Ibanez Mandolin

[mrtim]

Which ibanez model of mandolin is this? Approximate year it was made as its serial no is G768039. Any help would be very appreciated

[Ray(T)]

Time for some homework! - http://s93105080.onlinehome.us/Ibanez-Catalogs/

[108 Mile]

Looks like a 523, I used to have the 526 next to it

[mrtim]

Thank you this is a great help ��

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Thanks I still have my cherry 526. A great mandolin it is to.

[Ray(T)]

I believe many of the ‘76 models, unlike yours, didn’t have serial numbers. I see yours doesn’t have the pickguard - probably because they were susceptible to deterioration. I.e they were made of celuloid which, given the right (wrong?) conditions, tends to gas-off, corroding the adjoining frets and, in extreme cases, leaving burn marks on the top.

I still have my 524 which is on the previous page!

[mrtim]

I believe many of the ‘76 models, unlike yours, didn’t have serial numbers. I see yours doesn’t have the pickguard - probably because they were susceptible to deterioration. I.e they were made of celuloid which, given the right (wrong?) conditions, tends to gas-off, corroding the adjoining frets and, in extreme cases, leaving burn marks on the top.

I still have my 524 which is on the previous page!

Thanks, Ray(T) Thats very interesting re. the pick guard. I noticed another 523 for sale in Reverb https://reverb.com/uk/item/64144438-...4-1975-sunburs t

My 526 doesn't have a serial number as you say. I bought it in 1979. at that time it was £419 retail price.

[108 Mile]

The 526 was the top model by Ibanez, it came with no pickguard

[Ray(T)]

I think my 524 cost me £300 in 1976; quite expensive considering that I bought a Martin D18 in 1974 and that cost me £190 (but no case).

[mrtim]

I think my 524 cost me £300 in 1976; quite expensive considering that I bought a Martin D18 in 1974 and that cost me £190 (but no case).

Wow! what a great price for a D18! They cost £3,500 now

[Ray(T)]

Sold to me by Ivor Mairants himself.

[Snakum]

I've read that the older Ibanez mandos were pretty good. My setup guy has an older 'Jethro Burns' model. If they're anything like my Ibanez basses (fretted four, two fretless fours, and a fretted fiver) they're definitely good stuff.

[Ray(T)]

They’re generally over-built but were a reasonable alternative to the Gibsons of the 1970s. Personally, I wouldn’t recommend buying one today. Not played mine for over 20 years.

[Mark Gunter]

Mine (a 526 I believe) is a pretty good one, especially the tuning machines, they just work very smoothly and make it the easiest tuning mandolin I’ve ever touched. It was a gift to me, and the friend who gifted it actually considered taking the tuners out and swapping them into his main axe. Fortunately, for me, he abstained.