Trying to ID an Ibanez

[bayswater]

I'm putting an Ibanez back together. It arrived in many parts. The only thing that matches the serial number and body style is a JS. But there are a few dozen JS models. On thing that doesn't match up is the pickup selector. All those I've looked at have a simple toggle switch while this one has Fender-like 5-way. The bridge I have for it is an Ibanez Edge but is licensed under a Floyd Rose patent but I'd like to narrow it down so I can find a wiring diagram, etc. Anything that gets me closer is appreciated.

There are no signs of customization on the body, so I guess it had a single humbucker and two single coils? It came with a few large boxes of parts, and some of them answer to that description.

Pictures are too big to show up properly here, so I've only posted the links.

TIA

http://heavyethics.com/DPAV/ibanez/IMG_0780.jpg
http://heavyethics.com/DPAV/ibanez/IMG_0781.jpg
http://heavyethics.com/DPAV/ibanez/IMG_0782.jpg
http://heavyethics.com/DPAV/ibanez/IMG_0783.jpg

[billf]

It looks like it might be a 1980's Roadstar series. I have a similar Ibanez from 1985, although mine has the standard strat type pickup layout.

Nonetheless, you might be able to get closer to a definitive answer here:

http://ibanez.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Guitar_models

[bayswater]

Thanks for replying. I had an 80s Roadstar. It was more like a strat clone than this guitar. I've started going through this site; there's a lot to cover. Ibanez sure cranked out a lot of models.

[bayswater]

Thanks again. After going through the wiki, I think you were right --it looks like its a 440R from about 1992. My Roadstar II was from 1984 and the body was boxier, and was overall a lot cruder in design. There are no wiring diagrams archived for the 440R but it looks like wiring is the same as the 540R.

[mhschmieder]

Not sure if it's quite that old. One of the guitarists I work with, and will see at rehearsal TUE night, has a pre-lawsuit Ibanez from '82-'84 when they were still using the old-style logo (that probably was meant to look similar to Gibson's). This one has the current logo, more or less, but it does look like somewhat later Roadstar series (my guess would be no older than '86-'88, and more likely '90-93).

[bayswater]

Not sure if it's quite that old. One of the guitarists I work with, and will see at rehearsal TUE night, has a pre-lawsuit Ibanez from '82-'84 when they were still using the old-style logo (that probably was meant to look similar to Gibson's). This one has the current logo, more or less, but it does look like somewhat later Roadstar series (my guess would be no older than '86-'88, and more likely '90-93).

Yes, according to the wiki, it would be about 92 judging from designs that match best. But it's interesting that the wiki says only one series uses 6 digit serial numbers, with no leading letter, and the first two digits are the year. This guitar has a a six digit serial number starting with 80.

[mhschmieder]

Hmm, serial numbers can be funny. I spent eons trying to identify something that was part of an estate I was helping deal with last year, where the form and length of the serial number kept defying all other cues. Eventually I got proof (or near to it), and then found there were some exceptions to the usual serial number logic.

Yamaha has a VERY detailed site for theirs, going back pretty far. Maybe Ibanez does as well?

[bayswater]

Hmm, serial numbers can be funny. I spent eons trying to identify something that was part of an estate I was helping deal with last year, where the form and length of the serial number kept defying all other cues. Eventually I got proof (or near to it), and then found there were some exceptions to the usual serial number logic.

Yamaha has a VERY detailed site for theirs, going back pretty far. Maybe Ibanez does as well?

Yes, Ibanez has a very detailed description of serial numbers. They also talk about exceptions like this. This is from an estate as well, and there are large boxes of bridges, pickups, tuners etc that makes it all more complicated.

[billf]

Thanks again. After going through the wiki, I think you were right --it looks like its a 440R from about 1992. My Roadstar II was from 1984 and the body was boxier, and was overall a lot cruder in design. There are no wiring diagrams archived for the 440R but it looks like wiring is the same as the 540R.

My Roadstar is from 1985, and I've heard elsewhere that Ibanez began changing the pickup configuration shortly after that point. Here's another resource you can try:

https://www.guitardaterproject.org/ibanez.aspx

[bayswater]

That doesn't find the SN on the guitar but if I enter it with "F" ahead of the number it comes up with three hits in two factories in three years.

[billf]

That doesn't find the SN on the guitar but if I enter it with "F" ahead of the number it comes up with three hits in two factories in three years.

Here's another resource.

http://www.ibanezrules.com/catalogs/ref ... dating.htm

[billf]

This site also has a forum that might be useful.

http://www.ibanezcollectors.com/

[bayswater]

That doesn't find the SN on the guitar but if I enter it with "F" ahead of the number it comes up with three hits in two factories in three years.

Here's another resource.

http://www.ibanezrules.com/catalogs/ref ... dating.htm

This is the site where I started the search. According to this, the only guitar with a 6 digit SN is the JEM-UV. This is the Steve Vai model with the "handle"; not a lot like mine. It would also suggest it was made in 1980, which seems unlikely. I looked for earlier versions, but they disappear around 1990, and the earliest SNs start with 00 and 90, both meaning 1990.

[bayswater]

This site also has a forum that might be useful.

http://www.ibanezcollectors.com/

Thanks again. I've left notes with a couple of the other sites. If they don't id this guitar, I'll register here and see if someone there can help.

[bayswater]

I have a reply from one of these sites. It says the 6 digit plate serial numbers are not yet in the SN decoders. From what he says it looks like this is a 540R (R for radius) , although these were not introduced until 1987.