1994 AS200 on Ebay

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Author Message Gemberbier Username: Gemberbier Registered: 05-2006 Posted on Sunday, November 19, 2006 - 10:21 pm:    This MIJ AS200 is from the same period that the Korean AS80 and AS120 models were made by Samick. Narrow headstock with a little V indent, but what's most important: a Fuji Gen serial number: F431630 and of course Super 58's. Reserve (higher than $999.-) not met. Perhaps the "Pleked" one is even more interesting, but this also looks like an honest guitar to me. Ginger http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-1751-2978-71/1?AID=5463217&PID=1802666&mpre=ht tp%3A//cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll%3FViewItem%26item%3D170047140674 Mr_roadstar Username: Mr_roadstar Registered: 06-2002 Posted on Monday, November 20, 2006 - 1:56 am:    The AS200 has always been a Japanese model. The mid '90s were the "Artstar" era. Hence the narrow "Artstar" headstock and "Artstar" text below the "Ibanez" logo. The Bear. Gemberbier Username: Gemberbier Registered: 05-2006 Posted on Monday, November 20, 2006 - 4:16 am:    They changed the whole Artstar range to wide headstocks in 1997. This goes also for the MIJ AS200. So, for those in favour of the principle of tuners placed straight above the nut slots, these narrow headstock models (1988-1996) were the last Artstars that were made this way, and they seem to go cheaper than the Artist headstocks (which I aesthetically prefer, like JS > see the JSM100 model). (BTW: I have no complaints about my AS120's wide headstock). Ginger Petruz Username: Petruz Registered: 05-2004 Posted on Monday, November 20, 2006 - 11:58 am:    my god, what's that on the sofa, a giant red iguana or something? i don't like the "parallel" sunburst of these artstars. but they did some strikingly beautiful blondie AS200s at the time. Guitartim Username: Guitartim Registered: 04-2001 Posted on Monday, November 20, 2006 - 2:02 pm:    OK, now I'm confused. Bear says the one being auctioned is a mid-90 ('94) Artstar series. Ginger says they stopped Artstars in '96. The s/n on my narrow headstock AS200NT 'Artstar' indicates it is either a 1988 or 1998. Which is it?? Johns Username: Johns Registered: 02-2001 Posted on Monday, November 20, 2006 - 6:08 pm:    GuitarTim: You have an '88. By '98 they were using the wide, "tulip" style Artstar headstock. If you reread Ginger's sentence, I believe he was referring to the narrow headstock style (made between '88 and '96) when he wrote: "that were made this way". Guitartim Username: Guitartim Registered: 04-2001 Posted on Monday, November 20, 2006 - 6:35 pm:    Johns~That's what I thought but thanks for the clarity...again. I am easily confused with Ibanez serial numbers. Gemberbier Username: Gemberbier Registered: 05-2006 Posted on Monday, November 20, 2006 - 7:25 pm:    GuitarTim, Your narrow headstock AS200NT is a typical example of Terada production. That factory, which also produced Gretsch guitars used the H for Hoshino (being their customer) from 1987-1996. They left out the first 3 digits of the year. After 1996 they had to change the system to avoid double serial numbers. So they started adding the 3rd digit and the guitars got serial numbers of 8 characters instead of 7 characters. So in guitars after 1986 the letter H has nothing to do with August! You already knew that, since you didn't name August 1980 as an option. The thread in the Captain Ibanez thread "How to read a(n) Ibanez serial number" is a very helpful tool, when you're in doubt, but there are always "exceptions", which are the real hard nuts to crack. BTW, I'd like to see those natural flames, after this headstock appetizer. Guitartim Username: Guitartim Registered: 04-2001 Posted on Monday, November 20, 2006 - 7:55 pm:    "BTW, I'd like to see those natural flames, after this headstock appetizer." Ginger I did not want to hijack your thread, but my mis-reading your note made me wonder about my own Artstar's progeny. I've posted her lovely body here before but since you asked, here's 'Blondie'. Petruz Username: Petruz Registered: 05-2004 Posted on Tuesday, November 21, 2006 - 3:35 am:    guitartim, your