1978 Ibanez 2635 Artist – Antique Violin Burst

The Guitar

Here's a rare one at a price that reflects the work it needs. The Ibanez 2635 Artist was FujiGen's answer to the Gibson ES-175 and L-4 CES, and it ran for only two years, 1977 and 1978, before being discontinued. That makes it one of the scarcest guitars in the entire Ibanez Artist line, and the lawsuit-era build quality is exactly what people mean when they say these Japanese archtops compete with the American guitars they were chasing.

Full-sized, fully hollow body with a sharp Florentine cutaway, maple top with f-holes, maple back and sides, set-in rock maple neck, bound ebony fingerboard with pearl and abalone split block inlays. The Antique Violin burst over the maple is gorgeous and has real depth to it. This guitar photographs well and looks even better in person.

Condition: Honest & Detailed

The finish and the overall presentation on this guitar are lovely. The neck is straight and functional, and the frets are low from decades of play but still perfectly playable as-is. A buyer planning heavy long-term use would want a refret eventually, but you can plug it in and play it today.

The one thing you need to know about, and the reason this is priced where it is: the binding is deteriorating throughout the guitar. It's cracking, separating, and crumbling in places, and it affects the instrument all over rather than in one spot. This is celluloid rot, the same material breakdown that took out most of the original pickguards from this era. It's a known trait of mid-to-late '70s Japanese builds and it happens on its own, not from abuse. It does not affect the structural integrity of the guitar or how it plays, but it's cosmetically significant and a buyer should plan on a rebinding job if they want this guitar looking right.

The condition is progressive, so it will continue over time rather than stabilize.

There is also honest wear elsewhere on the guitar. There are marks and dings scattered around the body, and there is a chunk of finish missing near the strap button at the tail end, which is clearly shown in the photos. There may be additional minor marks beyond what's called out here that are best assessed through the pictures. Additional photos are always available on request, and we're happy to answer any question before you buy.

Originality & Modifications: Full Disclosure

Original to this guitar: the tuners, the tailpiece, and the bridge.

Replaced: the pickups and the electronics. The original pickups are not included.

Also replaced: the pickguard and the pickup rings. Neither is original to this guitar. Both are functional and look right on it, but a buyer chasing a correct original-spec example should know these are not factory parts.

The Case

Now includes an aftermarket hard shell case. It will be packed carefully and thoroughly for shipping.

Who Is This For?

This is for the player or builder who wants a rare lawsuit-era Japanese archtop and would rather spend the money on a rebinding job than on a clean example. Two years of production, an ES-175 competitor in build and voice, beautiful figured maple under an Antique Violin burst, and original tuners, bridge, and tailpiece still on it. The bones are excellent.

If you have a luthier you trust, or you do this work yourself, this is the cheapest way into a 2635 you're going to find. Rebind it, drop in the pickups you want, and you'll end up with something genuinely special that very few people have.

Sold as-is. Ask us anything before you buy, we're happy to send additional photos of any area you want to see.

Specifications

• Year: 1978
• Model: Ibanez 2635 Artist
• Country of Origin: Japan (FujiGen)
• Finish: Antique Violin burst
• Body: Full-sized, fully hollow, Florentine cutaway; maple top with f-holes, maple back and sides
• Neck: Set-in rock maple
• Fingerboard: Bound ebony, 20 frets
• Inlays: Pearl and abalone split block position markers
• Binding: Multi-ply on body, neck, and headstock; deteriorating throughout (see condition notes)
• Nut: Bone and brass
• Pickups: Not original, replaced; originals not included
• Electronics: Not original, replaced harness
• Bridge: Ebony bridge with ebony saddle, original to this guitar
• Tailpiece: Ibanez trapeze tailpiece, original to this guitar
• Tuners: VelveTune machine heads, original to this guitar
• Production Run: 1977 to 1978 only, discontinued after 1978
• Modifications: Pickups, electronics, pickguard, and pickup rings all replaced
• Cosmetic Notes: Binding deteriorating throughout; chunk of finish missing near the tail strap button; marks and dings scattered around the body; frets low but playable; finish and overall presentation otherwise very attractive
• Case: Aftermarket Hardshell
• Sale Terms: Sold as-is

Shipping

Local pickup in Snohomish, Washington is always welcome. All instruments shipped by KanaLei Guitars are shipped using Reverb's Safe Shipping option, so your purchase is protected from the moment it leaves our hands to the moment it arrives at yours.