Ibanez Talman Prestige series debuts at NAMM. My dreams come true?

guitarz.blogspot.com:

So, I posted about my desire for an Ibanez Roadstar Telecaster literally less than 15 minutes ago. Then I scroll through my news feed and see these from NAMM.

I'm not sure what to think. What I do know is that I love the styling of the two that are more T-style. I also know that they are made in Japan and will run around $1100. The Talman resurrected with a maple fretboard and Telecaster vibe?

Why yes, you have my attention.

R.W. Haller

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Ibanez FR365TFB Sunburst - Tele Monday?

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As a fan of both telecasters and early Ibanez Roadstars I always have wished that Ibanez had produced a Telecaster shaped Roadstar. I had a 1972 Ibanez Telecaster that I regret selling, but still I wish for a Telecaster Roadstar.

Has anyone ever seen one?

In the meantime this Ibanez FR365FB will have to sustain me. All in all it's not a bad looking guitar though I'd prefer a maple fretboard and and older style headstock, before the points.

R.W. Haller

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Guitarz 5000th Post!

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Though I'm not one to typically celebrate milestones I'm in the unique position of having been a fan of Guitarz for a lot longer than I've been a contributor.

So, I thought since I was going to abuse my power I'd celebrate 5000 posts by revisiting some of my favourite guitars featured on this site from when I was just a fan. Feel free to let us know if you have a favourite as well.

When this Hayman 3030 was posted it was the first time I'd ever seen a Hayman guitar. I don't think I'd even heard of Hayman before, which is made extra odd by that fact that I've been a Burns fan/owner for a long time. Some histories are missed. I am still on the lookout for a 3030 like this one to add to my arsenal, should anyone have an extra one they would want to part with.

This Forrest Custom Telecaster with B-Bender makes the list because it has 3 elements that I love ( aside from the fact it's a tele ). It's green , it's paisley, and it has a b-bender. A trifecta of telecaster love.

The Burns Jet Sonic designed by Pagelli came in two different colours. A Blue and Red combination and the less understated Black and Yellow/white shown here. I admit that I like the black version much more. If you have a crazy and unique design why bother dressing it in crazy colours. Probably the second or third guitar I'll buy if I ever win the lotto.

Another Burns! This Magpie from 1980 is a great example of the design and has the added bonus of a 6 in-line tuner configuration which in my opinion makes more sense with this design. The bird on the headstock is a nice touch too.

I've never disliked a Daion, and the Savage is probably my favourite design. The only fault I see in this Savage is that the original pickups have been replaced with dimarzios. Not that that isn't possibly an upgrade, I just think I'd prefer it to be stock.

This Greco Brawler BR600 is a great example of 1970s made in Japan quality, only this time it's not a copy of an existing guitar. The curves on this guitar are great and I see a nod to a Tiesco Tulip.

My first guitar was a 1984 Ibanez Roadstar and looked almost exactly like this one. But mine was a very reserved black. I loved this one on first sight as it simultaneously made me feel nostalgic and go "wow". I'm not sure I would have had the courage to play a bright beauty like this in 1984, to stand out so obviously. But I'd play it with pride now.

There is a lot to like about this John Birch guitar. The modular pickups, the simple design, the symmetry, the arm-carve on the bouts, and not least, the colour. This is one of those designs that I'm surprised didn't catch on. I guess it was ahead of its time.

This Quest Manhattan  is another fine example of Japan getting it right in the 1970s and 1980s. When I first saw this guitar I coveted it so much that I came to within inches of buying a seafoam green version at a very inflated price. I made the right decision and passed on the purchase, yet why do I feel remorse?



This Northern SG holds a couple of unique distinctions for me. Firstly, it's the only SG style guitar that I have loved the look of, even if it rails against all of my usual tastes. I cannot dislike this guitar.
Secondly, I'm pretty sure this is the first time Gavin posted a guitar that I sent him. It's really quite a beauty and is likely as playable as any 1970s Japanese guitar.


That's just the tip of the iceberg for my love of the guitars on this blog. Feel free to share your favourites as well.

R.W. Haller



© 2015, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - the blog that goes all the way to 11!
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Fretless Ibanez AF84E Jazz Guitar

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To my knowledge Ibanez never made a fretless version of this guitar so I must assume that this AF84E was modified to be fretless.

I'd love to hear a solid jazz player take a crack at this. I'm not sure if I could do it any justice. I have a fret dependancy, just as anyone who has heard me attempt the violin can confirm.

Currently listed at a very agreeable $400 Canadian

R.W. Haller

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Please read our photo and content policy.

Ibanez Roadstar with Evil Ernie comic book finish

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We looked at the Batman Raven guitar a little while back. It looks like the seller has done it again.

Here we see a mid 1980s Ibanez get the Evil Ernie treatment. The less obscure guitar gets a more obscure comic.

The seller says it is "perfectly playable but looks good on a wall too".
Which is a good thing, about the playability that is, since $500 would be a lot to spend on guitar-art.

R.W. Haller


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Please read our photo and content policy.

Rickenbacker 4001 Clone Bass Made in Japan. Matsumoku? Ibanez? Greco? Snowman?

guitarz.blogspot.com:

Here is a really nice example of a Rickenbacker clone just hanging out in the snow. I'm not sure if it's a testament to the Japanese build quality that it can endure the Canadian winter, or if the seller believes that it's an advantage to the sale. Perhaps they can throw in a set of snowshoes and a vinyl copy of Rush-Fly By Night ( By-tor be damned! ).

