I've wanted one of these for about a decade but never wanted to drop the amount they usually sell for. Then this one came around at a stupid cheap $379 with case and I just couldn't resist. It's an Ibanez Artist from 1979, I think this was the "2622 model" in cherry/wine red. Active electronics, etc.

It's been modded (professionally, it seems) with a single coil and a five way switch to go with it, but for the price I can't imagine it not becoming a fantastic player. Here's a few photos, more when I have it in my grubby little hands...

Awesome guitar! And $379 is a steal!!

Let us know if she is in good state when she arrives...

Regards,

JP

Thanks! I'm not expecting amazing condition from a 34 year old guitar, but it's in good shape as per the pics

Wow, total steal, regardless of the mods. You see so many that are bursts, it's cool to see wine red. The half bone, half brass nut on these is pretty swanky too.

Thanks! And yeah I've never seen a nut on a guitar neck that's quite like this one. She should be arriving Monday/Tuesday and then I'll do a bunch of photos and a full review. I figured at this price I really cant go wrong, its like $200 cheaper than the new Chinese re-issues.

Any ideas what the replacement humbuckers are? Originals would've been Super 80s with the 'flying finger' gold covers.

not a clue but I'm guessing Dimarzios by the look. It's arriving tomorrow night so I'll have a peek then.

That's a really nice one. Some old Ibanez humbuckers, and some new ones, don't have anything written on them other than stamped or inked "N" or "B". The old Ns and Bs are usually pretty well regarded among vintage collectors and players alike and as good as similar era Gibson Tim Shaw humbuckers. The pickups and sound are a big part of the reason Ibanez got into the big boy league of guitar companies in the 1970s.

It's likely that the collectible Flying Fingers pickups which generate big prices are the ones pretty ugly without cover so I would think something less powerful and more akin to a regular type of alnico PAF type classic humbucker which is meant to be seen with or without pickup cover. Due to the whims of what is popular at the moment, the classic PAF with alnico magnets which yours is more likely to be is usually more popular. A ceramic pickup, very big with first hot rodders with DiMarzio Super Distortion, is not seen much outside of Jems and some high octane shredder music. One of your pickups most definitely looks to be the PAF alnico type but the other could be the elusive Flying Fingers sans cover. It's too hard to tell from pictures alone so see link below:

http://www.nzguitars.com/forum/viewt...hp?f=8&t=17757

Awesome info, thank you! can't wait to explore this guitar tomorrow. Will report my findings.

Hmm, well the neck pu certainly is all slugs... however, it still has the eyelets on the bass side where you can see the copper winds. The uncovered Super 80 in the link doesn't have them, don't know if that means anything...

Out for delivery so we'll find out tonight