Help Needed in Identifying Iceman Model

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Author Message   Steve Sacramone Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:04 am:    Hey everyone, I'm hoping someone here can help me date my Iceman model that I bought used last year. Here are the specs: PAF Style Pickups Square Harmono-Matic Bridge Quick Change II Tailpiece The bigger style of the Velve Style Tuners (labeled as Ibanez Smooth Tuners II) Input jack is on the front of the body Dot fretboard inlays instead of rectangles No binding No pickguard Three control knobs instead of four (2 volume, one tone) Number on neckplate is 4475817 I'm interested in finding out the year and if possible, the model number (it's not a PS-10). I'm guessing that because of the dot inlays and no binding it is an IC50 or IC100 but I'd like to know for sure. I'm sure this guitar isn't more than a few years old and isn't worth much, but I had always wanted an Iceman, and when I saw this one for sale at a local dealer, I couldn't pass it up. Also, if anyone knows where I can find the PS-10 style pickguard and decorative piece behind the tailpiece, that would be appreciated as well. Thanks   Mark_Hartman Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:04 am:    Steve, You didn't mention the color of your Iceman, which would help a lot in estimating the year. Also, which head stock design does it have? See the photo for assistance. If it's really only a few years old, then it must be an IC300 - but - all of the bolt-on neck Icemen from the '90's have white binding around the body. What color is yours? Hope this helps - Mark   Steve Sacramone Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:04 am:    C:\Iceman Pics headstock.jpg   Steve Sacramone Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:04 am:      Steve Sacramone Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:04 am:    \image   Steve Sacramone Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:04 am:    Hey Mark, Sorry for the extra posts, but I can't figure out how to put text and images together! The above pics are the headstock and close shot of the body of my Iceman. I bought it 2 years ago at my local music store for $250. Was this a good deal, fair price, or did I get taken? I had been wanting an Iceman for about 10 years prior to this, so I guess I wasn't really taken. If you want something bad enough, you'll pay for it I guess! Is it possible to determine the year using the serial number or is there other factors?   Mark_Hartman Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:04 am:    Steve, Yep, you've got yourself a 1979 or (more likely) 1980. Your serial number should start with a letter and be followed by six numbers after that. The first two numbers indicate the year. (See the photo of my 1980 IC50 neckplate) On mine, the "C" indicates month and the the next two numbers, "80" indicate the year. In 80 they dropped the IC100 designation and went with the IC50 to identify the lower-end Iceman models. They also dropped the fourth knob (tone control) and went with two volumes and one tone until early production ceased sometime in 1982. So yours is one or the other. I lost my 1980 catalog years ago and don't have a 1979 one to look at for further clarification. Maybe someone out there will help us out here... Anyway, $250 is a good buy for a vintage Iceman. They usually run about $300 - $400 from what I've seen. Good to hear from another Iceman fan - Rock with it!   JohnS Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:04 am:    Mark: I was waiting for your reply, because the serial number doesn't seem to confirm to any of the standard systems. Any idea why not? JohnS   Steve Sacramone Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:04 am:    Here's a shot of the neckplate. There is no letter. The number is 4475817. Do you recognize this plate from another model? It could be possible that this plate is from an entirely different guitar. Supposedly the store that I bought it from called Ibanez (or so they told me) and according to Ibanez, that serial number is from 1994. That's why I asked about the year. There is no way this guitar is only 6 years old. Also, if you look at the guitar from the side, you can see 2 distinct pieces glued together (top and bottom, not left and right). The chrome on the tuners, bridge and tailpiece are pitted. And there are small green spots on the bridge from corrosion, so it can't be from '94. But the tone is so warm and it sings like no other and rings forever, so I'll deal with it!   Mark Munchenberg Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:04 am:    Steve and Mark, Recent serial numbers for Ibanez guitars start with either an F or a C. F stands for the Fugi Gen Gakki factory in Japan and C stands for the Cort factory in Korea. The first number after the letter stands for the year of manufacture. I believe this numbering system came into effect in 1987. If your guitar is without an F or C, i'd suggest the neck plate in off some other brand of guitar. I've never seen an Ibanez neck plate with the "Steel Adjustable Neck" imprint, but I don't look at new Ibanez guitars that often. Anyway, on the reissue iceman the serial number is a decal on the headstock. My guess is that your guitar has lost its original neck plate and some other one was used in its place. Regards, Mark.   Mark Munchenberg Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:04 am:    Steve, I just remembered that someone on Ebay sells reproduction PS10 pickguards, trussrod covers, and decorative tailpieces. Do a search on Iceman and you should find it. I'm also curious about your change of opinion as to how old you guitar is. In your first post you say it can't be more than a few years old, but in your last post you say it must be older than a '94, owing to the corrosion and pitting. By the way, your bridge is a Gibraltar bridge. What the hell is a Harmomo-matic???? I've never heard of one. Cheers, Mark   Steve Sacramone Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:04 am:    Hey Mark, In my first post, I was going on the assumption that it was a '94 because that's what Ibanez said it was. Also, until I saw yours, I had no idea that it could be a different neckplate. I also didn't know about the headstock style change. So after the first post, I did some minor research (using your site actually among others), and I realized that it must be older than a '94. Ah, the internet is wonderful thing. Learn something new every day. As far as the bridge goes...oops! My mistake! While at vintageibanez.com I found a link to the Iceman series from JD's Pages. This is one of the pages I found. http://www.comcat.com/~alnico5/parts.html I glanced quickly at the pic, and thought it was the Harmonomatic bridge. I should have paid more attention! Oh well, I guess I have a few more things to learn about Ibanez. I'll head on over to eBay later and check it out. Thanks for your help and the learning experience! Steve   Mark_Hartman Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:04 am:    Yeah, I agree with Mark - the neckplate is off some other guitar all together. And I totally agree with Steve - the internet is wonderful thing!! ...and while I'm agreeing with everyone, ebay is great too :) And John too! Can't forget him...he runs this wonderful site. ...and to all, a good night.   spiro Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:04 am:    The plate looks like one off an early Ibanez (well in aus). some of these gits had the same plate as the one above.... Mark, i was wondering if you could help me? I have an IC210 that has a ruined pickup ring, i need to either acquire one or make one up if you could help me it would be greatly appreciated. If you can, i was wondering if possible to send me a photocopy of one that you have or a scanned to correct size of one so I can make a new ring.. any help would be greatly appreciated...   Dennis Beck Posted on Thursday, July 05, 2001 - 8:37 pm:    Hi. I just agreed to repair and sell an Ibanez for a gospel group trying to raise money. Really! Any way, it doesn't follow the production number schemes I've been reading about. I'm wondering if it's a Greco Mirage? The serial number stamped in the neck plate is G784556, along with Made in Japan. http://www.geocities.com/beatlit/Iceman_2.jpg http://www.geocities.com/beatlit/Iceman_4.jpg Anybody have any thoughts on this? Thanks, D.   Mark Munchenberg (Munch) Posted on Thursday, July 05, 2001 - 9:26 pm:    Dennis, Your links don't work. Try posting the photos directly to this discussion. The serial number conforms to Ibanez conventions. It suggests the guitar was built in July of 1978. Regards, Mark   Richard (Richard) Posted on Saturday, April 12, 2003 - 7:32 am:    Hi Guys, I have two guitars, both ICEMAN IC 300. One has a serial number C810287, which I assume is a March 1981 guitar, but is does not have a scratch, its in mint condition for a 22 year old guitar. The other is also a IC 300 with a serial number of 5104087 no letter. How old is this guitar. the only difference between the two is that the latter has two volume and one tone knob not one and one. Cheers Richard

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