I pulled the trigger on a 1981 Ibanez Artist

[Blazer]

Okay then, as I said before I wasn't really going ape about the performance of my Gibson Nighthawk, the overall feel of the guitar and the lacklustre sound made it clear that this wasn't what I am looking for.

So I have been checking out several options on what I could replace it with. For a while I was going for the Les Paul Junior but just a few days ago, somebody came up and went "Yo, I heard you're selling your Gibson, wanna trade?"

This is what he offered.





A well loved 1981 Ibanez Artist with killer mojo and 100% original. Needless to say it didn't take long to persuade me.

I'll be picking it up Saturday. (God let the days please go a little faster...)

[StukaJU87]

Those are really nice guitars. I would have made that trade too.

[jim777]

I had an AR-300 as my main guitar from 1980 until about 1989. Fantastic instruments. That one looks like it was stripped and refinned, though. They didn't come with natural maple tops in '81. I'd also have made that trade

[Blazer]

I had an AR-300 as my main guitar from 1980 until about 1989. Fantastic instruments. That one looks like it was stripped and refinned, though. They didn't come with natural maple tops in '81. I'd also have made that trade

You're wrong. the Ibanezrules page has the 1981 catalog online and it clearly shows that "Natural" was a standard finish on the AR100

[jim777]

You're right, I was thinking of the finishes on the AR-300 circa '81, not the AR-100.

[ApeDosMil]

Wow I love that, very Gibson like.

[Blazer]

Got it home today.

When I picked it up from the seller, I decided to do a test run in a musicshop and hooked it up on a Vox AC30. It sound really good, it has that harsh mahogany-and-maple tone of a good matured Les Paul, it has a ton of sustain coming from that BIG brass Gibraltar bridge and brass sustain block inside the body.

Concerns were in the tuners, the stock Ibanez "Velvet Tune" machine heads slip and are non ajustable, so they do not hold the tuning well. I'm thinking of replacing those with grovers for a stiffer feel (just as I like it) and to keep this blonde animal in tune.

[straycat]

Looks good I'd have done the trade as well.Find some Grover imperials they would look killer on there.

[straycat]

Oh on the lackluster Gibson tone.Answer rsguitarworks.net pot upgrade kit.

[Blazer]

Looks good I'd have done the trade as well.Find some Grover imperials they would look killer on there.

I put on Grover Kidney bean tuners, I had a set laying around, they fit on no problem, no redrilling, nothing.

Oh on the lackluster Gibson tone.Answer rsguitarworks.net pot upgrade kit.

Thanks but a little too late.

For some reason the humbucker tone was too muddy and the single coil tone tore your ears off. I don't think I'll Miss that Nighthawk.

[straycat]

Not a nighthawk or blueshawk fan either.All that would have been fixed with an upgrade kit.next time you land a gibby an the tone sucks remember GET THE KIT you will love it.

[straycat]

What is that writing on the electronics cavity?

[lhrocker]

I think it says Made by the proud craftsman of Ibanez Japan. I had the predecessor the the AR-300 and it kicked any Les Paul that I have had since. I bought it when I was 20 and sold it a year later. I still kick myself for that one.

[straycat]

OK thanks.

[heartfielder]

Nice score !! I woulda traded also. Look what I got recently. 1982 6117 Artist. It had been stripped and I know just the guy (mm2002) to fix her up !!