Artist 2619 (AR300) - The most beuati...

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Author Message   B5erik Username: B5erik Registered: 02-2006 Posted on Saturday, February 25, 2006 - 10:30 am:    Now, this is simply my opinion, and I am the new guy around here, but I think that the Artist 2619 is the most beuatiful guitar ever made. The guitar is made with such nice detail - the mother of pearl/abalone block inlay, the first class binding, the engraved pickup covers, the look of the wood - they are just gorgeous! And do I have one? No. But I am now looking. I actually had an Artist, I believe it was a 2622 (feel free to correct me if I'm describing a different model) - it was just like the 2619, only it had the active EQ. I wasn't thrilled at the time (back around 1993 or so) with how it sounded, so I ended up selling it. There may have been something wrong with it - it sounded very thin, and the active EQ didn't do much for me. If I had to do it over again, I would keep it anyway, but at the time I was looking for the a guitar with looks and a big fat tone. As I noted in my "Wanted" post on the classified section, I actually had the opportunity to buy a 2619 back in 1994 - and it was only $350! (Very good condition, too!) I didn't have the cash, and I had been running up a bit of a tab on my credit card, so I held off. Big mistake. The guitar sold within a day or three because the next time I went to the guitar shop (a week later) it had already been sold. I've been kicking myself ever since. (12 years is a long time to kick yourself for a blunder like that, believe me...) I'm checking ebay (after missing out on the one last Sunday, and the one that ended Thursday was sold by a guy with only 1 piece of feedback - and that was for a purchase that he made, so it seemed just flaky enough that it made me leery of bidding), I've checked Craigslist, I'm going to check the local guitar shops and pawn shops - but any help that you can provide would be greatly appreciated. More on topic, though - I honestly think that the 2619/AR300 is one of the most beuatiful guitars ever, if not THE most beautiful. I love them, and it looks like a lot of you do as well. Ibanez sure got that model right. Are any years significantly better (workmanship, tone, playability, etc) than any others? I know with Gibson they've suffered from inconsistent workmanship over the years (decades), and the more recent Artists didn't seem to be as well made as the 70's and early 80's models.   Overdriver Username: Overdriver Registered: 12-2005 Posted on Saturday, February 25, 2006 - 2:50 pm:    B5erik writes....'the more recent Artists didn't seem to be as well made as the 70's and early 80's models.' I'm not an expert at this but I think this more or less sums it up. The first series of Artists ('76ish to early '80s) were made in Japan when Ibanez were very serious about making a guitar that could hold its own against Gibson etc. Later, when the Jems etc. and some signature models took off, it made the the Artist less important in the big scheme of things and when they reissued the Artist (with the exception, perhaps, of the Artist Prestige) their production was shifted to Korea as far as I know. I'm sure some of the experts on here will give a more accurate account of how things transpired. Needless to say, guitars from the classic period of Artist production are quite sought after and are going up in price and finally being appreciated for the wonderful guitars they are.....I have three of them....2618,2619 and AR100.   Skybone Username: Skybone Registered: 03-2001 Posted on Saturday, February 25, 2006 - 11:05 pm:    Damn fine looking and sounding guitars IMO. Like Overdriver, I prefer the late 70's models over the 80's models personally, but the recent reissues I have seen look pretty good too. Good luck in finding the right Artist for you... It's out there somewhere waiting to be found...   Strings Username: Strings Registered: 01-2005 Posted on Sunday, February 26, 2006 - 8:02 pm:    B5, Just FYI, as the 2619 and the original AR300 seem to be spoken of as synonymous in this thread, other than having a similar shadow, those two axes couldn't balance, sound and feel more different. As far as your ex 2622, that sound, if it was working properly, is much closer to the 2619 and indeed does have more emphasis on colorful mids and highs...some call it brittle...I wouldn't. Your 2622 also has basically the same body thickness, neck profile, neck joint, overall length and finish as the 2619. I just did not want you to assume that the AR300 and 2619 were essentially the same guitar. And, oh yeah, they are incredible!!   