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Jay
Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:04 am:   

Does anyone have any information on the new nylon string solid body electric guitar model SC500N? I would appreciate any information you can give me.
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Ibnzplyr
Username: Ibnzplyr

Registered: 03-2004
Posted on Monday, December 13, 2004 - 7:37 pm:   

If anyone has one, how about a few words on it? I have one on the way, and can post after I've used it for a while.

I just recently heard about these and dug up a bit of info on the web. There is very little. Here's something from a bulletin board:

"Apparently, they were only made for a few years before they were sued on patent infringement because a smaller manufacturer had already made a solid-body classical electric, so they had to be discontinued for legal reasons.
I've been looking for one just like it for years. Even scouring the internet, I've only been able to find pictures.
I hope I have at least provided information as to its background and the reason behind its rarity."

Also two websites:

http://www.mindwaltz.de/sc500n.htm

http://www.uni-ulm.de/~s_opfaen/guitar/index.php?guitar=sc500n


Scott
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Funkle
Username: Funkle

Registered: 12-2001
Posted on Monday, December 13, 2004 - 8:39 pm:   

Ah, so you're the one who scored that one! Congratulations on your acquisition. I was watching that auction closely.

Ever since seeing it in the '98 catalog, I've been intrigued. I'm not a nylon string player, but I do sort of have a collection of unusual Sabres going, and thought this would be a nice addition. And a nice way to venture into nylon territory.

I am very curious to hear your impressions when you receive it. I hear you really need a dedicated acoustic guitar amp to make these piezo guitars sound their best.


-Sven
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Acetan
Username: Acetan

Registered: 09-2003
Posted on Monday, December 13, 2004 - 9:17 pm:   

I can't imagine what kind of patent could prevent anyone from building a nylon string electric guitar. I think Ibanez just stopped making them because the market for it was not big enough. Just like when they discontinued the LE450 in the mid-eighties. I'm probably biased but I like my LE450 better, with the nice bindings and set neck.
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Ibnzplyr
Username: Ibnzplyr

Registered: 03-2004
Posted on Monday, December 13, 2004 - 10:30 pm:   

Acetan:

You've had your LE520 for a while now. What do you think of that? They look cool!

I haven't played nylon very much, but I needed one for a solo a while back and had to borrow someone's. I had been looking for a nylon string guitar, but one that's different. This might fit the bill. I like the idea that the neck is not wide like the typical nylon string guitar. It's a nylon string guitar for electric solidbody players. Great concept! We'll see if they pulled it off.

Funkle, I hope I won't need to invest in an amp. I would be happy if it just recorded directly well. I will be happy to post once I use it enough to get a feel for it.

I agree that there must have been very little demand for such a guitar and that was probably the real reason behind the limited run. Maybe JD sheds some light on it in his book.

Scott
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Acetan
Username: Acetan

Registered: 09-2003
Posted on Tuesday, December 14, 2004 - 12:03 am:   

I run my LE450 through a Fender Musicmaster Bass amp and get a pretty nice nylon acoustic sound. The LE520 sounds very warm with my Musicman using the neck humbucker, almost like my AM205 on the neck pup. The piezo under the bridge is very trebly. Being a passive pup, it sounds kind of "small". Blending the two pickups gives a fairly wide tonal range. The guitar itself plays very very well. The same with the LE450. These Lonestar electric acoustics are well built guitars but with very limited appeal, I like them though.
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Ibnzplyr
Username: Ibnzplyr

Registered: 03-2004
Posted on Tuesday, December 14, 2004 - 12:35 am:   

I almost pulled the trigger on a maple neck LE. It looked really cool. Have you seen or tried one of them? Anyone?

Scott
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Captainibanez
Username: Captainibanez

Registered: 01-2004
Posted on Tuesday, December 14, 2004 - 6:01 am:   

Guy's this guitar is probably the best acoustic electric classical that Ibanez has ever built. The SC500N was only produced in 1998 and with it's Spruce top and Mahogany back and Piezo pickup and only available in Natural finish...this is one of the true oddities of the Ibanez range for that year. This guitar for some reason did not suit the pureist's that used a classical style guitar with a built in preamp and pickup...they loved the feel of the neck...but probably could not get over the fact that it was a solid body nylon string guitar......."we fear change"! Build numbers were approx. 200 to 400 units tops ! and yes I have a pickup and preamp for this rare bird !

from the mouth of the pureist's of the time...it's a bit to bright on the top end....my advise....get over it..don't be a pureist...adjust your P.A accordingly :\


Just Enjoy :-)


Captain Ibanez :-)
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Ibnzplyr
Username: Ibnzplyr

Registered: 03-2004
Posted on Friday, December 17, 2004 - 2:00 am:   

Thanks Captain for this info. This really adds a lot to the discussion. Now if someone wants to know about about this guitar, we finally have some resources all on one page ready and waiting for 'em.

Scott

P.S. I think it also came in a violin finish. One of the links above leads to a pic of one.

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