are more useable.   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Friday, November 23, 2007 - 8:25 am:    I intended to take some guitar photos and post them on ICW this weekend anyways so... unless someone beats me to it, I will try to post a photo of the 1981 ar5000 cavity. I have to borrow a camera and a computer but I think I can manage it. I put a new set of strings on the '81 ar5000 last night. I still get the same thrill every time when I pick that guitar up... as I did the first time I held it.These are except5ional guitars these ar5000's and I am not just saying that because I own one. It has a certain "life" to it... it's hard to think of it as just an inanimate object. It has personality for sure. I still haven't heard anything about the sound of the ar5000re. Has anyone plugged there's in and given it a whack? The neck on the '81 is remarkable and I wonder how the necks differ between LE and RE. LE is a very thin neck, I should measure it around in a few spots and compare it to a 2007 re. The neck on the '81 is one of it's stellar attributes. Then again, folks prefer different things when it comes to necks. I prefer a thinner neck, so I got lucky with the '81. I guess some folks prefer a beefy neck but ... not me. I can see that Hoshino listened to several posts on ICW... in regard to the 2007 RE. 1) They put the pearl tuners on, the original did not come that way, we suggested the pearls. However, they are not the same exact tuners. The '81 has those locking spinners, big ones. 2) We mentioned that they might consider indicating on the neck soemwhere... the year... to differentiate from the originals. They did that by stamping the 2007 serial number into the fretboard. 3) I think they reissued it in the first place due to ICW votes/input in general. A guitar shop employee was swearing to me that the "additional" inlay around the body of the ar5000LE and ar5000RE is not "faux tortoise shell" but that it is a rosewood binding. I don't think it's rosewood, even though there's a good bit of it that does look a heck of alot like rosewood, I still don't think it is rosewood. Arguing with the guy started getting a little testy, so I just let it drop. But... man, he was dang sure it was rosewood and he wasn't gonna change his mind. It's NOT rosewood, is it? John, you have the LE... Is that Tortoise or Rosewood?   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Friday, November 23, 2007 - 8:59 am:    Bob: I don't have an LE, just the RE. I'll take a closer look, but I don't think it's rosewood.   Emckenrick Username: Emckenrick Registered: 10-2001 Posted on Saturday, November 24, 2007 - 8:32 am:    Beautiful guitar, John. What's the weight? (sorry if this has been covered)   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Saturday, November 24, 2007 - 2:39 pm:    She weighs in at 10 lbs.!   Michaelkaufman Username: Michaelkaufman Registered: 11-2002 Posted on Sunday, November 25, 2007 - 10:25 am:    From the Ibanez Website: http://ibanez.com/eg/guitar.aspx?m=AR5000RE Notice the pickups: NeckPU: Super 58 BridgePU: Super 58 PAF mk   Spiro Username: Spiro Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Monday, November 26, 2007 - 2:43 am:    what a beauty John congrats.. isnt funny though the list price in japan equates to $6750 USD.. I thinks that the US got themselves a bargain.. Aussie dollars that equals $7500 hmmm what went wrong.. The company I work for has the same list prices all over the world considering their conversion rates ie. something in the US that is $100 USD costs $100 USD in Australia. go figure..   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Monday, November 26, 2007 - 10:05 am:      Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Monday, November 26, 2007 - 2:51 pm:    mc500 board   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Monday, November 26, 2007 - 2:53 pm:    1981 ar5000LE guts   Fox Username: Fox Registered: 2-2003 Posted on Monday, November 26, 2007 - 6:06 pm:    Bob, the binding is not rosewood in the LE:s, but some other material..   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Tuesday, November 27, 2007 - 7:29 am:    Fox, I really did know that. It was the salesman that was giving me a hard time. He was the one who said "I know rosewood when I see it." In his defense, there's a bit of that binding that really has a rosewood appearance but it's not, and I knew it wasn't. Dave was the one who referred to it as "faux tortoise shell" so, that's what I've always considered it to be. Not rosewood.   