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S.Pashen
Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:03 am:   

Hi, I was wondering if anyone can tell me anything
about ibanez silver series fender copies,strats in particular.I believe these to be produced around late 70's early 80's.How are they different to other ibanez replicas, how do they compare to fenders of that era. What are the stock pickups like.Are they rare.Thanks in advance.
Shane.
Evert Jepma
Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:03 am:   

Actually,I was also looking for more info on the Silver series.Here's what I know [or at least think I know]so far:produced 1977 and 1978.Only
strats,tele's,p-basses and jazz basses.I own a couple of Silver series and they are better than
the regular line of Ibanez fender copies.Good
sound,equal or better than Fenders of the time.
Evert
JohnS
Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:03 am:   

Evert:

What features make these "better than the regular line of Ibanez fender copies"?

JohnS
shane
Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:03 am:   

Hi Evert,
I was wondering what models you have exactly.
What colors etc.Do you know what type of wood the bodies are.I would love to see some images of them
if that is possible.I've tried to find one on the east coast of Australia but they seem to be a rare beast.
shane
Evert Jepma
Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:03 am:   

Hi,all.The biggest difference between the
regular line and the Silver series are:
*[often]plywood - solid wood
*laminated neck - one piece neck
*trussrod cover - adj.at body
*nut at the end - nut in slot
Some of these improvements were allready on the
2600 series Fender copies introduced in 1976.
Colors I know of:black,white and sunburst.I'm
not sure about the body woods.Like I said before;
I'm also looking for more information on this subject,so correct me when I'm wrong
Jimi D
Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:03 am:   

~rant on
I'd like to know what in that list of "differences" (above) makes the silver series "equal or better than Fenders of the time". I've heard this line so many times over the last fifteen years that I almost DON'T hear it any more - it's like background noise on AM radio. But in years of owning and playing Ibanez guitars, I've NEVER owned a copy guitar that came close to the originals it was trying to emulate. My Artist may be said to be "on a par" with some production Gibsons, but it's not a Gibson, and I've never seen an Ibanez LP copy that came close to a good Gibson Les Paul. Certainly Fender produced some turkeys during the dark days of CBS, but not every guitar that came off their factory floor was a dog. They still had some of the best pickups/hardware in the business and they used real Alder and Ash for the bodies, not some obscure asian mystery wood. I have two friends with awesome CBS strats, and you'd be hardpressed to find better players' instruments as far as tone and feel are concerned, anywhere, at any price...

I think that Ibanez does best with its own guitars - JEMs, Talmans, Ghostriders, RGs, Roadstar IIs, Artists, etc. Thier guitars should stand on their own merits. Fender hasn't built a decent shredder yet, and Ibanez never did produce a GOOD stratocaster...

MHO :-)
~rant off
Doug M
Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:03 am:   

In reply to Jimi D
I have a Ibanez Challenger Strat, sunburst with maple neck. She is a player guitar and has spent a lot of time clubbing. I'll put it up against any stock strat made since 1960! I have had the guitar for 20 years and have let a lot of Strat players take their turn on her. All have agreed that it is as good if not better than most of the Strats thay have played. Maybe mine is the exception.
No brag, simple fact!
Challenger
Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:03 am:   

Amen, brother.
I got two of 'em. If you want to see one, go to the replicas page, under Greco Firebird. Just put the word 'challenger' in a search, and you'll find it. My recent acquisition cost me $385 with the OHSC. Hot damn!
kersey
Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:03 am:   

another reply to jimi d,
four years ago I bought a silver series in a pawnshop in tampa for $125 (sunburst, in excellent condition). now, I could have paid about 5 times that and gotten a new fender(or about 8 times that for a true seventies fender), but I've played fenders and don't see very much difference. kersey
Bill Manaris
Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:03 am:   

I bought my white Ibanez Silver Series in Greece in 1979. A truly wonderful guitar. It is good to see that others share this point of view.
andy Hiscock
Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:03 am:   

