Acoustic recomendation, 70's model

[sgjazz]

What model would be considered the "Holy Grail" for a steel string acoustic built in the 70's?

[backer60]

A late 70's Zemaitis heart hole 12 string acoustic. See Greg Lake playing "Father Christmas". Yummy. 25 gs if you can actually find one.

[ChuckE99]

See Bob's (BCy2k's) TAMA:

http://www.ibanezcollectors.com/forum/acoustic-guitars/serious-tama-porn/msg88317/#msg88317

I think it's the model 3563.

[porkpie]

If we could expand this slightly to '70s Ibanez, not TAMA, acoustics. There are quite a few available on Ebay at what seem like reasonable prices but I don't have a clue which models would be considered a good almost TAMA equivalent. Solid top, etc.

[Mongo]

Why would anyone want a guitar from a drum company?
I vote for the Esteban Deluxe Master.

[backer60]

Chuck,

Doesnt Dave G have a rare{r} Ibanez accoustic? An Andorra? 

[ChuckE99]

Well, SG asked for the holy grail. I would also like to hear recommendations on '70s Ibbie acoustics. Though I believe the probable recommendations would be the original Artwoods.

I had a 2846 dreadnought for a few weeks and really liked it. I often wish I had her back:

[BCy2k]

Right now this is the nicest Ibanez acoustic that I'm personally aware of that's actually for sale. 

It's merely coincidence I happen to be the seller - LOL.

It's not 70s era, but it IS an '81 series II Artwood and the only '70s Ibanez acoustic models that are truly better would be a series I Artwood from the late '70s. Good luck finding one of those. I'm still looking myself.

This AW-30 does have a solid top and I'll sell it for a very reasonable price too. PM if you're interested.

Tama's suck BTW. Don't waste your time with those.    They're not even Ibanez. How could they possibly be any good? 

[jeffsailor]

For those solid-top fans, the Artist 2608/9 series acoustics are fantastic (If you can find one).

I personally don't mind laminated tops. As such, I have a ton of late 70s Ibanez acoustics and by far the best (lam-top) that I have is a Floral Delux series Concord. I also have a Concord 762M that I am partial to and am actively looking for its 762J counterpart. A 954 would be nice too...

http://www.ibanez.co.jp/anniversary/expansion.php?cat_id=358&now=4
http://www.ibanez.co.jp/anniversary/expansion.php?cat_id=308&now=8
http://www.ibanez.co.jp/anniversary/expansion.php?cat_id=362&now=2
http://www.ibanez.co.jp/anniversary/expansion.php?cat_id=363&now=9

[BCy2k]

Okay, seriously.

If you're looking for a '70s era Ibanez acoustic that has a solid top your choices are:

V300S

V320S

981

983

These are it. It feels like I may have missed one or two models, but this is all I could find. Are they 'holy grail' material? Sure, as long as you disregard the '70s era Tamas and series I Artwoods. The latter not only have all solid tops, but all solid backs & sides as well. Arguably the best acoustics ever made that bore the Ibanez brand. They're REALLY REALLY hard to find and seldom sell for under $600 to $800. Typically, they can be much higher. IF you can even find one.

 - BC

EDIT: Yep - thanks Jeff. Those are the ones I missed: The Artist acoustics with the solid tops are winners too.

[sgjazz]

BC, this is very helpful. Everyone... thanks for the quick responses. Now I begin my search. I'll be sure to keep you all updated when I find one.

-Stu

Okay, seriously.

If you're looking for a '70s era Ibanez acoustic that has a solid top your choices are:

V300S

V320S

981

983

These are it. It feels like I may have missed one or two models, but this is all I could find. Are they 'holy grail' material? Sure, as long as you disregard the '70s era Tamas and series I Artwoods. The latter not only have all solid tops, but all solid backs & sides as well. Arguably the best acoustics ever made that bore the Ibanez brand. They're REALLY REALLY hard to find and seldom sell for under $600 to $800. Typically, they can be much higher. IF you can even find one.

 - BC

EDIT: Yep - thanks Jeff. Those are the ones I missed: The Artist acoustics with the solid tops are winners too.

[gemberbier]

Chuck,

Doesnt Dave G have a rare{r} Ibanez accoustic? An Andorra? 

Dave? An Andorra? That's a classical nylon string?
He never mentioned it...

I have two Andorras: one from 1976 and one from 1988.

And there is some other Chuck with a high end Andorra somewhere.


Ginger

[espiti]

Why would anyone want a guitar from a drum company?
I vote for the Esteban Deluxe Master.

Got to agree. Every time I see one of their TV ads, I GAS sooo much, it stinks something fierce.
I'm so glad they don't make drums too. That would really rattle me.

[chazmo]

The "grail" for me - as some of you know - is the Series I Artwoods, built in the late '70s after Tama was discontinued.  I bought an AW-75 12-string new in 1981 (I believe it was built in 1980).  Turns out, Dan Fogelberg had exactly the same guitar that he used on stage for a long time and sold along with most of his others in 2004 (not sure if he bought it new)...  His is one serial number different than mine -- clearly made at the same time in the Owari Asahi shop.  I've never seen another one in the states.  These things aren't exactly unobtainium, but they are extremely rare.  Rarer still are the AW-120, -160, and -200 6-strings that capped off the line.  There were something like 20 or so of each of these that were built.  Maybe total??  I don't know.

The series I is the AW-60 (hog, satin), -70 (hog, gloss), 100 (3-piece rosewood), and the jacaranda rosewood-120, -160, and -200.

Some day I hope to have them all.  They are wonderful instruments, and they represent the pinnacle of what the small, Japanese luthier shops were capable of building.  After Hoshino left the Owari Asahi shop, they kind of diluted the original "all wood all the time" concept that I really appreciate in the series I.

Just for a taste, look at the exquisite woodwork on the tail of my -120.  No plastic, fiber, or anything else here:

[dave_g]

Backer/Ginger....Nope,, not me the only Andorra's I have are Custom Agents......Im not really much of an acoustic guy, but I have a  Ragtime, a NW40 and a viner "vintage" Ibanez as well as a couple of Martins (a sweet Maple one), Suzuki, and a broken up Gibson "Heritage" from the '70's.......