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2-12-01
Posted on Monday, February 12, 2001 - 7:17 pm:   

I have a black neck-thru Artist-style Japanese-made guitar that I'm having trouble identifying. The SN is L824328, which I gather means it was made in 1988 -- If not, then it would have to be '82, and I don't think this guitar is that old. The body is very similar to the new cheap AX/GAX guitars, with no binding, but it's clearly much better put together than the Korean bolt-on jobs. It's got a tunomatic bridge with a fine-tuner tailpiece that I assume was an add-on. The stock pickups are history and it's got two different EMG active PUs that I haven't ID'd, but I think one of them is an 81. It's got the V-V-T setup as opposed to the normal two tone knobs, and there are a pair of two-position mini-switches for splitting the coils on the stock pickups (these aren't hooked up since the EMGs can't be split).

Can anybody verify the year this guitar was made, and give me a clue as to what model it is? Thanks in advance
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Mark Munchenberg
Posted on Monday, February 12, 2001 - 8:02 pm:   

2-12-01,

Your guitar was made in December of 1982. Post 1987 serial numbers only start with a C (for Cort factory in Korea) or an F (for Fugi-Gen-Gakki factory in Japan).

Earlier serial numbers carried a letter that indicated the month of manufacture ie: A = Jan, B = Feb, etc.

Try and post some pics to help us identify.

Regards,

Mark
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Scott
Posted on Tuesday, February 13, 2001 - 2:06 pm:   

Thanks, Mark. I knew that the letter in post-87 SN's was supposed to ID the factory, but didn't know what factories could be indicated. Also wasn't sure if just the first digit or the first two indicated the date. I gotta say, other than a couple of minor paint chips, this axe is in pretty good shape if it's an '82. Just knowing the year should help with the model ID.

I don't have any pics I can post right now, but am have a couple of shots left on a roll I'll get developed this week so hopefully within a few days.

Regards,
Scott
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JohnS
Posted on Tuesday, February 13, 2001 - 2:29 pm:   

Scott:

Your description doesn't match anything in the '82 Artist/Musician catalog. It's manufacture date is far enough into '82 that it might be found in the '83 catalog (sorry I don't have that catalog).

I picture would be very helpful.
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Scott
Posted on Monday, April 16, 2001 - 2:13 pm:   

Took me a while to get the film developed, but here finally is a picture of the mystery '82 (or '83) black Artist I was asking about a couple of months ago. I've never posted a pic w/ straight HTML, so let's see if this works:

'82 plain jane Artist
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Steve (Gitfiddle1)
Posted on Monday, April 16, 2001 - 3:02 pm:   

Scott,

It's an AR30. This model doesn't show up in the regular catalogs. There may have been a flier or supplement for them, but I've not seen it.

Steve

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