2405 - Info and fair price ?

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Author Message Russellw (Russellw) Posted on Saturday, December 22, 2001 - 3:21 am:    I've come across a 2405 Custom Agent from pre-Serial days - it has the torch logo on the headstock and fancy mandolin style inlays. The tailpiece is another fancy looking item. I'd appreciate any thoughts on a fair value for this axe and info from anyone who has played one given that I'll be buying it unplayed. Cheers Russ Johns (Johns) Posted on Saturday, December 22, 2001 - 6:48 pm:    Russell: I'm not sure what you mean by the tailpiece being "another fancy looking item." The tailpiece should be a plain, bar-type, just like an LP. I have one, the same preserial number era. The neck has a more rounded profile than the Artists. The frets should be smaller and thinner. But it's not an uncomfortable neck to play. The tuners should be star backed with screws top and bottom. It's very light. That's because it's a laminate of many pieces of mahogany, sandwiched between two thin layers of birch. The top is also hollow under the pickups and behind the tailpiece. This construction method is the most disappointing aspect of the guitar, to me. We can only dream what this guitar would have been like if it had a solid mahogaony body with maple cap. That's what the 2675 was for, I guess. Johns (Johns) Posted on Saturday, December 22, 2001 - 10:02 pm:    If you're a Custom Agent lover, check out this thread for a special treat: Vintage & Custom Electrics: Ever seen a fancy Custom Agent? Russellw (Russellw) Posted on Sunday, December 23, 2001 - 5:17 am:    Hi John Thanks for the info. All I've got at the moment is a fairly ordinary photo - I've asked for a better one - but the tailpiece isn't much like any of the LP's I've seen (or have). The price is fairly high (even in US$) but it's in very good nick from what I can gather. I've included one of the pics I do have for comment. Thanks again Russ Russellw (Russellw) Posted on Sunday, December 23, 2001 - 5:23 am:    John I followed the link you mentioned and have to say that this guitar looks like the one on the far left of the pics you posted towards the end of the page. Thanks again Russ Johns (Johns) Posted on Sunday, December 23, 2001 - 8:40 am:    Russell: Here's a picture of the bottom end of my CA. The tailpiece is the standard item used on most LP replicas that Ibanez made. When I say tailpiece, I'm refering to the hardware, not the MOP inlay behind the tailpiece. BTW, the pickguard in your picture is not original. This is fairly common (as well as changing bridges) because it's a goofy looking guard. One man's ceiling is another man's floor. These typically go for $500-$700, in the US, depending on the condition. The highest price I've seen was on ebay last year. I think it was $1200 or $1300. I have no idea why; there was nothing significant about the guitar. Dealers tend to ask for $900 or so, tauting how rare and collectible they are and then citing every "myth" they've ever heard. (no Eric Clapton had nothing to do with it's design.) They are not that rare, they are usually modified or typically suffer from cracks or busted/repaired headstock scrolls. The solid black and maroon are rarer than the brown burst. The weirdest thing is that they were also sold under other names, such as Memphis and Electa. I don't like to speak negatively about an Ibanez guitar, but this model is priced because of it's novelty and not it's quality of construction. That's my personal opinion. Russellw (Russellw) Posted on Sunday, December 23, 2001 - 5:03 pm:    Thanks for all the help John From the pic I had I couldn't tell that was a MOP inlay - that's why I thought it was part of the tailpiece. I personally prefer the original pickguard but could well understand why it was changed. Given that the asking price is around the US$850 mark (and I've been offered another one at US$800) AND because I buy guitars to play, I think I'll give this model a miss. The same guy has (what he claims to be)a PF320 (pic enclosed) but which I'm fairly sure is a PF230. Given that I want to add one of the three pup models to my collection this might be a better deal (and the price is a fair bit less than the CA). Your opinion would be appreciated on these as players. Cheers Russ Fredb (Fredb) Posted on Monday, December 24, 2001 - 1:21 pm:    Was reading the items about 2405 construction, it's sort of a foggy memory but could've swore that I played a (heavy) solid body, serial numbered Custom Agent at a guitar show a long time ago. Maybe some other folks might register in to verify whether they made fully solid versions in some later production runs, would be useful to find out for certain. Russ, Can mention a quick take on the PF230, the Performers have very fast necks, and like the bolt-on LP copies, the bolt-on versions of the Perfomer are generally the kind of bolt-ons that "don't know it" (i.e. still sustain well). May need to change the wiring to get the best tonal options from the PF230, ala the Frampton wiring so that the middle pickup can be blended in all positions. Happy holidays to all!! Fred Russellw (Russellw) Posted on Monday, December 24, 2001 - 6:16 pm:    Fred Thanks for the info on the PF230. Happy holidays to all Russ Russellw (Russellw) Posted on Wednesday, December 26, 2001 - 6:59 am:    Hi guys Hope you had a great festive season. Well I decided to grab the PF230 - seemed like a fair price and from the rest of the photos the guy sent it's in probably 9/10. Hate to stretch the friendship but I'd appreciate comment on a couple of other models the guy has (may as well ship 'em in pairs) - there's a '79 AR300CS in good condition - a late 70's Musician MC300 in VGC and what I think from the photos he's sent is a 2457 VariTone (a 335 style guitar with a six position tone switch (?), a lyre style trem and 2 Super 70 pups. Having mainly played the SG and LP style Ibanez guitars I'd be happy to hear comments on these instruments from anyone whose played them. There's a fairly wide price range from top to bottom of them (like about US$600 to US$1050) so any comments on their relative worth would help ease the decision. I'm leaning towards the 335 even with the VariTone as it seems unusual. From a personal viewpoint I like the action of the SG copies but prefer the neck and tonal qualities of the LP's (being mostly a 50's-70's rocker). It will be interesting to see how the Performer shapes up. Cheers Russ Russellw (Russellw) Posted on Thursday, December 27, 2001 - 5:39 pm:    Hi guys Hope you had a great festive season. Well I decided to grab the PF230 - seemed like a fair price and from the rest of the photos the guy sent it's in probably 9/10. Hate to stretch the friendship but I'd appreciate comment on a couple of other models the guy has (may as well ship 'em in pairs) - there's a '79 AR300CS in good condition - a late 70's Musician MC300 in VGC and what I think from the photos he's sent is a 2457 VariTone (a 335 style guitar with a six position tone switch (?), a lyre style trem and 2 Super 70 pups. Having mainly played the SG and LP style Ibanez guitars I'd be happy to hear comments on these instruments from anyone whose played them. There's a fairly wide price range from top to bottom of them (like about US$600 to US$1050) so any comments on their relative worth would help ease the decision. I'm leaning towards the 335 even with the VariTone as it seems unusual. From a personal viewpoint I like the action of the SG copies but prefer the neck and tonal qualities of the LP's (being mostly a 50's-70's rocker). It will be interesting to see how the Performer shapes up. Cheers Russ

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