• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

NBD: In which I acquire a Unicorn

#41
Congratulations, @gtlover. What a find. I totally understand wanting twins (matching 4s and 5s, in my case), and it’s hard enough to pull off with P basses (I’m a pickup decision and installation away). Flats and rounds, different tunings, a perfect backup … or just something that makes you happy in this world. Clearly, you’ve at least got the last one going on.

Also, I’m totally stealing “previous ogre.”
 
  • Like
Reactions: moreblues
#52
MYLOWFREQ said:
That's unbelievable! Congrats. Now get the .......08, or .....11 or better both :)
Click to expand...

That would be truly amazing. Part of that is due to how Ibanez did the serial numbers from the mid 70's to mid 80's.
The first character is the month, starting with A for January. "I" denotes September. The next 2 digits is the year, in this case 1977. The last 4 digits are the production serial, starting at 0001 for the first instrument made that year - which could include basses, guitars, mandolins, banjos and whatever else they were making.
Assuming similar instruments were made in batches, there could well be 5908 and 5911 lurking out there.
 
  • Like
Reactions: wraub and Monterey Bay-ss
#54
gtlover said:
That would be truly amazing. Part of that is due to how Ibanez did the serial numbers from the mid 70's to mid 80's.
The first character is the month, starting with A for January. "I" denotes September. The next 2 digits is the year, in this case 1977. The last 4 digits are the production serial, starting at 0001 for the first instrument made that year - which could include basses, guitars, mandolins, banjos and whatever else they were making.
Assuming similar instruments were made in batches, there could well be 5908 and 5911 lurking out there.
Click to expand...

That's what I read as well. I have a fretless Ibanez from '79, great instrument except for the weight.. Mine has a much bigger body than yours though (different model). Enjoy your twins!
 
  • Like
Reactions: nixdad
#55
gtlover said:
Upon my 16th birthday some 28 years ago, I was gifted a rare instrument: a 1977 Ibanez 2626B Artist Bass. Lacking both the truss rod cover and the internet, it was years before I knew its age and identity. But I knew I wanted another one.
Alas, scarcity and economics hindered my quest until now. While conducting my semi-regular sweep of eBay, I found another Artist for auction (though the BIN was a bit steep!) and knew it would be mine. And so it came to pass.View attachment 3612074
And here’s the pair:View attachment 3612079Now, granted, this is not a common instrument. But here’s the unicorn moment, and why I was determined to bring it home:

Consecutive.
Serial.
Numbers.
View attachment 3612085 That’s my baby on the left, and the new kid on the right.

I still can’t believe it myself. Yes, it plays great - it’s a MIJ Ibanez after all. But it sounds terrific, too - with much less of the zany tones that Artist basses are known for. Not sure if that’s from the nicely worn in roundwounds or just more unicorn magic, but this one’s a keeper.
Click to expand...
Wow that’s fantastic! Awesome!:thumbsup:
 
  • Like
Reactions: nixdad
#57
Sweet! I had one many years ago, great bass. Amazing to have the serials lineup.
Always kind of dug those pickups, they put them on a bunch of lawsuit copies at that time.

Also I seem to recall seeing one in a Geddy book, and Stanley Clarke had one on the inside pic of one of his albums.

Oh yeah and the uglier gold knobs were the original on mine too.
 
Last edited:

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back