George Benson GB5 and GB30

[Harold Wherry (Blues)]

Guys,
 
I am attempting to post a picture of my 1978 Ibanez FA800BS.  
The FA800BS has the Solid Carved Spruce Top!



HAROLD

[jerryneves]

 SWEET

[Mark Munchenberg (Munch)]

 Harold,

Congrats on a very lovely guitar. That guitar is the epitome of everything Ibanez stands for.

regards,

Mark

[Blues (Blues)]

1978 IBANEZ FA800NT

Here is a nice one for the record!




Almost on playing ware!





BLUES

[Blues (Blues)]

CONTINUED!



Clean & clear lows and highs!





BLUES

[Blues (Blues)]

CCONTINUED!




VINTAGE DEARMOND PICKUP!





BLUES

[Ibanezfreak1960 (Ibanezfr]

 Sweet deal on both of these!

[michaelkaufman]

Harold:

I'm resurrecting an oldie...

1)  You mention that in 2004 you added a GB pickup to one of your guitars.  Did you have an extra vintage pickup or did you purchase a new one?  I'm wondering how the new GB pickups compare vs. 1978 pickups.  Not that I want to replace them, however, when the pickguard gassed, it affected the pickups covers (I guess replacing or replating the covers is an option...).  Just wondering how the new pickups compare.

2) Does anyone know where to get a replacement pickguard for a '78 GB10?  The new ones aren't exactly the same and the screw holes don't line up perfectly.

tnx,
mk

[Ibaneezer_Scrooge]

Michael,

I certainly appreciate you're bringing up the differences between the older GB10 and newer GB10 models.

I was always (wrongly) under the impression that there were good years and bad years, but the blueprint for the GB10 guitar was the same...period.

Looks like another thing to watch out for, when shopping for these.

Good luck with your quest in finding replacement parts.

I have been down that road before with other guitars...and frankly, it drove me crazy 

[michaelkaufman]

Scrooge:

"the blueprint for the GB10 guitar was the same..."

My understanding is that the GB10 size was actually changed (made 1/2" deeper).  Now sure when this happened or if other changes were made?  We also know that the number of frets went from 21 to 22.  Not sure if the size/fret changes happened simultaneously (anyone??).

mk

[michaelkaufman]

Maybe this should be moved to a 'GB10' topic...

mk

[blues]

Michael,

I also had problems with pickguard gasing.

In the 1990's I was able to purchase a few guitar parts that once belonged to "George Benson."  George had cleaned-out one of his storage lockers and he had his tech list the parts on the net.
This was in the pre-eBay days

I was able to get:
one GB Tailpiece
one GB10 pickguard
Several GB Super 70 pickups
one Modified 2461 pickguard with bridge pickup
and a few other misc. parts all at a very reasonable price.

I do not know how the newer GB Super 70s sound.

You might look into having the pickups replated.

BLUES


 

[callistabb]

Michael,

I purchased a 1977 GB20, no 30, earlier this year. To my surprise, I found it equipped with a super 70 mini humbucker. I think it was the original, as was everything else on the guitar. The pickup gave a much smaller, thinner sound compared my other 1979 GB20, which has a GB mini humbucker.

Fortunately I had bought a new neck position GB mini humbucker a couple of years ago, so I replaced the super 70. Comparing the two GB20s now, I can't hear any difference in sound between the old and new GB pickups. The super 70 meassures half of the resistance of a GB pickup, around 6K compared to 12K.. or 13K for a normal GB. I suspect that one of the coils is not wired up correctly in the super 70. Haven't opened it up for a check, yet....

Then I wanted to add tone controls two my two fatGBs. Didn't want to modify the original guards so I ordered two new ones from http://www.pickguardian.com. Pickguardian did a really excellent job! I used a 5-ply binding solid 1/8" tortoise material and it resembles the original perfectly. Had to pay around 200 US$ each.

On another reply: To my knowledge, the GB10 has always had the same depth, the ½ inch deeper ones have different model numbers, GB12, GB100, GBY2K, GB15 and now the GB30th.

[michaelkaufman]

Thanks guys.

Please clarify something regarding the pickups:

From the '78 catalog:

"The two floating pickups are special design Ibanez George Benson humbuckings specially chosen for this task."

So, did the '78 GB10 GB have "GB mini humbuckers" or mini Super 70's (or are they the same)?

mk

[Chazzy]

Harold and Blues,

Your KILLING me with these pics! Both these guitars (2471NT & FA800NT) are my "HOLY GRAILS"! Nice touch with the Dearmond pickup on the FA800NT. It just doesn't get any better than a carved solid spruce top!

Chazzy