Brand New ’83’ AM 255 … No Really!!!

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Author Message   Mauiboy Username: Mauiboy Registered: 4-2007 Posted on Thursday, August 02, 2007 - 3:51 am:    Click here: Vintage Ibanez Artist AM 255 SUPER NICE GUITAR - (item 230151603937 end time Jul-16-07 17:34:49 PDT) I have to admit I’m kind of surprised this guitar was never mentioned here. I was glad when I was bidding on it. Since the seller was willing to ship Worldwide, I figured the power of the Euro dollar would price me out. But that didn’t happen and I’ve had this guitar for a week now. I’ve finally finished setting it up and thought I would share my joy with you folks. It’s absolutely beautiful!!! Everything about this guitar is like new! If it had been in a glass case for the last 24 years I would expect it to look like this. The velvet tuners are like … Velvet! The gold hardware is bright and shiny like … Gold! The frets are like brand new! I have an ‘87’ AM 205 that I consider almost perfect but this one has completely changed my view of what makes a 10. I would say the only flaw is the binding around the body didn’t yellow in a pleasant vintage way. (kind of more like it’s burnt in a lot of spots, you can see it in the pictures) Maybe because it spent so much time in it’s case? Anyone have an opinion about yellowing? I did have to step up and pay what I consider quite a bit of money for this guitar. But I decided unless they do a reissue of the AM 255 I would never find one in this ‘like new’ condition. I’ve been playing an AM 255 on stage 6 nights a week for about 7 years now. I have 18 guitars maybe 12 are vintage Ibanez and no matter what I take to work I always switch to my AM 255 by the second set. It just fits me perfectly, and truly makes me a better player. Interestingly the serial numbers between my new and old AM 255s is only 156 #s apart. I guess they might have been made in the same week. By the way does anyone know how many 255s were made? I know they only made them in ‘83' & ‘84’ but I’ve never read a figure on how many were made. (A side note: I’ve read some complaints about the tremolo system on these guitars and in fact have always played mine blocked, but this one is so smooth the guitar never goes out of tune, I’m leaving it intact.) So I’m very happy, and since my wife and kids are on vacation visiting Grandma and Grandpa I thought I would share this with you. I know you folks love happy endings. (not just the massage kind) Aloha, Evan   Mauiboy Username: Mauiboy Registered: 4-2007 Posted on Thursday, August 02, 2007 - 3:57 am:    I always have trouble with links. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1 &item=230151603937&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=013 Ebay Item #230151603937   Jimmys Username: Jimmys Registered: 5-2003 Posted on Thursday, August 02, 2007 - 7:01 am:    Really nice guitar Evan. I saw this one but couldn't justify getting another guitar and figured it would go pretty high given its condition. I have as many as you but am culling down to a more manageable number now. I always wanted an Ibanez semi with a trem and the AM255 was my pick...until I found a black AM75 with a locking Floyd Rose (Edge) trem. It is the same size as the AM205/255 but has the locking trem. You are so lucky that yours stays in tune. I have never had a non-locking system that stays in tune. So, I am happy with the AM75. I also have an AR350MST with the same trem system. It weighs a ton and so the AM75 is easier to use. Have fun with it.   Mauiboy Username: Mauiboy Registered: 4-2007 Posted on Friday, August 03, 2007 - 6:36 am:    Hi Jimmys, Yes, those 75s look very cool. I've almost pulled the trigger on one of those a few times. It's actually the Floyd Rose that stopped me. That locking system on the nut doesn't seem very adjustable. I have an '85' Jackson/Charvel Ibanez copy with that system and I've never tried taking a nut file to it, but it seems like it would be very hard to lower. I bought that guitar new in '85'. It's one of only 3 Ibanez that I purchased new. I still have all 3. Aloha, Evan   Jimmys Username: Jimmys Registered: 5-2003 Posted on Friday, August 03, 2007 - 9:32 am:    Yeah the nut looks pretty solid and hard to adjust/file if you had to. The height seems right on my guitar though so I am happy with it. I have one Ibanez that I bought new in 83 (an AR300CS). All the others were acquired over time, second hand.   Wildfield Username: Wildfield Registered: 5-2005 Posted on Friday, August 03, 2007 - 9:44 am:    Evan, Gorgeous axe. Congratulations! Darryl   Mauiboy Username: Mauiboy Registered: 4-2007 Posted on Friday, August 03, 2007 - 6:24 pm:    Hi Darryl, Thank you. I feel very lucky to have it. Ironically I think this guitar has turned me into a collector. I haven't taken it to a gig yet and I'm not sure when I will. All my gigs are so close to the ocean and the salt air isn't very friendly to beautiful guitars. The thought of corrosion on this instrument seems sinful. Aloha, Evan   Mwmeci Username: Mwmeci Registered: 4-2007 Posted on Sunday, August 05, 2007 - 9:30 am:    Wonderful example you got there. My Am205's binding has that burnt look, which isn't very appealing. The binding on my AM50, Am300, and GB30 is beautiful. Anyone else find the AM205, 255's tend to have the burnt looking binding? Why?   Mauiboy Username: Mauiboy Registered: 4-2007 Posted on Sunday, August 05, 2007 - 3:21 pm:    Hi Mwmeci, Yes, I'm curious about that. My '87' 205 has the same problem. (although not as severe) However my other '83' 255 doesn't. I wonder if it has to do with being out of the case all the time as a players guitar. Anyone? Aloha, Evan   Mauiboy Username: Mauiboy Registered: 4-2007 Posted on Tuesday, August 07, 2007 - 7:04 pm:    Here are the questions asked in this post. I know there are some very knowledgeable people out there ... Any answers for our inquiring minds? Anyone have an opinion about yellowing? Anyone else find the AM205, 255's tend to have the burnt looking binding? Why? I wonder if less yellowing has to do with being out of the case all the time as a players guitar? By the way does anyone know how many 255s were made? I know they only made them in ‘83' & ‘84’ but I’ve never read a figure on how many were made.   Rockon2112 Username: Rockon2112 Registered: 3-2007 Posted on Friday, August 10, 2007 - 10:35 pm:    My '81 AR1200 has that same splotchy yellowing, but only on the body binding, the neck and headstock binding have a natural "aged" look that's pretty uniform. My '78 2619 doesn't suffer from the same fate, it looks like it's brand new. I've been curious about that too... possibly a different binding material?   Mauiboy Username: Mauiboy Registered: 4-2007 Posted on Saturday, August 11, 2007 - 7:47 pm:    That's right Rockon, just the body, not the neck and headstock. The odd thing is my 255s are only 156#s apart. (serial number wise) But the one I've been playing on stage all these years has hardly any of the splotchiness. The one that's been kept in it's case all of it's life is very splotchy looking. I wish we could get Gemberbier interested in this. He probably knows the answers to these questions. Aloha, Evan   Rockon2112 Username: Rockon2112 Registered: 3-2007 Posted on Sunday, August 12, 2007 - 2:19 pm:    You know Evan, you might be on to something with the "in the case" argument. The guy I picked up my AR1200 from said it spent most of it's life in the case. Every other aspect of the guitar would suggest it saw very little play time, virtually no fret wear and the harware's in almost new condition. Hmmm?

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