Fox Username: Fox Registered: 2-2003 Posted on Tuesday, November 27, 2007 - 7:53 am:    Yes, I know that you knew.. Just checked 1980 catalogue, and it states "grained ivoroid binding"... what ever that might be.. Some salesmen really know their stuff, and are ready to give you hard time if you dare to have another opinion.   Ibanezfreak1960 Username: Ibanezfreak1960 Registered: 3-2004 Posted on Tuesday, November 27, 2007 - 8:57 am:    Grained ivoroid is not whats in the pic above. Grained Ivoroid is fake ivory and is not that color unless they stained it. I have grained ivoroid on my ar3000vv and its an off white grainy looking binding.   Chazmo Username: Chazmo Registered: 3-2007 Posted on Tuesday, November 27, 2007 - 8:16 pm:    That could just be stained, freak. The top purfling might be layers of ivoroid sandwiched with black plastic.   Ibanezfreak1960 Username: Ibanezfreak1960 Registered: 3-2004 Posted on Wednesday, November 28, 2007 - 8:46 am:    Yeah I was thinking that after I posted. I looked at mine and its the same type of grain as the ivory colored.   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Wednesday, November 28, 2007 - 10:38 am:    This binding is a bit weird, in that... it has several different looks, depending on where you're looking at it. Some places it does look like rosewood, some places it looks completely different and you can see shiny things in it (a bit.) Well, that's the '81 anyways. Dave probably knows the real scoop on this stuff. Since they used it again in '07 It's probably obtainable information, to find out EXACTLY what it is. Whatever it is, it's been around for at least 26 years... or they saved a bunch from back in the day. This is the material that I was keen to know whether or not they'd used it on the '07, I was interested 'cause I thought it was weird stuff and wondered if they'd even be able to find any, if they wanted it.   Mitch236 Username: Mitch236 Registered: 7-2007 Posted on Wednesday, November 28, 2007 - 10:55 am:    What I want to know is how long do you think I will have to wait here in S. Fla to get mine???   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Wednesday, November 28, 2007 - 12:53 pm:    Mitch, it can't be long now. Listen... when I opened the case to have a look at it again, the hair stood up on the back of my neck a bit, I got a little shiver down my spine, it's really a beautiful guitar. Whatever it is, it's worth the wait. One day, my phone rang, it was my dealer he says "Bob... it's here." I cut right out of work and went down there and got it. Make sure (I did) that you tell them not to open it when it arrives at the store. Tell them you wanna open the box, otherwise, it's the type of guitar where folks are gonna wanna touch it. I was playing my '81 sitting on an amp at the store waiting for them to bring up the '07 and 3 guys (I think they were taking guitar lessons) came up, saw my '81 and they literally stopped in their tracks and drooled over the guitar. They said "Is that yours?" and a bunch of nice things and then they started walking away but one guy took a few steps and he came back and said "Nice guitar" (again)... It's an impressive beast.   Chazmo Username: Chazmo Registered: 3-2007 Posted on Thursday, November 29, 2007 - 12:23 am:    FYI, I saw on the Ibanez forum that Kosaku-san (Ko) has one coming. Rock on, guys. I'm living vicariously through you.   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Thursday, November 29, 2007 - 7:25 am:    Dave posted that he's picking his up. They're out there.   Guitarwhisperer Username: Guitarwhisperer Registered: 6-2007 Posted on Friday, November 30, 2007 - 9:40 pm:    Picked mine up today! I got number 12. After looking at it, I've come to the conclusion that the binding IS rosewood. The reason it looks like ivoroid or something is because of the grain filler that they used, it's a MUCH lighter color than the rosewood, and makes the grain lines not look like grain lines. Under the finish, it has the effect of making the rosewood look like tortoise celluloid, as it has the same color shades as tortoise, and since the grain lines are filled in, it doesn't look like wood. All this is IMHO of course, but I believe it's rosewood.   