My New Toy!

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Author Message   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 02-2005 Posted on Monday, October 24, 2005 - 8:56 am:    Picked this up yesterday. 1978 2622. Appears to be all original and in great shape. It's near 30 years old. The back has absolutely zero rash. Zero. The top is 99.9% perfect. Binding.... PERFECT, all of it. No cracks at the neck joint, none. I want to replace the worn cloud piece at the tail, once I do that, she's gonna look really sharp! Needs a bit of a setup, which I am having done this week, but otherwise, I think it would be hard to find a nicer example. Came with the original flight case. It SCREAMS.   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 02-2005 Posted on Monday, October 24, 2005 - 9:16 am:    P.S. - I am surprised at the width of the neck on this guitar. It's a wide flat neck. Top of the board feels like a Gibson neck but the back of the neck is thin and flat. It's real nice. But I expected a thinner neck, especially up top. This neck seems much wider than the mc500nt neck and the ar1200av necks as well? Am I correct or.... is it just another bad batch of hallucinogens again? Oh yeah, someone's bound to ask... I paid $800 total for it.   Michaelkaufman Username: Michaelkaufman Registered: 11-2002 Posted on Monday, October 24, 2005 - 9:19 am:    Bob: Excellent score! Congrats! mk   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 02-2005 Posted on Monday, October 24, 2005 - 9:35 am:    P.P.S. - Guitar came with it's original paperwork, including warranty card. The key to the guitar case still attached to the warranty. Note: Ironically, the model #indicated on the card is AR500av. The serial # indicated is the serial # for the guitar, but somebody thought it was an ar500.   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 02-2005 Posted on Monday, October 24, 2005 - 9:36 am:    Thanx Mike. She's a real beauty. The guy I got it from was a very nice guy too.   Strings Username: Strings Registered: 01-2005 Posted on Monday, October 24, 2005 - 9:36 am:    Found one in a vacuum eh Bobby? Unbelievable! Grrreeaaat!!   Guitartim Username: Guitartim Registered: 04-2001 Posted on Monday, October 24, 2005 - 9:59 am:    Wow! Looks like an 'under the bed' find. How are the frets? Congratulations. Tim   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 02-2005 Posted on Monday, October 24, 2005 - 10:01 am:    Frets: EXCELLENT!   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 02-2005 Posted on Monday, October 24, 2005 - 10:09 am:    Frets: EXCELLENT! Does any one have a NOS Cloud tailpiece for sale? I gotta get it on this guitar.   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 02-2005 Posted on Monday, October 24, 2005 - 10:19 am:      Brentm Username: Brentm Registered: 03-2005 Posted on Monday, October 24, 2005 - 11:40 am:    Yeah great deal! Where'd you find such a bargain?   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 02-2005 Posted on Monday, October 24, 2005 - 12:20 pm:    I drove from NY to Massachusetts to pick it up. Private seller. Heck of a guy. I 'm pretty sure he's an ICW member? 3 hour drive. Not bad and very scenic with the foliage turning all the way there. Second time I drove to Mass. this yr. to pick up an Ibanez. First trip, mc300ds. Sold that one after I got the mc500nt, which I drove to Jersey for. Luckily, the ar1200av was 10 minutes from my house! The only issue with the top of the 2622 guitar, aside from the cloud tailpiece I want to change is a 64th of an inch finish "blemish" for lack of a better term. It just looks like it flaked off. it's so tiny, but... it's the only only thing. Most folks don't even notice it. You really have to look. It's really tiny. It wasn't "hit", it just seems like it flaked. May be an easy fix, but you know what, for a 30 yr. old axe... it is almost completely insignificant. The one thing that keeps it from 100% perfect.   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 02-2005 Posted on Monday, October 24, 2005 - 12:41 pm:    my arsenal:   Strings Username: Strings Registered: 01-2005 Posted on Monday, October 24, 2005 - 1:24 pm:    Yeah Bob...I can see it...on the 2622...that little tiny ding...right above the...the...eek ghad!!   