Strings Username: Strings Registered: 01-2005 Posted on Sunday, February 26, 2006 - 8:55 pm:    oops, I forgot that Ibanez changed the naming convention one year prior to actually changing the guitar...the transition year 1979...I don't see many of those floating around though.   B5erik Username: B5erik Registered: 02-2006 Posted on Monday, February 27, 2006 - 11:39 pm:    Thanks for the info. My 2622 sounded thin, both acoustically and plugged in. My brother, who is a luthier, thought that maybe there was a crack inside the neck because it sounded so thin - either some damage like that or just the oddity of the active EQ electronics. (Also, when I played with the active EQ on the distortion took on a real fuzz tone.) The 2619 that I didn't buy (but should have) sounded noticeably fatter and warmer both plugged and unplugged. It was gorgeous - and I still can't believe that I didn't buy it. Talk about a stupid mistake.... And, yeah, I got the impression that the 70's models were different in some respects to the early 80's models. My preference right now is a '76-'79 model - hopefully I can find one at a halfway reasonable price. I am curious, though - What differences, besides the pickups, were there between the 2619 and the early AR300 models?   Skybone Username: Skybone Registered: 03-2001 Posted on Tuesday, February 28, 2006 - 6:02 am:    As has been mentioned previously, '79/80 Artist models were the transition years for this line, the biggest feature to change over that time was the heel detail and the overall body thickness. The '79's all seem to have the "smooth heel" detail, (which was starting to become less smooth for late '79 models), where the heel and about 15mm of the body were carved for better high fret access, later '79 models had less body carve, and then post '80, the heel became more "Les Paul" like with a defined heel/body joint. Body thickness also grew from around 42mm to a more "Les Paul" like 52mm. All '79 models that I've seen are all have very defined 2619 characteristics (mines from March '79), but later ones I've seen have started to show "transitional" features (mainly the heel detail), where all the 1980 models I've seen have all been more like the 80's AR models we all know. Therefore, I stick with my theory that 1980 was the true transition year, not '79 when the transition was actually announced. FWIW: my 2619, although being thinner, and a little smaller than my LP replica guitars (also MIJ), weighs much more than either of them, it's a single piece back with a really tight grain pattern, where the heaviest of my LP replica's is a 2 piece back with a slightly wider grain pattern.   Overdriver Username: Overdriver Registered: 12-2005 Posted on Tuesday, February 28, 2006 - 2:37 pm:    IMO it's a shame that Ibanez made the transition at all. The great thing about the '70s models is the thinner body, the smooth neck heel and the effortless upper fret access. Why the AR series was introduced with essentially a Les Paul layout (apart from being a double cut, of course) is beyond me. I can only surmise that Ibanez were ahead of their time and chickened out, or sales figures were not what they'd hoped for and retreated to a more conventional Les Paul like setup. It took PRS to prove this to have been a mistake! My only quibble with the '70s models has been with the pickups......I know, many disagree, but I can only go by the amazing difference when I put a real Gibson PAF in the bridge position on my 2618 back in '78. That guitar sounded as good as any vintage Gibson I've ever heard. If Ibanez had put as much effort into recreating vintage pickups as they did in developing improvements in guitar design those guitar would be worth considerably more than they are now...and I know the price is going up....and, yes, I'm fully aware of the Super 58s and am not as amazed by them as a lot of others on this forum are...but that's what this is all about....friendly disagreements.... Another thing that'll annoy the heck out of a lot of you is that I've disconnected the mini switches on my 2619 and have Bare Knuckle Nailbomb pickups in it (with black covers..very cool). That guitar SCREAMS!! Sorry..I got carried away there for a second.....   