Chazmo Username: Chazmo Registered: 3-2007 Posted on Saturday, December 01, 2007 - 11:13 am:    Woohoo! Congrats 'whisperer! Boy, I'm so jealous of you guys!!!! I need a better-paying job!!!   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Saturday, December 01, 2007 - 1:21 pm:    Congrats there GWhisperer. Photos? How's the neck and.... have you played it? How's it sound? John started a registry thread for these axes.   Chazmo Username: Chazmo Registered: 3-2007 Posted on Saturday, December 01, 2007 - 7:24 pm:    FYI, this one's in Weymouth. I may have to take a drive!!! http://www.ibanez.com/forum/yaf_postsm349377_Ibane z-AR5000RE-in-stock.aspx#349377   Grateful66 Username: Grateful66 Registered: 8-2007 Posted on Sunday, December 02, 2007 - 8:29 am:    News is starting to hit. They must have finally sent out a press release. http://news.harmony-central.com/Newp/2007/Ibanez-A rtist-AR5000RE-Reissue.html   Mitch236 Username: Mitch236 Registered: 7-2007 Posted on Monday, December 03, 2007 - 8:33 am:    I picked up #17 on Friday. Should have pictures by wed. We were all looking at the guitar in the case (I didn't want to remove it at GC with all those grubby paws around). WHile looking, I thought I saw some lint around the knobs. On closer inspection I realized they were inlays for the marker dots! This guitar seems to have such attention to detail, it is awesome. I tried to play it a little last night but can't get used to the vine inlay. Now it is in its resting place where I can see it daily.   Mitch236 Username: Mitch236 Registered: 7-2007 Posted on Monday, December 03, 2007 - 8:34 am:    BTW, I am quite sure the binding is rosewood. I will post some pictures. Mine is dark.   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Monday, December 03, 2007 - 8:58 am:    Guitarwhisperer, Mitch236 and other AAR5000re owners: Don't forget to add your guitars to the 2007 AR5000RE Registry thread in this section.   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Monday, December 03, 2007 - 9:07 am:    Mitch, those little inlay dots are on the originals as well. And... they vary in coloration from guitar to guitar. Mine border mostly on red on the '07 and are more towards white/green on the '81. You'll notice there is a midway resting point in the EQ controls. You'll feel it click there when it's set at "0" ... or the middle position between the lowest and highest available setting when you turn the knobs. You'll get used to the vine, it takes a while, your eyes will start picking up on little subtleties in the neck/vine and then it becomes second-nature. You just have to get used to it. How's the width of the neck compared to your other IBZ's?   Grateful66 Username: Grateful66 Registered: 8-2007 Posted on Monday, December 03, 2007 - 1:31 pm:    Congrats Mitch!   Dave_g Username: Dave_g Registered: 1-2002 Posted on Monday, December 03, 2007 - 3:17 pm:    I got #8, stunning instrument !   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Monday, December 03, 2007 - 3:29 pm:    Nice Dave.   Chazmo Username: Chazmo Registered: 3-2007 Posted on Monday, December 03, 2007 - 5:48 pm:    Guys, folks were asking me what the heck all the knobs and toggles do... Is there a manual somewhere that describes this? By the way, congrats Dave-G!!   Artfield Username: Artfield Registered: 4-2001 Posted on Monday, December 03, 2007 - 6:22 pm:    Guys, nice catch, true "Ibanez lovers" , congratulations !!! Love the Headstock. Rocket Science those electronics, Chazmo would also like to know that.   Guitarwhisperer Username: Guitarwhisperer Registered: 6-2007 Posted on Monday, December 03, 2007 - 8:49 pm:    My manual came with an additional loose-leaf sheet that describes the controls, in the case cavity under the neck rest. Basically you got a volume, tone, and three way pickup selector that always works, a series/coiltap/parallel switch per pickup that arranges the pickup coil-configuration, a three band eq with boost-cut knob, and a switch to turn the eq section on.   Guitarwhisperer Username: Guitarwhisperer Registered: 6-2007 Posted on Monday, December 03, 2007 - 8:52 pm:    The GC cats in my area are cool. They let me open the box and inspect it in the managers office without anyone around except the salesman who rang me up.   