Monroe's ibanez

[Grasser54]

Hi all. I remember reading posts on here about Bill Monroe at one time playing/endorsing an Ibanez mandolin. It seems like there was a link to a copy of the ad where he was doing the endorsement. I am curious about the model, when he played it, and if there any of those models still around.
If so, what are they selling for these days. If anybody knows the full story or can point me to previous links on the board, I would appreciate it. Thanks. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[MikeEdgerton]

Take a cruise through these (http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=Search&CODE=02&SID=481c8deb7eccaf77) threads. I'm sure you'll find the one you're looking for.

[f5loar]

Monroe's Ibanez was purchased by Amy Grant as a Christmas present(along with Monroe's No. 1 Gibson Monroe Model)for Vince Gil.
Shortly after he got it the Ibanez was for sale by Vince.
I don't remember the price but it was up there.

[goldtopper]

Hi all. I remember reading posts on here about Bill Monroe at one time playing/endorsing an Ibanez mandolin. #It seems like there was a link to a copy of the ad where he was doing the endorsement. #I am curious about the model, when he played it, and if there any of those models still around.
If so, what are they selling for these days. #If anybody knows the full story or can point me to previous links on the board, I would appreciate it. #Thanks. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif
I *think* he played the 527 model.

[morristownmando]

Bill had a 527 i have only seen a couple i have seen alot of the 524's the difference between the 524 and 527 is cosmetic and the 527 was about 50 more dollars when they came out back in the 70's. These mandolins were all handmade and the luthiers actually signed there signature to the tag inside because of how proud they were about these mandolins. When you see a 524 for sale they usually go for about $1200-$2000! # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #Danny KM-805

[Ray(T)]

How do you tell the difference between the 524 and 527? As I've said in previous threads, I bought mine new in 1976 and it has no label or serial number. I've always thought it was a 524 but, if the difference is only cosmetic, its difficult to think of any apportionments which could have been added to make it a 527.
Ray

[morristownmando]

A 527 has gibson style neck joint binding and the ones i seen had a fern style peghead inlay i have never seen a 524 with the fern.

[morristownmando]

[QUOTE]How do you tell the difference between the 524 and 527? As I've said in previous threads, I bought mine new in 1976 and it has no label or serial number. I've always thought it was a 524 but, if the difference is only cosmetic, its difficult to think of any apportionments which could have been added to make it a 527.
Ray I would love to see some pics of your ibanez those mandolins fascinate me.:O

[527]

the difference between the 524 and 527 is cosmetic and the 527 was about 50 more dollars when they came out back in the 70's
Here are my views on this topic, as an owner of both Ibanez 524 and Ibanez 527 mandolins (along with every other older Ibanez model).

There are many differences between the standard Ibanez models (523, 524, 524CW, and 525) and the upper echelon models (526 and 527). The 529 is another tale for another time!

I will limit my comments to the 527 only, since it is the topic of this thread, but most of the points apply to the 526 as much as the 527 mandolin.

Points of difference between 527 and 524 mandolins, starting with construction:

Top Carve 527 features a much deeper dish and recurve than the 524. This is most evident between scroll and fingerboard. Less dramatic carve on the 524.

Neck Joint 527 neck joint is in the Gibson style, with a binding wedge across the joint. 524 features a simpler neck joint for ease of fitting.

Pick Guard 527 does not have holes for a pick guard, and does not come with pick guard. 524 has holes and pick guard.

Woods 527 features highly figured maple back, rims, and neck. 524 is usually plain maple but can have some nice figure.

Finish 527 has a toned, hand applied finish, similar to early Ibanez Artist guitars of this period, and the colors are richer and deeper. 524 has a standard Ibanez sunburst finish.

Fingerboard Inlay 527 has dot inlays. 524 has fancy inlays copied from a 1970's Gibson F-5! The 524 looks cool but not vintage on this point.

Headstock Inlay 527 has a strange, complex, "Fern-inspired" inlay (the 526 has one more like a Fern). The 524 initially had a torch but later changed to other symbols.

and last of all...

Rarity I have collected mandolins for many years. I have seen hundreds and owned dozens of Ibanez 524 mandolins and I think they are great fun. I have seen exactly one 527 mandolin in all that time, the one that I own. The 526, while rare, is easier to find than the 527.

I would be very jealous of anyone who has seen or owned multiple examples of Ibanez 527 Mandolins. I imagine that might have been possible in 1977 in a bluegrass store, but they just didn't make many of this particular model. The only 526 and 527 serial numbers I am aware of are from 1977 (Monroe's from Jan '77, and the examples I own also from that time period).

I don't know anyone else that owns a 527, nor is there much if any real information on the web. The Ibanez literature shows Monroe playing a 524! The only 527 picture I could find is from the 1975 Ibanez Catalog which shows off the toned finish nicely in comparison to a 523.

http://www.break-even.org/ibzscans/1975FB/fly-4.jpg

[fatt-dad]

Hey, I used to have a 524! Always was curious about the model number.

Interesting information on the 524 v. 527 too!

f-d

[morristownmando]

[QUOTE]527 Here are my views on this topic, as an owner of both Ibanez 524 and Ibanez 527 mandolins (along with every other older Ibanez model) Nice description on the ibanez's. I considered myself very knowledgeable in the vintage ibanez mandolins but you are truly on top of the subject. Would you post some pics of your 527 and 524? Also do you have a 524 for sale? Thanks Danny

[527]

No, nothing for sale.

