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Erudite1
Username: Erudite1

Registered: 03-2006
Posted on Saturday, June 24, 2006 - 1:17 am:   

Saw this on ebay and bought it as a mystery grab bag guitar w/o time to research it. The peghead sure looks like an Ibanez but the seller made a vague reference to it's originality. If any of you Ibanez savvy gents care to offer an opinion on it's pedigree I'd be thrilled to hear it (or read it). Thanks.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7423703845&rd=1&sspagename=ST RK%3AMEWN%3AIT&rd=1
Goodasaf
Username: Goodasaf

Registered: 08-2005
Posted on Saturday, June 24, 2006 - 4:20 am:   

the body reminds FG100, guess the neck was replaced. there is a decal inside the F hole, try to read it when it arrives...
Gemberbier
Username: Gemberbier

Registered: 05-2006
Posted on Saturday, June 24, 2006 - 4:23 am:   

We saw this type of neck (also without the Ibanez logo) glued on what the seller called then a "GB10 prototype", but we had serious doubts then.
Could be another project of the same maker.
Anyway, bidding has ended and $177.50 is cheap for a good natural jazzbox.
I'll look up the GB10 "proto" thread for you.

Then I'll be back

Ginger Ale
Gemberbier
Username: Gemberbier

Registered: 05-2006
Posted on Saturday, June 24, 2006 - 4:26 am:   

Got it:
http://www.ibanezcollectors.com/cgi-bin/discus/show.cgi?tpc=12&post=30169#POST30 169

Greetz

Ginger Ale
Erudite1
Username: Erudite1

Registered: 03-2006
Posted on Saturday, June 24, 2006 - 10:55 am:   

Thanks Ginger Ale,

Maybe it's just my browser but I'm getting a Bob Weir/J.Garcia thread when I click your link? Interesting if not directly topical!

I think I remember that GB10 listing you mention. Weren't the body dimension all over the place. I've got an early '78 GB10 and it didn't seem like you could get from there to it.

Having Fun,

Erudite1

And what could be more fun than fun?
Erudite1
Username: Erudite1

Registered: 03-2006
Posted on Saturday, June 24, 2006 - 11:04 am:   

Goodasaf

Thanks! Yes it does look a lot like a FG100 body! The neck has that fancy tail end that I haven't seen on any FG's though. I agree it does look like there's a label in there although the seller made no mention of it. Let you know what it says (if anything) when I get it.

Thanks!

Erudite1

And what could be more fun than fun?
Erudite1
Username: Erudite1

Registered: 03-2006
Posted on Saturday, June 24, 2006 - 12:06 pm:   

Goodasaf,

Wow! $2026 for the '78 GB10! Sorry, that's inflation for you. If it helps at all, the part about Benson's signature is 99.9% BS. I had emailed the seller this message yesterday:

"Hi. Beautiful guitar! I have #36 from 1978 the 1st year of issue.
For what it's worth George Benson didn't sign any of these, it's a myth. The signatures are all apparently printed onto the labels. See this Ibanez Collectors thread:

http://www.ibanezcollectors.com/discus/messages/16/13025.html?1146411055

Still well worth the price. An awesome, beautifully crafted jazz
guitar from the Ibanez golden era. Best of luck on the auction."

He either didn't or couldn't post it I guess. Not good for business.
Gemberbier
Username: Gemberbier

Registered: 05-2006
Posted on Saturday, June 24, 2006 - 4:00 pm:   

Erudite1,

There is still an working Ebay-link:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7421007755

But when this stops working, try the thread "Another Prototype?" (use Ctrl-F) in the "Hollow and Semi-hollow body guitars".
Look at the position of the potmeters (same as in an Artcore).

Still a nice guitar...

Ginger Ale
Erudite1
Username: Erudite1

Registered: 03-2006
Posted on Saturday, June 24, 2006 - 4:21 pm:   

Thanks Ginger Ale!