Chazmo Username: Chazmo Registered: 3-2007 Posted on Monday, December 03, 2007 - 9:12 pm:    Cool. Hey, whisperer, if you could scan that sheet with the controls, I'd like to see it. So, is the LED on the top used to indicate when the EQ is turned on? Do you guys usually use the EQ when playing this guitar, or do you go with external hardware? Is this kind of thing seen much nowadays?   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Monday, December 03, 2007 - 9:37 pm:    Check out the diagram of the controls in this message, above: http://www.ibanezcollectors.com/cgi-bin/discus/sho w.cgi?tpc=1004183&post=71076#POST71076   Chazmo Username: Chazmo Registered: 3-2007 Posted on Monday, December 03, 2007 - 9:58 pm:    Oh, cool, John!!! I missed that. Thanks!   Guitarwhisperer Username: Guitarwhisperer Registered: 6-2007 Posted on Monday, December 03, 2007 - 10:39 pm:    I play mine with the EQ/preamp on. The preamp decouples the pickup resistance from the cable capacitance, allowing you to turn your volume down without losing clarity, and also makes the sgnal clearer overall. I leave the EQ knobs in the center detents unless I'm going for a particular sound, and use the boost knob up just a little. I like to use the EQ on my amp, 'cuz the amp knobs affect the gain structure overdriving the power tubes. The system in my AR500 and now the AR5000 seems better to me than the ones that are in, like the Carvin guitars. It's warmer, and doesn't seem to have the thermionic hiss that most micronized sytems seem to have.   Mitch236 Username: Mitch236 Registered: 7-2007 Posted on Tuesday, December 04, 2007 - 7:41 am:    I'm glad you guys are playing your 5000's. I still haven't really put it through its paces yet. I'm afraid that the oils and sweat will cause that darn corrosion that plagues all my older Ibanez models. Still, I have to do it. I'm new to the collector thing. Previously, I only owned player guitars. If I didn't play it, I got rid of it. Now that I am older, I am facinated with the beauty of a few guitars. If I play it, how do I clean it so it won't corrode?   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Tuesday, December 04, 2007 - 8:01 am:    You don't really need instructions for the controls. Instead of one tone control like lots of guitars... the ar5000 has 3. One each for low end, mids, high end. The toggle engages the EQ. You got standard coil splitters as well. So... not so complicated at all really. The LED light does come on when you engage the EQ. There is a remarkable clarity of tone, wherever you have it set.   Talajuha Username: Talajuha Registered: 11-2006 Posted on Tuesday, December 04, 2007 - 1:24 pm:    Mitch, "Overall Basic care and Polish" of 2670re was discussed at http://www.ibanezcollectors.com/discus/messages/22 16/1002895.html?1196064424   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Tuesday, December 04, 2007 - 3:22 pm:    Am I mistaken or... missing something? I don't believe I've seen/heard too much about the sound coming out of these ar5000re's and that's really the most critical aspect of the guitar. I'll take a guitar with a bullet hole in it if it sounds and plays better than a pristine flashy guitar. Can we get some sound reviews and.. I'm willing to travel with my '81 if anyone wants to get together and compare... as long as it's like.... NY, NJ, Ct. USA.   Grateful66 Username: Grateful66 Registered: 8-2007 Posted on Tuesday, December 04, 2007 - 5:10 pm:    Sweet 16 has arrived! WOW   Chazmo Username: Chazmo Registered: 3-2007 Posted on Tuesday, December 04, 2007 - 6:35 pm:    Congrats, Grateful!!!!! And, thanks for the info, GW!   Guitarwhisperer Username: Guitarwhisperer Registered: 6-2007 Posted on Tuesday, December 04, 2007 - 11:56 pm:    Oh yeah, it sounds great! I guess I haven't mentioned that 'cuz I kinda thought it was just understood.   Mitch236 Username: Mitch236 Registered: 7-2007 Posted on Wednesday, December 05, 2007 - 9:37 am:    Just thought I would post some stablemates!   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Wednesday, December 05, 2007 - 1:16 pm:    Mitch... 