Strings Username: Strings Registered: 01-2005 Posted on Monday, October 24, 2005 - 1:28 pm:    ...also Bob, all your tuners are twisted. The 2622EQ is supposed to be perfectly in tune with the pegs perfectly in line with the neck!! xoxo   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 02-2005 Posted on Monday, October 24, 2005 - 1:33 pm:    Strings, I think it's impossible to see the finish flaw in these photos. It is impossible. As far as the tuners, I didn't notice. I will see when I get home. Even if there's a problem, that should be easily fixed. A new set? A hammer? (joking). They do function pretty well.   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 02-2005 Posted on Monday, October 24, 2005 - 1:35 pm:    Strings, whatever you see must be glare or something. I looked at the tuners, they're fine, maybe just the camera angle.?   Strings Username: Strings Registered: 01-2005 Posted on Monday, October 24, 2005 - 2:45 pm:    Bob, I'm ribbing you over the minutiae you've sited. Mostly 'cuz I can't find a 64th of an inch on my ruler, and a little bit 'cuz it's fun!   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 02-2005 Posted on Monday, October 24, 2005 - 2:50 pm:    Strings, thanx for the ribbing then.   Sixvsix Username: Sixvsix Registered: 03-2002 Posted on Monday, October 24, 2005 - 6:02 pm:    Nice one Bob! Glad you like it so much. Have fun six   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 02-2005 Posted on Monday, October 24, 2005 - 7:02 pm:    Thanx Six. You know.... even though I've owned and played many vintage Ibanez guitars over the years, I am still amazed every time I light one up. There's a quality, a life to the sound that comes out of them that never ceases to amaze me. I don't foresee buying anymore this year... but who knows. Next year, that's another story. Ebay has become a battleground now for the old Ibanez guitars, I am doing the best I can to seek out private sellers. I spent $900 on the '78 mc500nt (now in a flight case because an ICW member was more than gracious enough to trade me for my original standard case), $1150 for the '83 ar1200av w/original case and $800 for the '78 2622 w/flight case. In each instance, I think I did OK as far as what I paid and what I got. But, these days it's tough to find a bargain. The ar1200av and the 2622 were private sales. The mc500nt was a "buy it now" at $900 on Ebay, it was just listed, I jumped on it. All 3 axes were original condition, no modifications. How come nobody wants to help me out with a cloud tailpiece and an Artist truss rod cover? They must be around. The truss cover is for the ar1200av, The one on the six string side does not say Artist on it but, the cover that's there seems to be original nonetheless.   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 02-2001 Posted on Monday, October 24, 2005 - 7:48 pm:    Bob: You did excellent on the 2622! Minty fresh and an(other) anvil case! Good grief, save some for the rest of us. Do you think that the warranty card was filled out at the factory? We already seen that the Japaneses market started using the "AR" designation rather than the model numbers, before the rest of the world. But I didn't think it would have done so on american bound guitars and as early as Nov. '78. Maybe the card was filled out later, and the owner made a mistake by using the later designation?   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 02-2005 Posted on Monday, October 24, 2005 - 7:55 pm:    John, my guess is the owner filled out the card. But.... who knows for sure. Either way, It was still neat to have and... with the key still attached. Plus the other original card/paperwork. I thought it was kinda neat. The reason I said it was ironic that it said "ar500" on the warranty is because... you know, I wanted the ar500 badly but... went for the 2662 since I was not ever gonna pay $2500 for an ar500. Eventually, I will have an ar500 but I will take my time and get a decent deal. SOMEHOW!!!   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 02-2005 Posted on Monday, October 24, 2005 - 7:56 pm:    Employee at store where axe was originally sold may have written the ar500 in there, I think that's a better guess.   