B5erik Username: B5erik Registered: 02-2006 Posted on Wednesday, March 01, 2006 - 9:56 am:    Well, I found a 1982 AR300 that looks a little too good to pass up. I'm going to check it out today. Here are a couple pictures (and hopefully I can link them correctly):   B5erik Username: B5erik Registered: 02-2006 Posted on Wednesday, March 01, 2006 - 10:02 am:    I would still prefer a 2619, but that one has a good (but not great) quilted top, and I haven't seen many Artists with figured tops for under a grand. Granted, this one will need replacement pickup covers, but those I can find (hopefully). This one will set me back $750, so that's a fairly good deal. Hopefully it is in as good condition as the seller says it is. Of course, if I get this one I'll still have to be on the lookout for a good 2619 at a reasonable price. Damn, this could get to be addictive - collecting the vintage Ibanez guitars.   Strings Username: Strings Registered: 01-2005 Posted on Wednesday, March 01, 2006 - 10:53 am:    OD, I agree that they should not have abandoned the "thinner body/smooth heel" types. But, in no way do I dread the creation of the 1980s AR as it is a TOTALLY different (and better-than-GiboLP) axe than its 4-digit "predecessors". Perhaps what they should have done is continued both. Just MHO! B5, What you have there is a fairly rare early 80's AR305 (Burl)...an awesome guitar!   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 02-2001 Posted on Wednesday, March 01, 2006 - 10:57 am:    B5erik: Technically, that's an AR305. The "5" means that it has a burl mahogany top, as opposed to the standard maple. It's hard to say from the pictures, but the pickup surrounds could be metallic plated. They were on later models when this model got the "SE" designation. These have "Special Edition" on the last fret marker. There are tons of fans of the AR305. These guitars have been responsible for several Ibanez fans becoming collectors.   B5erik Username: B5erik Registered: 02-2006 Posted on Wednesday, March 01, 2006 - 11:36 am:    Thanks for the info/correction. I'm still learning about these guitars - and the more I learn, the more I love this things! If I do purchase the AR305 (and that seems very likely), I will still want a 2619 (if anyone has one they'd be willing to part with just let me know). I do have a question - were the pickup covers for the 1982 models engraved like the 70's models, or were they plain like a Gibson? (It looks like I may need replacements for that guitar.) And did Ibanez stop using the "pearloid" tuning keys in the early 80's? Most, if not all, of the 1981-1982 models have the metal tuners. Would it be worthwhile to get a set of vintage "pearloid" tuners for that guitar, or did they just not use those by 1982?   Strings Username: Strings Registered: 01-2005 Posted on Wednesday, March 01, 2006 - 12:50 pm:    B5 No, on the engraved covers. Yes, on the plain like Gibson. Great, if you can find them but that axe did not come with Pearloids   Overdriver Username: Overdriver Registered: 12-2005 Posted on Wednesday, March 01, 2006 - 1:15 pm:    Strings. "1980s AR as it is a TOTALLY different (and better-than-GiboLP) axe than its 4-digit "predecessors". Perhaps what they should have done is continued both. Just MHO!" I agree. Continuing both lines would have been good. I have a 1980 AR 100 with Bareknuckle VHII pups that is just a roaring beast! Although it has the late '60 Gibson LP tomato soup burst finish I think it looks better than on the Gibsons. I just wish it had my 2619's block pearl/abalone inlays instead of the dots...in fact, I wish my 2618 also had that... BTW. I assume that when you say "4-digit "predecessors" you're referring to current Gibson Historics and not their well-into-6-digit '57-'60 models?   Strings Username: Strings Registered: 01-2005 Posted on Wednesday, March 01, 2006 - 4:51 pm:    OD, you Bareknucklehead! (smiley of your choice)(and, I'd better clarify that I'm joking as some more sensitive types have misconstrued my "pokes" in the past). I removed the contents of the parentheses below so it makes more sense. "...in no way do I dread the creation of the 1980s AR as it is a TOTALLY different axe than its 4-digit "predecessors". I was referring to the 4-digit Artists (e.g. 2622, 2618 & etc.) being totally different than the early 1980's AR line as far as sound, feel, length, balance, thickness finishes etc. But your logic works as well! Best, EJ   B5erik Username: B5erik