400 or 500 there on the right? And that's the new anniversary model on the left there correct? Looks unplayed and I believe that guitar lights up, is that correct? If so... to what extent?   Mitch236 Username: Mitch236 Registered: 7-2007 Posted on Wednesday, December 05, 2007 - 1:25 pm:    That's my prized MC 400 NT on the right! Here's a shot of the JEM 20th with the light on. I had to use a flash so it doesn't really show up well. It lights the body in a green light. Of all the guitars I own, most people like this guitar the most because of the light. I'll try to get a shot in the dark tonight.   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Wednesday, December 05, 2007 - 1:33 pm:    That's pretty cool there Mitch, thanx for the shots and the insight. Do you play it? How's it sound w/ that type body? What is it? Acrylic?   Mitch236 Username: Mitch236 Registered: 7-2007 Posted on Wednesday, December 05, 2007 - 2:14 pm:    You know, I played it once. That thing is so friggin heavy, my shoulder hurt for a week!!! It's hard to say how it sounds because I was afraid to really play it hard (I'm a rocker). It is wall candy, like the 5000 is. It is an acrylic body and I remember reading it is built by some boating outfit that specializes in top end acrylics. There were 500 made worldwide with 200 in the US. Not quite as rare as the 5000RE. I do play most of my guitars though. I have 4 that I rarely play. The two Ibanezes (The JEM and the 5000RE), an Eric Clapton (Gibson) ES-355 and a Jimmy Page (Gibson) double neck 1275 VOS. I figure my kids will get some cash some day selling my collection!! If my wife ends up selling it, alot of lucky buyers will be very happy as she thinks they are not worth very much!   Grateful66 Username: Grateful66 Registered: 8-2007 Posted on Wednesday, December 05, 2007 - 2:49 pm:    Nice Mitch! Why would she sell something you "only paid $125 for" That would be silly! Great work ;)   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Wednesday, December 05, 2007 - 3:11 pm:    What did you only pay $125 for? If there is any legitimate answer to that question, in relation to those 3 guitars.... whatever it is... you got a bizarre deal. $125? Where did that come from? Did I miss something?   Grateful66 Username: Grateful66 Registered: 8-2007 Posted on Wednesday, December 05, 2007 - 3:28 pm:    Bob, It's something we may have told the wives once or twice. It's a joke Bob.   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Wednesday, December 05, 2007 - 5:33 pm:    I probably have less than 3 hours of playing time on mine. The only guitar I have with a preamp is a '79 2622 which has much simpler electronics. So, it's not really apples to apples. Anyway, I think it sounds terrific! I'll be taking it to a jam tomorrow night. I'm sure that she'll do perfectly. The neck is definitely thicker and wider than either my '81 AR300 and '85 AR305. I've measured them and we're only taking about a few thousandths. But you can feel it.   Mitch236 Username: Mitch236 Registered: 7-2007 Posted on Thursday, December 06, 2007 - 8:06 am:    All I can say is thank goodness my wife doesn't know about any of the forums I frequent. Although, at least with the guitars I can call it an investment. I was reading the beginning of the Ibanez untold story and noticed Orval has quite a collection. I tried to buy his AR 5000 but he never replied. Oh well...   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Friday, December 07, 2007 - 10:51 am:    Dave, I think your assesment of the ar5000re is gonna be an important one so... you've had it for a week. Whaddya think? Photos? If you still have the '81... did you measure the neck widths on the 2 of them?   Trisound Username: Trisound Registered: 1-2006 Posted on Saturday, December 08, 2007 - 4:53 pm:    Johns: How did the 5000RE fare at your jam session?   