Emilio Username: Emilio Registered: 09-2004 Posted on Tuesday, October 25, 2005 - 4:28 am:    Wow! she looks so good....too good...amazing nice score cheers emilio   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 02-2005 Posted on Tuesday, October 25, 2005 - 9:12 am:    Thanx Emilio. Once I find a cloud and get it on here, I will be a very happy camper. Needs a little setup, but, that's normal. I stuck a new 9v battery in there last night. It needed one. My guitar buddies here in NY love it. I may be creating new Ibanez Monsters over here. YIKES! I will bidding against my friends soon.   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 02-2005 Posted on Tuesday, October 25, 2005 - 2:33 pm:    This is a cut and paste from an earlier ICW thread. It was JohnS speaking to Jeff. Maybe this explains the ar500 denotation on the warranty card: Jeff: Good to have you with us. Mr. Roadstar is correct (as usual), that's a '79 2622 (renamed the AR500 in '80). It has an EQ and is very versatile. They did add 2 tri-sound switches to the AR500 and AR5000 in the 80s (not sure which year that was introduced. My '82 catalog shows them.)   Strings Username: Strings Registered: 01-2005 Posted on Tuesday, October 25, 2005 - 4:06 pm:    'Zilla...I think these dates are a little off as mine is a '79 AR 500 which has the trisounds AND, lets not forget, the all important tone knob not mentioned in this clip. Don't forget that I also have a '78 2622 so as not to confuse things. I believe I've even seen a few 500s made from December '78 The last year of the 2622 that I know of is '78. I'm not sure there was any overlap Can you paste the ICW thread in here that you've found for my own education. Thanks 'Z here is my '79   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 02-2005 Posted on Tuesday, October 25, 2005 - 4:29 pm:    Strings, I will try to find the thread again. I had done a search for "2622 specs" and I checked a few tyhreads and happened across it. I will look again. If I find it, I will drop it here. You may try the same search I did here on ICW.   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 02-2005 Posted on Tuesday, October 25, 2005 - 5:08 pm:    strings, try this link, this should get you to the one I found earlier and cut and pasted above. http://www.ibanezcollectors.com/cgi-bin/discus/discus.cgi   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 02-2001 Posted on Tuesday, October 25, 2005 - 5:15 pm:    Bob & Strings: Jim Donahue's site lists the following models as being available in 1979: 2616, 2617, 2617S, 2618, 2618-12, 2618L, 2619, 2619L, 2640, 2671, 2671S AR50, AR100, AR200, AR200L, AR250, AR300, AR400, AR500 It would appear that 1979 was the transition year regarding the designation/name of the Artists. Now, the question is still: what makes a 2622 versus an AR500? Is it 1.) the body width and neck set? 2.) the switch from 2 control knobs, 3 EQ controls to 3 controls, 3 EQ knobs, 2 Tri-sound mini-switches and an LED light? Or 3.) the combination of both? With very limited access to '79 and '80 catalogs, I assumed it was choice #3. Perhaps, it was choice #2 and this change happened some time in '79. I'm positive that it didn't happen in '78 (at least for the US market and accompanying literature). Strings: what month is your '79? Bob: what month is your '78?   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 02-2005 Posted on Tuesday, October 25, 2005 - 5:41 pm:    The month on my '78 2622 is Novemeber (K) very late in the year. Now consider this... although my serial # indicates Nov. '78, the guitar actually probably originally sold in '79 due to the fact that it was made so late in '78 and had to be sent out to retail and then, who knows it hung on the wall in the music store before it sold. I don't even know if what I just said has anything to do with anything... but there it is. I now think employee must have written ar500 on there and , if I am not mistaken, it seems the ar500/2622 designation applied to both models at various points. Correct?   