Registered: 02-2006 Posted on Wednesday, March 01, 2006 - 7:11 pm:    So, knowing that by 1982 Ibanez had stopped using the engraved pickup covers and pearloid tuners, would it be silly to try and find them and add them to this guitar? (I just like the look of those better.) Or from a "collectors" standpoint should the guitar be restored as closely as possible to its original condition? I did pick up the guitar, by the way, and while it does need some work (a few chips, 1 tuner bent, some pitting in the tailpiece), it plays and sound great! I've pretty much decided that I have to get a 2619 now so that I can, A.) Have both in my collection, and B.) Compare the two.   Bluesmeister Username: Bluesmeister Registered: 05-2004 Posted on Wednesday, March 01, 2006 - 8:39 pm:    B5erik, do you have a serial number for the guitar? My AR305AV is a 1982 model, and as Strings says, the PU covers are not engraved or stamped. The bridge PU on the one in your picture appears to be non-original. Is the original PU included?   B5erik Username: B5erik Registered: 02-2006 Posted on Wednesday, March 01, 2006 - 9:47 pm:    The serial number starts H82 - so that's August of 1982. The pickups that are loaded are all that came with it. For all I know the bridge pickup is original, but the pickup cover is missing. How can I tell if the pickup is what was loaded originally? I'm still toying with the idea of getting some pearloid tuners and engraved pickup covers - If I can find some originals.   Jimmys Username: Jimmys Registered: 05-2003 Posted on Thursday, March 02, 2006 - 3:11 am:    Maybe take the pickup out and see if it has 'Super 58' written on it. I can't recall if they have this or not but I think so? If you change the tuners and pickup covers for your own taste, they are easy to change back to the right type (just don't drill any holes). The covers are just soldered on...and keep any original parts so that you can change them back if you ever sell it. You can buy the new Super 58's still I believe. Might cost a bit though. Doesn't the AR3000VV use these? James   Michaelkaufman Username: Michaelkaufman Registered: 11-2002 Posted on Thursday, March 02, 2006 - 9:48 am:    The 'engraved' pickup covers were for different pickups as Ibanez used Super 80's through 1979. Then, they changed over to Super 58 pups which don't have engraved covers. That's what should be in your guitar. It's possible that your guitar has two Super 58 pickups and one is missing a cover or that one pickup was swapped out for another. Assuming you don't have Super 80's, I would not buy engraved covers as the covers, assuming you can find them, will be expensive and misleading. mk   Strings Username: Strings Registered: 01-2005 Posted on Thursday, March 02, 2006 - 10:14 am:    Yeah, and worse, you can have major functional problems with ill-matched p-up covers. If you are talking Flying Fingers covers from Super80s, you'll be sorry you went that way. However, I have seen the script logo covers that have the pole ports on Super 70s, but you'd have to consult someone with more expertise on those as to weather or not the 58s can be matched with script covers.   Overdriver Username: Overdriver Registered: 12-2005 Posted on Thursday, March 02, 2006 - 11:14 am:    Sorry Strings...misunderstood your '4-digit' reference. Unlike vintage Gibsons, which have to have exactly correct hardware for their year to maximize their value, (even if it's not original to that guitar) I'm not sure that Ibanez Artists are at that point. Too many have had their pickups and other hardware swapped out over the years. Being such a great player's guitar I just go for the best pickups and don't worry about having correct hardware. Out of my three Artists only one of them came with the original Flying Fingers pickups, which I keep in a drawer for the day when having original hardware becomes important (if it does And only one has the original tuners too....when and if Ibanez decides to reissue stuff like that I'll be first in line....for Gibraltar bridges too which have become too corroded and been replaced with Nashville type bridges drilled out to fit the posts attached to the sustain blocks. (except the AR 100 which, of course, has a tune-o-matic style bridge.)   B5erik Username: B5erik Registered: 02-2006 Posted on Thursday, March 02, 2006 - 10:23 pm:    Good points on the pickup covers - I didn't realize that the covers went with specific pickups. That's one less thing to look for. I do need at least 1 replacement tuner, and if I can find some, an entire vintage set. It's a great guitar - I love playing it, and the tone is great.   