Home / Instruments /Accessories / Ordering / Tips / Friends

archtop.com

1982 Ibanez George Benson GB-20

Price and Status: For pricing and hold status of this instrument, please check here. If this instrument does not appear on the Instruments page it has been sold. To be notified of examples of this or any other model in the future, please email your specific requests to [email protected].

SN# F826666, Benson signature label, built June, 1982

Body size at lower bout: 16 3/4" Body depth: 3" Scale length: 24 3/4" Nut Width: 1 11/16"

Materials: Arched spruce top, arched birdseye maple back and sides; solid three piece maple neck; solid ebony fingerboard with split-block pearl inlays; GB logo peghead inlay; 7-ply top binding, triple bound back and neck, bone nut with brass zero fret; grained ivoroid binding and heelcap.

Hardware: Original hardware includes bound tortoise pickguard; inlaid ebony adjustable bridge; gold GB Special Johnny Smith style floating humbucking pickup; volume control with amber speed knob; tortoise inlaid gold die-cast split tailpiece with individual tension adjuster knobs. Vintage Chrome Grover Rotomatic tuners.

Notes: Introduced in 1978, the Ibanez George Benson GB-20 model was the full size counterpart to the renowned GB-10. Produced in small numbers only until 1982, the GB-20 is much scarcer than its smaller counterpart, and is rarely seen on the vintage market.

A genuine Japanese crafted instrument from thje last year of production, this guitar is in wonderful condition, without pick, buckle, thumb or fingerboard wear. Lovingly maintained, the instrument shows little play, with the original medium jumbo frets in superb condition on thr solid ebony fingerboard. Smooth low action over gentle D profile neck; warm, vibrant tone and greater acoustic projection from the larger body.

With its label signed by the legend himself, the GB-20 is a perennial favorite among working players, and a very rare find indeed: one only, call now.

Setup: The frets have been precision leveled, recrowned 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 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 (.012-.054). The guitar will accommodate lighter or heavier gauge strings, according to preference. String action is set at 5/64" to 6/64" 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.

Case: Recent deluxe Ibanez logo arched black plush lined hardshell case.