Radius 540 R SK pink finish USA on eB...

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Author Message   Gemberbier Username: Gemberbier Registered: 5-2006 Posted on Saturday, July 28, 2007 - 6:46 am:    Ebay Item #330149616085 Made in USA, serial number: 881170 Notice that the serial number on this USA built guitar, was built up differently from the Japanese in 1988: NO LETTER and the last TWO digits of the year were used instead of only one. I'm not particularly into pink guitars, but this one is a BEAUT! So, I thought: "Grab some pics for the archives, guys!" BTW, some days ago I grabbed some pics of a gorgeous paisley green Ibanez... did I post them already? Guess I forgot... I know I have been working on the file size to get them under 100K... Anyway, here's the pink one. I think you're gonna like this even better than your T-shirt, Harry! Ginger   Mr_roadstar Username: Mr_roadstar Registered: 6-2002 Posted on Saturday, July 28, 2007 - 4:38 pm:    Where does it say "Made in USA" on that guitar? That serial number format shows up on a lot of Korean made models from 1988 'til the early 90s. The Bear   Gemberbier Username: Gemberbier Registered: 5-2006 Posted on Saturday, July 28, 2007 - 5:23 pm:    1726 Winchester Rd. Bensalem PA 19020 U.S.A. Do they have that address in Korea too? Ginger   Mr_roadstar Username: Mr_roadstar Registered: 6-2002 Posted on Saturday, July 28, 2007 - 5:51 pm:    The question is: "Where does it say "Made in USA" on that guitar? Answer: It doesn't Conclusion: The guitar is NOT a USA built item. You'll find that same neckplate on many, many guitars with F****** serial numbers as well. The plate has a USA address. It does not indicate the country of origin. USA made guitars usually have a plate with the North Hollywood CA address. Even that does not guarantee a USA build. The Bear   Gemberbier Username: Gemberbier Registered: 5-2006 Posted on Sunday, July 29, 2007 - 4:59 am:    Aha, that would be quite misleading... not so nice... IBZ USA pickups and a USA neckplate. So, there was probably some small removable sticker with the real country of origin? Your conclusion purely based on the fact that you don't see "made in USA" on it, is a bit premature. Until we see some evidence that it was made elsewhere, it could be made ANYWHERE (BTW, that includes the USA). So, based on your knowledge and experience, where do you think it was made? This was not a cheap axe: ƒ1,895.- in 1988 and ƒ1,995.- in 1989 according to my pricelists and this colour is not even mentioned. So, we're talking a $1,000.- guitar here, which was a lot of money in 1988. It was more expensive than a Fender American Standard, that went for ƒ1710.- in 1988. It would be reasonable to offer a USA guitar for that money. Ginger   Ibanezfreak1960 Username: Ibanezfreak1960 Registered: 3-2004 Posted on Sunday, July 29, 2007 - 4:06 pm:    Ginger, This has come up a lot of times. That address is HoshinoUSA's address. There has never been a factory there. I also believe that JD explained somehwre on this board about this. this is a Japanese axe.   Ibanezfreak1960 Username: Ibanezfreak1960 Registered: 3-2004 Posted on Sunday, July 29, 2007 - 4:08 pm:    I take that back it may be Korean! But not made in the USA.   Mr_roadstar Username: Mr_roadstar Registered: 6-2002 Posted on Sunday, July 29, 2007 - 6:45 pm:    "Your conclusion purely based on the fact that you don't see "made in USA" on it, is a bit premature. " Are you serious? Purely based? Premature? Have you forgotten that Ibanez is a brand name from a Japanese company? Other than the owners opinion, what basis do you have for claiming it's a USA build? The only USA made production models I know of are the American Master Series, ExoticWood Series, Graphic Design Series, and the USRG Series, all under the USA Custom program. These came out of North Hollywood California. Then there was the handful of 580T and 580B guitars from the aborted Bensalem project. And, of course, the one-offs and prototypes that show up all too often. Perhaps deceptive marketing is not found in Europe. However, here in the states it's been a problem for years. Do you have any idea how many imported Kramers had a Neptune NJ neckplate? I'll put my money on Japan as the build site. Although the serial number format is like that found on Korean models, the Edge bridge is indicative a Japanese model. Also, neck plates can be changed. The Bear   Gemberbier Username: Gemberbier Registered: 5-2006 Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 2:03 am:    I don't know the opinion of the owner about the country of origin. He doesn't mention it. The only basis I HAD, was that neckplate and the fact that this colour was not in the 1988 and 1989 pricelists, which made me think "custom shop". I agree that if it's not USA, Japan is more likely than Korea. The use of a black plastic rectangular washer under the neckplate is typically FujiGen. They did that on the MIJ Fender Stratocasters in 1987-'88. Many players removed it, because it would be bad for the sustain. However, I had no complaints about it. No, we have no "Uithoorn, Holland" neckplates here. But then, there is no quality myth about Dutch guitars. The guitar industry in the 50's, 60's and 70's made mainly crap here. We have a few good master luthiers and Hillman, which is in fact a luthier brand too. Last week I saw a BC Rich in a pawn shop for $125.- with a USA neckplate. It had a Gotoh trem and no place to put the arm in. That was probably not USA either... BTW, now you mention North Hollywood... that's where my first amp comes from... Polytone 104 MaxiBrute. I read George Benson used the same. Is there a lot of musical instrument industry in North Hollywood, or is it just coincidence? Ginger

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