Up for sale, a 1980 Ibanez Artist AR500 in 100% original condition and in perfect working order, complete with a hardshell case. The successor to the 2622, this Ibanez Artist was built at the Fujigen factory in Japan, featuring an onboard suite of active controls, a pair of Super 58 humbuckers, Gibraltar bridge with brass sustain block, and a gloss Antique Violin finish.

Weighing 9lbs 15oz, tonewoods include a mahogany body, carved maple top, three-piece rock maple neck, and bound ebony fingerboard. The Super 58 humbuckers have a pristine clean tone; warm and airy, with more bass register roundness at the neck and a brighter, more aggressive bite at the bridge. The original pair of Tri-Sound three-way mini toggles further broaden the tonal scope, offering series, parallel, and tapped options for each humbucker’s coils, and the trio of ±15 dB active EQ controls include Bass, Mid, and Treble knobs for meticulous sculpting. This Artist AR500 has been professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with 10-46 strings, low action, and accurate intonation.

Neck Specs:

• Wood: Rock maple (three-piece)
• Shape: AR profile (slender C), measuring .810” 1st fret, .935” 12th fret
• Fretboard: Ebony, 12” radius, pearl/abalone block inlays
• Frets: Medium, no wear
• Scale Length: 24 3/4”
• Nut: 1 11/16”, bone/brass
• Tuners: VelveTune
• Serialization: J80-prefix (1980)

Body Specs:

• Wood: Maple, mahogany
• Pickups: Super 58 humbucker x2
• Controls: Volume, Tone, Gain, Three-way pickup selector, Bass, Mid, Treble (center detent), EQ On/Off mini toggle, Tri-sound mini toggle x2
• Harness: Full-size Japanese pots date to July, 1980
• Hardware: Gibraltar bridge with brass sustain block insert, Gibraltar tailpiece with “cloud” ornament
• Plastics: Gold Sure Grip knobs, black reflector cap knobs

The gloss Antique Violin finish is framed by multi-ply binding, with buckle rash on the back, a few minor chips on top, and various dings and scuffs consistent with use. The gloss on the neck profile is smooth and clean, with just a couple shallow nicks that are practically imperceptible to the palm.

A hardshell case is included.