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1978 Ibanez FA-500NT 'Johnny Smith Double'
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Serial #: K-784859, Tamura signed label Body size at lower bout: 17" Scale length: 25" Nut width: 1 11/16' Neck depth, 1st/10th frets: .85/.99
Materials: Three-piece solid maple neck with adjustable truss rod; bookmatched arched spruce top; figured arched maple back and sides; solid ebony fingerboard and compensated bridge; mother of pearl block fingerboard inlay and peghead inlay; 5-ply body, headstock and pickguard binding, triple bound fingerboard, bound f-holes
Hardware: Original gold hardware includes twin Super 70 floating mini-humbucking pickups, loop style trapeze tailpiece, adjustable compensated ebony bridge, bound tortoise pickguard with 3 way rotary pickup selector and volume and tone knobs. Gold Schaller M-6 tuners installed.
Notes: If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, consider this guitar a valentine to the Gibson Guitar Company. In the early 70's Ibanez set out to make high-precision replicas of Gibson's top-end instruments. So successful were they that Gibson sued to stop production, which was subsequently halted under court order. Now known as 'lawsuit' models, these guitars have become legendary for their rarity, and their scrupulous faithfulness to the originals.
Meticulously constructed, this guitar, formerly model 2461NT, is virtually identical in dimensions, scale and bracing to it's Gibson namesake, and bears the signature of its builder on it's label. The solid ebony fingerboard is inlaid with pearl split block inlays, and the body shows handsome ribbon figure maple in the back. Fitted with twin floating Super 70 mini-humbucking pickups, the bound tortoise pickguard has a 3 way rotary pickup selector, volume and tone controls, and a full size 1/4" jack mounted underneath.
A true gigmeister with a comfortable light D neck profile, this model is ideal for working pros and weekend warriors alike, who prefer to leave their spendy originals at home. The laminate construction is significantly more resistant to feedback, as well as to fluctuations in temperature and humidity. This gleaming example shows no cracks, pick, buckle, thumb or fingerboard wear, with all binding tight and original, with smooth low action over fine original fretwork, and a fresh high precision setup. Apart from a few wisps of scatted checking in the original amber blonde finish , the guitar shows few signs of age altogether. And all ensconced in its original black Ibanez deluxe plush lined hardshell case.
If you've been searching for one of these beauties, don't dawdle: this guitar is the most faithful clone anyone's going to build, as long as Gibson has lawyers. One only: call now.
Setup: The frets have been precision leveled, crowned and polished as required; trussrod tension and neck relief adjusted; bridge height adjusted; bridge compensation set; string slots at nut and bridge inspected and recut as necessary; bridge foot contour inspected and fit to top as necessary; bridge radius inspected and recurved as necessary; bridge wheels and tuners lubricated; fingerboard and bridge oiled; body and neck cleaned and hand polished.
This instrument is strung with medium gauge nickel flatwound strings. The guitar will accommodate lighter or heavier gauge strings, according to preference. String action is set at 4/64" to 5/64" at the 12th fret, with moderate relief for acoustic playing with medium strings. The action may be lowered or raised to your requirements with the adjustable bridge.