Strings Username: Strings Registered: 01-2005 Posted on Friday, March 03, 2006 - 1:51 pm:    B5 I might be able to help you out on the 1 replacement tuner.   Beerzgood Username: Beerzgood Registered: 01-2006 Posted on Friday, March 03, 2006 - 3:42 pm:    My 78 artist 2619 has the original engraved cover neck pickup. I don't believe the bridge pickup was engraved on this guitar, I think it was plain gold plate with the 6 holes for the screws. I actually have a gold cover, it must have come from that pickup. Was that a usual deal to have a set like that? 1 engraved and 1 not?   B5erik Username: B5erik Registered: 02-2006 Posted on Friday, March 03, 2006 - 10:35 pm:    If I had to guess I'd say that the bridge pickup cover had been replaced. All of the 70's models that I've seen had maching engraved pickup covers. Of course, I'm no expert, so take that with a grain of salt. As for what I need to get my guitar in shape: I need a tailpiece & bridge, a tuner, 1 pickup ring (my brother may have one), a pickup cover (plain), and I need to fill in 4 or 5 chips (my brother can help me with that - he makes his own basses & guitars, he used to sell them too - GR Basses). As it is I love the guitar, once it's polished up it will be a stunner!   Overdriver Username: Overdriver Registered: 12-2005 Posted on Saturday, March 04, 2006 - 2:09 am:    My guess is that in 100 years the 1970s Artists will still be underrated. No one will be too concerned about whether they're totally original or not. No one is too concerned about the Flying Fingers pickups (which are probably the engraved pickups you're referring to) because they're just so-so. For me the most important aspect of these guitars is that, with the right pickups, they sound great and also have a great action. Unlike the 50s Gibsons, which magically managed to get the formula right, straight off the bat in their '57-'60 Les Paul Standards, the '70s Ibanez Artists were close but not close enough.....the downside was that their bodies were made of, at least, two pieces of mahogany and the tops were generally unfigured maple and the necks three pieces of maple. The pickups were ok but lacked the complexity of the original PAFs. The secret of making the most of the old Artists is the customizing of them to fit your particular needs. In the rarified world of guitar collectors it doesn't matter that much how the guitar plays or sounds.....just that it's original and a Gibson....   B5erik Username: B5erik Registered: 02-2006 Posted on Saturday, March 04, 2006 - 11:23 am:    Honestly, I would disagree to an extent on the 70's & early 80's artists still being underrated as time goes by. Just look at how much they are going for now as opposed to 10 or 12 years ago. They've doubled in price over that time, and with internet forums like this popping up there are more and more people singing the praises of these guitars. They'll never be as collectible as a '57 Gibson, but there is already a collectors market for the Artists, and that market will only grow. Strings - let me know if you've got a matching gold tuner (one on the right side when you're looking at the serial number). Thanks!   Stever Username: Stever Registered: 03-2006 Posted on Saturday, March 04, 2006 - 11:49 am:    My perspective is more as a player than a collector... I tend to agree with Overdriver...I always thought the original Ibanez PUs sounded really muddy and thin, and the hardware was pretty second-rate for the most part. The tuners were terrible (nice looking, though)and the Gibraltor bridge/tailpiece seems OK- until you replace it with Gibson- style hardware. You'll wonder how you lived with the tone of the Gibraltor hardware. But. on the plus side, the necks are absolutley rock-solid, and the general design of the guitars seems to facillitate great tone. And even if you have to sink some cash into new hardware, PUs, etc., it's still a much better bargain than a Gibson. Just my opinion   Overdriver Username: Overdriver Registered: 12-2005 Posted on Saturday, March 04, 2006 - 12:17 pm:    Well said, Stever The part about the hardware is spot on and I agree about the necks. The necks on my three Artists are all different but each one is comfortable. Unfortunately the Artists were manufactured at a time when brass was THE thing and so they have the Gibraltars etc. You're right about the tuners too. They look good but don't last that long....but you can't have everything, I suppose But great guitars....who needs a PRS??   