Ibanez lawsuit SG?

[NORCurley]

Hey fellow TB'ers!

I got this used Ibanez real cheap from an old rocker a couple of days ago, but I couldn't find much info about it online. It seems rather old (70' - 80'), made in Japan and has no serial number

So what is this thing? I Bumped into a thread about lawsuit basses, but didn't really get it...somekind of copies? Is it possible it's one of those?

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But is does sure as hell look good.
And sounds amazing too - bit like Jaco + rounds when I'm soloing the bridge and cutting the tone.


- Kristian

 

[Spinal Tapper]

Sweet man! I just got an Ibby Rick copy! They're very well-made instruments...I can't find the link right now, but there's a page that should help you date it...I'd guess early 70s...that's what my Ibanez Rick copy is...Made In Japan on the neckplate and no serial number.

here's a shot of my girl

 

[T-Bird]

Hi.

Congrats, a sweet find indeed.

The lawsuits were for exact copies AFAIK, so bolt-on's would've probably been ok. Even back then. I could be wrong though as the lawsuits were obviously in USA, not in Europe.

Regards
Sam

 

[ashtray]

Nice SG Bass! Yes - Ibanez made a bunch of copies during the 70's. Early 70's their quality and attention to detail weren't the best - late 70's they really stepped up their game and were comparable to the real deal.

Around '76 or so, Ibanez received a legal notice from Gibson essentially saying "cut it out!" (legal jargon) - and Ibanez stopped producing exact copies of Gibson instruments. (and interestingly, when they started focusing on their own designs, their products were really something.) The Gibson "open book" headstock for example could not be used, nor the exact body shape. The fact that its a bolt on neck didn't really make any difference to Gibson - from the front, it still had the same exact shape/look as a Gibson. So the bolt ons were part of the legal notice.

These are incorrectly referred to as "lawsuit" models, but there really was no lawsuit.

That would mean your bass was made somewhere between 1970-1975.

They're collectible instruments, and a lot of fun to play. If you got it real cheap, that's real good. (their values can be all over the map, depending upon model, features, condition, market, etc) Enjoy it!

 

[Musky]

That's a 2354B, and like Ashtray says it's from mid '75 or earlier - after that Ibanez put serial numbers on their instruments.

If there is really such a thing as a lawsuit guitar, you've got one. Norlin, the Gibson parent company, filed a lawsuit against Hoshino USA (distributors of Ibanez in the US) in June '77 against the use of the headstock shape. The case never went to court, but the papers were filed. Since you bass is an Ibanez and has the Gibson headstock, it's one of the few bass models that can be called a 'lawsuit' with any kind of accuracy.

 

[Basstovsky]

Wow, finally some info haha. I've had this Penco and about all I could find out about it was it was made in the Ibanez factory somewhere between 70-75. Looks like that info was right as its near identical to yours!

Only difference I can see (aside from the name on the headstock) is your bridge pickup has 8 exposed poles, still has the pickup selector ring, and mine has adjustable saddles and the pull-lever foam mute under the bridge.

And you're right, oddly enough the bridge pickup gets VERY funky, and I've definitely slapped on it.

 

[3toes]

Ibanez lawsuits are FANTASTIC basses. Enjoy it! I think the serial numbers began in 1976, so yeah, it's likely to be a '75 or earlier.

 

[necrobot]

Yeah! that top one, i have the exact same one in that yellow interior case! i use it all the time! man, i didn't think anybody else had it.. that's so awesome!