Author |
Message |
Strings
Username: Strings
Registered: 01-2005
| Posted on Wednesday, September 28, 2005 - 12:53 pm: | |
http://cgi.ebay.com/Ibanez-Musician-w-Active-EQ-Not-Artist-Professional_W0QQitem Z7354002190QQcategoryZ33043QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem |
Brentm
Username: Brentm
Registered: 03-2005
| Posted on Wednesday, September 28, 2005 - 1:11 pm: | |
http://www.qksrv.net/click-1802666-10381315?loc=http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI .dll%3FViewItem%26item%3D7354002190 Looks like an MC500 - not a 400. Great fiddle, seems a bit on the high end of price, but if you're hungry. |
Jeffm725
Username: Jeffm725
Registered: 06-2005
| Posted on Wednesday, September 28, 2005 - 1:25 pm: | |
yeah, that is one serious @$$ guitar, the guy in the classifieds looking for the '82 350 or 550 would in the end be happier with this one IMHO. Not to take away from the 81 and 82 MC's but I just really like the 78 and 79's better. Although I am strictly speaking about the top end one's. The MC500's. The lower 78 and 79 MC's like the 200 and 300 do not get me in the same way.In that area I DO prefer the MC350's. The neck layer laminations are worlds apart when you compare say a MC 200 or 300 to a MC 500. not to mention the carved top and EQ system on the 500's.550's are real nice and I wouldnt kick one out of my collection ;-) but the 78 and 79 MC500's to me represent the best of the line. |
Brentm
Username: Brentm
Registered: 03-2005
| Posted on Wednesday, September 28, 2005 - 1:32 pm: | |
Here's another sweet one. http://www.qksrv.net/click-1802666-10381315?loc=http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI .dll%3FViewItem%26item%3D7353511499 |
Bobzilla
Username: Bobzilla
Registered: 02-2005
| Posted on Wednesday, September 28, 2005 - 1:34 pm: | |
How can you tell it's a 500, I think the diff between 500 and 400 are the arched top. 500 = arched top. 400 = flat top. From the photos, it's hard to tell. I got my mc500nt for $900. This guy wants a little more than that for this (400?) Either way, I do own the mc500nt 1978 and... I can tell you, even if it is a 400... it's worth the $1000. When my local shop saw the mc500nt, first thing he said was... "It would cost you about $3500-$4000 these days if you wanted to have one of this built for you." Two of his customers tried to buy the mc500nt off me right there in the store (which was a bit of an uncomfortable situation) but... in any event.... I'd recommend this guitar to anyone and I'd take it myself if I didn't already own one. |
Brentm
Username: Brentm
Registered: 03-2005
| Posted on Wednesday, September 28, 2005 - 1:37 pm: | |
Bob, the difference is the pick up covers. My MC400 has covers over the pickups. Here's a link to my MC400 - take a look at the p/ups |
Brentm
Username: Brentm
Registered: 03-2005
| Posted on Wednesday, September 28, 2005 - 1:38 pm: | |
And the link.... http://www.ibanezcollectors.com/discus/messages/12/10576.html?1117118575 Yeah, I think these guitars are highly undervalued. But, me, being the bargain hunter that I am, always looking for the killer deal.. At least my Ibanez MC needs are satisfied. |
Bobzilla
Username: Bobzilla
Registered: 02-2005
| Posted on Wednesday, September 28, 2005 - 1:39 pm: | |
Brent, maybe the pup covers too, but the arched top is the difference too. and... there's no link showing. |
Brentm
Username: Brentm
Registered: 03-2005
| Posted on Wednesday, September 28, 2005 - 1:42 pm: | |
It's above your message
|
Bobzilla
Username: Bobzilla
Registered: 02-2005
| Posted on Wednesday, September 28, 2005 - 2:00 pm: | |
yep, saw the link, saw the 400. saw the pup cover difference. Still, I think 400 = flat top, 500 = arched top. |