Correct to a post above Ibanez silver series do not have one piece necks ala Fender - if so there would be Skunk stripe down the back for the truss rod.
The maple necks are 2 piece with a maple fretboard cap - not at all a good copy.
I think that Tokai copies are far better in realism feel and sound.
Geerally Tokais cost less, My Toaki bass cost ~250$ and Ibanez go arouns 400$
Harris
Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:03 am:   

I have a Silver Series Strat that I bought new in 78 that I've played long and hard. I also own a 74 Fender Strat and I actually like the Ibanez better. I just picked up a brand new Artist which has instantly become my favorite.
mike g.
Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:03 am:   

To All:

While everyone is entitled to a different opinion I think there were so many different Ibanez copy guitars that they should be viewed on each individual piece rather than blanket statements about being better or worse than the guitars they were patterned after.
I have 5 Silver Series Strats and they are no doubt favored by me over my "real" made in the USA Fenders of the same vintage as well as my Vintage reissues with the exception of one little desired early 80's
Japan model with a bullet neck that has the nicest sounding pickups of any Strat I own.
As far as the necks are concerned,I will send John S. some pics that will dispute the thought that they did not make one piece necks on these at all although some have a skunk stripe and some do not.
I have let several other seasoned players try my Silver series Strats and they were all quite surprised that these guitars are that good.
One of them offered me a silver anniversary Strat in trade which is no doubt worth alot more than the Ibanez right now but the fact that he offered it says something for his impression of the Ibanez models he played.
I still may take him up on the offer though !
The bottom line is,I'll take as many of these in good,clean and original condition as I can find !
They are no doubt in my mind a bargain a a great value for the money.
As Dennis Miller would say,"That's just my opinion,I could be wrong"
Mike G.
JohnS
Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:03 am:   

Mike:

Spoken like a true collector. So what do you think makes a good Strat? Wood or Electronics? The wood (and bolt on construction) seems easy to copy. But even die hard Fender-phobes change out pickups.

Got any Teles?

JohnS


P.S. Sorry I forgot to get the pictures of all your EQs up. Will do it after I get back from New Orleans.
Mark Munchenberg
Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:03 am:   

Mike,

I saw that you were bidding on a Tele Thinline Ibanez located in New South Wales. Did you get it?? The picture of it sure looked nice.

have you decided to target Australia for your aquisitions now?? I hope not. I can't compete against your US Dollar's firepower over here.

Enjoy your guitars.

Mark.

PS: I think that we could suggest to John to do a Guitar Tours feature on one or two of your tasty pieces.
MIke G.
Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:03 am:   

Munchie,

You have nothing to fear,the costs of shipping and insurance are a little steeper which usually puts the prices pretty close to what it would cost here.
I lost on the Tele thinline and the Artist although I was tempted to go higher.
I do believe it's time to start selling more off before going back to buying again (although I have said that about 5 times already !)
I am still working on pictures of the collection and did not think it would be so time consuming.
Yesterday I spent 4 hours on about 1/5 of what I have here.
I now appreciate what goes into good pictures of guitars with my biggest problem being how to show the wood and flametops without glare or flash.
When John returns from the Big Easy,I'll ask for his advise since his pics always look great.
Take care and keep on rockin !
Mike G.
Mike G.
Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:03 am:   

To Andy,

In regard to your post about Silver Series Strats not having 1 piece necks,I beg to differ.
I have taken pics and will send into John for the purpose of proving that many Ibanez Strat copies DID HAVE 1 piece necks and some are one piece INCLUDING THE HEADSTOCKS.
Another thing to note,some have the skunk stripe and some do not.Some have a truss rod cover and some are only adjustable at the base of the neck near the neck pickup(with the latter having the same darker color wood just above the nut to plug the truss rod hole as the skunk stripe just like the Vintage Fender stuff.)
During the picture taking session,I spent at least 10 minutes playing each one.I still put these against any Fender "real" Strat that I own and most of them just "sing" better.(although I do like the Bridge p/u's changed to the Hot Rails or Mini JB's type But I do that on the Fenders' too)
I absolutely LOVE the Ibanez necks and I disagree with the Maple cap theory too although some are that way but only 1 out of my 5 have that.
Peace,
Mike G.
Shane Pashen (Scrooge)
Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2001 - 9:36 am:   

