IVY IP-300-TSB

[toomanycats]

I went into Guitar Center today with absolutely no intention of buying a guitar, or anything for that matter. I was just in the neighborhood and wanted to casually browse.

A short time earlier some guy had brought this IVY in and wanted to sell it to put towards the purchase of an Epiphone. The manager of the store told him the IVY was actually better than the Epi he wanted to buy, which apparently had horrible fret sprout. But the guy insisted, so they gave him $70 for his IVY and sold him the Epiphone.

A few moments later in walks TMC, who, upon seeing this gorgeous, neck through body, double cut, beautifully figured, perfect condition IVY guitar which had just been set out on the floor with a $116.99 price tag on it, thinks it must be some kind of mistake. He picks it up and plugs it into a BlackStar half stack so he can hear himself over the young guy next to him making sounds with a fan fret eight string that resemble water buffalos mating. The IVY plays so smooth, and over the din of feral bovines fornicating he recognizes that it has excellent tone.

He has to have it!!!!

The manager said that he'd never seen an IVY in his store before. Some of the other employees said they'd never even heard of them.

This is an insane guitar for $229.20, which is what they're selling them for on Amazon right now. What I just paid for mine is a crime.

[BatUtilityBelt]

Gorgeous. I guess I'm safe because they don't appear to make many lefties.

[dabbler]

I did not need to see this!

OK, now I hate you... J/K.

But I AM jealous!

[toomanycats]

Some other observations:

Made in Vietnam in 2022. The previous owner treated it with kid gloves. There's zero fret wear and the plastic film is still on the covers.

Pickups measure around 13K at bridge and 9K at neck. The magnets are ALNiCo. Destiny CNC Wound pickups are supposedly also used on WOLF guitars.

The Wilkinson bridge has a big chunky block.

The nut is made out of bone and the slots are cut well.

The maple cap is the binding, which is how I know the cap is real.

The frets are smooth, very well dressed, and dead level. The neck feels like a C shape with some girth to it.
"Perfect neck with almost no defectiveness."

In case you didn't notice, it is neck-through-body, and consequently about as heavy as an old school Agile. It's easily over 10 pounds . . . not that I'm complaining.

[ILuvTeles]

Congrats on another great find! You definitely have a knack for finding great bargains!

I have the same guitar & love it. I love all my IYV guitars. The uncovered Destiny pups rock! Enjoy!

[bc rich]

Great score , congrats again . Must be something in the water there.
Have had one in my amazon cart forever.
The sks is calling .

[BrianSkeezer]

I have a few IYV guitars. They're a Korean company making guitars in Vietnam. IYV stands for Inyen Vina. If you're ok with minor flaws (which I am), they're a great value. I think Agile had a few ALs made by Inyen in the late 2010s. Wolf and AIO were made by them (they may still be, but I think they switched to an Indonesian factory instead). They used to make some Harley Benton guitars too, like the CUS24 and ESP copies. They since switched to an Indonesian factory too. IYV will make any custom guitar you want for a great price (I'm talking just under $200), but the FedEx shipping, although very fast, is around $150. Depending on what you want, that's still a good deal, but some buyers are turned off by the shipping price.

[toomanycats]

I have a few IYV guitars. They're a Korean company making guitars in Vietnam. IYV stands for Inyen Vina. If you're ok with minor flaws (which I am), they're a great value. I think Agile had a few ALs made by Inyen in the late 2010s. Wolf and AIO were made by them (they may still be, but I think they switched to an Indonesian factory instead). They used to make some Harley Benton guitars too, like the CUS24 and ESP copies. They since switched to an Indonesian factory too. IYV will make any custom guitar you want for a great price (I'm talking just under $200), but the FedEx shipping, although very fast, is around $150. Depending on what you want, that's still a good deal, but some buyers are turned off by the shipping price.

HB CST24.jpgIYV Custom IJG-250.jpgIYV Custom IP-350 cropped.jpgIYV IS-300.jpgIyv SG.jpg

Wow, you've got a beautiful collection there. I especially like the blue PRS looking one and the purple one. The later looks like a muscle car to me. So which one(s) did you custom order?