Strings Username: Strings Registered: 01-2005 Posted on Saturday, March 04, 2006 - 1:51 pm:    Well, I guess somebody should step up. I don't know if either of you gents have played the Artist 2622 or a '79 AR 500, both equipped with the EQ and both with Super80s stock, but I would NEVER swap out the pups on either axe. I've never played a 2618/19, but the Super80s I have supply some of the most interesting output (clean & dirty) I've experienced. I don't think the Super80 was ever meant to be a copy of the PAF tone. Just MNSHO. I just don't think the Super80 was ever intended to compete with the PAF-Type sound, rather I think it was attempting to open up new tones that were essentially unavailable at that time. I don't know if you've ever heard SRV play "Tin Pan Alley" on his Billy Gibbon's Special, but you can't get that tone fron a PAF...you can with the Super80! ;0) As far as bridges go, the Gibson tune-o-matic was pretty much crap for all years as they tended to wear in and develop sway-back - they were level when new vs. slightly arched like many better bridges. Heck, the Gotoh knock offs are better construction than the Gibson originals. For PAF, I have an '81 AR 300 with Super58s (awesome pup) and a '71 Gibson LP custom. And while they are slightly different takes on PAF tone, I would not alter either as they just voice differently. No problems with the Perloids on either axe. So, enough bloviating on my part! OD, how would you describe the Bareknuckle tone? I've read out here of players that experiment with other pup makers in their Ibanez axes with somewhat disastrous results.   Strings Username: Strings Registered: 01-2005 Posted on Saturday, March 04, 2006 - 1:56 pm:    Any other die-hard Super80 fans out here?   Skybone Username: Skybone Registered: 03-2001 Posted on Saturday, March 04, 2006 - 2:03 pm:    IMO, the Super80's in my 2619 sound great (but only in humbucker mode, the other two options don't sound that great), I find the hardware to be absolutely rock solid, both the Gibraltar bridge and the tuners, which are really accurate, have loads of "feel", and look fantastic. FWIW, I often wonder why Gibson didn't think of a tailpiece similar to the QuikChange, makes changing strings and messing about with the guitar in general soooo much easier. As OD knows, I have a couple of Tokai's with Bare Knuckles in, as well as my '78 IC200. The Bare Knuckle tone depends upon which pickup you load into your guitar as they are all voiced differently, inspired by the sounds of various players. The lower impedance pickups are very PAF-ish, where the hotter output pickups are a bit more modern flavoured, my faves are the "Black Dog" pickups (in an LP rep) which have a really nice mid flavour to them, so they cut through the mix like a knife, but have plenty of "body" to them as well. The other LP has a set of "Emerald" pickups in, and they are quite bright sounding, and have a really punchy tone, think Gorham/Robertson era Thin Lizzy. http://www.bareknucklepickups.com   Strings Username: Strings Registered: 01-2005 Posted on Saturday, March 04, 2006 - 3:32 pm:    Is this it? http://www.bareknucklepickups.co.uk/tandc.html   Strings Username: Strings Registered: 01-2005 Posted on Saturday, March 04, 2006 - 4:01 pm:    OD, do you wire up the trisounds with the BareKnuckles or just bypass that circuitry? Hey Bone, I hear ya on the trisounds not having as much to offer relative to the straight Series mode with the Super80. However, I have the unique fortune to be able to hear what you experience with your 2619 AND the same config as the 2619 with EQ on my '79 AR500, and the EQ makes all the difference in the world for both the other two trisound modes. I swear the Super80 was built for EQ. I just wish they made more of these AR 500 in '79 style so I would not be living in such a vacuum with no one to relate to!!   Skybone Username: Skybone Registered: 03-2001 Posted on Sunday, March 05, 2006 - 5:45 am:    Try: http://www.bareknucklepickups.co.uk/products.html Links to all their guitar pickups specs. Strings, how come you've not chased down a 2622? From what I can tell, it's the same EQ circuitry as your 500, but in the earlier 26** body. I'd love to have a go of a 2622/AR500 just to hear the differences that an active EQ makes on the overall tone. Funnily enough, I've never seen a 2622/AR500 in the UK, apart from the one that used to belong to Dave Brock from Hawkwind that was auctioned on eBay a few months back.   