Finally I have acquired a Silver series strat.Got it off a nice chap in Sth Australia.
Specs and photo as follows:

1977 Fender stratocaster copy serial J771885
Large CBS type headstock
2 piece highly figured Maple 4 bolt neck with Maple fingerboard insert.Non branded high quality tuners look like gotoh's, vintage type string trees, look like plastic nut.Rounded larger neck profile very comfortable and beautifully finished.
staggered alnico pickups, not high output or noisless but fantastic tone.5 way toggle.
vintage type bridge.body wood is unknow but is definitely one piece, somebody like Mike could help me out here, I think it might be Alder.It is well contured and very comfortable.
3 ply pickguard W/B/W.
Definitely a keeper.
77strat
JohnS
Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2001 - 9:48 am:   

Shane:

Your picture isn't showing up. Is it the same one you sent me? If so, I can upload it. If you've got something newer, send it to me and I'll put it up for you.

JohnS
ICW
JohnS
Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2001 - 10:56 am:   

Here's Shane's Silver Series Replica:

SilverSeriesStrat
Mike G.
Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2001 - 9:14 pm:   

Shane,

Congrats on your latest addition to the family.
We know what you mean about "tone"

You say you're sure it's a 1-piece body ?
I have found that most of these are not one piece bodies but as with all Ibanez guitars, NOTHIN would surprise me.
I too am unsure as to what woods were used on these as John can attest,they all feel a little bit different and vary in weight (as much as 2 lbs.)as did the Fenders.(and Fenders have always varied quite a bit)
It's nice to see that you got one without the truss rod cover at the headstock end.
It looks more like a Fender Strat and not like a cheapo guitar with the plastic that is poorly fitted to the headstock to cover the Truss rod.
I don't know about you guys,but that neck pickup just has a magical tone to it for me.
I prefer the Ibanez one to most of my Fender Strats cept for a early 80's Jap Strat and my 83 Walnut Strat which sound like they came from the same mold as the Ibanez pickups did.
If anyone knows more about the woods used for the Strat copies please fill us in.
John got the nicest one of the bunch from me but with closed eyes,no one would ever know.........
So John ,
Are you playing any Floyd or what ?

Mike G.
JohnS
Posted on Friday, April 13, 2001 - 10:42 am:   

Mike:

Oh yeah! Got me a guitar tab book for Dark Side of the Moon. It's very cool, not only because of the music but because it shows pictures of the tour venues being setup and has an interview with the road/sound manager. He talks all about the equipment setup and how it evolved over time.
Shane Pashen (Scrooge)
Posted on Friday, April 13, 2001 - 10:09 pm:   

Mike,
In my haste to post the virtues of this new found and long sought after guitar, I did say "one piece".What I meant to say was solid as opposed to a laminate type construction.I very much doubt it would be one piece.it's great to have one all the same and I am very pleased with it.My first bolt neck Ibanez and it is a joy to ply.
Mike G.
Posted on Saturday, May 12, 2001 - 1:39 am:   

Shane,

I performed an A-B comparison with one of my good friends who is a die hard Fender Strat man.
As a matter of fact,I lined up 4 Fender USA Strats and 4 Ibanez Strats (77-78) and he picked 3 of the Ibanez's and one of the Fenders as the best sounding and playing.The ONE Ibanez he did not pick had Fender pickups in it !

The one he felt was hands down the best playing and sounding was a 1977 Silver Series that is all original with a very resonant body and a great neck.

He was quite amazed at the results and played the Ibanez for the rest of the night tuning it twice.

Mike G.
Shane P
Posted on Saturday, May 12, 2001 - 8:24 am:   

Mike:
An interesting comparison, it begs the question from what era were the US strats from.Whats that you say, "all L and pre L series", hang on, perhaps I'm getting a little carried away here Lol.But it would be nice to know the vintages involved, as the beasts have changed markedly over the years as I'm sure you would attest to.

