Details & History
I found this guitar in a pawnshop back in 1998. I paid
150 US dollars for it which is very cheap. It doesn't have an Ibanez
logo or serial number but it is pearl white, neck through, has sure grip
knobs, duo sound, super 58's, gold hardware, smooth tuners, and a Leo
Quan Badass bridge. For 5 years I tried to find another one like this
but could not. The only model that came close was the 1981 -82 Ibanez
Musician. The musician is very similar with its neck trough and almost
the same features except its shape is different and mine has in line
tuners. Well after posting it on ICW some people took an interest in it.
One person thought it was an RS1400 Prototype which it looks like it
could be. But when I asked Jim Donahue he said the following...
Actually I believe this is one of the two
ST Prototypes Made on 6/25/1982, This would have been made to take to a
meeting at the Summer Chicago show. But since the Studio was on its way
out they just made it a RS model. the reason I say this is because The
bridge and other parts are pre 1983. The production records do not show
any RS1400 or even an RS thru neck until December of 1982 when they
produced 12 pieces. the other thing I though ws that it could have been
a Frankenstein put together by one of the employees to show the Japanese
during a meeting, In this case they would just grab any parts they could
find and put them on. But I really have to go with the ST Prototype.
I asked if this would be a USA made guitar and if its
mate was the same?
No it is not a US made guitar, the US
operation did not have the ability or machines to make a full guitar let
alone a neck thru until 1985, The guitar was made in Japan for sure, But
they did and still have a paint booth, this was set up for Tama drums,
So it could have been painted in the USA. My guess is that they made two
guitars each with different features. They rushed to get them done that
is why there is no logo and it seems to be unmatched with parts. After
the meeting these samples get sold off really cheap to music stores or
the sales reps and eventually wind up in pawn shops and such, When I
worked at Ibanez, these types of guitars would come up all the time.
People would get really mad when I could not pin point the model.
Jim Donahue
Jim Donahue
