2350?

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Author Message Karma1 Username: Karma1 Registered: 08-2006 Posted on Friday, August 04, 2006 - 6:56 pm:    Greetings all - just joined the forum since buying my first Ibanez (after decades of playing mostly Fenders). I recently picked up a beautiful Les Paul Custom replica which was billed as a "lawsuit" by the seller, but I've since been told that it's probably not. I'd really appreciate any help identifying it. I realize it would be much better to have a photo, but I don't have a digital camera at the moment. However I believe I can list enough of the main features that it might be recognizable to someone knowlegeable about these models - as many on this forum seem to be. Ok, here's what I've got: Black LP Custom w/bolt-on neck -tulip logo - "Ibanez" on headstock -rounded headstock (not open book) -no serial number - "made in Japan" on neck plate -white bindings on front, but does not extend over -the edge like most LP's. Also binding on back. -3 screw truss rod cover w/ "Custom" -Super 70 humbuckers - black open coil -chrome hardware except for gold Schaller tuners Hopefully that will provide enough info to identify it. If anyone has any info as to year, model, or anything else, please let me know. I see that the previous owner did some things to it, as the bridge pickup was in the neck position, a shim under the nut, and the gold Schallers (I thought the LP Customs came with all gold hardware). Anyway, thanks for any assistance you can provide. Lespaul Username: Lespaul Registered: 10-2004 Posted on Saturday, August 05, 2006 - 11:16 am:    Take a look here Karma1: http://www.ibanezcollectors.com/cgi-bin/discus/show.cgi?tpc=13&post=26599#POST26 599 What kind of fretmarkers does it have? Blocks starting at fret 1 or trapezoid starting at fret no.3? I have never seen a tulip style headstock without serial. Might be a late 1975 or an early 1976 from the transition period. Paul Karma1 Username: Karma1 Registered: 08-2006 Posted on Saturday, August 05, 2006 - 3:31 pm:    Paul - thanks for your reply. As far as the fretmarkers, it's got the blocks starting at fret 1. There were a few things that didn't add up from other descriptions and features I've read about, like the tulip style headstock with no serial number.Just to be clear, when I say tulip headstock I'm refering to the mother of pearl logo on the headstock, not the headstock itself, which is rounded and not open book. I also wondered about the binding which doesn't extend over the edge of the guitar but is only on the top surface (and on the back). All the pics of 2350's that I've seen have the full bindings on the top and the edge. This binding is more like pinstriping than a regular body binding. Is this considered a "lawsuit" model? Whatever it is, it's an awesome guitar. I love the way it feels, plays, and sounds. Although there were some irregularities with the pickups. The neck pickup is very strong and the bridge extremely thin and weak. So I installed a Gibson 500T humbucker that I had laying around into the bridge and it sounds amazing in there. After I did that I showed the guitar to a repair tech I know and he noticed that the pickup in the neck is actually a bridge pickup. So it seems that the previous owner may have switched the neck and bridge pickups - they are both Super 70's. The pickup in the neck sounds pretty good, but is a bit boomy, even after lowering it. I may replace it with a Duncan Jazz that I have from another guitar. I also put chrome covers on the pickups and it looks much better. Aren't the Custom models supposed to have gold hardware? I checked out the link you posted - thanks. By the way, that is one hell of a collection you have there - very impressive! So I guess you know a thing or two about these models. These are fantastic guitars. I can see why they have a loyal following. Thanks again for the info. Lespaul Username: Lespaul Registered: 10-2004 Posted on Saturday, August 05, 2006 - 4:51 pm:    I am still puzzled by the binding. I guess the headstock is this one: Correct or is it wider on top? Paul Lespaul Username: Lespaul Registered: 10-2004 Posted on Saturday, August 05, 2006 - 4:55 pm:    Most customs were equipped with gold hardware but there are chrome dressed models. We need more details to help you on that. BTW: make sure you KEEP THE SUPER70'S! Paul Karma1 Username: Karma1 Registered: 08-2006 Posted on Sunday, August 06, 2006 - 3:29 pm:    Paul- The headstock on my guitar looks like the one in the photo you posted. The only difference I can tell is that my truss rod cover is slightly different. Mine doesn't have quite as much white binding around it. Also, the bottom corners of my truss rod looks a little different - they are not quite as notched as the one in your photo. I'll try to borrow a digital camera and post a pic of the guitar. Also, I will definitely keep the Super 70's. I may even try putting them back in, now that I know that they had been switched (neck in bridge and vice versa). I'm curious to hear what they sound like in the proper postions. Thanks again for your help with identification. I may, at some point want to replace the chrome hardware with gold - do you know any good sources for parts? I know it's not interchangeable with Gibson hardware since Ibanez is metric. Lespaul Username: Lespaul Registered: 10-2004 Posted on Sunday, August 06, 2006 - 4:21 pm:    Let me guess, the truss rod cover looks like this: Lespaul Username: Lespaul Registered: 10-2004 Posted on Sunday, August 06, 2006 - 4:25 pm:    Or more likely, like this one (later model): Pitviper Username: Pitviper Registered: 08-2005 Posted on Sunday, August 06, 2006 - 4:32 pm:    Karma...I've tried a few different pickups in these type of guitars because I bought one without the original pickups... I can tell you one thing Imho for sure...the super 70's are THE pickups to have. I just aquired a pair of 70's from a member here and can't wait to install them. Karma1 Username: Karma1 Registered: 08-2006 Posted on Tuesday, August 08, 2006 - 3:04 pm:    Lespaul - my truss rod cover doesn't look like either of the ones you posted. The sides are a little straighter and not flared in as much. The bottom of mine doesn't have the little notches in the corner like these. It's actually a bit closer to the one you posted on Aug.5th, but not exact. Hey, maybe I scored a super rare one of a kind model that's worth a fortune. But seriously, I'm trying to borrow a digital camera to post a pic.In the meantime, I do appreciate your efforts. Pitviper - thanks for your input about the Super 70's. Definitely makes me want to give them another chance. I can't imagine why the previous owner put the neck pickup in the bridge and the bridge pickup in the neck - unless they never used the bridge pickup (it sounded really bad there). The bridge pickup sounds ok in the neck, but is really high output and a bit boomy. I didn't realize they were switched until I showed the guitar to a tech guy after I had pulled the bridge pickup and dropped in a Gibson 500T. Lespaul Username: Lespaul Registered: 10-2004 Posted on Friday, August 18, 2006 - 11:10 am:    PICS PICS PICS!!!!!!!!! Paul

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