Hi All,

Wondering if someone can help ID a circa '90s Ibanez...

Steve DeMarchi of Alias ('90s AOR group featuring Freddy Curci and three former members of Heart -- Roger Fisher, Steve Fossen and Mike Derosier) is playing what looks like an RG 560/760 with the HSS configuration, but with reverse headstock. The inlays are V-shaped -- only other guitar I've seen these inlays on is Vinnie Vincent's double-V Ibanez -- and it looks like a silver/grey finish. This video is from 1990 so would seem to be an '89 or '90 model.

You can get a good look at the guitar at @ 4:50
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xV4lqbwK4Q

Any thoughts/guesses on what this is? Maybe a custom job?

You could ask them here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/ALIAS/56671965693

Or here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Steve...38?sk=timeline

I can say that none of the three guitars I see are production guitars. The simplest is the white guitar with the maple board, which appears to be nothing more than a standard RG550 with a different pickguard to accommodate HSS pickups. The white HSH reverse head guitar is probably from the custom shop. I'm guessing that these guys were something like B endorsers for Ibanez, so they could have gotten some custom configured stuff.

The silver guitar is the biggest mystery because of the inlays. Most of the inlays are like Hamer inlays. I don't think LACS would have done that. My guess is that's a parts guitar to some extent.

Thanks for the reply. Yes, I think they were endorsed by Ibanez. In another video, DeMarchi has a custom Ibanez that features their self-titled album art.

The silver one is very intriguing to me. Like I said, I've only seen those inlays on one other guitar -- a Vinnie Vincent double-V Ibanez, for which I am going to create a separate thread.

I have left a note on Steve's Facebook to see if he can shed any light....

Received a reply from Steve DeMarchi via Facebook, so thought I would share it here:

Hi Tim , that particular guitar was a loner from the Ibanez custom shop in LA. I was endorsed by Ibanez back in the day. They made me 3 guitars with my name on the headstock.. Guitars can be seen in various Alias videos... all were custom.. with upside down headstock and reversed shark tooth inlays. Very sweet guitars! Unfortunately I had one stolen.. the black one I used in the Perfect World video... very pissed about that! I still have the white one and the one off "Alias" guitar.. used on the Waiting For Love video. To answer your question... I'm not really sure what model # body style they used.. I picked out the bodies and necks etc at the custom shop.. and they built them for me. A fellow by the name of Maze built the guitars.. he was the guy who designed the Steve Vai Jem along with steve Vai of course. Again.. very nice guitars! Thanks for asking... Cheers

no doubt he has some of the coolest signature RG.
I really hope he's still with Ibanez.

Steve must be referring to Mace Bailey!