Help with an Iceman pls

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Author Message   Nikki Username: Nikki Registered: 01-2006 Posted on Tuesday, January 31, 2006 - 12:31 am:    Hi! I bought an Iceman several years ago, and never questioned it's authenticity...until I found time to play it and really give a good look (events in my life around the time I got it were..uhh..more important...had a bad accident) I borrowed an Iceman back in High School from a friend, and I sorta looked for one like it over the years. Found this one, and figured I would buy it to soothe those old feelings of missing *my* first guitar. Anyway- I would really like to know if it is really an Iceman. Supposedly, it is a 1976. But, the serial number seems very wrong- L176380. The guitar itself has no sign of a serial number tho! It feels lighter than my Iceman II I have. And it is thinner- the '76 measures just shy of 1.5" thick. It is a glue-in neck. The person who had it painted it (or at least part of it) black; I know because it is cheap spray paint. Can still smeel it to this day. Underneath tho, it looks like reddish primer. The face seems to be regular, from the shop paint tho. Two volume, Two tone. The idiot who had it drilled a hole on the side for the jack! The original jack hole is still on the face. Trapezoidal inlays are identicle to Iceman inlays. Neck->Headstock rear has a volute (dont know if the old Iceman guitars had them). Inside the neck pick-up cavity, there is no sign of a tenon..once again, not sur eif the older ones had one for the glue-in/set neck versions. One odd thing- inside the neck pick-up cavity, neck side: there are two "things" that seem to be metal (unsure, will check if needed) "dowels" or something. Pencil size, at a slight downward angle, and they seem to be something to hold the neck? Maybe not- no idea. Never seen anything like them. It came with very old Ibanez hardware- the bridge and stop say Ibanez on the back, and the bridge is the same as Iceman guitars had (Gibralter), as well as the quick-change stop/tail piece. Binding on body, neck and headstock. Frets have nibs on them, unsure if it has been refretted tho. The fingerboard has had someone attempt to clean it with something abrasive; looks like osmeone attempted a fret polish as well (ugh). They also painted the lettering in the truss rod cover red. Yes, it is in dire need of a complete overhaul (stripped down the hardware today). It plays really well believe it or not! It had some unknown bridge pick-up, and a seynour in the neck; neither worked well. Might be because they rewired the guts (or tried to; there were even wire nuts instead of solder!). Sorry for the long post, and the absence of pictures. I am a paraplegic, and need help to take some pics. So, I figured I would post, and hope someone knows enough about older Iceman to help, and might suggest specific shots of specific parts of the guitar to take the pics of first.I have web hosting, and can place them there, in high res. Anyone have things too look for that might help identify my Sanford and Son special? And if it is even an Ibanez? Thx! nikki :D   Overdriver Username: Overdriver Registered: 12-2005 Posted on Tuesday, January 31, 2006 - 1:01 am:    It sounds like an Ibanez that has been well and truly messed with, but some of your descriptions seem to ring true. The neck pickup cavity description is similar to my Ibanez Artist's. To restore it will take some work. Parts can be found with some difficulty. A new wiring harness and new pickups seem indicated. That shouldn't cost too much though. There are a huge number of good reasonably priced pickups. Photos are essential for a definitive id though. Good Luck.   Skybone Username: Skybone Registered: 03-2001 Posted on Tuesday, January 31, 2006 - 3:39 am:    There's a few sites that you can check out that have info on Iceman models... http://vintageibanez.tripod.com/iceman.html http://216.250.245.172/vintagepage/iceman.html http://www.ibanezrules.com/catalogs/us/1978/index.htm Check out pages 22 - 24. Hope this helps in ID'ing your guitar...   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 02-2001 Posted on Tuesday, January 31, 2006 - 1:45 pm:    Nikki: Glad to have you with us! I hope we'll be able to help you figure out the mystery behind your Iceman. One thing you don't mention is whether it says Ibanez or Iceman on the truss rod cover. I'm curious how you know what the serial number is, if it's not on the guitar? If it were L763801 (or some other combination of numbers for the last four digits) then it would be correct. Having the "1" right after the "L" is not normal for an Ibanez. Is it possible you have the serial number wrong? There's a big difference between a '76 model 2663 (which would probably say Ibanez on the TRC) and a '78 IC400 (I believe it says Iceman on the TRC). I don't know what the specs were for the '77s, I think they closer to '78s.   