| Author |
Message |
    
Lofapco
Username: Lofapco
Registered: 7-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 25, 2007 - 3:34 pm: | |
I just found out that a guitar I have had for about 10 years is an Ibanez Custom Agent. It has no serial number and features a set neck. Unfortunatly the small curl on the headstock was broken (been that way ever since I had it) but it has been very cool looking at the photos I have found on this site. I have always been an acoustic player, but something about this guitar speaks to me. It has been mostly a nice art piece in my music room ever since I had it. I am going to have it set up and start playing it soon. All of the parts appear to be original but the plug in for my guitar chord seems to have a scratching sound whenever I move as I am playing. Does anyone have an idea how to keep it original and get that fixed? Is it even important that I would replace that part. If I do, should I retain the old (original) part? Please help!!! I am just an acoustic guy who discovered he has a pretty cool guitar in his collection by accident. I have not seen any on Ebay since I found out what it is. Any idea how much a playable but semi beat up CA is worth now? |
Lofapco
Username: Lofapco
Registered: 7-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 25, 2007 - 3:50 pm: | |
I will take and post some photos of this guitar tonight when I get home from work. I still can't believe I got this from a guy for helping him move...sure better than a warm beer and a handshake!!!! |
Gemberbier
Username: Gemberbier
Registered: 5-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 25, 2007 - 4:24 pm: | |
Welcome Lofapco,
I'm looking forward to see your pictures.
The value depends on a lot of things:
1] is it a 2405CA or a 2675CA?
2] what colour is it?
3a] how is the condition?
3b] how much will it cost to restore it?
Our CA specialist Dave_G has restored a missing curl a while ago. He HAD to make a new curl. But if you have the original curl, you could fix it with some Titebond woodglue. Dave_G made pictures of the repair. Search for "curl".
Ginger |
Lofapco
Username: Lofapco
Registered: 7-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 25, 2007 - 4:36 pm: | |
Thanks Ginger...
It is a 2405CA in a LesPaul burst color, Red/Maple? The condition is somewhat rough, some body dings, two very small missing pieces in the neck inlay and of course the missing curl. I took it to a local guitar store in Minneapolis, MN today and had a guy who actually plays electric guitar play it through a nice amp. (I only have an acoustic amp for my Taylors). He said he plays Les Pauls all the time and he had never seen a CA before. He checked all the pickups, Vol and tone knobs and when he played it, He fell in love! He said it has great tone but likely needed to be set up, intonate the bridge? and maybe dress one of the frets but otherwise it worked great. It does need a new plug for my chord on the bottom as it has a scratching sound if you move while your playing but he figured a couple bucks for that piece. Said for $30.00 his guy could set it up next monday with new strings and it would play like a charm. I will check back after work when I put some pix up. |
Dave_g
Username: Dave_g
Registered: 1-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 25, 2007 - 5:02 pm: | |
Ginger....I chickened out on that repair and sent it to another ICW member in March........still waiting patiently for its return.. |
Dave_g
Username: Dave_g
Registered: 1-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 25, 2007 - 5:06 pm: | |
Lafapco....The CA's are very interesting guitars and are great players too !
$30 for a set up, strings, dressed fret and input jack cleaning seems reasonable to me.
Too bad about the scroll-its very common with these guitars. I was unable to correctly repair the broken scroll on one of mine, I sent it out to be repaired by another member of this forum sevral months ago, I have been assured that it will be returned soon. |
Lofapco
Username: Lofapco
Registered: 7-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 25, 2007 - 5:46 pm: | |
OK Let's see if this works. Here are the photos I promised.
 |
Jeffsailor
Username: Jeffsailor
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 25, 2007 - 9:19 pm: | |
wow. too bad about the scroll.
That finish is extremely rare.
js |
Dave_g
Username: Dave_g
Registered: 1-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 25, 2007 - 9:32 pm: | |
Lofapco...Well well well what do we have here.....
This is a very special guitar indeed !
The positives:
Pre serialnumber "URN" headstock logo
Rarest of Rare color ! (AV is the most common, followed by Black, Burgundy, and Cherry-the Cherry burst is a very rare color-I have only seen one in the last 5 or so years on EBay)
The Negatives:
Broken Scroll
Replaced Pups or missing Logo Covers
Missing Pickguard
Loose/missing neck inlays-lots of wear on the fretboard.
The guitar overall looks to be in good enough condition for an interested party to invest in a restoration. This is an early example-note that there is not a belly cutout.
The scroll is the biggest challenge. I'm pretty handy with most guitar repairs but I chickened out on a scroll repair on a BLACK CA-this repair , although similar, will be even harder due to the color matching.
Beyond that , the electronic fixes-especially the noises you hear when you move are an easy fix. First and foremost make sure that its not your cord ! Then just look at the inputjack..I bet is corroded or just dusty...clean it up and make sure its not touching anything metal inside the control cavity. This alone should eliminate the noise.
