Les paul 70's copy at pawn shop, thou...

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Author Message Cavitycr33p Username: Cavitycr33p Registered: 06-2005 Posted on Friday, June 17, 2005 - 7:09 am:    Hello all! Let me introduce myself a bit. I am a 25 year old guitarist from Arkansas (stop with the redneck jokes, k?) and have been playing for 15 years now. I have always loved ibanez and I want to start collecting. When I bought my first guitar (a wicked shaped Series 10, lmfao) at a semi-local pawn shop, there was a Ibanez wood colored Les paul copy. Years and years of going back to that same shop, I always saw this guitar. It stuck out in my mind because of the maple neck with the black block inlays. Last time I went, a few years ago, it was still there, lol. I am pretty sure I could probably pick this up for 50 bucks. What are your thoughts on the 70's models of Les Paul copies and their worth in the future? Here is the guitar I am talking about (not the actual one, just one I found on ebay) http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33043&item=7328954592&rd= 1&ssPageName=WDVW The one in the pawn shop had the chrome pickup covers, unlike this one which has aftermarket pickups. Did the original les paul copies have the chrome pickup covers? Johns Username: Johns Registered: 02-2001 Posted on Friday, June 17, 2005 - 12:24 pm:    CavityCr33p: First off, welcome to ICW and also to the world of Ibanez Collecting! Be careful, it can become an addiction. You ask some pretty good questions. Don't be surprised if you get varying, even conflicting answers. That's because people come to ICW with lots of different POVs. I'm not an expert on 70s LPs. You definitely want to converse with Harry and Hasy (they have their own site), and Lespaul. Here's my take: The early '70s LP replicas will always be second rate players compared to the "real deal". The prices being asked for them now ($350-$500 US) reflects that they are respectable players. The prices may increase, especially if the price for real, but used, LPs gets ridiculous. However, I doubt they will increase in value like Ibanez's original models that started in the mid-to-late 70s. The build quality and woods are just not in the same league. There will always be tons of confusion surrounding the replicas because nobody was keeping track of them and they were manufactured and sold to different distributors worldwide. Besides that, documentation is extremely scarce. You've got to know many different Japanese manufacturers to be able to discern a "real" Ibanez from a "fake". Seems bizarre, huh? With bolt-on necks it's simple to fool the unsuspecting. Take the guitar in the auction you cited above: I can't find any catalog showing an exact match (so far). The body doesn't look like any I've seen. But this doesn't mean that it's not real. We've documented lots of "exceptions to the catalog specs" and models that never appeared in any catalogs, here. So, what else do I see in this photo? The top looks like one piece and catalogs always show dark binding. Also, the hardware doesn't look old and used. Besides that I'm always suspicious of auctions from sellers that should know what guitar buyers need and don't supply it: lots of detailed pictures. If you can get a good picture of the one you are interested in, it would be a lot more helpful. Of course, for $50.00. you could hardly go wrong. Cavitycr33p Username: Cavitycr33p Registered: 06-2005 Posted on Friday, June 17, 2005 - 1:39 pm:    I will be stopping by there this evening hoping its still there. http://www.ibanezregister.com/images/images-vintage/2393/2393-1974.jpg This came from the registry, that looks about like it. Maybe the zebra pickups do come with it? Its been a while, I was thinking the one I saw had the chrome covers. Lespaul Username: Lespaul Registered: 10-2004 Posted on Friday, June 17, 2005 - 4:17 pm:    Some pics of the actual guitar might do the trick. About their worth: did anybody see any old (>20 years) guitars drop in value? I think everything just keeps going up, fast or slow. Paul Lespaul Username: Lespaul Registered: 10-2004 Posted on Friday, June 17, 2005 - 4:20 pm:    Ibanez Les Paul copies came with all kinds of pups. Chrome covers, gold covers, black coils, creme coils, zebra's, you name it. Paul Johns Username: Johns Registered: 02-2001 Posted on Friday, June 17, 2005 - 6:52 pm:    Lespaul: What do you think of the guitar pictured above? I don't think it's a 2393. I have my doubts about this guitar's authenticity. You actually can't even see the headstock to verify that it is an Ibanez. Cavitycr33p Username: Cavitycr33p Registered: 06-2005 Posted on Friday, June 17, 2005 - 11:46 pm:    Johns, did you see the link I posted to the ibanez register? That has to be the same guitar, look at it. Cavitycr33p Username: Cavitycr33p Registered: 06-2005 Posted on Friday, June 17, 2005 - 11:48 pm:    Oops, thats what you were talking about, sorry. Anyways, I missed my turn and was low on gas so I didnt get to go by, but I will for sure by Monday. If its there I will get a picture. I swear up and down that this guitar identical to the one local here, and I know it was a ibanes, minus the bluriness of the pups. Lespaul Username: Lespaul Registered: 10-2004 Posted on Saturday, June 18, 2005 - 4:00 am:    John, to avoid confusion, I'll be talking this one now: The seller of that one always provides just one pic, with the guitar in the same position, and asks very high prices. Almost everytime most of the hardware is replaced. I really can not tell if it is an Ibanez or not from this pic. If it is an Ibanez it is an oddball. Apart from what you've already mentioned about it, here's what I see. It is certainly not a 2393, which should have a mahogany body and the typical headstock inlay. It comes closest to a 2398 but that is supposed to have a "standard" fretmarker layout and this one has a "custom" type fretmarker layout. This guitar has a two piece top. I do not know if that was possible on a 2398. The body looks like an 2391 but those should have a rosewood fretboard. All models I've mentioned here are to be seen in Hasy and Harry's site in the 1974 (black and white) and 1975 catalogues. For the ultimate answer I think it is time to call in the Maestro himself: Harry! Please help us out! Cavitycr33p: if the guitar in the pawnshop is equal to the 2393 in the Ibanezregister, it is a fine guitar which should have zebra's, not chromed covers. Paul Cavitycr33p Username: Cavitycr33p Registered: 06-2005 Posted on Saturday, June 18, 2005 - 11:54 am:    Thanks guys! I am itching to run up there Monday afternoon. I hope they still have it. They had it for 13 years, I dont see why it still wouldnt be there, lol. Ibanezfreak1960 Username: Ibanezfreak1960 Registered: 03-2004 Posted on Sunday, June 19, 2005 - 10:41 am:    http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33043&item=7329721990&rd= 1 Lespaul Username: Lespaul Registered: 10-2004 Posted on Sunday, June 19, 2005 - 10:47 am:    Brian, what's with that all gold baby? I thjnk it is all right except for the price. I bought a few guitars from that seller. Nice guy. Paul Ibanezfreak1960 Username: Ibanezfreak1960 Registered: 03-2004 Posted on Sunday, June 19, 2005 - 1:43 pm:    It looks like a sweet guitar only I'd rather it be a set in neck. Dave_g Username: Dave_g Registered: 01-2002 Posted on Sunday, June 19, 2005 - 2:21 pm:    Paul..Its a nice example of an early LP clone-but I'm with you-hes asking way too much $ !

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