Ibanez Artist 1978 - Tobacco Sunburst

This Ibanez Artist had been routed out for a locking tremolo system at some point before I got ahold of it. The routed cavity at the bridge was filled and finished by Keith Holland Guitars in Los Gatos, CA. Keith Holland Guitars also installed a replacement aftermarket bridge.

Some of the frets are visibly worn. There is noticeable neck dive when played from a standing position but nothing that can‘t be managed.

Strap button on horn had become so rusted that when I attempted to unscrew it to install a strap lock button, it broke off flush with the body. A new hole was drilled immediately next to it and the original strap button was left in place. The original screw is still inside the body but could be extracted by someone with the know how.

The screws in the neck pickup ring had also become so rusted that they broke off but all were successfully extracted. There is some noticeable wear where they were removed (and where separate holes had been drilled to accommodate smaller pickup rings at some point) but these are not noticeable when the current rings are mounted, save for some small edges of them sticking out. (see photos)

Plan was to install new pickups but with how much trouble just removing the rings proved to be, this plan was abandoned and the pickups it was purchased with remained installed.

Neck pickup is an original Ibanez Super 80 ”flying finger” and the bridge pickup is a Dimarzio Super Distortion.

Original tailpiece is included albeit the screws are absent.

Includes Levy’s strap with strap lock rings.

OHSC is included. It’s pretty battered but still functional.