The other cosmetic fixes are easy, but you have to find the parts. You should expect to pay:
Logo Pup Covers................upwards to $100 if you can find them
Logo pickguard.................upwards to $100 almost impossible to find
As I wrote before this is a collectible guitar in an extremely rare color. If it was in VG condition with no "issues" it could fetch upwards of $1500 on EBAy (thats what the Burg ones were going for).
In its present condition it is worth considerably less, but might spark some interested for a restoration since the body & neck look to be in great condition.
I'll throw down the gauntlet now and state that I would be very interested in purchasing this guitar...contact me via email if your interested
Otherwize good luck with the restoration, count on me for any help I can provide.. |
Lofapco
Username: Lofapco
Registered: 7-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 25, 2007 - 9:59 pm: | |
Wow...
I am simply amazed! I am a real estate appraiser that for the last 23 years has been keeping a lookout on every appraisal for that "special" old acoustic guitar hidden in a closet or attic area. I never expected that for over the last 10 years this baby has been sitting right under my nose. I must admit, until I started reading this forum a couple days ago, I would have looked down on Ibanez based on most of the newer acoustic guitars I have seen. I just assumed this was a cheap Les Paul copy. Like I said above, the guy who gave it to me for helping him move had said he had loaned it to a friend years prior and had only got it back recently in this shape. He was not playing anymore and offered it to me for helping. Being a guitar player, how could I say no. On the other hand, I never play electric guitar, I am mostly a fingerstyle player on acoustic. I have just enjoyed looking at the inlay and having it sit on a stand in my living room.
To be truly honest, I don't see myself picking up rocking leads at my age. I am most interested in getting a new Taylor T5 acoustic/electric thin line. I was hoping that maybe if I cleaned this up and put it on the bay, I could get enough to cover a decent electric amp. I have been trying to sell my limited edition Taylor 12 string 454CE (cutaway with the expression system pickups). It is only 1 of 7 that Taylor made in 2003. It is special because of the rosewood back/sides and sitka top. I figured I could trade even or get enough to pay for the T5. While the T5 and my 454CE are very similar in list price, 12 strings take a certain type of buyer and I haven't found the right one yet. Maybe I should think about selling this baby to help finance the T5???? (I know they are getting anywhere from $1300-2200.00 on ebay for a quality used or new T5. Koa tops seem to get the highest prices while the standard models sell for slightly more than $1300.00.)
Dave g. Would you like to send me an email message with an offer??????? <grin> (I don't seem to be able to stop grinning since getting this information!) On the matter of the Pups, the guy at a local guitar store in Minneapolis played it today and said he was amazed at how playable it was after sitting for probably the last 10-20 years with little or no playing. I assume the pups are original but just missing the covers. |
Lofapco
Username: Lofapco
Registered: 7-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 25, 2007 - 10:00 pm: | |
By the way Dave... What is a "belly cutout"? |
Johns
Username: Johns
Registered: 2-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 25, 2007 - 11:04 pm: | |
Uh oh, I smell a deal.  |
Strings
Username: Strings
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 25, 2007 - 11:20 pm: | |
Dave, I could give it the once-over for you if he doesn't live in Edina...I'm not allowed in Edina...
; |
Lofapco
Username: Lofapco
Registered: 7-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 25, 2007 - 11:37 pm: | |
Strings... Are you local? I live in Brooklyn Park just northwest of Minneapolis. I am likely not allowed in Edina either, my kids play hockey and lacrosse against them all the time and I may have said a nasty thing or two about them! <grin>
E D I N A - Every Day I Need Attention!
I will email you my phone number and if you want to take a peek, let me know. |
Dave_g
Username: Dave_g
Registered: 1-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 25, 2007 - 11:57 pm: | |
Paul..The "belly cutout" refers to exactly what it sounds like...namely a scooping of the edge of the guitar between the upper and lower bout (on the back) which makes a little more room for your gut when your playing. Ibanez added this feature sometime in '76 I think.... |
Lofapco
Username: Lofapco
Registered: 7-2007
| | Posted on Saturday, July 28, 2007 - 11:45 am: | |
Strings is going to take a look at it on Monday I think when he get's back to town. He said he would do a setup on it, new strings etc. I am looking forward to hearing a real electric guitar guy play it to see what it sounds like. The kid in the music store that played it just ran some scales and stuff. I want to hear what a real screaming lead sounds like on it. I'll keep you all posted. |
Dave_g
Username: Dave_g
Registered: 1-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, July 28, 2007 - 1:05 pm: | |
Paul...Check your email |
Lofapco
Username: Lofapco
Registered: 7-2007
| | Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 12:35 pm: | |
Dave g...
Check your email... |
Lofapco
Username: Lofapco
Registered: 7-2007
| | Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 12:36 pm: | |
Strings....
Are you back in town yet? |
Lofapco
Username: Lofapco
Registered: 7-2007
| | Posted on Thursday, August 02, 2007 - 3:07 pm: | |
Dave_g... Just met "Strings" at his office over lunch and he played the CA. Real nice guy! I enjoyed hearing what the guitar really sounds like on an electric amp. (My Crate Acoustic amp never sounded like that!) I think you are going to enjoy this once it is restored.
Thanks for helping Strings!
Paul |