Strings Username: Strings Registered: 01-2005 Posted on Sunday, March 05, 2006 - 10:39 am:    Skybone, I do have a 2622. And, the '79 AR500 is a 2619/2622 body with the thinner body style, Smooth Heel I, etc. Ibanez did not change the AR 500 body until 1980. So, now you see what I meant by hearing what you hear in your 2619 (or somewhat close). With the EQ off, the trisounds are still active. No one I know (except DaveG whose resurrected his "What a Shame" axe) has this model out here. Hence, with this axe, I live in a vacuum Best, EJ   Overdriver Username: Overdriver Registered: 12-2005 Posted on Sunday, March 05, 2006 - 12:32 pm:    As far as hardware goes I suppose it depends on how the guitars have been used over the years. The 2618 and 2619 I have now were used when I got them and most of the hardware and tuners were shot. So I got Gotoh bridges, drilling the holes out to fit the posts. For tuners I got some Sperzels for the 2619 and Planet Waves for the 2618. Pickups are BN Naibombs on the 2619, SD Seth Lovers on the 2618 and BN VHIIs on the AR100. On the 2619 the tri-sound switches had already been taken out so I didn't have think about that. The BN VHIIs sound just like you'd expect...a higher output PAF which retains the PAF tone and really sings. The BN Nailbombs are another animal altogether! They're exceptionally smooth and someone I did a solo for compared them to Brian May's classic tone but a bit fatter and less nasal. To me they're the hi-gain tone I've been looking for. What I like about them is that you don't have to use as much gain to get that huge modern distortion and beautiful singing lead tone, so you've got much less hiss to deal with. They're great for Bluesbreaker-type material too. I hope that's helpful Well, I've got some recording to do...... BTW. I wish I still had the 2618 I bought new in '78. I put real Gibson PAFs in it and it was just totally awesome Still regret selling that one......but a '59 LP Standard was available and I had to get it (it was stolen a few days later....of course.....   Dave_g Username: Dave_g Registered: 01-2002 Posted on Sunday, March 05, 2006 - 3:56 pm:    Strings...The Blonde (aka "shame") has the newer EQ set up wiith the LED.....   Strings Username: Strings Registered: 01-2005 Posted on Sunday, March 05, 2006 - 6:33 pm:    Dave, That's an older (last summer) pic, right? I'm not gonna ask if she's back from VN 'cuz I'll get yelled at for being impatient. Don't all AR 500s have an LED?   Michaelkaufman Username: Michaelkaufman Registered: 11-2002 Posted on Sunday, March 05, 2006 - 6:44 pm:    Dave: What do you mean by 'newer eq setup'? As opposed to what? mk   Snowjays Username: Snowjays Registered: 09-2004 Posted on Sunday, March 05, 2006 - 8:33 pm:    Strings, The guitar to try is a 2700. Completely different again to the ar500/2622 simply because of the 24 frets, the neck pup is closer to the bridge, plus it has the features of the 2619 and 2622 all in one. Active EQ and the tri-sound. Try to imagine a 2618, 2619 and 2622 all thrown together with a through neck, super 88 pups.   Strings Username: Strings Registered: 01-2005 Posted on Sunday, March 05, 2006 - 10:07 pm:    OK, now I need to pick my brains up off the floor...and hide my wallet as MK just posted that recent link to one! Is there one in your stable?? I do like them in black vs. that brown color on the MCs.   Strings Username: Strings Registered: 01-2005 Posted on Sunday, March 05, 2006 - 10:08 pm:    ...the pups that is...   B5erik Username: B5erik Registered: 02-2006 Posted on Sunday, March 05, 2006 - 10:44 pm:    So which model is this?   B5erik Username: B5erik Registered: 02-2006 Posted on Sunday, March 05, 2006 - 11:34 pm:    OK, if I just look at another thread maybe I might get my answer before I can even ask it... So this is a 2700, eh? Nice. I wish I had the funds to get this AND a 2619. And several other 70's vintage Ibanez guitars for that matter. Does anyone here have a 2700? How do they play & sound compared to a 2619 or AR300?   Michaelkaufman Username: Michaelkaufman Registered: 11-2002 Posted on Sunday, March 05, 2006 - 11:34 pm:    That's the 2700...

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