What was it that sold him on the Ibaneezers, was it the tone or the playing characteristics or a combination.The one I have has a very rounded neck profile which sits nicely if you have big hands and fingers like mine.Do all your silvers have the same large neck profile.

I also wonder what type of wood was used in the bodies of these guitars.In fact I will see if Jeff H could respond to this in a question on all Ibanez guitars of the golden era. I will pose this to him in his black hole.

One last question, are these common in the states and were they only made in 77-78.
Doc (Doc)
Posted on Sunday, April 18, 2004 - 7:17 am:   

I have a rare type Silver Series, actually never seen one like it although that don't mean much I guess ... it has the small "L Series" style headstock not the larger CBS style.

SR: B782514

It has a one piece maple neck with skunk stripe exactly like a Fender, it is a great player, although the pickups are not original. I have owned it since new and wouldn't trade it for ANY strat from ANY manufacturer.

White (mountain ?) ash body (solid not laminate) clear blonde finish and rock maple neck. Has the "star" machineheads and seems higher quality than regular Ibanez strat copies I have come across, I believe this was said to be true of the Silver Series when they were introduced.

The original pickups are still around somewhere, it's had a Bill Lawrence at the neck, '62 Fender Strat middle and Seymour Duncan bridge in it since the early '80's.
Johnm (Johnm)
Posted on Monday, April 19, 2004 - 4:13 am:   

I'm looking for a bridge for my silver series strat. Any suggestions?

I don't expect to find original parts so a good replacement would be great. The guitar currently has some kind of floyd rose thing installed which I dislike.

John M
Winnie_Thomas (Winnie_Thomas)
Posted on Monday, April 19, 2004 - 4:41 pm:   

Doc,

Are you sure it's not a Challenger series?

Winnie
Maniac (Maniac)
Posted on Tuesday, April 20, 2004 - 12:26 am:   

Hi Doc,

Winnie's question is the same thought that came to my mind except for the serial number.
Please post pics of the front and back of the headstock.
Where the original pickups with staggered poles?

I think it's great that you hung onto it all of these years.

Maniac
Doc (Doc)
Posted on Tuesday, April 20, 2004 - 8:58 pm:   

Yes, I mentioned this in the "Challenger" thread.

It had staggered pole pieces (I still have the original pickups) and is definately, from recent research here on this site (which I just found) ... it definately seems to be a Challenger blonde strat BRANDED as a Silver Series on the headstock. It's serial number is also a Silver Series type (B782514) but everything else is like a Challenger ASH bodied with non bullet truss road, L series style neck.

Weird, huh ? This might make it really rare ... who knows ?


I'll post pictures when I borrow a digital camera ... it's not pristine (but still excellant) as it was a gigging guitar for over 10 years, not a collector item, although I believe it to be very collectable nowadays.

I bought it in Australia in 1978.
Amemain (Amemain)
Posted on Sunday, May 02, 2004 - 9:02 pm:   

Hi all, I just joined up and must share my Ibanez with you and ask for some help. I believe it is a Silver Series but it doesnt say so.

Its Features are:

S/N# B772364 Made in 1977 Feb/ Prod# 2364
Solid Ash Body
One Piece Neck and Head out of Maple.
Skunk Stripe with matching plug at Head.
Truss adjustment at body.

It seems to have all the features of a Silver Series without the name. I am not sure if there was a non Silver Series made at this time? if so it does appear to have good features. Please Advise if anyone can help to its model.

Full Pic

Thanks
Michael
Amemain (Amemain)
Posted on Sunday, May 02, 2004 - 9:05 pm:   

I'll try the pic again.

Full Pic
Harry (Harry)
Posted on Monday, May 03, 2004 - 1:18 pm:   

Hi Michael!