Brentm
Username: Brentm
Registered: 03-2005
| Posted on Wednesday, September 28, 2005 - 2:24 pm: | |
Yep you are correct. And it is difficult to tell in the pictures, which is why I used the pickups as reference |
Bobzilla
Username: Bobzilla
Registered: 02-2005
| Posted on Wednesday, September 28, 2005 - 2:29 pm: | |
seller contacted me.... flat top and... it's a 400. But, a tasty one for sure. Whoever gets it has themselves a nice axe. Brent, you got the most amazing deal on yours. |
Brentm
Username: Brentm
Registered: 03-2005
| Posted on Wednesday, September 28, 2005 - 2:35 pm: | |
Yeah I feel like I got a sweet deal, thanks! Just to prove myself wrong, here's a link to an MC 400 w/o the pup covers. http://www.ibanezregister.com/images/images-musician/mc400/mc400nt-1978.jpg |
Yogi
Username: Yogi
Registered: 04-2003
| Posted on Wednesday, September 28, 2005 - 5:33 pm: | |
Guys, the main differences between the MC400 and the MC500 are the top and the body construction. As already mentioned above, the MC400 has a flat top while the MC500 has an arched top. The body of the MC400 was made of ash with a mahogany core, the MC500/MC550 has a maple core. So if you have a pic of the back or the sides of the body, you can easily identify the models. The pickups with the covered pole pieces were commonly used on the early Musicians, so they can't be used for the model identification. Juergen |
Bobzilla
Username: Bobzilla
Registered: 02-2005
| Posted on Wednesday, September 28, 2005 - 5:40 pm: | |
Does anyone out there own an mc500 and an ar500? If so... can you compare the two for me as far as sound, playability etc. Thanx. I've never played an ar500 and I want one, but I am curious about the comparison. |
Michaelkaufman
Username: Michaelkaufman
Registered: 11-2002
| Posted on Wednesday, September 28, 2005 - 6:20 pm: | |
AR-500 has Super 58's. MC-500 has Super 88's. That's all I can tell you. |
Snowjays
Username: Snowjays
Registered: 09-2004
| Posted on Wednesday, September 28, 2005 - 7:38 pm: | |
Fellas, by comparison the ar500 and mc500 have two completely different sounds. The ar500 certainly has a lot more variation with the controls and higher output from the pups. The mc500 has a more mellow tone to it, probably because of the 24frets, the pups are closer together. The Artist 2700 sounds similar to an mc500 but certainly more playable with easier access to the top of the neck, sustain that goes on for weeks. |
Bobzilla
Username: Bobzilla
Registered: 02-2005
| Posted on Wednesday, September 28, 2005 - 7:47 pm: | |
Thanx Snow. |
Bobzilla
Username: Bobzilla
Registered: 02-2005
| Posted on Wednesday, September 28, 2005 - 7:49 pm: | |
P.S. - Snow... what's the diff with the controls on ar500 and mc500? Looks like the same set up as far as the controls on both guitars. Mc500 has the splitters, the EQ and 3 seperate tone controls, plus the sustain block. |
Snowjays
Username: Snowjays
Registered: 09-2004
| Posted on Wednesday, September 28, 2005 - 8:26 pm: | |
Individual contrls for the pups as well as the master for the preamp. Allows more variation for distortion,especially in preamp mode. |
Brentm
Username: Brentm
Registered: 03-2005
| Posted on Wednesday, September 28, 2005 - 8:27 pm: | |
Yogi - good info! |
Boymambo
Username: Boymambo
Registered: 05-2005
| Posted on Thursday, September 29, 2005 - 8:13 am: | |
The Ar500 controls are: Pickup Volume Pickup Tone EQ vs NonEQ Master Volume (centre notched) Treble EQ Mid EQ Bass EQ EQ on Led EQ On Off switch Rhythm pickup full/split/phase reversal Treble pickup full/split/phase reversal
|
Strings
Username: Strings
Registered: 01-2005
| Posted on Thursday, September 29, 2005 - 10:23 am: | |
