Purchasing an Ibanez AR300 - good buy?

StephenB

Hi guys!
Sending this from my mobile as I don't have computer access:
While on my travels I have come across an Ibanez AR300 from 1981. I made the mistake of playing it and fell in love with the guitar. The condition isn't great, it being nearly 40 with some chips going down the side and a spot of corrosion on the jack plate but all electronics work perfectly, it feels and plays amazingly.

I'm just wondering if the asking price of about £900 is worth it for such an instrument? Thanks everyone!

Cheers
Ste

guitars4you

most of those MIJ models from that era are nice instruments - The Ibanez AR range and the Yamaha SG range - plus many of the Aria Pro 11 PE range (LP Flavoured)

£900 is far more than I've been use to selling them over the last 30/40 years, as and when I acquire them, but as we all know prices have risen - If that was made today in Japan it would be in excess of 2K

Condition wise then it is a case of can you cope with such wear - As long as the frets are fine and electrics function correctly so nothing interferes with the guitars playing performance then I would not get to hung up on the condition

Some will change the pick-ups to something more 'boutique' but if you like it as it is then leave

Whilst prices have risen they are still more of a 'players grade' guitar than a 'high priced vintage collectors' model, as such any pick-up changes should not have any impact on the price, if done well etc

IMO nothing to fault about them and can certainly match many LP/SG models from that era

sweepy

if its unmolested then £900 is top end tbh, they hang around awhile at that price, i'd be tempted to haggle a bit

kt66

https://shop.musical-money.co.uk/electric-guitars/1996-ibanez-artist-ar300-cs-electric-guitar-with-flying-fingers-made-in-japan-cherry-sunburst.html

sweepy

Thats more like it 

lasermonkey

£900 seems a bit much for an AR300 that isn't in great condition, TBH.

blobb

check originality, if you can get a piccy up we can give it the eyeball for you. As already said, top end pricewise but undervalued for quality on offer.

StephenB

Hi @blobb ,

Here is the link;
https://www.ishibashi.co.jp/u_box/e/select.php?cd=11-316716212

Turns out my initial exchange calculation was wrong and it's actually closer to the 7-800 mark!

Thanks again everyone!
Ste

Misty

Nice guitars, I had the active version, I think it was an AR500, which I bought new from Andertons in the early eighties. It didn't take me long to discover I didn't like active pickups etc in guitars, and I wished I'd bought one like the AR300. I remember I found it a bit neck heavy on a strap though.

blobb

E82: May '82 (Fujigen Gakki)
velve tuners
Gibraltar 1
Quick Change 2 (not bowed)
Cloud
Sure grip 1 knobs (can't see if they still have their rubbers on, should have)
3 screw super 58's
Ebony board
tri-sound
No additional drill holes / switches etc...
Can't see edge binding for rot (or not), looks ok from the pictures they have put up.

The AR300CS was reissued as AR300RE and was itself the next generation of model 2619 which had Super 80's. There are some transitional 2619's but by 1981 they had pretty much settled on the layout you have here.

So the only blemishes are the dinks on the back, which wouldn't put me off.  No hard case might though, especially if you want it shipped?

(don't forget to add tax/import duty etc...)