Are Ibanez basses collectable?

[brianrost]

are Ibanez basses considered collectable?

Anything is collectable if someone chooses to collect it.

Will Ibanez basses ever be worth $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ like 1960 Jazz Basses? Unlikely.

Its weird how people have done a 180 on these. Back in the 80s "Made in Japan" was looked down on like "Made in China" is now.

Actually MIJ was quite acceptable by 1980, 1970 not so much...

Ibanez was the brand that really helped change that perception. By 1980 they had moved away from doing copies of various Ricks, Gibsons and Fenders into original designs like the Roadsters, Studio, Musician and Artist.

Yamaha also had strong sales with the first generation BB basses and those guitars that Carlos Santana played.

By the mid-80s ESP, Tokai and Fernandes were being seen on concert stages everywhere.

 

[socialleper]

I've been a long time Fender player, but i've really been eyeballing some of the Ibanez basses lately. I've played some of the 5 and 6 strings models at different shops, especially the BTB models and think they are great.

I have something like 6 or 7 basses, and although my wife really doesn't seem to mind, i tell her i don't play golf or work on cars, i collect basses.

So it got me thinking, i really like the Ibanez models, and will probably pick one up some time in the near future regardless of collectability, but are Ibanez basses considered collectable?

If you mean will they gain value as time goes by like a Fender or a Gibson? No.
The value people put in to old guitars\basses is largely based on BS sprinkled with nostalgia and a hint of rarity. These older models became popular before the internet drove the prices of anything collectable to the ground. Where as it used to be hard to find "old" guitars or basses 20 years ago, you now have the world's classified section at your fingertips. There is nothing hard about finding rare guitars anymore.
Ibanez doesn't have the same cult like following and came into prominence much later. There are much better instruments than 60s and 70s Fenders and Gibsons, but they will never have the same financial value as these.
Nothing is collectable any more and will never have anymore value than what you put into it or what the market allows for.

 

[Nev375]

This one is because there's only a tiny handfull of them in existance and they weren't sold in stores.

 

[wintremute]

The Axstar basses may be collectible.

 

[msiner]

I think the better question is, are any new mass-produced basses collectible (in terms of investment)? I have been really curious about this. Is a Fender standard collectible? Is a Fender American standard collectible? The supply of these models, and instruments in general, is so huge now. Do you think that people will be paying big money for a 2010 vintage Fender American standard in 2040? With the rise of the relic trend, I could see a well worn piece being desirable for some, but will a pristine piece appreciate in value?

Note that when I say mass-produced, I am not considering anything that is custom, limited run, or otherwise limited to small numbers.

 

[Sweet Willie]

Yeah, like most of the others have said: yes, collectible, but not likely to sell for notable value later. And, yes, a number of the basses from Ibanez in the 1970s and 1980s were pretty awesome.

Look for a 1970s Ibanez Challenger. That's a nice one for a personal collection.

 

[strictlybass_ic]

They are very collectible, in that by and large they aren't terribly expensive in the first place and they're even cheaper used. Meaning you can afford to collect a lot of them.

 

[Tom Henry]

Thanks for the responses everyone.

Like i said, i think they are great, i just don't have one yet. It is very unlikely that it will replace my trusty p-bass as my main gigging bass, but I'll probably use it for playing at churches.

Its easy for my wife to understand why I "collect" fender basses, i'm just getting interested in Ibanez basses and was hoping i could explain that they were just as collectable!

I'm sure it is just me trying to justify GAS.

 

[BBQisgood]

Its weird how people have done a 180 on these. Back in the 80s "Made in Japan" was looked down on like "Made in China" is now. People thought Japanese products were junk. What's more, I had never even heard of Ibanez until the late 80s\ early 90s when shredders starting using their guitars. Now suddenly people are raving about them. 10 years from now people will be raving about those great basses from the 90s.

To me, (and probably not too many others), those 90s maple-necked Soundgear basses are super nice. I used to think it was just because that's what I grew up on, but thinking objectively, they are high quality solid performers, especially the passive p/j examples. I'm guessing there may wind up being a small but significant group of devotees in the future and I may wind up being one of them.

I don't think I'd ever count on too many of them ever being high dollar though.

 

[vmabus]

Just play it.

 

[cyclopsbookworm]

The only new one I could see being collectible is the SR5000. Some are touting it as the best thing Ibanez has made. Most of their stuff isn't so much besides the few exceptions people listed. More players basses than anything.