During '78 - '80 (first AR500) had Super 80s, Smooth Heel I (leftover 2622), longer by 1.3", out-of-phase v. parallel for one of its tri-sound modes. AR500 post '80 are much more similar to the profile of a LP. |
Creekhed
Username: Creekhed
Registered: 09-2005
| Posted on Thursday, September 29, 2005 - 10:26 am: | |
I like the '82's better....mainly beacuse of the SUPER 58 PUP's and the carved tops. They are much more rare also. |
Snowjays
Username: Snowjays
Registered: 09-2004
| Posted on Thursday, September 29, 2005 - 5:37 pm: | |
Anyone ever tried an MC550? I would certainly be interested to see how they compare to an AR500. |
Creekhed
Username: Creekhed
Registered: 09-2005
| Posted on Thursday, September 29, 2005 - 8:12 pm: | |
ya...I try one constantly!!!hahaahaaa. Actually my current (main) axe is a 1982 MC550WS. Ive had an 82 Artist, 2 78 musicians...a 79 MC400 (active), 2 82 150's (a DS and a red one) and the 550 is simply WAYYYYYYYYY better sounding, playing and more versitile than any other MC guitar I have ever played. I'd post a pic of it if I could finger out how;-) |
Agr
Username: Agr
Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Thursday, September 29, 2005 - 8:21 pm: | |
I have a MC550 ('82) and a MC500 ('79). When it comes to sound...I like the 550 for distorted music and the 500 for clean. When it comes to playability and build quality...the 500 wins hands down. |
Creekhed
Username: Creekhed
Registered: 09-2005
| Posted on Friday, September 30, 2005 - 7:46 am: | |
If you ever Wanna sell the 550, please keep me in mind. creekhed@hotmail.com |
Creekhed
Username: Creekhed
Registered: 09-2005
| Posted on Friday, September 30, 2005 - 8:18 am: | |
Here's a pic of my 550...the previous owner replaced the ibanez bridge(UGH!!!) with a different one and filled in the holes. ...so I'm still lookin for an original. |
Jeffm725
Username: Jeffm725
Registered: 06-2005
| Posted on Friday, September 30, 2005 - 9:29 am: | |
AGR, BANG! you crystalized my thoughts perfectly. Those 78 and 79 500's are really fantastic. It is the Maple core and carved top and extra neck laminations that the lower models dont have that make all the diffence in the world. My 79 MC 500 is a 9 Piece neck with just a beautiful slab of maple in the center. Yum! |
Jeffm725
Username: Jeffm725
Registered: 06-2005
| Posted on Friday, September 30, 2005 - 9:44 am: | |
Here from the back of the guitar you cvan see the nice maple sticking out of the belly rest carve: here you can count the layers of the neck from left 2 right. I count 9:
|
Bobzilla
Username: Bobzilla
Registered: 02-2005
| Posted on Friday, September 30, 2005 - 9:55 am: | |
I think that's 7, not 9 pieces of wood in that neck. I have a '78 mc500nt and it's 7. |
Jeffm725
Username: Jeffm725
Registered: 06-2005
| Posted on Friday, September 30, 2005 - 12:02 pm: | |
by the time that the neck tapers out it is 7, but the whole piece starts as 9 as evidenced by the headsock layers. So in essence it starts as 9 and tapers to 7. I was always taught to count by the layers in the headstock, but it really is no big deal or difference. I believe the 550's were 9 through the neck but 11! in the headstock |
Bobzilla
Username: Bobzilla
Registered: 02-2005
| Posted on Saturday, October 01, 2005 - 10:30 am: | |
Every time I see a guy with zero feedback, who actually just joined ebay on the same day that he starts bidding on a guitar, I think it's a shill. So... look at the bids on this guitar now. My bet is.... it is being shilled up. |
Roadartstar
Username: Roadartstar
Registered: 08-2004
| Posted on Saturday, October 01, 2005 - 11:11 am: | |
