Ibanez afilliated

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Author Message Flatbag Username: Flatbag Registered: 09-2004 Posted on Saturday, August 20, 2005 - 9:53 am:    Hey, just wondering if anyone would know whether "Profile" is another name guitars came branded as form the "Ibanez factory" (I know, I know, there is no *ibanez factory*, you know what I mean). Just saw this completed ebay item: http://cgi.ebay.com.au/PROFILE-LES-PAUL-STANDARD-70s-80s-copy_W0QQitemZ734187084 4QQcategoryZ33040QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem Lespaul Username: Lespaul Registered: 10-2004 Posted on Saturday, August 20, 2005 - 10:16 am:    Flatbag, Just wondering: what makes you think there might be a connection to Ibanez? The few details I see in the poor pics that might still be original do not point me to Ibanez models. Paul Flatbag Username: Flatbag Registered: 09-2004 Posted on Saturday, August 20, 2005 - 10:30 am:    It was the description that kind of implied it: "...you will also know that ARIA, Ibanez & Profile were making as good a guitar, if not, better guitars than the Americans at the time, hence why they went to court & were forced to stop making them..." While the seller didn't imply that it came from the same factory, they've put them in the same category. He(/she?) also says it's 70's Jap, which is something I didn't previously relate Profile's to being. As you said, the pics are very poor, so I couldn't see anything to make me believe one way or the other; the only thing that seemed to go against Ibanez is there is no contour in the back of the body, but having said that, the Greco's I've seen don't either (nor do some Ibanez models?). I just wanted to know if anyone knows whether the 70's Jap angle is a plausile one, because - here in Australia at least - I've seen quite a few Profiles hanging in pawn shops but haven't bothered to pick them up for belief that they were junk, not 70's MIJ. Lespaul Username: Lespaul Registered: 10-2004 Posted on Saturday, August 20, 2005 - 11:09 am:    I read the description but since one out of every four (or so) older guitars over here in Europe is noted as Ibanez/Matsumoku/lawsuit related I tend to ignore these statements completely. Maybe my wrong, that. Maybe you can tell some more yourself if you check out another Profile (whith original hardware) in a pawnshop. You'd have one in hands and that should tell you more than a whole bunch of piccies. Flatbag Username: Flatbag Registered: 09-2004 Posted on Saturday, August 20, 2005 - 6:52 pm:    Thanks Paul for your feedback, I agree that there are many guitars misrepresented as Ibanez et al, but I can't help myself from asking 'is this correct?, have I been missing this?' everytime I see it on something different. I will definitely check out any Profiles I come across - of course Murphy's law will see to it that I never find another one now! The other thing though, is that the majority of Profiles that I've seen have been strat copies, which makes any supposed Ibanez connection much less plausible since I don't see many Ibanez strats around (ie why would there be so many Profile strats around when the Ibanezes are so rare?). BTW which details of the LP made you think that it doesn't point to Ibanez? Differences I noticed were that the back of the body is not contoured, where as every Ibanez LP that I've seen is contoured. But then all the Greco LPs I've seen are not contoured, but from the same maker. Also the headstock of the Profile looks like it may be slightly different, but the picture is not a good angle to try and compare. Thanks again F Lespaul Username: Lespaul Registered: 10-2004 Posted on Sunday, August 21, 2005 - 1:10 am:    Flatbag, far most Ibanez LP's do not have contoured backsides. Only a few models do have the contours. As far as I can see the control layout and the control cavity are different in this Profile as they are in Ibanez LP's. The inlays in the fretboard are somewhat different (more figured and slightly more tapered)then the ones in my LP's. Like you, I too think the headstock is slightly off and last: the TRC might be original and is different than Ibanez versions. Paul Flatbag Username: Flatbag Registered: 09-2004 Posted on Sunday, August 21, 2005 - 4:24 am:    As I don't own a LP copy, intricacies of control layouts are an area I'm no expert in, so I'll take your word for it (and the contours too, I didn't know that either). As for the fret markers having a lot of figure, I'm not so sure as my Ibanez SG has quite figured markers as well: Also, I have come across another Profile pic (see below), this one's a bit better quality of a custom LP. This should give a better view of control layout, and also if you compare the headstock split diamond inlay, it looks almost identically placed and sized to the one on my SG. The headstock itself also looks the correct shape to me in this pic: And regarding the TRC, Grecos have the 2 screw Gibson style which the Profile appears to have in the pictures, so that alone wouldn't convince me. I guess I'll just have to track one down to check out. Thanks yet again F Lespaul Username: Lespaul Registered: 10-2004 Posted on Sunday, August 21, 2005 - 5:57 am:    Remains difficult but I'm still not convinced there's a link. Not saying there's no relation either. As far as I know Ibanez never sold setneck standards with open book headstock and there where only a few open book setnecks to begin with. Ofcourse there are exceptions like for instance DaveG's setneck 59er model. The only Ibanez LP's I know with figured fretmarkers are either very old (rounded corner fretboards) bolt-ons or late (post76) setnecks. All the others just have plain plastic markers. I'd say you'll know when you can actually hold one and check the used constructiontechniques. Arched top, lots of 1" pieces glued to form the body, type of binding and original used hardware will probably tell you whether there's a link or not. Flatbag Username: Flatbag Registered: 09-2004 Posted on Sunday, August 28, 2005 - 5:37 am:    Well, I just bought the LP custom pictured in my last post, and while I agree that it is probably of no relation to Ibanez, it is definitely at least on par with the top end Ibanez (and related) stuff of the era. I'll let the photos do the talking below. The only thing that is sub-par to the high end Ibanezes is that the frets go over the top of the neck binding as opposed to the binding forming the fret ends, and the block inlays are plastic. Body appears to be mahogany (the cavities are painted but there are a couple of areas where the grain shows), but as for the top there is no clue. You can see the dimpling in the next pic of the block inlay, looks like old vinyl: Flatbag Username: Flatbag Registered: 09-2004 Posted on Sunday, August 28, 2005 - 5:41 am:    Well, I just bought the LP custom pictured in my last post, and while I agree that it is probably of no relation to Ibanez, it is definitely at least on par with the top end Ibanez (and related) stuff of the era. I'll let the photos do the talking below. The only thing that is sub-par to the high end Ibanezes is that the frets go over the top of the neck binding as opposed to the binding forming the fret ends, and the block inlays are plastic. Body appears to be mahogany (the cavities are painted but there are a couple of areas where the grain shows), but as for the top there is no clue. You can see the dimpling in the next pic of the block inlay, looks like old vinyl: Anyway, she has tone by the truckload, weighs a ton (which is cool - I'm not an old fart yet!) and feels and plays as good as any other other geetar I've held/played. I thought my 1978 IC400 couldn't be beat, but this one I think does it.

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