Anyone have info on the LS400?

[Thirst4Music]

I have an Ibanez LS400 acoustic with a built-in pickup but no controls of any kind, just an input jack.  Can anyone tell me more about this guitar?  I bought it used in the mid-1980s but have no idea how old it is or what it originally sold for.  I love the guitar; not only does it sound great unplugged, but I can also switch from a Strat to the LS400 without changing any settings on my Peavey combo amp's clean channel and get a beautiful sound.  I just wish it had a volume control, and I might have one added at some point.  It's no fun getting feedback during a gig and having to walk toward the amp to eliminate it!  But I hate making modifications to the wood of an acoustic, so I might just have to avoid band situations and use it as is.

Any info anyone can share will be greatly appreciated.  I can post a serial number later if that helps, but I don't have it with me at the moment as I didn't know this site existed until just now.  Thanks in advance to anyone who can shed any light on this guitar, as it doesn't seem to be mentioned here.

[Juha T]

"LS" refers to Lonestar Series, but there is not a LS400 in the catalogs which doesn't mean the model doesn't exist. Pictures and serial number would help to identify it.

http://www.ibanez.co.jp/anniversary/search.php?searchtype=model&keyword=LS&era=80

Juha

[dave_g]

I have an 85 LS-540, not in any og those cats either-though the 85 cat isnt posted...its a very goog guitar, and I'm not fond of 6x1 tuners cause I have fat fingers....

[chazmo]

We can tell you the date of manufacture if you give us the full serial number.  For a 1985 axe, it should be something like 85MMxxxxL where MM is possibly the month, and L is the letter code for the factory.

[dave_g]

The serial number is.......

85070355D

I cant find it anywhere in cats,,,it has a very cool "ebonized" board with the marker dots small in diameter and to one side....very flamey maple sides and back with black binding......the only downside to this guitar for me is the 6x1 tuners...

[Thirst4Music]

Oops...my mistake.  My Ibanez is actually an LS380, NOT a 400.  Sorry about that...shows how much I've been playing lately!  Thank you to all who replied.

[gemberbier]

LS380 was $355.- in 1984 (see ibanezrules.com > resources).
One of my hypotheses is that the D stands for the old Daion factory.

The LS400 was from 1988, but I don't have my Dutch pricelist present at the moment.
I guess it was something between hfl 695 and 895.
Lonestars were not cheap. They had solid tops.
I like the fact that their headstocks are like the electric RG and RT stuff.
Fender did this for quite a while with their acoustics too: strat headstocks.
It makes the brand recognizable from a distance.


Ginger

[chazmo]

The serial number is.......

85070355D

I cant find it anywhere in cats,,,it has a very cool "ebonized" board with the marker dots small in diameter and to one side....very flamey maple sides and back with black binding......the only downside to this guitar for me is the 6x1 tuners...

Dave, post up some pix...  Love to see this mystery lonestar.  Yah, didn't all the lonestars have the six tuners in a row?  I think the concept was narrow neck -- like an electric.  Anyway, I could understand why you don't like the tuner size.  Welcome to my 12-string world.

[dave_g]

OK Here goes

[dave_g]

and here too

[chazmo]

Typical, beautiful craftsmanship!  Ibanez really got the maple look down, didn't they!!  Gorgeous, Dave!!   How 'bout a shot of the top?  Is -AM for an amberburst?