| Author |
Message |
Cooltouch (Cooltouch)
| | Posted on Sunday, December 28, 2003 - 12:13 pm: | |
Well, in my quest for a Ragtime Special, I've run across a couple of interesting Ibanez alternatives, one that I missed out on that sold on eBay a couple of weeks ago:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2365781921&category=47064&rd=1
But I'm sure the new owner is a happy camper. Then this one appeared a week ago, and I've been tracking it ever since:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&category=47064&item=2367846801
I managed to outbid the rest of the guys (sorry, if any of you were bidding on it, but that's the way it goes, eh?) and so now I have another guitar to add to my collection.
This looks to be one of the more deluxe models in the AE line, but that's just a guess. Both google and altavista searches turned up butkus, as did searches here.
Still, I did what due dilligence I could before deciding to bid, including asking the seller for a reconfirmation of the serial number (visible but blurry on the label image), which doesn't seem to fit with Ibanez's S/N scheme -- or maybe I'm missing something the more knowledgeable of you are already aware of. Anyway, the S/N is 841000871.
I also had the seller measure the nut width for me (1-3/4"), asked if the headstock logo was inlaid or silkscreened (it's inlaid), and asked if it had a solid or laminate top. The seller claims that the top is solid, as are the back and sides. Dunno how he could tell about the back, unless there is enough figure to the grain to be able to tell by looking inside the soundhole, but it is missing an input jack on the lower bout, so that opening is easy enough to see whether the sides are one-piece or not.
Anyway, if any of you folks know anything about this model, I sure would like to know more about it. It looks like it should be a fun instrument to do a little pickin' and grinnin' with, though.
Actually, I have some rather serious plans in store for it. I like the general body configuration of this guitar, and have been planning for some time now to try my hand at building a guitar or two. The first steel string I build will follow the pattern of this guitar, although the neck will be somewhat different (wider at the nut, with a slotted headstock). If I like the sound of this instrument, I may even try to duplicate the bracing pattern it uses.
Best,
Michael |
Cooltouch (Cooltouch)
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 31, 2003 - 1:00 am: | |
So, nobody here's heard of the AE 405 TV?
Best,
Michael |
Johns (Johns)
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 31, 2003 - 7:40 am: | |
Michael:
Did you win the auction? $156 seems like a reasonable price for it.
The serial number starting with 84 and the other with 83 seems correct for the years '83 and '84. The headstock inlays look like other models from those years.
Sorry, but I don't have any acoustic catalogs from those years and can't help further. I'll bet that Cameron has more info, tho. Hey Cameron, we need your help over here! |
Cooltouch (Cooltouch)
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 31, 2003 - 7:31 pm: | |
Hiya Johns,
Thanks for your input. Yup, I won the auction. I agree -- $177.09 (delivered to my door) is a very good price, I think.
It seems to me, based on my still limited knowledge of Ibanez acoustics, that there isn't much information available on the vintage AE models. The first link I posted leads you to a closed auction for an AE300 that also went for cheap. It's a solid-top dreadnaught cutaway, and looks like a very interesting guitar. I was planning on bidding on that guitar, but I was busy doing something else when its auction closed, so I wasn't around for the last minute action.
Kinda glad I waited, though, because I think I will like the AE405TV even more. It has a body shape reminiscent of the Ragtime Specials, which I prefer over the dreadnaughts. The fact that it has a non-functioning pickup probably hurt its auction value, but not to me. I prefer to mic my guitars. I will probably attempt to restore the pickup to a functioning state -- mostly just to close the hole in the lower bout -- but I'll seldom if ever use it.
Thanks for also addressing the serial number question. I was somewhat uncertain because I'm used to seeing an alphabetical prefix to serial numbers from the late 70s and early 80s. I was reasonably certain that it is a '84 vintage instrument, but not 100% sure because of the lack of an alpha prefix.
BTW, when I saw where the seller mentioned that he didn't know anything about guitars, I realized that if I was the successful bidder, I would have to give him a brief tutorial on packing that instrument so it would survive shipment.
For most of us who dabble in buying and selling and shipping and such, this is common knowledge, but if anyone would like to read the instructions I sent to the seller, I'd be happy to post them here.
Hope everyone has a happy, safe, and prosperous New Year!
Best,
Michael |
Ericsson (Ericsson)
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 31, 2003 - 7:38 pm: | |
Good looking guitars, and I am sorry I can't add any concrete info. I would have to guess that they are laminate tops, but at the price you paid, how can you go wrong? |
Cooltouch (Cooltouch)
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 31, 2003 - 8:55 pm: | |
Yeah, really -- for that price, even if the top is plywood, I can't complain. As I mentioned in my initial post, I have interests in this guitar from a construction standpoint, as well. I like the shape of it, and was willing to buy an example just so I can use it as a pattern.
I did ask the seller about the top, though, and told him how he could tell if it were solid or laminate. He claimed that it is solid. I asked the seller of the AE300 the same question, telling him what to look for, and he, too, claimed the top was solid. So, if the AE300 has a solid top, I feel reasonably confident that a model with a higher number would also have a solid top. Hopefully it isn't a fallacious assumption, but I will soon know.
Best,
Michael |
Johnm (Johnm)
| | Posted on Monday, April 19, 2004 - 7:46 am: | |
Here's a picture of my recently acquired AE 450. I bought this one from my guitarteacher Patrick Sedoc (artfield on these forums) which means it is a bit modified.
It's a great playing and sounding guitar. Mine is made in '84.
John M
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Johns (Johns)
| | Posted on Monday, April 19, 2004 - 8:39 am: | |
John:
You bought it from Patric? How come it's not purple? 
I saw a concert on PBS the other night, Steve Howe with a nylon string classical doing some Yes material and other songs I'd never heard of before. It really opened my eyes to this style of guitar.
Too many guitars, too little time...too many other REALLY talented guitar players! |
Johnm (Johnm)
| | Posted on Monday, April 19, 2004 - 10:21 am: | |
Even if it was purple I think I'd bought it.
Like on almost all of his guitars the neck is slimmed down a bit (don't know if that's proper english but I'm sure you know what I mean). He also had a 3 band eq installed.
So it's not original anymore but I don't mind. It's a great sounding player. |
Johnm (Johnm)
| | Posted on Monday, April 19, 2004 - 10:24 am: | |
Forgot to add this: I have been playing classical guitar the first 8 (!) years and I stopped playing this music ever since I laid my hands on an electric.
Since I own this AE 450 I have been playing some Sor and Carulli tunes and that sounds great on this guitar as well. |
Johns (Johns)
| | Posted on Monday, April 19, 2004 - 8:58 pm: | |
John:
"Slimmed down" is good.
What's the pickup system on this guitar? |
Johnm (Johnm)
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 20, 2004 - 7:51 am: | |
Don't know exactly but will ask Patrick. The EQ thing is a Condor. |
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