What you have is a 2655 ZB. In the catalogue of 1976 it says:
"Burned ash body, one-piece hard rock maple neck".
The catalogue picture shows also "Ibanez" only on the headstock. However, these came out with the addition "Silver series" too. I happen to have one. Now looking at the construction of yours and mine we might ask ourselves: what is the difference between a "non-silver" and a "silver" 2655 ZB?
I dunno. Anybody on this board?
Kind greetz,
Harry
Amemain (Amemain)
Posted on Monday, May 03, 2004 - 4:41 pm:   

Harry! Great to see we are getting somewhere. :-)

I found the 2655 ZB as well in the 76 catalogs but havn't seen a 77 catalog. Have you or anyone else seen a 1977 catalog with this version. Question? Were "Silver Series" only 1977+? or did they exist in 76 as well. What I was thinking was due to its early serial number being in Feb of 1977 I was thinking it was Identical to a SS but they hadnt decided to name it yet. I may be way off base but just a thought. Harry From my description and picture do you see any differences between yours and mine and what is your S/N# if I may ask?

I have a call into Ibanez to maybe help on the situation. I also have more pics if anyone wants to see them.

Michael
Amemain (Amemain)
Posted on Monday, May 03, 2004 - 9:10 pm:   

Ok I think I have figured it out. According to the pricelists on www.ibanez-vintage-page.de/, the 1976 2655ZB is the same as the 1977-1978 Silver Series in Natural Finish. The pricelist show the same model# and stat# but in the 78 list they added the "Silver Series" to it. The 77 Price List doesnt show "SS" yet so it happened after production began. So Harry thats why there is no difference, because they are the same. Sometime in 77 they decided to add the "SS" Logo and I would be willing to bet that it didnt happen before Feb/Mar 77. Only way we be able to tell is to find the lowest S/N with the "SS" logo, and the highest without.

Cheers
Michael
Harry (Harry)
Posted on Tuesday, May 04, 2004 - 8:35 am:   

Hi Michael!

The serial number on my Silver Series 2655ZB is A 782379

Harry
Amemain (Amemain)
Posted on Tuesday, May 04, 2004 - 9:24 am:   

Thanks Harry, that seems to make sense. Yours being a 1978 it would for sure have the "SS" logo. Its too bad that we don't have a serial number database so we can figure out when in 1977 they actually changed the name. I have Ibanez looking into it.

Michael
Steinros
Username: Steinros

Registered: 06-2005
Posted on Friday, June 03, 2005 - 2:55 pm:   

I just changed a Fender Highway Strat (US made) into an Ibanez Silver Series Strat (sn. B791472, a '79 that should'nt exist at all!) which in my opinion sounds better. Colour is sunburst, and the guitar looks as if built of solid alder. It's not. The alder finish is 2mm thick, and under it the wood is dark, coarse grained and very soft. It seems to consist of at least two pieces. Those pieces are about half as thick as the body itself, and are glued in cross. The neck (maple)is fantastic. 12" radius with a slab fingerboard. Truss rod adjustment is at the body end. In spite of the apparingly cheap body the sound of the guitar is as good as any strat I've played. Am I owner of the only Ibanez Strat copy of this kind and date?
Bob
Johnm
Username: Johnm

Registered: 08-2001
Posted on Monday, June 20, 2005 - 3:07 pm:   

I just put my 1978 Silver Series Strat up for sale on Ebay Germany.

http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7331666970&rd=1&sspagename=STR K%3AMESE%3AIT&rd=1
Olafreijnders
Username: Olafreijnders

Registered: 07-2005
Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 10:00 am:   

I bought a lefty Silver Series strat myself. When I tried it, the tone struck me. So I bought it. One thing is very strange. Because the headstock didn't say "silver series" but the rest did, I thought it was a normal copy. But when I saw the serialnr., I doubted again. (J78xxxx) Then I saw this picture on Ibanez-vintage-page, which looks like mine. Why didn't these have "silver series" shown on the headstock?
[img]http://www.break-even.org/ibzspecial/images/2375le.jpg[/img]
Harry
Username: Harry

Registered: 03-2001
Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 11:32 am:   

Olaf

Damn...you beat me...I was after this one too!!!!
Congratulations, nevertheless!
You say the headstock does not say "Silver series" but the rest did.....I don't understand, unless you mean it's built like a Silver Series (with the main part of the neck made of one piece of wood). Otherwise I could not tell a "normal" Strat copy from a Silver series one withou taking it apart.
My lefty has a one-piece neck (only the headstock has an extra glued-on peace to get sufficient wood for the headstock's shape).
I was after this lefty too, because mine has a hard tail and this one (now: your one) has a trem block. They would have made a lovely pair in my collection......
Enjoy it and you know where to find me if this baby starts annoying you...

