Calling all experts!! Need help in identifying this guitar!!

jwai · #1 11-20-2003, 05:26 AM

Hi everyone

, just got myself a ibanez usa custom. but i wasn't too sure. its finished in metallic black flakes on both the headstock and body. the "Ibanez" logo on the headstock itself is silver colored plated. it looks pretty cool. :P but the thing that puzzled me is that the neck plate itself reads A790104. from the information i've gathered, if it make sense, it shows that the guitar dated back from January 79. but ibanez haven't even created a usa custom line at all.

here is the link to the pictures.

http://community.webshots.com/album/100963119EKusLh

i will be absolutely thankful if someone can help me out here identifying this guitar. the pickups are dimarzios and it features a ibanez edge tremolo if i'm correct. bound on the headstock and neck with inlays. overall, it plays very well, and sounds awesome. nice action and feel. i really like it!!

what leaves me felt weird was that the serial number just doesn't make sense. probably the owner before me replaced it?

thank you in advance everyone!!!!

VanWyck · #2 11-20-2003, 08:27 AM

Really cool looking guitar! Sorry that I can't help with the identification, but I know that someone on this site will... Nice axe - how much did you pay?

vaijem777 · #3 11-20-2003, 11:31 AM

Something isn't right...I can't put my finger on it, but it might be the headstock. For some reason, the "u.s.a. custom" doesn't look correct. It could be something else, but it doesn't quite look 100% legit.

Look at the other true USA Customs: they've done graphics, exotic woods, American Master neck-thrus, etc. But...I don't recall ever having seen a plain opaque finished model. Looks like an RG770DX, but in a funky color. I HAVE seen a handful of standard RGs that had leftover USA Custom necks on them though.

Bottom line is, if you didn't pay TOO much and if it sounds and plays great, then you did ok

Rich · #4 11-20-2003, 11:38 AM

I remember seeing it on ebay and it didn't look right to me either, but, remember, H&S would do "custom" so who knows for sure

TAorama · #5 11-20-2003, 07:17 PM

It's not a RG770DX, because it has a reverse headstock and a rosewood fretboard. The DX's were maple and standard headstocks. The logo on the headstock is wrong, because it's a newer style "chrome" logo with the old-style "U.S.A. Custom" done in white/cream. Looks like someone either repainted an original USA Custom, or took the neck off one and stuck it on another RG body. The USAC's were about the only way to get the rosewood/sharktooth inlay necks w/ a reverse headstock. There's lots of unusual factory guitars out there, but I'd lean towards thinking that it was a combination of parts or a repaint. God knows, I've been wrong before!

Have you ever taken the neck or pickups out to see if there's any different colors in any of the routings?

As for the serial #, I think it means it's an '87 vintage part. Doesn't the first digit after the letter signify the last digit of the year?

jwai · #6 11-20-2003, 07:20 PM

hi guys, thank you so much for the replies.

it certainly gave me some idea on the custom shop models. when i got the guitar, i was wondering too about the "usa custom" logo on the headstock. but considering the models that officially came out of the USA custom models, the one that i have certainly doesn't fit into any of it. especially the neck plate!!!

Rich, you mentioned that the H&S do some custom models. are they specifically done based on whatever specs someone is looking for? is there any way if i can contact someone in ibanez to verify it? or do ibanez still keep the information in anyway?

i would certainly be happy if i can get something out of it. but all in all, this guitar do play awesome!!

jwai · #7 11-20-2003, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TAorama

Have you ever taken the neck or pickups out to see if there's any different colors in any of the routings?

i went through the entire guitar and the body was really clean. no signs of differnt colors or anything. infact the logo looks kinda real to me. but then again, i might be wrong.

i will try to get some upclose pictures asap. once again, thank you guys!! you guys are awesome!!!

Rich · #8 11-21-2003, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwai

Rich, you mentioned that the H&S do some custom models. are they specifically done based on whatever specs someone is looking for? is there any way if i can contact someone in ibanez to verify it? or do ibanez still keep the information in anyway?

H&S closed in 93', their records would be extremely valuable in the history of alot of guitars, especially the ones I'm spastic about, but they are lost and in all likelyhood will remain lost. Nobody in the company has any real incentive to look for them, and quite possibly no longer exist. ;/