I would however like to collect information for an Ibanez mandolin website.

When I have some time I will photograph the 527 to show examples of the design feature.

One more distinction that I meant to make is whether the 524 is a "Loar Copy". The Ibanez 524 has more in common with the 1970's Gibson Master Models than the vintage Loar style mandolins, in my opinion. It would seem that Ibanez used a contemporary 70's Gibson as their design template when creating their mandolin specs. The fingerboard inlay, the finish, the neck joint all point to this for me. The 526 and 527 have more vintage style features although they are nowhere near perfect Loar copies either.

[fatt-dad]

Heck, I guess I misposted: I had the A5 model, what does that say, 521? Hard to make out the numbers. . .

No matter, it was a fine mandolin that had to be set free. I kept my Flatiron instead.

f-d

[Grasser54]

This has turned into a great topic. 527, I would really appreciate any kind of website on the Ibanez mandos you could come up with. Your info seems pretty authoritative.
Do any of these ever come up for sale anywhere? If so, what do they usually go for? Also I would like to hear your opinions on how they sound, and what they compare to on the current market. Thanks! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[527]

According to the catalog above, Fatt-Dad, your A5 is likely to have been a 522 model. The A style with no points is the 521. I am not as much a collector of the A models though.

Grasser, let's get started on the website project, collecting info from owners, pictures, ads, etc. I will start another general Ibanez Mando thread in the next couple days and we can centralize the whole thing there.

I would like to have the input of Desert Rose, who is a member here. He has a connection to the actual factory and is very much in the know.

524 models are fairly plentiful on ebay. I have paid as little as $200 for a 524 and on up into the thousands depending on model, condition, and specs. You probably have better odds of finding a 526 than a 527, and they aren't much different. The 526 is a dark red finish, Fern style inlay, and lacks the "Monroe" connection of the 527.

I am not a bluegrass player, my music is more of my own personal style, so my comments on sound may not help that much. Best mandolin I have played is a 1919 Gibson A3. Light, easy touch, loud, and clear! I haven't heard an Ibanez that matches it. There is a good deal of variation in the sound of the Ibanez I have played, some poor, some good, and some great (but not 1919 A3 great). Listen with your ears, not your eyes or wallet! It would be hard for me to compare it to a current mando like Weber or Collings since I have not played them. I have only ever played old Gibsons and Ibanez.

[Dan Cole]

I have an Ibanez 524. I bought it new in 1977. I flipped a lot of hamburgers at McDs to pay for it as a 16 year old kid. I originally ordered the 524 AV, antique violin finish. It took so long to get it when it finally showed up it was just a 524. I almost bought a Gibson A model as a result of the long wait.

It has faired well over the years for the most part. I didn't play it for about 10 or more years. As a result it has a crack or seam separation just below the tailpiece and could use a fret job. The crack doesn't seem to be hurting anything, but is too expensive to have repaired. I did take the pick guard off and put it on my Weber. Kind of a link to the past!

The serial number is H778024.

I still break it out once in a while and play it. The sound is so different from my Weber Big Sky.

[cooper4205]

Here's my old 522. it was a pretty nice mandolin, had a nice sound for jazz, but it could've benefitted from not being so heavily built. It's my understanding that the mandos numbered above 520 (i.e. 521-527) were their top of the line, solid wood mandolins. They also had a solid-wood A style called the 518, that had a 'distressed' finish (didn't you have on of those fatt-dad?)

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h75/wesb4217/7f_3.jpg

[cooper4205]

here are some scans from a 1976 catalog (the page above is from '75) with a the specs listed at the bottom. I find it interesting that the two 524's were listed before the nicer (IMO) 527 #model.

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h75/wesb4217/m-2.jpg
http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h75/wesb4217/m-3.jpg

[cooper4205]

and here are the A-styles, and the F4 (I've only seen one of those for sale in the last couple of years)

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h75/wesb4217/m-4.jpg
http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h75/wesb4217/m-5.jpg

[Ray(T)]

OK - mine clearly isn't a 527 but what is it? The inlay on the head is different but otherwise its much the same as the 524 cooper4205 has posted a picture of.

Sorry about the dust, Its been on the wall for the last couple of years!
Ray


AH! Just spotted spotted 527's comment about the torch inlay - it must be an early 524 which would explain the lack of a serial number.

[fatt-dad]

Maybe a little off topic, but I offer the following:

[fatt-dad]

Along with this example of the model on the far right (I really liked the sound of this funky looking mandolin):

[fatt-dad]

And let us not forget the 513 (o.k. it never did much for me)!

[fatt-dad]

Here's my A5 model (I offer these in response to anybody looking for content on a new web page):

[527]

Great pics, the A model is a nice one. We'll start getting website materials together http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[527]

So I've gotten a domain, http://ibanezmandolin.com/

amd I've retained a UK design firm to style the site. For now it's just an unstyled blog so we can get some info together and get the word out.

I'll start another thread today on the topic and welcome anyone with info to step up and share.

527@ibanezmandolin.com