 

[DanAdams]

Not really. late 70s early 80s Ibanez are top notch. Musicians, high end Roadstars, Studios from that era can be collectable. I doubt any 1987 or newer Ibanez has really gone up in value much.

Check out the Ibanez ATK 5 strings. insane values.

I think I was tired when I wrote that I stand by what I said, but I failed to mention that I totally collect Ibanez basses.
I own
4 Musicians
3 Roadstars
1 Studio

Old Roadstars are super fun to mod too. check out the Mutt hotrod Roadstar I'm working on now. It has the parts of three different Roadstars in it, plus a bart.
It's going to have a black neck off a rb690 with purple highlights. The thing is basically going to look like the car with a different color door and hood from the junkyard, but it's going to be HOT STUFF.

 

[socialleper]

Thanks for the responses everyone.

Like i said, i think they are great, i just don't have one yet. It is very unlikely that it will replace my trusty p-bass as my main gigging bass, but I'll probably use it for playing at churches.

Its easy for my wife to understand why I "collect" fender basses, i'm just getting interested in Ibanez basses and was hoping i could explain that they were just as collectable!

I'm sure it is just me trying to justify GAS.

If you are buying a used one, it won't lose value, so there is that. However, I don't see a reason for them to gain value in the foreseeable future. That's not because they are Ibanez, but I personally believe that is how it is going to be for all instruments going forward.

 

[DavC]

usually things that are more ' collectible ' would be items made in small quantities ...

most mass produced items are rarely collectible , if ever ..!

 

[walldaja]

Rarity drives collector value more than quality and value. But you could do collector stuff like getting sequential serial numbers, all years of same model, all options of a model, pick a year, or just enjoy playing.

 

[cyclopsbookworm]

Rarity drives collector value more than quality and value. But you could do collector stuff like getting sequential serial numbers, all years of same model, all options of a model, pick a year, or just enjoy playing.

To some extent. But brand recognition and star use come into play here. Fenders and gibsons aren't super rare but have the recognition os so-and-so having played them back when so more people think they can get a certain mojo if they get the same thing. Not the end-all-be-all on the subject but it comes into play.

 

[TolerancEJ]

I love the Musician series of Ibanez, both the guitar and bass versions. As for collectible, your best option would be those built during the lawsuit era, when Ibanez was producing their versions of popular Gibson & Fender models.

 

[Tagruvto]

Not so much, and IMHO, that's a good thing. Ibanez makes some quality gear for a good price.
A used Ibanez does not command the price of other "more desirable" brands - which can make for a fantastic deal.

I recently picked up a used SR1200E for $560.00. It's now one of my favorites.

 

[Eilif]

I think one useful standard for collectibility-for-vlue is whether an instrument is worth more, adjusted for inflation vs when you purchased it.

If you bought a New Ibanez bass in the 70's or 80's, adjusted for inflation, you're probably not going to make any money on it. However, if you picked up an Ibanez Musician or other used MIJ Ibanez at a bargain basement price in the 90's you might make a tidy profit selling it today. There's alot of instruments that are "collectible" now, but don't really have much hope of outpacing inflation.

There's no Ibanez being made today that I'd purchase expecting some increase in value, but most any used made in Japan Ibanez purchased today can at least be expected to hold it's price, likely it's value and maybe slightly appreciate.

 

[BeyondFiredUp]

Ibanez basses are pre-configured hot hot rods. They come already tricked and modified to kick arse. Hot pickups, clear, even tone. Slim fast necks. No dead spots! Sexy shaped bodies and cool finishes. Ibby's don't cost much and don't return much when selling. But they really earn their keep when the're working for you. Always reliable. If you buy an Ibanez you won't have to buy a new neck, new pick guard (most don't have one) new pickups, or take them to a luthier for regular and frequent adjustments. They're pretty forgiving if you bump them around a bit, and you won't have to worry about damaging their finish to hurt their "collectible" value. Like @Woofer said, if you want a collectible buy a Fender and put it in the closet for 30 years. If you want a working bass buy an Ibanez. So, yeah, I collect Ibanez basses. They are very valuable to me because they work hard. They just work.

I think the original Iceman ICB500 and even the 300, which I had are still very coveted because they were beautiful and just awesome playing and sounding basses. The black ones with creme colored body binding are gorgeous. I sold mine a little over a year ago and still miss it sometimes. The custom cases that specifically are fitted for the Iceman's are perfect fits, snug and top-notch craftsmanship. The 500 was neck-thru and the 300 was bolt on. Both were full sounding and built solid, & hold value.