Ibanez Artist 1977

[Buk]

Regards!
I just buy "new" guitar Ibanez Artist 1977,
I cant find any information about that guitar on the net, it looks like half of 2640 model.
Does anybody know something about it?

www.dudlashi.com

[ChuckE99]

Hi, Buk. We need to see a lot more pictures on this one and also the serial number. At first glance, it looks like a heavily modified model 2618, but it has a 22-fret neck, whereas the 2618 would had a 24-fret neck. Can you provide pictures front/back, including headstock front/back? And also, if you have any pictures of the pickups pulled from the guitar so we can see the routings for the pickup cavities, and the backs of the pickups. Also also, a picture of the control cavity from the back of the guitar, with the cover removed so we can see how things are soldered together in there?

This is an interesting one, for sure.

[dave_g]

Looks like a heavily modded AR200-you sure of the date ? The AR200 would have been more of a '79......

The tail is obviously correct for a '76 or so, but there was NO dot neck 22 fret guitar in 1976...


This is courious indeed

[Buk]

Serial number is E775119
More pictures...

[ChuckE99]

Zooming on the full shot, it has the "26xx" style headstock inlay and the mushroom-button tuners you'd expect on a pre-1978 Artist (but no spaghetti logo), plus the tail and bridge are right for the earlier version. Even if the pickups and controls are a mod, there's this 22-fret neck we need to deal with.

Also, if the changes are mods, they are very well done in terms of alignment. This is one you just wish you had in your hands so you could give it a full autopsy.

[dave_g]

Chuck...How did you miss the odd shaped cover for the selector switch ?  This just might be a prototye of some sort made using leftover parts-which would explain the inconsistencies.......I really dig the HS logo-it looks brand new !

[Buk]

Guy from Germany sad to me that the guitar is prototype of Ibanez Artist made in 1977?

[dave_g]

We will need to see more picts of the innards etc to determine if it is indeed a prototype.  Parts on the guitar are EARLIER than 1977-one would think a prototype would use the latest parts...Im thinking more of a custom made for an employee type build...

[Buk]

I cant make pictures of innards right now, but the guitar is orginal not modded thats for sure...

[ChuckE99]

What's the serial?

You have to understand, we're not saying for sure it's been modded, but we've never seen a 2618 either with 22 frets (instead of 24) or with five knobs, or two pickup switches, or with the extra single-coil pickup next to the bridge pickup. And, we've seen A LOT of these guitars.

We're as interested as you are in determining just where this guitar came from.

[BCy2k]

This one is very cool! One piece cloud, harmonica bridge, 5 knobs?

There's a story behind this one. I think it's some kind of custom one off somebody wanted made. Sorta' like what Dave is thinking.

Awesome guitar Buk.

[Buk]

What's the serial?

You have to understand, we're not saying for sure it's been modded, but we've never seen a 2618 either with 22 frets (instead of 24) or with five knobs, or two pickup switches, or with the extra single-coil pickup next to the bridge pickup. And, we've seen A LOT of these guitars.

We're as interested as you are in determining just where this guitar came from.

Serial is E775119

[ChuckE99]

Haven't we seen that bridge pickup somewhere before? (Not that exact one, but the same model, if on a different guitar?)

Buk, can you tell us what each knob and switch does?

[ChuckE99]

Haven't we seen that bridge pickup somewhere before? (Not that exact one, but the same model, if on a different guitar?)

Bingo Bingo Bingo Bingo!

I hereby pronouce this guitar to be original (and amazingly rare, to boot). The serial on the one from the old thread was E775118. THAT'S JUST ONE AWAY FROM BUK'S GUITAR. These were made on the same day.

http://www.ibanezcollectors.com/forum/vintage-and-custom-electrics-and401970s-onlyand41/an-unusual-pickup-configuration-on-an-artist/msg1207/#msg1207

Images from the 2004 thread copied in below for context:

[dave_g]

Anyone else notice that the serial number on this one indicates that is was made side by side with the one from 2004.......WOW a new model ........2620 ?