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 02-2005 Posted on Tuesday, October 25, 2005 - 5:46 pm:    P.S. - since , according to info above, 2622 was not available in '79.... when the salesman sold my (made in '78) 2622 originally in his shop ...in '79, he did not see 2622 as a model choice for '79, so... he indicated ar500 on the warranty card. That MIGHT make sense?!   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 02-2005 Posted on Wednesday, October 26, 2005 - 7:33 pm:    Got it back from the shop. Had it setup. Nice guitar. Still haven't had any luck with the cloud, even though I contacted 2 Ibanez dealers in my neck of the woods. I really didn't think it would be so difficult to track one down. After I go nuts and finally get one, another one will pop up on ebay the next day for $10 I'm sure. Still need an Artist truss rod cover as well.   Brentm Username: Brentm Registered: 03-2005 Posted on Wednesday, October 26, 2005 - 7:56 pm:    Bob - don't fret over that cloud tail piece. It's 30 years old for crying out in the night. I've seen quite a few NOS clouds on eBay. But if you must... http://www.sunflower.com/~mr_ibanez/id15.htm -Brent   Strings Username: Strings Registered: 01-2005 Posted on Thursday, October 27, 2005 - 9:25 am:    And Bob, you'd be hard pressed to find a used one that is in the same shape as yours for $10. $30 is what I paid Hoshino...just fyi   Jeffsailor Username: Jeffsailor Registered: 01-2004 Posted on Thursday, October 27, 2005 - 10:05 am:    Bob, Why not get the thing replated? Its probably cheaper than buying one new. From what I remember, DaveG has good experience getting parts replated. In fact, I think he posted the contact information of the guy he uses. js   Sixvsix Username: Sixvsix Registered: 03-2002 Posted on Thursday, October 27, 2005 - 5:30 pm:    Yes I'd go with the replating too Bob. It will soon dull down to match up. six   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 02-2005 Posted on Friday, October 28, 2005 - 9:42 am:    I prefer the replating too. I will contact my buddy Dave then and see if he can help. From the feelers I've put out, I don't thinbk replating is cheap, I think it's expensive. I'd rather have the original piece on there though so... P.S. - Thanx Gentlemen.   Munch Username: Munch Registered: 02-2001 Posted on Friday, October 28, 2005 - 7:04 pm:    Hi Bob, I have a 2622 just like yours. Mine is a J78 with the flight case too. these are wonderful guitars and I believe will become true collectors pieces in years to come. I have had very good experience with replating hardware. I had all the hardware on a PF300 done for $250 AUD ($175 USD approx). Is it possible you could scan the operating manual for your guitar and email it to me? I would much appreciate it. For your reference, here are some photos of my 2622 and PF300. Cheers, Mark   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 02-2005 Posted on Saturday, October 29, 2005 - 9:12 am:    Munch, nice guitars you got there. Your 2622 looks in real fine shape. I don't have a scanner, sorry. Where'd you get the replating done? Dave G. gave me a number, I think I may have some luck with it. I find out on Monday.   Munch Username: Munch Registered: 02-2001 Posted on Wednesday, November 02, 2005 - 3:48 am:    Hi Bob, I got the replating done at A1 Metal Refinishers in Lonsdale, South Australia. Probably a bit far afield for you. These refinishers are all over the world. Shop around - just remember, the quality of the end result is all in the prep work. Cheers, Mark   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 02-2005 Posted on Wednesday, November 02, 2005 - 8:48 am:    Thanx Mark.   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 02-2005 Posted on Saturday, November 05, 2005 - 8:59 am:    Got my NOS Cloud. $20. Stuck it on there. Nice.   Dave_g Username: Dave_g Registered: 01-2002 Posted on Saturday, November 05, 2005 - 9:52 pm:    Well Bob, ya got another one comming to ya for your next project !   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 02-2005 Posted on Monday, November 07, 2005 - 9:17 am:    Thanx Dave, someone sent me an e-mail , needs my old one, I was planning on keeping it but maybe I will help the guy out. I didn't know if one was on the way so... I grabbed this one. I'm really happy with the way it looks now. It's a real nice guitar.

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