My new (second hand) Talman 630!

dot-dot-dot · #1 10-29-2002, 10:05 AM

I've wanted a solid bodied Talman ever since I first saw one in the Ibanez catalog some 7 or 8 years ago; then a month or so ago my normal guitar store got this beauty in. It's a TC630; three Kent Armstrong (I believe) lipsticks, birdseye maple neck with a rosewood fingerboard and the most bizarre, non-Ibanez paint job I've ever seen.

Anyone know if this was a factory colour scheme? And is there a way to date a Talman from the serial no.? The store owner estimated this as being about 10 years old, but I'm not convinced the Talmans were out then. Either way, it's lovely and in almost as-new condition - no dings, no scratches, no fret wear.

wallopwallop · #2 10-29-2002, 10:10 AM

Sweet. I've always fancied the Talman shaped Gilbert Model myself.

Can I ask how much you paid?

vaijem777 · #3 10-29-2002, 10:22 AM

That is a factory finish- I sold one identical to it when I was working in a music store in the late 90's ('96 or so if memory serves me). VERY cool guitars though! I picked up a TC825 awhile back and love it! Silver Flake finish, original Bigsby trem, and (2) Ibanez Super 58's. VERY retro vibe, but an incredible feel/tone. The upper-end Talmans are definitely very underrated guitars

dot-dot-dot · #4 10-29-2002, 11:15 AM

Wallopwallop - yup; £300 including all the normal extras.

That seems to be a fairly typical price in the UK; they're fairly rare over here, I think. I looked at getting one from the US via EBay, but by the time you pay shipping, import duty and VAT it's pretty much the same price, and no opportunity to try before you buy. This one is, as I think I mentioned almost NOS; there are some very light marks on the lipsticks, the pickguard has faded a little and there's some very light hazing on the trem cavity cover. Other than that it could have just been sitting on the rack for 8 years (or so).

I do know of someone selling the same guitar in Seafoam Green for a similar price.

The only problem is that now I really want a few more Talmans; a hum/hum one, maybe a lip/lip/hum. It's jsut such a lovely shape, and a really nice guitar as well.

sniperfrommars1 · #5 10-29-2002, 02:06 PM

Now if ibanez would only make one with an edge trem like tom morrellos Id be set :>

**jono** · #6 10-29-2002, 02:33 PM

Ooh congrats on that one dot-dot-dot

I had a think about it, and figured if it was there when I next went down to Machinehead I'd have a proper look.

I'm no expert on the Talman series, but it looks about right, there were a plethora of finishes available when the Talman came out over here in 94.

If you want to go chasing the colour through the catalogues try here at Rich's Ibanez Rules catalogue section ...

http://www.ibanezrules.com/catalogs/index.htm

**jono** · #7 10-29-2002, 02:36 PM

In fact it looks like "Azure Blue Sunburst" (ABB) from 94 to me

dot-dot-dot · #8 10-30-2002, 05:41 AM

Jono - thanks, that's fantastic. It certainly does look like the ABB. That's a very handy site too, thanks for the link. Now I have to try to track down my RG as well - I thought it was a '93, but the model doesn't show up in the catalog...

wallopwallop · #9 10-30-2002, 06:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dot-dot-dot

Wallopwallop - yup; £300 including all the normal extras.

That seems to be a fairly typical price in the UK; they're fairly rare over here, I think. I looked at getting one from the US via EBay, but by the time you pay shipping, import duty and VAT it's pretty much the same price, and no opportunity to try before you buy. This one is, as I think I mentioned almost NOS; there are some very light marks on the lipsticks, the pickguard has faded a little and there's some very light hazing on the trem cavity cover. Other than that it could have just been sitting on the rack for 8 years (or so).

I do know of someone selling the same guitar in Seafoam Green for a similar price.

The only problem is that now I really want a few more Talmans; a hum/hum one, maybe a lip/lip/hum. It's jsut such a lovely shape, and a really nice guitar as well.

What's the shop??!! If it's in london then I'm there!

**jono** · #10 10-30-2002, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dot-dot-dot

Jono - thanks, that's fantastic. It certainly does look like the ABB. That's a very handy site too, thanks for the link. Now I have to try to track down my RG as well - I thought it was a '93, but the model doesn't show up in the catalog...

If you post pictures of your RG, someone here might be able to help

Polaris20 · #11 10-30-2002, 10:10 AM

One of these days I'm going to pick up a Talman for sh*ts and giggles. They're so damn cheap on Evilbay. They have nice funky neck too.

dot-dot-dot · #12 10-30-2002, 10:31 AM

Polaris - do it! They're really rather nice, and in the US they go ridiculously cheap.

Jono - I tracked it down; 1992 RG570. I was under the impression that it was an RG570FM because of the Low-Pro Edge, but I see from the '92 catalog that the RG570 had the LPE back then, and mine doesn't have the flamed top.

Wallopwallop - I'll see if I can get the chap selling it to post here and you can get in touch - he's over at Harmony Central. I think he lives in Nottingham but comes down to London fairly regularly.

Jimi D · #13 10-31-2002, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jono

In fact it looks like "Azure Blue Sunburst" (ABB) from 94 to me

Ya, that's a '94 all right - 1994 was the first year of production for Talmans... The big give away is the bridge, which was changed over to an enlarged, "vintage-ized" version with a flat base and barrel saddles the following year... Neat-o trivia: that guitar isn't made of wood - it's got some spacey composite body. I can't remember who designed the pickups for Ibanez - and it might have been Armstrong - but I know that info is in the '94 catalog and if I think of it I'll look it up tonight while doling out bon-bon's to the neighborhood spooks and spectres...

vaijem777 · #14 10-31-2002, 10:15 AM

I believe that the pickups were designed by Kent Armstrong (they're the "Sky" series pickups), and the composite bodies ARE made of wood. The material is referred to as "Resoncast". Basically, particle board (not unlike the Masonite that early Danelectro's were made of). The later models were made of solid wood- my TC825 is alder.

dot-dot-dot · #15 10-31-2002, 11:02 AM

What I've read backs up what vaijem777 has said; the pickups are Kent Armstring Skys (potted so they don't squeal like some older lipsticks did), and the resoncast body is a wood-based composite. The overall weight is almost exactly the same as my RG570.

I'm really rather happy with it. It's sufficiently different from the RG that both have their advantages in terms of sound and playing, and it does look fantastic. My girlfriend is currently hogging it though; she's teaching herself to play against the offer of her own guitar (she wants a Daisyrock) for christmas if she keeps it up...