I picked up a UV7BK!

[MrAngry]

I was at a local pawn shop recently and found an older UV7BK, all original but very well played to say the least. It has the lo-pro trem but not the all access neck joint so I'm guessing it's a late '90 or '91 model. I don't see too many like this so I'm just wondering what they're worth, I even got the original case with it. Not sure if I'll ever be a real 7 string player but it was an interesting piece and I knew it was an older model so I grabbed it.
Any input as to its actual age or value would be appreciated. Thanks!!

[EnigmaUV7]

Does it have silver pole pieces on the middle single coil? If so it is one of the earliest models, like mine, probably around '90 or '91. Later models had black pole pieces for the single like the humbuckers.

Plan on spending some time getting it set up just right, 7s demand some tweaking in my experience. (Then again I tweak all my guitars quite a bit).

And plan on getting a GOOD amp to bring out the best. For years I played mine with a 2x12. And it's funny to play a 7 through a small single speaker practice amp and hear it attempt to keep up with the bass. These guitars DEMAND a 4x12 or more to get the full effect! I play a MESA/Boogie MKIII with stacked Marshall 2x12 and 4x12 cabinets now, talk about a mean sound!!!

[MrAngry]

I just took a look at it and the pole pieces are black like the other PU's
Were these made in Hollywood like most of the early high end Ibanez stuff?

[RCB]

It made in Japan. The only made in USA Ibanez were the american masters and the USRG.

I dont live in the USA, but I say its worth about U$S 650-850 (depends on condition). Its a good guitar for a swirl project!

[Two hands31]

You can find out the year by the serial number. If you post it here someone will be along quickly to help you I'm sure.

[MrAngry]

The serial # is 2564xx so it's a 1925 model then huh go figure obviously the serial #s were kinda arbitrary back then.

[Rich]

http://www.ibanezrules.com/catalogs/...nce/dating.htm

JEM - UV - JEM plates are 6 digit and the first 2 digits is the production year while the last 4 is the consecutive number JEM built from inception. 870060 is an 87' and the 60th JEM built. Except for the very first batch of 90' UV plates that began 00, UV plates are also dated by the first 2 numbers. 00 is a 90', 90 is a 90', 91 is a 91'. A Universe plate 912787 would denote a production year of 91 and the 2787th Universe built. Where things go astray is when the Jem line went to AANJ in 93'. This is where you start seeing consecutive numbered plates on the remaining regular joint models that no longer indicate year. 160225 was a very odd plate number I came across on a Jem. Most that I'm aware of are what I call 250k plates [25****] and current 2003' FP15th's have 260K plates [26****] meaning there have been over 10,000 Jem's made since they deviated from the serial plate numbering. No matter as most can be dated by the headstock serial # but there will be guitars without them and the plate number will be the only number available. Late BFP's with direct mount pickups for example which bear these 160k/250k plates and no headstock sticker. The UV plate numbers also changed to these consecutive plates and will be found on late UV7BK's in both green dot and silver. Universe plate 912787 would denote a production year of 91 and the 2787th Universe built.. Universe number 250435 could be a 96' UV7 green dot and the 435 indicates the 435th plate. Pinning these guitars down to closer than a 2 year window would be tough. This actually makes alot of sense from a manufacturing stance as they no longer had to order plates that denoted year of production and could just order consecutive numbered plates without care to year. They would no longer be restricted to using a specific plate in a specific year and any batch of plates would be good forever.

[MrAngry]

I'm pretty sure it's a '91 model by the old style neck joint, the lo-pro trem and the middle PU has black pole pieces. I kinda wanted to show that you can't always tell the year by the S/N, it wouldn't be the 1st time I've come across something like this

[Andelusion]

MrAngry how much did you pay for it?

Am i going to be insanely jealous if this is another one of those amazing pawn shop bargains? lol!

[MrAngry]

All I can say is it was a pretty good deal

[MrAngry]

All I can say is it was a pretty good deal

[Andelusion]

How much of a good deal?

[MrAngry]

Not as good as the '64/'65 Strat I bought in '86 for $100 that turned out to be a transition model, the neck is stamped Dec '64 and the pickups have 1/9/65 on them, 2 days after Leo sold the company! I really blew it on that deal though cuz the shop owner had a '59 Gibson les paul jr hanging next to it for the same price and I didn't buy it or the Super reverb amp on the floor. Doh!!!