Maybe you can answer this too. On my thread title I wrote "IVY," but now that you've pointed it out I see that my guitar actually says "IYV" on the headstock. It's even written like that on the Guitar Center receipt.
So which is it, "IVY" or IYV"? What's the difference?
Or am I just hallucinating the whole thing and only think I'm seeing it both ways?

[tonebender]

Two great deals in one week.

I like the way you started the post, LOL. It reminded me of the 70's reading the Dear Penthouse letters. They always start the same way and you know right where it's headed.

[toomanycats]

Two great deals in one week.

I like the way you started the post, LOL. It reminded me of the 70's reading the Dear Penthouse letters. They always start the same way and you know right where it's headed.

Ha ha. 70s Penthouse, good memories.

Yeah, and for some reason I slipped into "Bob Dole" 3rd person mode there for a paragraph. Don't know what came over me.

I'm in $150 this week so far for guitars with that pink Strat and the IYV. Who knows, the weekend isn't over yet.

I'm trying mightily hard not to go back to that Guitar Center today in Hickory NC. They have the only brand new Gibson korina Explorer for sale at any Guitar Center in the country right now. The manager knew I wanted it bad and was pushing it on me so hard, practically begging me to play it. I don't dare return to the vicinity of that store for the next week. Mrs TMC let these two cheapies slide, but seeing as I don't gig anymore, she's liable to castrate me if I come home with another Gibson that'll just sit in the case. It's best not to push my luck.

[SamIV]

Glad you got a good one, but in my experience, the brand is hit or miss. I have one of their emerald green LP copies I got off eBay for $92.00 shipped. Needed a little work, but cured my LP itch. Ordered an IYV semi-hollow off Amazon, but the tail piece was mounted 1/2” off center. Amazon has a great return policy that I took advantage of. Would post a pic of the green guitar, but keep getting the file is too large pop up. So here are tacos from my trip to Cabo last week.

[toomanycats]

Glad you got a good one, but in my experience, the brand is hit or miss. I have one of their emerald green LP copies I got off eBay for $92.00 shipped. Needed a little work, but cured my LP itch. Ordered an IYV semi-hollow off Amazon, but the tail pierce was mounted 1/2” off center. Amazon has a great return policy that I took advantage of. Would post a pic of the green guitar, but keep getting the file is too large pop up. So here are tacos from my trip to Cabo last week.

19EFA860-5A71-44D8-98DD-DBA9979EF532.jpeg

I remember your green IYV LP.

Damn, now I want Mexican food! Did you go to Sammy's place is Cabo?

[SamIV]

Yep. First time having a Bohemia while I was there. Similar to a Modelo, which is what I usually drink. During the daytime hours though. Nice a quiet for my old azz self.

[sabasgr68]

I went into Guitar Center today with absolutely no intention of buying a guitar, or anything for that matter. I was just in the neighborhood and wanted to casually browse.

Yeah, right... And you didn´t happen to have your credit card or cash with you... Yeah, right.

That´s a great grab! I do like that IYV model, but somehow it seems a little out of proportion to me, something about the horns; still, it looks good in that specific color. I´d love to have one of those.

Enjoy it!

PS: You´re not giggin' anymore? How´s that? Or did I missed a thread about it?

[tonebender]

I know what you mean, I try to stay away but I am much better at resisting these days. The Gibson SG Jr P90 did get me though. Once you play it and it speaks to you the justification begins.

[mozz]

You must be running out of storage space. I just had to move about 10 guitars to get the title to a vehicle i am selling.

[BrianSkeezer]

I have a few IYV guitars. They're a Korean company making guitars in Vietnam. IYV stands for Inyen Vina. If you're ok with minor flaws (which I am), they're a great value. I think Agile had a few ALs made by Inyen in the late 2010s. Wolf and AIO were made by them (they may still be, but I think they switched to an Indonesian factory instead). They used to make some Harley Benton guitars too, like the CUS24 and ESP copies. They since switched to an Indonesian factory too. IYV will make any custom guitar you want for a great price (I'm talking just under $200), but the FedEx shipping, although very fast, is around $150. Depending on what you want, that's still a good deal, but some buyers are turned off by the shipping price.

HB CST24.jpgIYV Custom IJG-250.jpgIYV Custom IP-350 cropped.jpgIYV IS-300.jpgIyv SG.jpg

Wow, you've got a beautiful collection there. I especially like the blue PRS looking one and the purple one. The later looks like a muscle car to me. So which one(s) did you custom order?

