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Howard Allan
Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:03 am:   

In '75-76 I purchaced three lefty copies. A Les
Paul sunburst, a stratocaster and a precision
bass. To this date I still use them, but some twit
wanted to offer me $400 for all three copies and
my Garnet sessionman amp. Almost sold, but it
didn't seem right as these babes are 25 years old
and still going. So - for my own satisfaction,
can anyone tell me the real worth of these
JohnS
Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:03 am:   

$400 for 3 lefty guitars and an amp? Sounds low...unless your stuff is beat up.

Take a look at ebay and try to find equivalents to your's. You'll get an idea of what the "market" will pay for your stuff.
Howard
Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:03 am:   

Good Idea to check e-bay. My stuff is far from
beat up, I just think the guy was trying to rip me
off for something I didn't know was as good as it
is. If anyone can give me a rough estimate as to
their worth, I would be grateful.
JohnS
Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:03 am:   

Howard:
Ibanez made a lot of different models of their replicas, some are rarer than others and would have a premium value attached.

For instance, a setneck LP copy would go for more than the average, run-of-the-mill LP boltneck. A great looking boltneck can still get into the $300 range, tho. So a setneck would be worth more ($100-150 maybe). Besides that some LPs were produced with laminated, arched tops made of birch and are hollow underneath, but others were solid maple carved caps over mahogony, just like the real deal. The latter are much rarer, kind of the holy grail of LP replicas.

So, you would need to supply more info, like serial numbers, any model numbers, stickers that identify the pickups, materials if known, do they have all original parts and come with original cases, overall condition, etc. Then we should be able to estimate something.
Howard
Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:03 am:   

Thanks, this gives me a place to start. I guess
I'll have to do some digging to see about those
details. Once I have them all, I'll stick em up
here and see what you think. I know that someone
mentioned serial numbers before but I,ve had a
devil of a time locating any. Any scoop on just
where those may be hidden? Also, without trying
to sound too clueless, just what is the difference
between a setneck and a boltneck? I think I can
guess but fill me in ple
JohnS
Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:03 am:   

Howard:

The serial number is usually on the back of the headstock or on the neck-bolt plate. But there are plenty of early Ibanezes that don't have any serial numbers. These are usually from the 60s/early 70s.

Without a serial number it makes it hard to be certain of the year. Then you have to rely on someone with old catalogs and price sheets to match up specific features. That's why every detail you can supply is important.

You could also try removing some of the control cavity covers and check to see if anything is written in there or a sticker is still hanging around. Some have found model numbers inside the pickup cavities.

A setneck is one that is mortised into the guitar body and glued in place. The bolt-on neck was popularized by Fender: the neck sits in a "pocket" and 3 or more bolts pass thru a plate on the back of the body, holding it in place. (Some of the newest Ibanez bolt-ons don't have a metal plate anymore. Makes the guitar look much better, IMO.)
howard
Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:03 am:   

John:
alright, here goes what I have so far.

The Bass has a number on the bolt plate - G773220
there is no indication as to what type of pickups
it has but they are factory origionals as I
have'nt changed them. The entire beast has all
origional parts, (yes even including the string
and I still play it live every weekend.

The strat copy has been a real witch hunt to try
and find a serial number on it. There is also no
indication of the type of pickups but they are
also all origional parts and is a boltneck. I'll
keep looking to see if I can find any more even if
I have to take it apart to do it.

The LP is definitly a setneck and a compleatly
solid body with only cutouts for the electronics.
As with the strat, finding a serial number is also
a witch hunt but I will keep looking

All three are in almost mint condition. (better be
as I still use them!) They sat in their cases
(also the origional cases) for quite a few years
before I pulled them back out. They all have a few
minor scratches from beltbuckles etc, but nothing
to make them junk. If I can find anymore details
I'll pass them on, Thanks
Mark Munchenberg
Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:03 am:   

Howard,

The bass is a 1977 model. The LP replica is possibly worth $400 by itself given that it's a setneck, all original, good to excellent condition, complete with original case. Set neck Ibanez Les Pauls are quite rare and stand up very well to Gibson originals in a side by side comparison.

If you take the bridge pickup out you will be able to see if yours has a hollow chamber under the arched top. If it has, your guitar is constructed with a pressed laminate arched top that is glued to the mahoghany body slab.

If there is no hollow, it's likely that it has the solid maple top glued to the mahoghany slab. Another way to tell is to simply tap the top immediately behind the tailpiece. If it sounds hollow - it is hollow.

If you have a solid maple top you have the creme de la creme of Ibanez Les Paul copies. If so it could be worth more than $400.

How about posting some pictures of your guitars here??

Mark
Mark Munchenberg
Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:03 am:   

Howard,

I didn't realise that these were left handed guitars. This could have a negative impact on value. The worth of an instrument is directly related to the demand for it. Generally speaking lefties are not in high demand.

If you wanted to maximise your resale price I'd suggest finding a web page out there devoted to left handed guitarists. You could even set up a new page and call it the "Left Handed Ibanez Collectors World".!!!!!!

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