AS200 is really beautiful. that 3-piece neck, gorgeous! did you ever weighted this axe? i'm curious to know if the AS200s weights varied from the early eighties to the nineties. Gemberbier Username: Gemberbier Registered: 05-2006 Posted on Tuesday, November 21, 2006 - 5:55 am:    That's allright Tim, I have nothing to do with that sunburst. It's just info for the guys who are searching for an AS200 or who own cheaper KOREAN models of the same period, or who are interested in the philosophy of machine head placement. (Do we want/need angled strings, or do we want them straight?) If it was my own ad, I would have used the Free Classifieds. Ginger Phatphred Username: Phatphred Registered: 03-2006 Posted on Tuesday, November 21, 2006 - 3:41 pm:    Now I'm confused. Is Ginger saying that the AS200's from the mid-90's are Japanese despite saying "Artstar" on the headstock? I used to have a fantastic example, with which I recorded in '97, but, years after I sold it, I formed the opinion that it had been made in the Samick factory in Korea. The quality and sound amazed me: e-mail me for MP3's if anyone's interested. I think the pickups were factory fitted Di Marzio IBZ58's. Hmm...So it was from Japan after all. Golden Era or not, it would sure give my 1980 AS200 and AS400 a run for their money. Yes, you did read right! More on my AS400 shortly on a new thread. I have a controversial theory too! Johns Username: Johns Registered: 02-2001 Posted on Tuesday, November 21, 2006 - 5:16 pm:    Phatphred: As far as I know, all AS200s were made in Japan, regardless of the year/era manufactured. Now, what's this about an AS400? Tell us more! Gemberbier Username: Gemberbier Registered: 05-2006 Posted on Tuesday, November 21, 2006 - 5:40 pm:    All AS200's were made in Japan. But production of the hollow and semi-hollow body topmodels (180, 200) moved to Terada in 1987 and Artists became Artstars. Next to Terada that made these top models, they conctracted Samick to make cheaper hollow and semi-hollow models with as highest model number 120 (AF120 and AS120). The lower type numbers (like AS80) were even cheaper, had simple dot inlays and chrome hardware (just like the MIJ AS180 is the simplified version of the AS200). There nothing controversial to it. Didn't you read the label and the serial number before you sold it? I hope you got a good (MIJ) price for it. Ginger Guitartim Username: Guitartim Registered: 04-2001 Posted on Tuesday, November 21, 2006 - 5:51 pm:    Phatpred~ Stop teasing and show the AS400!! That is my all time favorite 'AS' model. (see below) http://www.ibanezcollectors.com/discus/messages/16/622.html?1097247250 Phatphred Username: Phatphred Registered: 03-2006 Posted on Wednesday, November 22, 2006 - 6:36 am:    Ginger, I did get a good price for my old AS200. This was before I got into eBay and I put it up for sale on the Loot website. The buyer contacted me and, without ever having seen it, or a picture of it, sent a taxi driver friend to my house with £875 in cash! That was about three years ago. At today's rates, that's €1,296.75. I'm sure that, at the time of owning the guitar, I had expected it to have been made in Japan and thought no more of it. Sorry, don't mean to be coy about the AS400. This was primarily my divorce present to myself and other issues arising from that process have kept me a little bit out of touch. What I'll do, Tim, John and all, is add to that wonderful thread that you have flagged up, which was a marvellous resource when I was considering this acquisition to end all acquisitions (or so he says) Phatphred Username: Phatphred Registered: 03-2006 Posted on Wednesday, November 22, 2006 - 6:38 am:    And, Ginger, the controversial bit is about the 400, not the 200. Ibnzplyr Username: Ibnzplyr Registered: 03-2004 Posted on Wednesday, November 22, 2006 - 7:21 pm:    Phatphred: I have just sent a taxi to your place to pick up the 400. I trust that the contents in the bag will suffice. Thanks! Scott Phatphred Username: Phatphred Registered: 03-2006 Posted on Thursday, November 23, 2006 - 6:48 am:    Scott, I think he got hijacked. Can you send another one?

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