Kind greetz,
Harry
Olafreijnders
Username: Olafreijnders

Registered: 07-2005
Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 11:50 am:   

I think I'm gonna like this one.

My question is why there isn't written "Silver Series" on a lefty Silver Series headstock. I know it's a Silver Series because of the serialnr and the picture shown on Ibanez-vintage-page.

I saw that you bid on an Ibanez JB and an Ibanez Rickenbacker. Succes with this.
Harry
Username: Harry

Registered: 03-2001
Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 2:30 pm:   

Olaf

I have no idea why they skipped the addition "Silver Series". The "Ibanez" logo itself has the same layout as on all the regular (right handed) Silver Series models. Maybe it has to do with the fact that they wanted to put the brand name "Ibanez" in the place where it is on the right-handed version, giving the result of to little space left to put "Silver Series" behind it. The other option (in order to get that space) would be: putting the brand name more to the top of the headstock, starting in the round part. Would not be a great sight either. So my guess is: they might have skipped "Silver Series" for aestetical reasons. But I admit: my guess is just as good (or bad) as yours....

About the JB and the Rick: my prior will be the black Rick; don't have that one yet. I do have 2 black JB's (one "normal" and one "Silver series"), but both have maple fretboards and the one that's offered now has a rosewood one.....HELP!!!! I'm becoming a freak!!!! spending money on models that are already in the collection, but "wannahave" just because of a different fretboard....

Cheers,
Harry
Pitviper
Username: Pitviper

Registered: 08-2005
Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 4:07 pm:   

Harry would you and everyone else who is NOT a lefty please PLEASE stop collecting lefty ibanez guitars..it's tough enough for me to find one as it is.

Harry, on a serious note...do you have any leftys that you might part with? or anyone?
Lespaul
Username: Lespaul

Registered: 10-2004
Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 5:28 pm:   

Pitviper,

Got something in trade? I have a couple of lefty Les Paul models in spare. Email me if you're interested.

Paul (lefty as well)
Harry
Username: Harry

Registered: 03-2001
Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 2:25 am:   

Hey Paul

You being a lefty....WILL YOU IMMEDIATELY STOP COLLECTING RIGHT-HANDED IBANEZ? There's competition enough from the righties...

Just kidding!

Harry
Olafreijnders
Username: Olafreijnders

Registered: 07-2005
Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 6:05 am:   

Which models were made as a lefty? I guess not many. I wish that these Rickenbacker 4003 copies were.
Harry. Some time ago I asked you something but you didn't react. Did Ibanez build sunburst copies with an ash body? I think they did that only on request. Or?
Olafreijnders
Username: Olafreijnders

Registered: 07-2005
Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 6:07 am:   

by the way. I'm a lefty, so........................................................
Pitviper
Username: Pitviper

Registered: 08-2005
Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 11:25 am:   

Thankx Paul..actually no, I don't have any guitars to trade..have other types of merch only. All of my guitars are inlaid very heavy...pearl or abalone markers..paua sidemarkers, pearl nuts and switch tips are just some of the custom things I enjoy doing on my personal guitars.

I'm planning to retrofit real figured pearl markers for the stock plastic ones in my 2350. AS of now..I would like a (lefty) challenger strat or maybe bass..a musician neck thru...actually a natural finish neck thru anything Ibanez.
Harry
Username: Harry

Registered: 03-2001
Posted on Friday, January 20, 2006 - 1:54 am:   

Olaf

I really have no idea wether Hoshino made sunburst (fender) copies with entire ash bodies. You mentioned this before, referring to your lefty sunburst Jazzbass. I think you have put that question on this board before, but nobody really knew or did not react.
After years of collecting the Ibanez brand still suprises me now and then. Just when you thought you get the picture, some exception to the (what was thought to be) rule pops up and leaves us puzzeled.
Maybe you should try to put in a new thread about this item and wait until somebody knows about it and solves the riddle.
I really don't know. You might be correct or wrong about the suggestion that they maybe were special orders...

