| Author |
Message |
Petruz
Username: Petruz
Registered: 05-2004
| | Posted on Monday, October 24, 2005 - 2:15 pm: | |
http://cgi.ebay.it/IBANEZ-AS-200-GIBSON-es335-335-BLONDE-NATURAL-AS200_W0QQitemZ 7360587251QQcategoryZ2384QQssPageNameZWD2VQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
seller says it's an '80, but i think it's an '88... anyway it's a beauty. |
Funkle
Username: Funkle
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Monday, October 24, 2005 - 4:05 pm: | |
That's a nice one alright. Look at that mahogany neck and beautiful flame. You are right about it being an '88, based on the SN and headstock. |
Johns
Username: Johns
Registered: 02-2001
| | Posted on Monday, October 24, 2005 - 6:12 pm: | |
Petruz:
I love Blondes!
Here's an ICW-friendly version of the ebay URL, please use it if possible:
http://www.qksrv.net/click-1802666-10381315?loc=http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI .dll%3FViewItem%26item%3D7360587251 |
Petruz
Username: Petruz
Registered: 05-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 25, 2005 - 3:25 am: | |
i wouldn't dare to say that 88's AS200 are better than 80's quality-wise, but the looks of the late eighties semiacoustic ibanezes are just terrific. in my opinion this kind of slimmed-down headstock is the prettiest ibanez ever made, and the "d'acquisto" f-holes are of unsurpassed elegance. |
Guitartim
Username: Guitartim
Registered: 04-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 25, 2005 - 11:02 am: | |
This 17 year old blonde is soon to be MINE!
I worked out a trade with the owner and it will be shipped to her new home! I've lusted after one of these Japan-only AS200NT's for years. Tone report to follow.
Now the hard part...waiting for delivery. :-( |
Wildfield
Username: Wildfield
Registered: 05-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 25, 2005 - 12:07 pm: | |
"This 17 year old blonde is soon to be MINE!" - Guitartim
Wow, congratulations!} Looking forward to your follow up post, once the guitar arrives. |
Bigmike
Username: Bigmike
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 25, 2005 - 1:35 pm: | |
Guitartim,
You bringing that baby to the "Duck Breath Inn" for a road test with the Dumble and Hale's Comet Pedals ??? Oh BABY !! That's a real beauty. SO, I have at least a chance to LOOK at it in person, cool...
Nice Score |
Guitartim
Username: Guitartim
Registered: 04-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 25, 2005 - 2:49 pm: | |
Thanks guys. I'll have to wait a couple weeks for the 'coast-to-coast-exchanges' to finalize. At least he does not live in Italy! Close, however...New Jersey. (LOL) The seller is a great guy to work with over the phone and via emails. And his other personal favorites are two AS100's!
Also, he now knows that the 'sold' AS200 is an '88 too.
So the tone reviews and in-person visits will be slightly delayed...but will happen!
Damn, I hate waiting for a new baby!! ;-{ |
Johns
Username: Johns
Registered: 02-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 25, 2005 - 5:29 pm: | |
GuitarTim:
In NJ, huh? Never heard of Tommy's House Wayward Guitars. Do you know what town he's located in? Maybe I can run over there and play it before he packs it up.  |
Guitartim
Username: Guitartim
Registered: 04-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, October 27, 2005 - 12:00 pm: | |
Johns:
The seller is located in Sewell, NJ. Email him at:
www.guitartom.net
Let me know if you connect before it leaves the East coast. Tell him I referred you. :-)
Tim |
Guitartim
Username: Guitartim
Registered: 04-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, October 27, 2005 - 8:09 pm: | |
The original auction photo is gone, but here is a shot of the AS200 (her name is 'Blondie'):
 |
Guitartim
Username: Guitartim
Registered: 04-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, October 27, 2005 - 8:14 pm: | |
Try this link:
http://www.kodakgallery.com/BrowsePhotos.jsp?&collid=556021904106&page=1&sort_or der=0&favorites=true |
Johns
Username: Johns
Registered: 02-2001
| | Posted on Friday, October 28, 2005 - 10:16 am: | |
GuitarTim:
That link leads to a login page. I can't seem to find a way in to look at your pictures. Is there something special that you need to do to share your pics?
Sewell's not that close to me, so I won't be able to get a gander at it before it ships (if it hasn't already). |
Guitartim
Username: Guitartim
Registered: 04-2001
| | Posted on Friday, October 28, 2005 - 10:25 am: | |
John:
PC breakdown preventing picture posting! Aaargh.
Please check your email for a little help. |
Johns
Username: Johns
Registered: 02-2001
| | Posted on Friday, October 28, 2005 - 10:54 am: | |
Here's pictures of Tim's blonde AS200:
 |
Wildfield
Username: Wildfield
Registered: 05-2005
| | Posted on Friday, October 28, 2005 - 11:56 am: | |
Holy cow! It's gorgeous. Congratulations again. |
Guitartim
Username: Guitartim
Registered: 04-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, October 30, 2005 - 4:10 pm: | |
Thanks Wildfield,
Man, I can't stand this waiting! I suspect it will take another week or so. At least my G.A.S. pains have subsided...for now. :-)
I'll report back after the baby is delivered.
Tim |
Guitartim
Username: Guitartim
Registered: 04-2001
| | Posted on Monday, November 07, 2005 - 2:28 pm: | |
Just got a call from home...the AS200NT has arrived!!!
DHL delivered it a day early...and I'm stuck here at work! Aaaargh! How can I concentrate now?!
Cough, cough, sniff...uh, hey boss, I think I'm getting sick...must go home and play...um, I mean rest! Yea, right.