Yes, now I remember it! It had the odd-shaped cutaway on the body that didn't match the GB10's cutaway. The peghead has that basement paneling veneer look! It's got the flat fretboard tail too. I'm trying to research what Ibanez had a Gibson -style fretboard tail w/20 frets but I haven't found it yet.

I'll post any info I find out or get off the label when it arrives next week just for general FYI.

Thanks again. Erudite1

What could be more fun than fun?
Erudite1
Username: Erudite1

Registered: 03-2006
Posted on Saturday, June 24, 2006 - 4:39 pm:   

Hey, I think I found it!

Looks like it might be a mix of the 1976 2400 series (L5 copy) neck and 2300 series body. The only sticking points, I can see, are the selector switch is on the opposite side and doesn't have the thick black ring and the fretmarkers aren't split on the catalog necks.

http://www.ibanez-vintage-page.de/
and
http://www.break-even.org/ibzscans/1976KALA2/go/o-103.jpg
Artfield
Username: Artfield

Registered: 04-2001
Posted on Saturday, June 24, 2006 - 8:08 pm:   

The body reminds me of a Westone L5 or maybe an Aria L5 model...headstock i don't know.
Gemberbier
Username: Gemberbier

Registered: 05-2006
Posted on Sunday, June 25, 2006 - 5:15 pm:   

I think that I found the body of the "proto GB10"
Take a look at this Austin:
http://cgi.ebay.com/AUSTIN-JAZZ-ARTIST-AU998N-ARCH-TOP-ELECTRIC-GUITAR_W0QQitemZ 7418520977QQihZ016QQcategoryZ2384QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Same potmeter positions, same cutaway/ horn.
And if put on a GB10 tailpiece, there's one golden tailpiece you can use on the next project.

Artfield,
I don't think this is a Westone or Aria ProII L5 copy. It isn't Matsumoku at all. They used laminated spruce tops and better finish. The necks were so good, that there's no reason at all to replace them.
(I have an Aria Pro II L1000 natural and an Ibanez 2355m, but the Aria neck is even better and the tailpiece much more beautiful, really L5! My friend "Jazzerman" had the same with the type name PE-180 and sold it for €1250.= so why would someone dismantle a good vintage Matsumoku guitar, selling it as it is, is a better option)
Also the later FA70 are good guitars, that don't need to be dressed up like an Ibby.

No, I think it's a cheap Chinese body made of some birch plywood, the woodgrain just doesn't look good. All you need is a good relation with a Chinese guitar manufacturer and order some half-finished products with an abalone binding.
I guess, you even can order copies of Ibanez neck without the headstock inlay/ brand name of course... so there are no legal consequences for the manufacturer...
Proto... my a...
It all looks fake to me...
I feel it in my bones...

I wonder how many "prototype" we 'll see the next months/ years.
If someone says that a guitar is some decades old, the finish normally is aged. These guitars are brand new!

Be aware!

Ginger Ale
Erudite1
Username: Erudite1

Registered: 03-2006
Posted on Monday, June 26, 2006 - 11:12 pm:   

Ginger Ale,

Which one are you comparing the Austin to? The GB10 proto or the unknown one I picked off ebay?

The Austin doesn't really match up on either one, see the pic for the Austin superimposed over the unknown ebay guitar. (which is actually closer to the proto. Nothing really matches up.

/image{guitars}

I have a 2355 with the "Greco" inlaid logo and it is a fine guitar with a nice neck. The unknown guitar seller didn't say the neck was switched, he said it may have been. I'll let you know what the label says when it shows up. Might be a good laugh. Not an expensive one anyway.

Erudite1

What could be more fun than fun?
Erudite1
Username: Erudite1

Registered: 03-2006
Posted on Monday, June 26, 2006 - 11:14 pm:   

Whoops! Another try.

/image
Erudite1
Username: Erudite1

Registered: 03-2006
Posted on Monday, June 26, 2006 - 11:16 pm:   

Backslash. Backslash!

guitars

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