Author Topic: I pulled the trigger on a 1981 Ibanez Artist (Read 118 times)

blazer · « **on:** November 08, 2006, 04:22:20 PM »

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 lackluster 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.

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e22/guitarman91/DSC02665.jpg
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e22/guitarman91/DSC02669.jpg
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e22/guitarman91/DSC02666.jpg

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...)

tom_z · « **Reply #1 on:** November 08, 2006, 06:13:22 PM »

Nice! I've always loved the Ibanez Artist. That one looks like it hasn't been sitting in it's case. Congrats.

Hope it works for you. Let us know how it plays and sounds.

Peace
Tom

eligilam · « **Reply #2 on:** November 08, 2006, 06:44:14 PM »

I inherited a 1980 Ibanez Artist a couple of years ago...I'd never really played guitar before (only bass for the last 16 years), but I've recently bonded tightly to the Artist and am trying to now become semi-competent. Overall, great guitar....good luck on acquiring yours.

Will d.

bigredbass · « **Reply #3 on:** November 09, 2006, 11:17:02 AM »

This is another one of those guitars 'lost in the shuffle' as Japanese marketers relentlessly rotate their product mix over time. Others on this list:

Yamaha SG range
Yamaha AE jazz boxes
Aria PE's

Yet strangely, some stay around: The SA2000/2200 Yamaha 335 guitars (IF you're open-minded, don't EVER be in the market for a 335 and try one of these, they had Larry Carlton and Dean Parks fine tune them, you'll HAVE to own one), the Ibanez George Bensons and Scofields, I always wonder if these are favorites of the executives . . .

Anyway, great find, great axe, Congratulations.

J o e y

paulman · « **Reply #4 on:** November 09, 2006, 11:51:53 AM »

Congrats. I always loved the Artist and the Musician. Someday they'll be in my arsenal.

olieoliver · « **Reply #5 on:** November 09, 2006, 11:59:04 AM »

I have an early 80 Ibanez Studio 8 String bass. Very similar to the Musician bass. The musician is a neck-thru and mine is a bolt on. I beleive my Studio has a little more electronics than the Musician.
Anyway, Joey is right, this is a nice axe.

blazer · « **Reply #6 on:** November 11, 2006, 04:43:18 PM »

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.