Ibanez Artist series ?? Found one in

[Robert Burns]

Colorado...and my knowledge of this one is poor...but from what i know
the originals (77' or so) are worth about $2K? Double neck about $5K?
The new Korean Reissue is about $600.00?
Now here is my twist...walked into a small guitar shop..and they have
an 83' model! Real clean on the top...back has some pretty heavy
buckle rash. He wanted $500.00 for it. Kind of a Gibson SG style neck
imo. Any thoughts on this one? Ok price? Or is it worth $1200.00?
(or is it worth $200.00? !! LOL Thanks... Bengal? MountainDog?
It was the vintage yellow pearl color set neck

[shobet]

Any idea what particular Artist series model it was? Did you manage to grab the S/N? What's the tail piece like, is it like a Gibson or does it have a large triangular piece of metal with wobbly edges at the fat end? I think they called it the Gibraltar or something like that.

[Robert Burns]

Any idea what particular Artist series model it was? Did you manage to grab the S/N? What's the tail piece like, is it like a Gibson or does it have a large triangular piece of metal with wobbly edges at the fat end? I think they called it the Gibraltar or something like that.

On the surface it looked like a LP stop tailpiece, but it
and had a Whammy! would only bar downwards, off the body,
Didnt write down the serial # but it did start with a 1 like say
108534 ??

[fett]

The way anyone can research anything on the Web and ebay, I doubt you can get a deal. Here is a for instance. I know a seller at my fleamarket. He got me aside and asked if I collected guns. He had a "Military only" Officer's 38 pistol. 1903-1923 Colt. He paid $75 for it. He tells me this. I told you I can get people to open up. I also know a buyer of WWII stuff and I told him about it. The seller researched the gun and found out they sell for $750-$1,000. My point is, you have to find a clueless person to sell something on the the cheap. Otherwise, it's no fun. And you can bet your ass he researched that guitar.

[Bengal]

Robert,
My knowledge of these is much, much less than the Post 1987 Ibanez era. But from what I've read, I woudn't think it's worth 1200. Not at all. The older Ibanez "artists" from that era that are grabbing over 2K are the Bob Weir Models. I can't rememeber any Artists going for that amount. You said it's a solid color, right? I bought an 1982 Artist from Music Go Round about 4 years ago, it was black with the TOM bridge with the slots cut out in the tailpiece like Ibanez does. I bought it for $250 and sold it for $350. That was about 4 years ago so they might have gone up since then but not that much...

Don't know if that helps. But I wouldn't pay $1200 for it. But can you get a picture of it? Was it heavy? Like all maple heavy? Dot inlays? Painted or inlayed logo on the headstock? Is it the current logo or the script 70's Ibanez logo? That might help determine what model of Artist it is. They had alot!

Long story short, I wouldn't pay $1200 for it...

Edit: Do an ebay search and see if you can find one like it. Mine was an AR-50. I just checked and there are a few on ebay...

[Ascension]

With the factory trem in the shape you describe that is high. It sounds like a AR50 from around 1980 or so.
I have a Artist Prestige AR 2000 from 2004 and IMO it is a PRS and Les Paul KILLER as was the 1981 Sunburst flame AR 300 I had.
The 2004 AR 2000 Prestige is the best Artist I have ever seen these are works of ART!!
Here is my AR 2000

[Robert Burns]

Robert,
My knowledge of these is much, much less than the Post 1987 Ibanez era. But from what I've read, I woudn't think it's worth 1200. Not at all. The older Ibanez "artists" from that era that are grabbing over 2K are the Bob Weir Models. I can't rememeber any Artists going for that amount. You said it's a solid color, right? I bought an 1982 Artist from Music Go Round about 4 years ago, it was black with the TOM bridge with the slots cut out in the tailpiece like Ibanez does. I bought it for $250 and sold it for $350. That was about 4 years ago so they might have gone up since then but not that much...

Don't know if that helps. But I wouldn't pay $1200 for it. But can you get a picture of it? Was it heavy? Like all maple heavy? Dot inlays? Painted or inlayed logo on the headstock? Is it the current logo or the script 70's Ibanez logo? That might help determine what model of Artist it is. They had alot!

Long story short, I wouldn't pay $1200 for it...

Edit: Do an ebay search and see if you can find one like it. Mine was an AR-50. I just checked and there are a few on ebay...

Thanks...i didnt mean that it was priced at $1200...just that it might
be worth that? I can get this one for $489.00 And its in that vintage
faded yellow metallic finish. Gold hardware is pitted... and overall its
just in "Ok" decent condition. Logo is "Old" script 70's Ibanez, so it has
that going for it. And yes...heavy like my Carvin Walnut DC200
I think Fett is right...he knows exactly what its worth...and in all
probability, its worth $389.00! Thanks for the feedback, and the pics,
appreciated!

[Robert Burns]

With the factory trem in the shape you describe that is high. It sounds like a AR50 from around 1980 or so.
I have a Artist Prestige AR 2000 from 2004 and IMO it is a PRS and Les Paul KILLER as was the 1981 Sunburst flame AR 300 I had.
The 2004 AR 2000 Prestige is the best Artist I have ever seen these are works of ART!!
Here is my AR 2000

Man! Yours looks like $2000.00 ! Amazing flame. Thats a keeper