1979 2619 or AR300

[bondscoll]

I just picked up a December 1979 2619 in really nice shape. I will upload some pics asap.

I am not sure which model it is. It has two trisound switches, flying fingers pickup covers and pearl tuners.

Everything I've read here says it should be a transition model AR300 but the flying finger pickups lead me to believe it's a 2619.

Rick

[holmis63]

Is it the "new" or the "old" headstock inlay? If it´s the old it´s a 2619 and if it´s the new it´s an AR300 i would say but others would say something else!

Maybe the super 80:s are enough to say it´s a 2619, it´s going to be the usual fight about this.

Holmis

[yogi]

Is it the "new" or the "old" headstock inlay? If it´s the old it´s a 2619 and if it´s the new it´s an AR300 i would say but others would say something else!

Something else! 

I had a 2618 made in February '79 that already had the new inlay. The introduction of the 'AR' model designations was around August 1979, so the style of the headstock inlay is unsuitable to differentiate both models.

Rick:
Since your guitar was made in December '79 it is a transitional AR300.

Juergen

[michaelkaufman]

We've had this discussion many times...

I agree w/ Yogi:  1979 = AR300.

Basically, same guitar, different name.

btw...nice score!

mk

[ChuckE99]

Headstock inlay determines model number!

(alluding to the Bud Lite "tastes great" "less filling" debate.)

But I will say that's what I'll believe, since it is a physical difference that is absolute (that is, the two inlays are different, period), not just a "Hoshino decided to switch the name" difference that cannot be nailed down. I like things to be nice and black and white.

 

[LaRue]

Yes, Post some picks! I want to see the neck heel,where the neck pickup is mounted and the pickup cover detail.
Sounds like a great score.

LaRue

[Mongo]

The three most characteristic differences are the headstock inlay, the body thickness and where the neck joins the body. The rest is hardware.

Have we had any transitional 2619's with thick bodies or deep inset necks? I would call them AR300's.
Forgive me since I'm asking out of ignorance. I expect there are a bazillion threads on this...

Have there ever been any where the body and/or neck position didn't both change together? I would think that the thicker body would go in hand with the new neck since they also had to reposition all of the hardware, etc...

I agree the inlay is pretty notable, but I would think the different body has more substance to mark as a cut over point. They could have changed the inlay at any time on a 2619 assembly line, but once they tool up for a new body, I think that they have moved on to a new model.

[bondscoll]

I got a few pics up.

Curious what the experts say.

Rick

[Mongo]

How thick is the body at the point where the neck strap button is?
The early 2619's would be 1 1/2"
The later AR300's would be 1 7/8"

The pics look more like a thinner body, but it's difficult to say for sure.
If it's 1 1/2", then I say it's a 2619 with the correct pups and the later AR300 headstock inlay.
If it's 1 7/8" then it's an AR300 with the 2619 pups and the correct headstock inlay.

Considering that the neck is set like the 2619 with a pretty smooth heel, I'm still thinking 2619.

Either way, you got yourself a great guitar!

[Mongo]

Ahh.. the ignorance of inexperience...

Well, my recent exposure to a 79 catalog in another thread has me rethinking my previous post on the determination of this guitar.

Ibanez definitely relabeled the 2619 in 1979 as the AR300. It still has the neck set like a 2619 (in the pic it looks like the thin body), it lists Super 80's (can't see, but I expect they are FF pups).

It has the later headstock inlay (kudo's to Chuck, it does taste great...).

This solves the mystery for me, definitely an AR300, but I expect this is old news for the veterans...

Here's a link to the full catalog in PDF: 1979 Ibanez Step Ahead

[bondscoll]

I knew I could count on you guys!

This is a great axe, I really dig it.

I need a case for it. Does anybody know of a modern case that will fit it?

Rick

[Mongo]

Rick,

Any chance you could measure the body at the neck strap button?

[bondscoll]

I measured 1 5/8" thick at the strap button on the horn of the body.

Rick

[Juha T]

I need a case for it. Does anybody know of a modern case that will fit it?

Rick

Ibanez AR-C case ?

[Mongo]

I measured 1 5/8" thick at the strap button on the horn of the body.

I'd say that's close enough to be a thin body.

Thanks