All in all this is a nice neck-through design that does justice to the original Rickenbacker it was made to copy

Currently listed at $700 Canadian

R.W. Haller






© 2015, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - the blog that goes all the way to 11!
Please read our photo and content policy.

Kawai S180 4 Pickup Hounddog Taylor Model from the 1960s

guitarz.blogspot.com:

Break out your sunglasses, it's going to get a little shiny around here.

Look at all the chrome on this hot rod.

Four pickups, rocker switches, and a tremolo arm that could easily be weaponized ( for some of the more unsavoury gigs ).

Does anyone else see a similarity to Ibanez Jet King guitars?

The high E being pulled so far out of alignment by the string tree is hurting my slightly OCD brain though

R.W. Haller





© 2015, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - the blog that goes all the way to 11!
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Ibanez Roadstar ll Stanley Jordan signature model RG600TK Super Ultra Rare! NOS! 1986

guitarz.blogspot.com:

Im a little surprised that this Ibanez Roadstar sold for only $380 US on eBay. I've seen lesser Roadstars sell for more.

My first guitar was a Roadstar and I still have it. It was the beginning of a long love affair with 1980s Ibanez guitars. I must admit that until I saw this auction I had not even heard of the Stanley Jordan signature model. I like the understated colour, the slight nod to a Rickenbacker, and the hardtail bridge.

I hope it went to a good home

R.W. Haller




© 2015, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - the blog that goes all the way to 11!
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Ibanez model ATDS10NT flat top acoustic guitar with tremolo

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Although uncommon, I have seen acoustic guitars equipped with tremolo arms before now, or should I say "vibratos" because as far as I can recall these have exclusively been arched-top acoustics equipped with Bigsby vibratos. This Japanese-made Ibanez model ATDS10NT circa 1983 is something else, as it has what appears to be a tremolo-arm mounted into an electric-style floating bridge, which is allegedly "fully functioning".

This item sold on eBay recently for US $599.

G L Wilson

© 2014, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - the blog that goes all the way to 11!
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Ibanez / Dega Bizarre Series "Biz Moon" freaky vintage Japanese guitar

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This is the kind of stuff that I really enjoy: freaky vintage guitars from Japan! This guitar has been the subject of much discussion today over on the Vintage Japanese Guitar Fanclub on Facebook. Its owner, Arjen, says it's an Ibanez but is unsure of the model. Others have insisted that it is a Dega.

From what I can work out from following the discussion is that these guitars were branded as both Ibanez and Dega, and were part of the appropriately names "Bizarre Series", with this model being known as the Biz Moon. It seems it would have been made circa 1966-67 and would have originally retailed for $115.95.

It really is quite a wonderful looking creation; I'd love to take to the stage with a guitar like this, if only to use it on just one song.

Thanks to Arjen and the guys of the Vintage Japanese Guitar Fanclub.

G L Wilson

© 2014, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - the blog that goes all the way to 11!
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1960s Ibanez "handcrafted by Goldentone" Model 5902 Bison Bass

guitarz.blogspot.com:

It seems funny to think that Ibanez - now a high prestige guitar manufacturer - were once just yet another Japanese brand churning out "copy" guitars. Here we see Ibanez copy a British manufacturer with this 1960s-era Ibanez Model 5902 Bass which appears to be an amalgam of several Burns designs, although it is particularly Bison-like in the horns. Quite who "Goldentone" were supposed to be, I couldn't say. It's probably just another random brand name that the Japanese factory thought would look impressive. Note the headstock with its 3+1 tuner layout - yet ANOTHER design pre-dating Music Man but that doesn't stop Ernie Ball thinking it's their intellectual property.

Currently listed on eBay UK with a starting bid of £400 and a Buy It Now price of £599.

G L Wilson

© 2014, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - the blog that goes all the way to 11!
Please read our photo and content policy.

Ibanez Ergodyne EDA 900 space-age ergonomic bass

guitarz.blogspot.com:

I'm guessing that this Ibanez Ergodyne EDA 900 Bass is so-called because the design is supposed to be ergonomic. It certainly looks rather space age - the silver finish only enhances this - but I can't help thinking that I'd feel awfully self-conscious if I had to strap this on at a gig. As well as the massive magnetic pickup that we can see in the picture, this bass also has a piezo pickup system, which would help explain the four control knobs.

Currently listed on eBay with a Buy It Now price of US $559.

G L Wilson

© 2014, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - the blog that goes all the way to 11!
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Ibanez Artcore Talman FTM60

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Another Talman variation in a long series, here is the thinline Ibanez Talman FTM60 in sea foam green finish and perloid pickguard, without the trademark Talman control plate but with a massive bridge that I never saw before on this model. The pickups are retrofit P94.

And like usually I this that this guitar is really a classic and I wonder why it's not built anymore… 

Bertram D

© 2013, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - the blog that goes all the way to 11!
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1992 Ibanez 540 P II Alex Skolnick Signature

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I'm not a fan of pointy guitars but I do love too-pointy guitars such as this Ibanez 540 P II Alex Skolnick Signature (I have no idea of who Alex Skolnick is, he seems to be renown as a fast guitarist, not an enviable skill in my opinion).

That's really a talent of Japanese guitar designers to be able to take a concept to its limits while always staying on the right side of the edge…

The extra long lower horn is perfect - and the neon pink finish is the killer detail… Still I wonder if I'd play this guitar!

Bertram D

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