yes i believe that is whats happening to, the shiller joined sept 30th nice axe though, thats what my minty mc500nt cost 1000 after a bidding war a couple of months ago, this one doesnt have the carved top though however it is in nice condition and the best speciman on ebay in a while. That fancy studio while nice is not worth 4000 dollars nor will it ever be worth that (Not even neck through and not the only one) im glad you didnt dump your ar1200 and mc500 for it, you would be kicking yourself espcially of you did it and then found out there are more than one after the fact. you could get 4 mc500's for that! good luck with the songs on the radio zilla |
Bobzilla
Username: Bobzilla
Registered: 02-2005
| Posted on Saturday, October 01, 2005 - 12:10 pm: | |
Thanx Road.......... and........ the guy who's selling this guitar could be making a mistake by shilling it up because, the guitar would have sold anyway. He may push it too far and win his own guitar. I say that because of the amount of bids he's placed on it. (If he actually is the one bidding it up.) Now.... if this mc400 sells for $1000, does that bode well for the value of our mc500's? I hope so. |
Jdd
Username: Jdd
Registered: 11-2004
| Posted on Saturday, October 01, 2005 - 12:51 pm: | |
I've had an affinity for MC's for a number of years and I've come across all variations here and there. I've owned 2 550s and 1 400NT in my day. Currently all I have are my two beloved 550's -- one was the transitional model from '79 and the other is a dead on '82. Aside from construction, the main layout difference between the 4 and 5 are the control options. There are three large rotary pots: Volume/Tone/Gain along with the 3 band EQ and the two minitoggles: Hum/Split/Out of phase split (for ea. pickup) MC's are still priced relatively low and if your looking for a neck through guitar (or if your back can afford the luxury!) it's quite possibly one of the best deals out there. However, the 550's are notorious for drawing in higher values simply because of their scarcity. I have seen all but maybe 3 if not 4 genuine 550's pop up via Ebay/Classifieds/etc. in the past couple of years. Gotta love those axes, though. They are great. |
Strings
Username: Strings
Registered: 01-2005
| Posted on Monday, October 03, 2005 - 9:44 am: | |
Creekhed - Na, the AR500 from the 80's are much more plentiful than the original, smooth heel runs. 1.5 years v. 4 years. just fyi |
Strings
Username: Strings
Registered: 01-2005
| Posted on Monday, October 03, 2005 - 10:00 am: | |
Creekhed - That's a humble opinion you exude there...but I'd put an AR500 (in the hands of someone who knows how to handle her) up against the same player with an MC any day - no offense Jeff, Bob, John and etc. Good thing there's chocolate and vanilla. It really depends on what and how you play. Just my HO! |
Bobzilla
Username: Bobzilla
Registered: 02-2005
| Posted on Monday, October 03, 2005 - 10:40 am: | |
Strings, no need to say sorry to me.. I did not indicate any preference, I was just asking for a comparison of the 2 guitars. |
Johnsocal
Username: Johnsocal
Registered: 03-2006
| Posted on Monday, March 06, 2006 - 8:09 pm: | |
I had a prestine MC500 stolen from an open garage (my ex-wife left it open!) way back in 1981 in Pleasant Hill CA Has anyone seen it!?? LOL Would love to get anohter one in good condition, any out there?? |
Brentm
Username: Brentm
Registered: 03-2005
| Posted on Monday, March 06, 2006 - 10:30 pm: | |
Johnsocal - do you have a serial number? John - what do you think about a stolen Ibanez guitar registry to accompany the counterfeit page? Maybe off-to-the-side, so as not to detract from the fun... but as a resource. -Brent |
Bobzilla
Username: Bobzilla
Registered: 02-2005
| Posted on Tuesday, March 07, 2006 - 11:44 am: | |
I hope it's not mine! I bought mine in NJ last yr. though. Not from a shop. Off Ebay. |