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

I read that the serial dating go's as such:
Guitars made prior to 1987, the letter stands for the month EXP A=JAN B=FEB then the next 2 digits is the year it was made, then the next 4 digits is the production number. Only 9999 guitars where made per month. So exp serial number would be c760287 March 1976 287th peice.
Guitars made after 1987 the first letter is the factory designation, the first number is the year and the next 5 is the production number. EXP.
f700015 would be 15th guitar made in 1987 somewhere in japan.
So I bought an LP copie Ibanez I think. The body and neck is black with white trim, gold hardwear and a raised pickguard , block pearl inlay, 2 gold pickups (no Ibanez stamped on them),Bolt on neck and the headstock logo is in the cursive, not the newer check mark logo. The serial number is E763585. So my question is this. Using the serial numbers was my guitar made (May) (1976) (3585th) peice or is it (E=factory designation) (1987) (63585th) piece????????????
The Ibanez dating artical I got this formula from didnt say that after 1987 they started making MORE than 9999 per month, so I cant be sure if its 1976 or 1987. Please help! By the way if it is a 1976 is this one of the lawsuit guitars???? How can I tell??? Sorry for the long post.
JohnS
Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:03 am:   

Eric:

Your's is a 1976. Here's why:

1. they stopped making LP copies in early '78 (in the USA anyway).
2. for post 1987 serial numbers the letter code for the factory should only be an "F" for Fuji (Japan) or a "C" for Cort (Korean).

There is some dispute about the last 4 digits in pre '87 serial numbers being the exact production number for a particular month. Some feel the numbers are just too large to be realistic.

May '76 sounds like it could be a lawsuit model. The definitive answer is whether the headstock is a replica of the Gibson LP or not. The lawsuit forced Ibanez to change the design of the headstock...nothing else. So, what's your headstock look like?
Eric
Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:03 am:   

Thanks for the quick responce, I couldnt wait to get home to find out what you had to say about my guitar. I looked all over the web to find a picture of what it looks like and I found it at the Alnicos 5 page that is so popular here. I think the 2341 best discribes my guitar, the only difernce is that mine only has 2 pick-ups not 3 like in the picture. The headstock is the exact one I have. So what modle do I have, and is it a lawsuit LP? And what is a ball park figure for a guitar like this? For the record I paid 100 bucks for it at the local pawn shop. I will Post a picture of it if I ever learn how to do attachments.Thanks again, everyone hear seems to be very helpful this is a great site!
JohnS
Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:03 am:   

Eric:

If you are looking at this page:
http://www.comcat.com/~alnico5/copies.html
it's very easy to see the difference between a lawsuit and later model.

Look at the first set of pictures under the heading: Details, Lespauls Copies. There are 2 pictures next to the No2350 model. The upright one, to the left, is a lawsuit model. The headstock looks exactly like a Gibson.

The smaller picture of the guitar on it's side, directly over the heading: No2350CS/WH is a post lawsuit model. The headstock was redesigned. The tips on the ends don't flair up sharply and the center bump has no indentation. The MOP inlay design is very different.

$100 sounds like a great deal, lawsuit or not.

For uploading pictures, go to this link:
http://www.phoenix-creative.com/IbanezCollectors/FAQMain.html
Eric
Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:03 am:   

Well I dont have the Lawsuit Headstock. The discription says that the 2350cs/wh came with either White or Cherry sunburst finishes. It didnt say that it was offered in black. My guitar looks exactly like the 2341 under the LP copies exept for the middle pick up. Did the 2350cs/wh come in black? If so thats what I have. Thanks again for the help.

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