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Saturday, December 08, 2007 - 9:33 pm:    Tri: I couldn't be happier with this guitar! It worked fantastic. I brought both of the reissues: Played a mixture of Jazz (Take Five...cool daddy-o ), Blues and Rock (Long Train Running, Little Wing, Jumpin Jack Flash, Hotel California, a couple Pink Floyd tunes, etc.) Of course I used the 2670 12 string for Hotel California and Floyd. But after 3 songs it was back to the AR5000 for everything. At the end of the night I was goofing around with Hotel California on the AR5000 with lots of distortion, delay and chorus. It sounded pretty cool. My buddy said it sounded like an EVH rendition. This was the first time I didn't have to go running to my amp to keep adjusting settings. I could control almost everything I needed from the guitar. Even though the neck is slightly beefier than my other ARs, I didn't experience any fatigue in my left hand. The fretboard was a dream and bending notes seemed a lot easier. I wonder if the frets are different? Something is. It was one of those nights when I didn't have any regrets about how I played. I also debuted a "new" old PUE5 Multi-effects pedal that I got on ebay. I was amazed how well it worked out, too. (See my thread in the Effects section: http://www.ibanezcollectors.com/cgi-bin/discus/show.cgi?tpc=15&post=80198#POST80198) The only negative on the AR5000 is that the binding edge on the top, where my forearm rests, is not eased enough and has a hard edge to it. I played with a short sleeve shirt and ended up with red marks on my forearm. I can live with it.   Guitarwhisperer Username: Guitarwhisperer Registered: 6-2007 Posted on Saturday, December 08, 2007 - 11:58 pm:    The frets on mine were ultra shiny. I actually didn't have to do any work to it, the frets were level and it played nice right from the box. I was shocked. When I got my Les Paul home, I had to do a complete fret dress on it to get it where I wanted it. Highly polished frets are a dream to bend on. I noticed that about mine as well, the strings glide across the frets effortlessly.   Chucke99 Username: Chucke99 Registered: 2-2007 Posted on Sunday, December 09, 2007 - 12:57 am:    Dave, I'm glad to hear your RE's get played, and not just on the couch. They deserve the attention. -Chuck   Sweep Username: Sweep Registered: 5-2006 Posted on Sunday, December 09, 2007 - 7:26 pm:    Johns, T-shirt arrived safely on Friday. Only took a little over 2 weeks to get here. It will probably be the only AR5000 I will own. But I think it safe to say it's the only AR5000 shirt in Perth. Thanks once again for doing such a great job with ICW. Cheers Sweep   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Monday, December 10, 2007 - 1:49 pm:    Dave?   Chucke99 Username: Chucke99 Registered: 2-2007 Posted on Monday, December 10, 2007 - 4:00 pm:    OK, so I meant, "John, I'm glad to hear your RE's get played..." I might be losing a few brain cells in my old age.   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Tuesday, December 11, 2007 - 7:28 am:    Those 2 axes look great next to each other John. Have you ever changed the 18 strings on the 2670re? I had the ar1200av out last night, pulled out a pack of strings to change them and... couldn't bring myself to do it. Shear laziness. have you ever sat down and changed all 18 of them? Or should I say... how many times have you done it. It's a bit of an undertaking. Back on topic... John, I thought you said you knew 8 ICW guys who had ar5000re's on order. I only see 4 in the registry.   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Tuesday, December 11, 2007 - 8:15 am:    Bob: No, never changed them yet. I'm not looking forward to it, either Not everyone who's ordered one has popped up and admitted it, yet. I guess they have their reasons.   Chazmo Username: Chazmo Registered: 3-2007 Posted on Tuesday, December 11, 2007 - 9:05 am:    You guys should probably string up Elixirs (with GoreTex coating). You can leave those sets on for a year with light playing before they grunge out on on you. It sounds like you need a roadie once you buy a twin. 18 strings, plus a clean and shine, is too much work for one day. I assume you both have winders. A power drill winder would even be better (I saw them use one at the Taylor factory on a video).   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Tuesday, December 11, 2007 - 10:28 am:    I personally don't care for those elixir's very much. The DR's are coated as well. I just put a set of black ones on the '81 ar5000. After a while, the coating goes where you hit the string with the pick. It takes a little while but it's 100% inevitable. When that happens, it bugs me but the coating certainbly does prolong the life of the string. Then again, if the Elixirs come in 12 string electric sets, I may slap 'em on... just so I don't have to change them again for a while. It's is an undertaking. Probably best to do it whilst watching a football game on a Sunday afternoon. Kill 2 birds with one stone. The ar1200av kicks butt by the way. John... I forget, I know I asked... does the 2670 have 2 outputs (like the ar1200) or one?   