Evaluating special guitars

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Author Message Johns (Johns) Posted on Wednesday, January 21, 2004 - 11:17 pm:    OK Captain, I'll start off. What's your thought process when you see something special, like the Limited Edition Artist that Meranti has shown us in the "Vintage & Custom Electrics: Here's a cool one - stars on fretboard Artist!" thread? I'd guess something this nice was a prototype meant for a trade show or endorser. Yes, no? If so, how does something like this get into the "mainstream"? Captainibanez (Captainibanez) Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2004 - 12:21 am:    John, from time to time you may have seen me say that certain guitars were a "spot production" model. In some cases,guitars like the one in question will be made for either the European or Japan Domestic or USA or Asia/Pacific regions only. Depending on what the model is, the quantities may vary from say 25 like our 25th Anniversary Pearl White Artist, 25th Anniversary Artwood Acoustic model and the 25th Anniversary Soundgear Bass. Now these are a classic example of spot production. These 3 models were made exclusively for Australis Music for the celebration of the 25th year of us being the distributor for Ibanez here in Australia..all individualy numbered from 1 to 25.I will post pics of these soon. Ihave number 17 Artist and love it.These were Korean built. Or the other side of the coin is were they will have say 50 to 100 pieces in a trial color or a different trem system or different pickups,etc. Or then there are the one off's made for trade shows like Meranti's one or like the LR10 prototype that Rex Goh once owned are the joy's of owning a endorsee's prototype. From what I understand over the years with info regarding some of these guitars the build numbers are not on file in Japan, so I hope I don't dissapoint people to often. I never say never, but there may well be that one time . Captainibanez (Captainibanez) Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2004 - 5:10 am:    Well all, as promised here are the pictures I hope of the Ibanez/ Australis 25th Anniversary models to show you a description of spot production models in action. Please note that these guitars are only available in Australia. The key features of these korean built models are. AW07 Artwood Acoustic. Solid Spruce top with Mahogany back and sides Snowflake Mother of Pearl inlays Grover machine heads Ebonized rosewood fingerboard and bridge Tortise shell styled pickguard Abalone Ibanez logos on headstock Gloss finish RRP: $1995.00 aussie AH250AHS Artist Solidbody Maple top / Mahogany body Set in Mahogany neck Super 58 pickups Pearl Button machine heads Pearl/Abalone/Pearl rectangular inlays Quick Change II tailpiece Chrome 3 way selector and pickup surrounds Black/white Hatbox style knobs RRP.1695.00 SR025AHS Bass Ash/Maple/Ash body Maple/Bubinga neck set in with Rosewood fingerboard with oval abalone inlays Vari-mid3 eq Accucast B4 bridge all hardware is chrome. RRP $1995.00 Each of these guitars are numbered and have a special inscription on the electronics cover plate,however the Artwood acoustic has a special metal plaque on the back of the headstock. The # 17 Artist I have at home is such a pleasure to play, it based of the specs of the 1978 Artist when we started distributing Ibanez, and the Pearl white finish is superb. Enjoy the pics Captain Ibanez \image \image Johns (Johns) Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2004 - 7:25 am:    Heres the Captain's pictures: Captainibanez (Captainibanez) Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2004 - 5:55 pm:    Thanks John Captain Ibanez gerard parnacott Posted on Monday, January 26, 2004 - 10:27 am:    Good morning, Captain. I own an Ibanez AH-20. The literature I've seen states that this guitar was introduced in 1986. According to the SN on my guitar, it was the first one produced in October 1985. It's white, and has an extra single coil in the middle with a five way selector switch. I bought it as a demo from a guitar shop in KC back around 1986 or so. What are the chances that this is some kind of prototype guitar and/or the first one they made? Captainibanez (Captainibanez) Posted on Wednesday, January 28, 2004 - 12:57 am:    Hi Gerard, sounds like someone has added bits to this guitar. I have the AH20 WH model in my 1985 catalogue and it should have only 2 x AH Special pickups a 3 way switch and a 1 volume , 1 tone, So I'd say that the previous owner may have had these added. The guitar should be white with a white headstock and a spider hanging from it's web above the AH20 model number, black hardware, 1 pce maple neck with a ebony finger board along with Alan Holdsworths signature in black writting on a rectangular pearl inlay at the 21st fret,and a basswood body with a large tone chamber that is routed out of the body underneath the pickguard. The pickups should have 12 adjustable poles on each pickup. Hope this info helps. Captain Ibanez Chris Lake Posted on Friday, March 05, 2004 - 4:32 pm:    Looking for info on a custom guitar. Its serial number is F337309. I cant seem to find that sequence of numbers in any search Mr_Roadstar (Mr_Roadstar) Posted on Saturday, March 06, 2004 - 3:07 pm:    Chris, All the serial number will tell you is factory and build date. F3***** translates to Fuji Gen Gakki (Japan) 1993. The other 5 digits are sequential production numbers. Gonna need a detailed description and/or photos to ID your gitfiddle. Cheers Steve chris hahn Posted on Tuesday, July 06, 2004 - 3:14 pm:    I have a rx series ibanez i am not sure if its a grx or just rx its the best guitar I've ever had just trying to find out a current list price and hoping to find another of the same just hoping you could possibly tell me a little about the series I have cause I can't seem to find it anywhere thanx Chris Keen (Keen) Posted on Wednesday, July 07, 2004 - 5:03 pm:    I bought an USCG Silversnake from `89 (890562). Is it any kinda 'rare' ? someone knows how many they made ? as i know this models was only in 1989 catalog, then disappeared. Cocobolo (Cocobolo) Posted on Monday, September 06, 2004 - 1:26 pm:    Ahoy Captain, I'm considering buying an Ibanez Gibson L-4 / L-5 copy from the law suit era. The guitar has no headstock name and no label or serial number. How do I verify it is an Ibanez and what year it was made. Also, did Ibanez ever build those early jazz guitar copies with solid spruce tops? Thanks for any help you can give.

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