Kind greetz,
Harry
Olafreijnders
Username: Olafreijnders

Registered: 07-2005
Posted on Friday, January 20, 2006 - 7:19 am:   

I think it's really rare then. Because it's not a 1 piece body but, like the ash JB's of Ibanez, made of 4 pieces, it's original.
I get my Silver Series today. It had to be repaired. The output and volume pot were broken.
By the way, have you seen the Ibanez on Marktplaats from the 60s? I don't know if you collect these, too?
Harry
Username: Harry

Registered: 03-2001
Posted on Saturday, January 21, 2006 - 4:37 am:   

Yeah, I saw that one. Unfortunately it's a fake.
It should have a metal logo, the logo that is on this guitar was put on later. I also have the strong suspition that the guitar was painted white.
Harry
Olafreijnders
Username: Olafreijnders

Registered: 07-2005
Posted on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 8:49 pm:   

Should I post a couple of pictures?
Olafreijnders
Username: Olafreijnders

Registered: 07-2005
Posted on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 10:08 am:   

I guess not.
Johns
Username: Johns

Registered: 02-2001
Posted on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 11:12 am:   

Olaf:

Go ahead and post pictures of the fake. It never hurts to see what NOT to buy and know why.
Olafreijnders
Username: Olafreijnders

Registered: 07-2005
Posted on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 11:50 am:   

Johns. Why do you think it's a fake?
Olafreijnders
Username: Olafreijnders

Registered: 07-2005
Posted on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 11:58 am:   

http://img520.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscf00084se.jpg
http://img204.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscf00093xs.jpg
Johns
Username: Johns

Registered: 02-2001
Posted on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - 10:25 am:   

Olaf:

In a message above, Harry said he thought it was fake because: "It should have a metal logo, the logo that is on this guitar was put on later. I also have the strong suspition that the guitar was painted white."

Are your pictures of the same guitar he was talking about?
Olafreijnders
Username: Olafreijnders

Registered: 07-2005
Posted on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - 3:25 pm:   

No. We were talking about a sixties Ibanez which is for sale on a Dutch site. http://www.marktplaats.nl/index.php3?url=http%3A//koopjes.marktplaats.nl/muziek_ en_instrumenten/snaarinstr_gitaren_elektrisch/18621954.html
Sixvsix
Username: Sixvsix

Registered: 03-2002
Posted on Thursday, March 16, 2006 - 5:53 pm:   

In Sydney

http://www.qksrv.net/click-1802666-10381315?loc=http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI .dll%
3FViewItem%26item%3D7394480943

six
Johns
Username: Johns

Registered: 02-2001
Posted on Thursday, March 16, 2006 - 8:52 pm:   

Six:

Looks like the link is broken. Here's the correct one:

http://www.qksrv.net/click-1802666-10381315?loc=http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI .dll%3FViewItem%26item%3D7394480943
Scrooge
Username: Scrooge

Registered: 04-2001
Posted on Thursday, March 23, 2006 - 6:56 pm:   

Yeah I just bought that Black SS John linked above, seems too cheap to be true, should look good next to the white one I uploaded further up in the thread all those years ago.

Shane
Scrooge
Username: Scrooge

Registered: 04-2001
Posted on Monday, April 03, 2006 - 7:10 pm:   

Hi Again all,
Well I've received the guitar in the post, and low and behold the seller wasn't very honest about the condition. An ebay seller not being honest about a guitar's condition, Hands up who's shocked?

I will post some photo's if I get a chance.
Biggest gripe is it has had a couple of knocks which have taken the polyurethane finish clean off in a couple of places(It was cleverly photographed not to show these) After I had specifically asked if it had any major knocks or dings. It has a replacement brass nut and schaeller tuners, not a bad thing. I also have my doubts about the originality of the pickups, I have another one made only months apart and it has stagerred pole pieces. I realise I am buying a nearly 30 year old guitar, but am annoyed when I ask a straight question and told BS.