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Tuesday, December 11, 2007 - 1:40 pm:    I changed the strings on my AR112, once. That took a while. I've since sold the guitar. So, it's just the 2670re that has more than 6 strings. I'm not one to experiment with changing string brands and guages. I'll probably stick with the D'Addario EXL150 - Regular Light set that the guitar came with. Bob: the 2670re does NOT have two outputs.   Guitarwhisperer Username: Guitarwhisperer Registered: 6-2007 Posted on Tuesday, December 11, 2007 - 10:06 pm:    The elixirs do seem to last quite a bit longer to me, but I prefer the tone and look of the DR Silver Stars. They're coated, but it's a silver coating, so they still look like a normal string.   Mongo Username: Mongo Registered: 12-2007 Posted on Wednesday, December 12, 2007 - 12:07 am:    Does anyone know of a dealer who still has one available? What is the average street price in the states? Thanks, Mongo   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Wednesday, December 12, 2007 - 7:38 am:    I would be interested to know what we've paid for them. John probably got a better deal because of his affiliations, which is cool and understandable.   Mitch236 Username: Mitch236 Registered: 7-2007 Posted on Wednesday, December 12, 2007 - 8:10 am:    I'll spill first. I paid the MAP at GC.   Chazmo Username: Chazmo Registered: 3-2007 Posted on Wednesday, December 12, 2007 - 8:20 am:    Mongo, there's a dealer in Weymouth, Massachusetts - Matt's Music -- who has one in stock. I've been dying to get over there and look at it, but the weather's been crappy here. I checked with Matt on Friday and he still has it. I suspect most folks are paying pretty close to MAP.   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Wednesday, December 12, 2007 - 8:32 am:    What does MAP mean? I assume the "M" is for "Manufacurer" I assume the "P" is "Price." I've never heard that terminology "MAP". I've heard "MSRP."   Chazmo Username: Chazmo Registered: 3-2007 Posted on Wednesday, December 12, 2007 - 8:44 am:    Minimum Advertised Price, Bob (I think). It's set by the distributor (Hoshino US, in this case, that is), and dealers have to follow it when they advertise.   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Wednesday, December 12, 2007 - 11:36 am:    OK, that said... does anyone know what that MAP is from Ibanez?   Chazmo Username: Chazmo Registered: 3-2007 Posted on Wednesday, December 12, 2007 - 12:30 pm:    Matt's music has it for $5,999, Bob. I think that's MAP. I'll shut up now in case anyone has more info.   Mongo Username: Mongo Registered: 12-2007 Posted on Wednesday, December 12, 2007 - 1:31 pm:    The Mrs. is ok with me getting one, which is awesome. I just need to figure out where the 6K comes from...   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Wednesday, December 12, 2007 - 1:55 pm:    Well, is it better to contact each other off-site and discuss what we paid or is it OK right here? I'm interested. I think it's just normal curiosity but... I don't wanna ruffle anybody's feathers... anywhere... if it's a touchy subject.   Mongo Username: Mongo Registered: 12-2007 Posted on Wednesday, December 12, 2007 - 2:16 pm:    I personally wouldn't have a problem posting what I paid for it (if I had one...). Especially if it helped to keep someone else from paying more than is appropriate. Then again, I don't have a problem with lots of things. Life is too short for it... <vbg>   Mitch236 Username: Mitch236 Registered: 7-2007 Posted on Thursday, December 13, 2007 - 12:40 pm:    Sorry, I didn't realize that nobody would know what the MAP was. If you remember a while back, someone posted the first advertisment for the 5000RE and it had both the retail price and then lower on the poster it had this MAP price. When I ordered mine, I showed the ad to the manager at my GC and he told me that stands for minimum advertising price and that's what I paid, $4500.00 plus tax.