A $1000.00+ for a radius???

[Edwood]

I've got a 540R LTD, I've seen others go on evilbay... what gives about a three single coiled 542 Radius just closing for over a grand? Is it truly that rare of an incarnation of the Radius? [abalone oval inlays, no humbuckers, and yeah, I've never seen one go on sale, so... perhaps.] Or did the bidders just get WAY too carried away?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...e=STRK:MEWA:IT

described as:
RARE '91 Ibanez R-542 Radius
Satriani Radius Body w/ 3 IBZ/USA Singles


Just wonderin'

[Jeff]

Who knows, but that is one SWEET guitar!

[frankfalbo]

I'm a Radius fanatic and I did pay around $700 for one once, but that was because it was dead mint and a model available for only one year. The 542 R was a one year item also, (same year) and maybe that's all there is to it. I think the stellar photography and the buffed out finish really helped on this one. Plus red is rare. But its still basswood. The 442 was the only non-basswood Radius (alder) so I think it'd be worth more, but they are selling in the $300 range. It went high early on, and I think it just ended up being a sword fight to the finish. I was watching it early in case I was able to steal it for less than $300. As far as build quality, though, its a Japanese Radius, no different from a JS from that time period. Except for the non-Dimarzios.

[darren wilson]

All original, looks really minty, all the case candy, etc... but somebody still WAY overpaid.

You could buy four 442Rs for that price, which, in my opinion, are more unique and better looking than the 542R.

There's something about a solid-colour finished body, rosewood fretboard and naked maple pointy Ibanez headstock that doesn't look right to me. You can get away with that on a Strat, but not on any kind of Ibanez, in my opinion. If it's gonna have a bare maple headstock face, it should have a maple fretboard. The 542R should really have a body-matching headstock.

I've seen a couple of 542Rs pop up occasionally on eBay, but never fetching anywhere close to that amount.

It's unique, but i would have rather had the Jewel Blue 540RHH that sold for about half that a couple of weeks ago.

[JESTER700]

That RHH auction wording was funny... "not many to be found of this color". Heh. That COLOR was all OVER the place. What's rare is the HH!

[Edwood]

to the Mods: thanks for moving this topic to the right area. sorry, I wasn't aware of this section. Just spent about 45 mins. reading some of it. TOO DAMN FUNNY!!!