The upside is the neck is fine, and straight, frets worn but not too bad, the action is absolutely incredibly low and it plays quite well.
Case is original and fairly beatup.

Most importantly how do I feel about the purchase,
the coins in thew air, price was quite good but condition is worse than I'd hoped for.
Still you don't see these every day.
Brentm
Username: Brentm

Registered: 03-2005
Posted on Monday, April 03, 2006 - 9:03 pm:   

That's too bad you got that feeling on that guitar. The redeeming factor is that got it for a really good price, and the pictures seem to indicate that the guitar was in fair to poor condition.
Olafreijnders
Username: Olafreijnders

Registered: 07-2005
Posted on Tuesday, April 04, 2006 - 7:23 am:   

What should it be worth in a "normal" condition and all original? Because in this condition it would be under 200 Euro, I guess.
Stationc
Username: Stationc

Registered: 12-2004
Posted on Saturday, June 03, 2006 - 8:00 pm:   

at least I got one silver series strat too. but after reading this thread I am a little confused. the pus are the staggered exels (mentioned as cheap chinese). and I do not know if the parts are all original. the mechaniks are changed to schallers. the trem is a S.T.C. wich I think is original. the pickguard has got a little mintgreen color and the backplate has unusual screwholes that did not fit, so they screwed new ones in. so both plates seem to be changed, or are they original? Its serial is H773888 (08/1977). I understood that the body must be a solid one or two piece one but mine is plywood. Maybe you can see that in the second last pic. I also have a silver series jazzbass that really was butchered and there the body was not plywood but glued together out of a couple pieces of solid wood as you can see in the last pic. is the silver series the cheaper ibz-strat-copy?
greets and tks for yr opinion
maggy

sorry for the bad quality. it is just a handy-cam

ibz-ss(646).jpg
ibz-ss(642).jpg
ibz-ss(653).jpg
ibz-ss(651).jpg
ibz-ss(665).jpg
ibz-ss(666).jpg
ibz-ss(656).jpg
ibz-ss(657).jpg
IBz-silverparts2.jpg
Doc
Username: Doc

Registered: 04-2004
Posted on Friday, June 09, 2006 - 2:03 am:   

Hi guys, I have been away a long time, and with a rebuilt computer, didn't have this site address but I found it again.

I am going to be selling my '78 Silver Series Strat (the one I discussed in this thread) because I need to help my girlfriend out and it's the most valuable thing I own other than my car, which I need more than the guitar. (d'oh!)

I'll post pictures and details here soon as I get them done, while the guitar has newer hotter pick-ups and wiring I have an original pick-guard and a set of genuine Stevie Ray Vaughn Texas Specials (strat) pick-ups and a 5-way pickup selector I'll let go with it for those who want to restore the original look.

Post if interested in the pictures and details, or if not, it goes on eBay.

Thanks guys, you rock. I will miss this one a lot.
Doc
Username: Doc

Registered: 04-2004
Posted on Wednesday, September 20, 2006 - 2:07 am:   

Hmmm ... not one bite. I did some more research and from the factory it would appear it is one of only TWO Challenger series strats they built branded as Silver Series in the early (February) 1978 model run.

No truss rod poking out, skunk stripe neck fillet, small L series headstock, blonde on blonde (ash body maple neck) cream/white pickguard (3 layer original) with original star slot tuners and in very good condition.

2 pick-up styles available, custom wired Bill Lawrence (a collectable pick up in itself) - '62 Strat (pre CBS) - Seymour Duncan (white pickguard) or 3 x single coil staggered in an off white (cream ?) picguard.

Too beautiful to let go, but all things must one day pass.

One owner (me) since new in 1978.
Doc
Username: Doc

Registered: 04-2004
Posted on Monday, September 25, 2006 - 12:04 am:   

Ok, got the pics !

headstock

front view

back view

serial number

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