This is going to be one long day. |
Wildfield
Username: Wildfield
Registered: 05-2005
| | Posted on Monday, November 07, 2005 - 3:10 pm: | |
Looking forward to hearing more about this guitar, once you have had a chance to play it. |
Bigmike
Username: Bigmike
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Monday, November 07, 2005 - 3:47 pm: | |
Tim,
Aren't you having a delayed case of food poisoning from eating at my place Friday ??? LOL... Oh man it's gonna be awesome to see this Rare Bird...
Big |
Johns
Username: Johns
Registered: 02-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 08, 2005 - 9:23 am: | |
Tim:
It's been almost 20 hours since we've heard from you! Can you put down the AS200 for a second and tell us about it? |
Guitartim
Username: Guitartim
Registered: 04-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 08, 2005 - 11:20 am: | |
Whew! I kinda feel like the bridegroom of a supermodel and all of his buddies are waiting outside the honeymoon suite for me to give a report. 
OK here it is: Blondie is even more beautiful than the photos. Exact same finish as a GB10NT, so it's difficult to see the incredible wood figure in photos...but in person...WOW! She has subtle bookmatched flame maple on both the top and back. Her 3 pc. mahogany/maple/mahogany neck is straight as an arrow and just a bit slimmer than her 2630 older sister's. Intonation is spot-on up the entire fretboard. Frets are smaller, so great for chordial playing or linear solos, not so for big bends. For a 17 year old, she has not seen much playing time. The last two owners were very gentle with her. The gold has much of its original color, with only the stoptail and bridge showing much patina fade. Even the pickguard looks great, with minimal pick scratch marks. It may have been replaced however.
This is my first Artstar, so the headstock took me a minute to get used to...OK about 10 seconds! It is more delicate and elegant appearing than the Artist headstock, but I like the almost straight string pull. Binding, Ebony, Abalone/Pearl inlays, Electronics are freakin' perfect! One of her most visually striking features is the skunk tail 3 pc. neck which extends fully to the tip of the headstock.
Tone Report: She is a bit brighter than my Super 58 loaded 2630. But man, does she have sweet spots and overtones. The bridge p'up is especially sweet and powerful (maybe it got a couple more windings?). Both pickups on is great sounding with the articulate and smooth neck pickup and the powerful, crisp snap of the bridge. And the tri-switch is amazingly useful since connected to the neck p'up. (The 2630 tri-switch is connected to the bridge and sounds thin anemic...but funky). Both of the AS200's Super 58's have a bit more juice than the 58's in the 2630. Pickups can vary slightly, so no big deal. It pushes my Boogie Mk IV into overdrive a tad bit sooner than the 2630, but is super clean with the volume backed off. NO scratchy pots!! Smooth tone pots and volume swells are no problem.
It came with a Japanese language instruction booklet, additional serial number labels, truss rod key, great faux leather HSC, and original Japanese warranty card! Maybe I'll fill it out...Nah! Someone at the factory wrote 'AF200AV' on the card by mistake. The inside lable says 'AS200NT' Made in Japan.
Overall: The Artstar AS200NT sounds, feels and looks gorgeous. She is a keeper. Tonite...it's me and Blondie, back to the honeymoon suite with a 'Do Not Disturb' sign on the door! |
Wildfield
Username: Wildfield
Registered: 05-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 08, 2005 - 12:39 pm: | |
Wow, 20 hours with a super model. It's a wonder you're still standing.
Congratulations. Sound like you got a superb axe. |
Guitartim
Username: Guitartim
Registered: 04-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 8:22 pm: | |
Another blonde AS200NT just popped up on Ebay...with a low reserve! Looks sweet, but seller has only 1 prior sale.  Hmmm!
http://cgi.ebay.com/Classic-Ibanez-AS200-Guitar_W0QQitemZ7384294572QQcategoryZ33 043QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem |
Johns
Username: Johns
Registered: 02-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - 12:09 am: | |
Here's the ICW-friendly version of the blonde AS200. Please use it to place bids, if possible:
http://www.qksrv.net/click-1802666-10381315?loc=http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI .dll%3FViewItem%26item%3D7384294572 |
Funkle
Username: Funkle
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - 11:20 am: | |
D'oh! Why did you have to post those pretty pictures and that link!? I was perfectly happy with my one AS200AV, now that blonde is looking really good |
Aroee
Username: Aroee
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - 11:29 am: | |
don't worry about it, we all know that blondies are dumb ;) |
Guitartim
Username: Guitartim
Registered: 04-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - 6:39 pm: | |
It's instruments like that...that turns players into collectors!
Very rare, very beautiful, great playing guitar.
Nothing dumb about those blonde AS200's. |
Funkle
Username: Funkle
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - 6:57 pm: | |
I think the Blondes were Japanese market only, can anyone confirm?
Tim, I'd like to see how it compares with my '80. Maybe we need to get together and compare AS200s. |
Guitartim
Username: Guitartim
Registered: 04-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - 7:54 pm: | |
Funkle, that can be arranged. Big Mike and I have been waiting for a break in the weather and our respective schedules to hook up again. Let's plan on a post-Superbowl event. email: mitsnave@sprintmail.com
Yes, the AS200NT blondes were Japanese market only. Someone posted a Japan site with a blonde a couple years ago in front of a brown gigbag. That's when I got hooked on the search for one. I've only seen three escapees...one in Germany, mine and the current one for sale on Ebay USA.
If your '80 is an Artist and not an Artstar, you'll notice subtle differences in neck feel, frets, cutaway shape and f-hole design. Tone is guitar-specific and very subjective. Some are bright (like my Blondie) and others more mellow, even with the same Super 58's. Last night I put on a fresh set of D'Addario 11's. Fattened up and sweetened the tone.
I'd like to hear/play your '80 and I'll bring my 2630 and JSM100 (Mmmmmm!) to the party for other comparisons too.
Tim |