No pics yet but I'll add tomorrow when there's light. Mine's a AM205 that someone modded a single coil into (looks pro or high quality DIY) and added 3 DPDT switches to. One brings in and out the single coil and the other two give series/single/parallel options to the humbuckers.
The one I didn't pick up is $600 and listed as something like an AM70. It's definitely an AM, I'm not confident that their listing is correct but it's clearly says Crafted in Japan on the back. Based on my memory of what I saw, it's an AM50. Has the same single coil added in the middle. But it has just a push pull to take it in and out of the circuit. It also has a case (which I didn't look at). Unmodded this is what they're going for on Reverb:
https://reverb.com/p/ibanez-am50-stagem ... burst-1983
So this other one is a little cheaper than the low end of what they should go for stock. With mods... I dunno. Your call. The mods are alright, so I'd say go for it. I'd argue it's worth it.
@andrewsrea, I'll probably bring it by next time I visit for show and tell. Honestly doesn't look like it doesn't need anything, but if you're willing to check the truss rod and that I'm not missing anything wrong with it I'd appreciate it.
Picked up a vintage MIJ Ibanez Semihollow via GC Used & There's another one there if you're interested
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andrewsrea
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- Joined: Wed May 27, 2020 4:43 pm
- Location: Lake Saint Louis, MO
- Gearlist: 28 Guitars: (2) basses, (2) acoustics, (3) hollow bodies, (3) Semi hollow, (1) Double-neck, (17) Solid-bodies
These are an under appreciated and fantastic guitars!
Looks like the rubber 'poker chip' had rotted like my 1985 Ibanez AM70 did two decades ago. You are also missing the 1st gen sure-grip knobs. Yours was made in Jul - mine in August of 1985.
Reading the serial, I think that is either a prototype or custom order. My AM70 which serial number starts with 'H85', like other production Ibanez of that era. Yours starts with the 'G' and I am thinking this is a special designation.
These things which appear to be mods, may be factory. Does it look like it never had a pickguard installed?
Live life to the fullest! - Rob
@andrewsrea it does have the mark where the pickguard would've gone. Also, there was another AM50? modded like this in the same store. I measured the pickups. Neck is almost low 7s and the bridge is low 8s. The Gold screws (gold covers in case) aren't particularly common so I'm not sure what they are. They sound better than MIJ Super 58s (which I consider decent pickups).