Fox Username: Fox Registered: 02-2003 Posted on Tuesday, January 31, 2006 - 6:23 pm:    Nikki,hi and welcome.. I am no Iceman expert, so I leave the issue to better specialists..however, You wrote: "One odd thing- inside the neck pick-up cavity, neck side: there are two "things" that seem to be metal (unsure, will check if needed) "dowels" or something. Pencil size, at a slight downward angle, and they seem to be something to hold the neck? Maybe not- no idea. Never seen anything like them. " And yes, they are dowels, and reinforce the neck joint eg. in older "first variant" Artists, those with neck pickup quite near the neck & fretboard. So it could quite well be -76...check the serial number though..   Nikki Username: Nikki Registered: 01-2006 Posted on Wednesday, February 01, 2006 - 2:17 am:    Thx for the welcomes, and replies! :D Pics: http://www.nintheye.com/forsale/iceman/ (no- not for sale, just put it in the folder cause I am lazy :D ) Sorry some of the pics are a little blurry. Older camera, and I guess I have a tiny shake in the hands at times. Forgot to mention: Nut is the half n half (plastic? and brass). The truss nut is different than the '78->'8? Iceman. This made me wonder as well. You can also see in the pic where I have sanded a little here and there. Trying to figure the woods used, cause it definitely isnt mahogany. The neck appears to be a sandwich of sorts. The binding is similar/same as '78+, even in the lower neck pocket...which leads me to think it IS an Iceman, or someone who paid attention to detail. I also tried to get the paint on the face to show well; I see some midnight olive I believe...but it has been abused so much, it could simply be stained black that has faded, and I am imagining things. As you can see on the back of the headstock, no serial. I sanded down lightly, an extremely light touch, trying to discern even the slightest remnants of a serial imprint. I found none at any point during the little sanding I did (had to get thru the horrible black gloss spray paint someone used on this poor guy!). Inspected every inch now, and no sign of serial anywhere. The tailpiece looks different than the '78+ Iceman. Instead of angled slightly as the string passes, this one is straight across. But, it is an Ibanez mold they used! AFAIK, the '78->'8? set neck, 2 tone/2 volume models were the IC400 and IC200- right? And both mahogany? This one is either basswood or some other extremely light wood; without hardware, I would say 5-6 lbs? Serial number: I have no idea. The guy I bought it from shipped it in the original case (yes, an actual old school Iceman case!...albeit a bit beat up...ok, alot beat up...), and included a note that said it was serial number L176380, and was a 1976. I thought it was an odd number, and that "L763801" or other derivation beginning L76...would be appropriate. I could have sworn there was something about the earliest models NOT having serials tho...yes? Thx for those links! I had hit them all while trying to find info. Between them all, I had a general feeling it was an Ibanez Iceman, from '75-early '77. But, I would really like to know for sure so I can sleep better :D Like I said tho- even if it isnt an Ibanez, but some one off, wicked nice playing copy by some unknown luthier...well... :D (and yes- I do play D&D, as evidenced in a pic or two :D )   Flatbag Username: Flatbag Registered: 09-2004 Posted on Wednesday, February 01, 2006 - 3:06 am:    Just to clear a few points up; Tailpiece on my '78 IC400 is straight, not angled. But mine also has the sustain block, what models/years did Ibanez use blocks? TRC has "Ibanez" on my '78. Mine is also shy of 1.5" thick - except for the upper bout at the neck joint where it's just over 1.5" If you want to take this back to original, before you go about sanding and refinishing, check out my story on the following thread: http://www.ibanezcollectors.com/discus/messages/5751/7929.html?1098791021 Judging from the pictures, yours might not have any original paint left on it, but maybe worth a try.   Flatbag Username: Flatbag Registered: 09-2004 Posted on Wednesday, February 01, 2006 - 3:12 am:    Further to post above: Truss nut looks the same as mine, as does brass/bone nut.

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