1978 Ibanez Musician MC500DS Vintage Electric Guitar w/ Active EQ Japan, ohc

Up for sale, a 1978 Ibanez Musician MC500DS in excellent condition and perfect working order. The late seventies gave rise to a number of Japanese guitar builders who carried the torch for the high quality instrument craftsmanship that many felt was lacking on the American front at the time. At the top of the heap in Japan was Ibanez who, after just dealing with a lawsuit from Gibson (specifically Ibanez' American arm, Elger) over headstock shape, began to innovate with their own designs and helped pioneer the craze of neck thru construction, brass hardware, and active electronics.

Weighing in at a robust 10lbs 10oz, this MC500 has a natural sustain and upper midrange attack which translates well through the active Tri-Sound Super 88 humbuckers. The slab ebony fretboard and brass hardware gives the MC500 a glassy, articulate top end with incredible note clarity and a sweet, singing quality. Professionally setup here at Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar, with guitar plays well with low, slinky action and solid intonation.

The seven-piece mahogany/maple neck has a nice medium C profile that, while it has some substance, still manages to feel quick, with a 1 11/16" wide nut that is a combination of a thin sliver of brass paired with a thicker piece of bone. The ebony fretboard boasts pearloid dot position markers and 24 jumbo frets which retain their full factory height and well rounded crowns. These frets show light, uniform wear on frets 1-7, with fainter wear beneath the G and B strings until roughly the octave. The guitar plays well in all positions and the frets have plenty of meat and height. The headstock has a walnut veneer with original Ibanez logo and brass Musician truss rod cover, as well as the original Ibanez-branded gold tuning machines with white pearl buttons.

The "Dark Stain" finished body (thus the DS in MC500DS) features a solid ash core sandwiched with walnut wings that were carved only on the MC500 models and highlight the neck thru body construction. Electronically, everything works as it should, with the pickups wired to a three-way pickup selector and master volume and tone knobs. In addition to these more conventional controls, there are a pair of three-way mini toggles which offer a regular humbucking mode plus a coil tap and phase reversal for each pickup, and a third mini toggle that activates the built in Preamp/EQ, providing bass, middle, and treble knobs. The chip in the active EQ circuit has also been socketed so that you can experiment with different chips that voice the EQ in unique ways.

In terms of cosmetic wear, there are a few expected signs of light use for a guitar about to enter its fifth decade, including a filled strap-button hole on the back, a small chip where the forearm crosses the lower bout, light buckle rash which doesn't penetrate the finish, and some small chips in the clear coat on the top edge of the headstock and top bass side lower bout of the body. Overall, this guitar has been very well cared for, and is a great example of the innovation and high level of craftsmanship offered by Ibanez in their golden age!

The original hardshell case is included.