Maybe you can answer this too. On my thread title I wrote "IVY," but now that you've pointed it out I see that my guitar actually says "IYV" on the headstock. It's even written like that on the Guitar Center receipt.
So which is it, "IVY" or IYV"? What's the difference?
Or am I just hallucinating the whole thing and only think I'm seeing it both ways?

Those 2 are my custom orders. They're both custom colors on existing models, but both have ebony fretboards, locking tuners, and stainless steel jumbo frets. The body on the JM is alder, I think the stock is basswood, and the body on the PRS style is ash with the veneer on top. I also had the PRS style made with a 5-piece maple/walnut set neck. I'm actually thinking of the reverse Mosrite copy they make for another custom order.

It's IYV, but I think they have them listed as either in Amazon. Like I said, if you can live with some flaws, they're not bad. The blue PRS style has a paint run under the clear, and the clear is really thick. Like so thick you can see the outline on the neck and headstock. It doesn't bother me because it chunks up the neck to a wide/fat PRS style neck, which I like. The purple one is actually a different color than the picture I sent them to match. I wanted a more blue/darker purple, but it's still nice. Those pickups seem to be single-coil due to the 50-cycle hum. I don't know if Firebird pickups are like that, but they're made to resemble them.

[SamIV]

I remember when you ordered those from IYV. They do make a nice guitar for you what you pay for them. I was just playing my green LP by them, and it does give me that 60’s style LP Standard feel and sound. But there is a difference in playability even with my only PRS SE that I have. It just feels better to play. But it would cost you 7 times the cost of it new. So now it says the files size is ok for the loud azz green guitar. Who knows

[toomanycats]

I went into Guitar Center today with absolutely no intention of buying a guitar, or anything for that matter. I was just in the neighborhood and wanted to casually browse.

PS: You´re not giggin' anymore? How´s that? Or did I missed a thread about it?

No more public performances. Somebody contacted me just yesterday to play a show last night. I had to say "No." I can't talk about it here.

[sabasgr68]

I went into Guitar Center today with absolutely no intention of buying a guitar, or anything for that matter. I was just in the neighborhood and wanted to casually browse.

PS: You´re not giggin' anymore? How´s that? Or did I missed a thread about it?

No more public performances. Somebody contacted me just yesterday to play a show last night. I had to say "No." I can't talk about it here.

Well, I´m sorry to hear that. We know how much you love(d?) to play your gigs.

Anyway, congrats again on the IYV! There´s always a good side.

[idiotsdelight]

I got the IYV SG with the Vibrola. Nice guitars. Trying to remember if I have another?

Love that purple offset. Are those Firebird pickups?

The "IVY" came from Amazon mislabeling them.

[BrianSkeezer]

I got the IYV SG with the Vibrola. Nice guitars. Trying to remember if I have another?

Love that purple offset. Are those Firebird pickups?

The "IVY" came from Amazon mislabeling them.

The first IYV I bought was the SG style without the vibrola. My son wanted an SG, and the price was right for that on Amazon. It's a really decent guitar.

I've never had the opportunity to hear or be around real Firebird pickups, so I don't know, but these are at least made to resemble them. They have 60 cycle hum in all positions, so I think they're single coil. I initially thought they were mini-hums until I heard the hum. They do sound pretty good though and I've had no plans to change them out.

[idiotsdelight]

I have the IYV Mustang thing too ($70). It's right in front of me. ....durp.

I've become a lover of these trems btw.

[Partscaster]

I went into Guitar Center today with absolutely no intention of buying a guitar, or anything for that matter. I was just in the neighborhood

Reminds me of a former co-worker, Sam. Sam nailed all the chicks, he couldnt help it. Quoted once as saying, " There was nothing I could do about that one...!"

[toomanycats]

I went into Guitar Center today with absolutely no intention of buying a guitar, or anything for that matter. I was just in the neighborhood

Reminds me of a former co-worker, Sam. Sam nailed all the chicks, he couldnt help it. Quoted once as saying, " There was nothing I could do about that one...!"

Yes, exactly! It's like a Pavlovian response, resulting in an action totally outside the control of one's personal will.

As reasonable men we clearly agree on the logic of this . . . but do you really think the wives will buy it?