Ibanez Johnny Smith

[Dick Onstenk]

I own a 1977 Ibanez Johnny Smith and I have noticed that this particular
vintage Jap guitar is pretty expensive nowadays. I have seen them for sale
for $ 1500 and more. I love it a lot.

How do these guitars compare to other, more recent L5 clones (Washburn, Cort
etc.). Are they so much better that they demand such high prices? Or are
they so rare?

Any other Ibanez JS owners here?

Greetings,

Dick

[kaetae]

There was a brief time in the 70's when Ibanez made almost exact copies
of Gibsons.
They are called Law Suite guitars and get a good buck in the collectable
market.
Pt

[Brent]

I own one also and believe that they are superior to the Korean L5 imports.
That said, there are some differences between these and the original Gibsons,
most notably the laminated tops. I have a Heritage Eagle Classic with two PU's
and that is a better guitar than the Ibanez both in construction and sound.

Brent

[Peter Grey]

I've owned both an Ibanez FA510 (post lawsuit JS) and an Ibanez Johnny Smith
over the last two years. I liked them both. I sold the FA510 for $1600 and the
other was worth about $1500 in trade value. I think they're better than most of
the L5 clones I've played and comparable to most guitars available for $1500.
They weren't great acoustically, but sounded good amplified. They had the
standard issue Ibanez jazz necks, which I like.

I have an Ibanez FA700 now which is a solid top, routed in pickup L5 copy that
is very nice - nicer than some L5s I've played.

Regards,

Peter

[JALSRV]

Apparently there were some Ibanez Johnny Smiths made w/ solid tops. I think
you can find out if they are solid if it has an S after the model number inside
the guitar.
Jonathan

[Dick Onstenk]

My Johnny Smith sounds great acoustically (loud and full), just as good as
my Yamaha AE 2000 which has a carved top.

Inside the guitar it reads (handwritten)

2461 BS (or maybe 2461 B, S)

and then there is the hand written signature of the luthier.

I always assumed it was laminate ... what do you guys think?

Dick

[Dick Onstenk]

Mmmmm ... my Johnny Smith sounds great acoustically (loud and full), just as
good as my Yamaha AE 2000 which does have a carved top.

Inside the guitar it reads (handwritten)

2461 BS (or maybe 2461 B, S)

and then there is the hand written signature of the luthier.

I always assumed it was laminate and BS probably stands for the finish
(sunburst)????

Dick

[Peter Grey]

Maybe it sounds good acoustically because it's the much rumored solid top
version...? My ply JS guitars didn't sound so great acoustically. Could the
"S" stand for solid?

Also, if it's signed, that would seem to be a good sign. My solid top FA700 is
signed, but neither my FA510 or JS were.

Peter

[Dick Onstenk]

> Maybe it sounds good acoustically because it's the much rumored solid top
> version...? My ply JS guitars didn't sound so great acoustically. Could
the
> "S" stand for solid?
>
> Also, if it's signed, that would seem to be a good sign. My solid top
FA700 is
> signed, but neither my FA510 or JS were.
>
> Peter

That would be the day. Still, the Ibanez Vintage page suggests that BS can
stand for finish too ... So whether it is 2461 BS or 2461 B, S????

Well, it's a cool guitar either way ...

[mus...@aol.com]

In article <g9Jz6.61908$Xx6.796459@Flipper>, Dick Onstenk

<d.on...@chello.nl> writes:
>I own a 1977 Ibanez Johnny Smith and I have noticed that this particular
>vintage Jap guitar is pretty expensive nowadays. I have seen them for sale
>for $ 1500 and more. I love it a lot.

>Dick

I use to own an Ibanez Johnny Smith installed with a single Super 70s floating
pickup, laminate model without the 'S'. The first thing I noticed was its
weight. It was heavy. Acoustically loud but on the thiny side. My basis of
comparison is my American Archtop 7-string maple-laminate top which projects
a bassier and deeper acoustic tone. The other problem with the Ibanez Johnny
Smith is its fretboard. Quite uneven thus you get fret buzzes. You really
have to play one before you buy to avoid those models with uneven fretboard.
I believe Ibanez started to improve significantly during the early George
Benson years (1979-81). For instance the frets on my 1979 GB-20 are very
even. Although the spruce tops are hard-pressed they convincingly look and
sound like solid carved tops.

rene

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