Comments for Ibanez Mandolin http://ibanezmandolin.com Vintage Ibanez Mandolin Collectors Mon, 08 Aug 2011 15:42:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Comment on Common Problems by Richard Newton http://ibanezmandolin.com/ibanez-mandolin-articles/common-problems-with-ibanez-mandolins/comment-page-1/#comment-419 Richard Newton Mon, 08 Aug 2011 15:42:36 +0000 http://ibanezmandolin.com/?page_id=127#comment-419 The 'common problems' mentioned are trivial compared to what happened to my pre-serial number 523. The dovetail neck joint broke up and the neck virtually came off in my hand. The dovetail joint was incredibly badly made for a factory made instrument and was glued with the white glue used in furniture production. The whole joint had to be rebuilt by a professional luthier and this time with proper hide glue. The difference in tone and volume afterwards was quite remarkable probably because of the previous poor coupling between the neck and the body. I have to admit that there have been no other problems apart from binding discolouration and the instrument has been played in several kinds of musical groups for many years. I would be interested to know if anyone else has had necks break of for the same reason. R.N. The ‘common problems’ mentioned are trivial compared to what happened to my pre-serial number 523. The dovetail neck joint broke up and the neck virtually came off in my hand. The dovetail joint was incredibly badly made for a factory made instrument and was glued with the white glue used in furniture production. The whole joint had to be rebuilt by a professional luthier and this time with proper hide glue. The difference in tone and volume afterwards was quite remarkable probably because of the previous poor coupling between the neck and the body.
I have to admit that there have been no other problems apart from binding discolouration and the instrument has been played in several kinds of musical groups for many years. I would be interested to know if anyone else has had necks break of for the same reason. R.N.

]]> Comment on About This Site by Brad Oliver http://ibanezmandolin.com/about-ibanez-mandolin-website/comment-page-1/#comment-370 Brad Oliver Mon, 30 May 2011 12:05:24 +0000 http://netthink21.com/ibanezmandolin/?page_id=2#comment-370 I have a 528. I am considering replacing the fret wire with a larger guage. Does anyone have any experience or comments on this ? I have a 528. I am considering replacing the fret wire with a larger guage. Does anyone have any experience or comments on this ?

]]> Comment on About This Site by richard fox http://ibanezmandolin.com/about-ibanez-mandolin-website/comment-page-1/#comment-353 richard fox Thu, 21 Apr 2011 06:47:59 +0000 http://netthink21.com/ibanezmandolin/?page_id=2#comment-353 I have a model 524, purchased march 1976. it is very much the F5 copy with flowerpot on headstock....BUT....very close inspection with a luthier shows no serial number. I have heard that a fellow who was a Master japanese mandolin builder, possible associated with bluebell mandos may have handmade some early instruments.....anyone know why mine has no serial number? I have a model 524, purchased march 1976. it is very much the F5 copy with flowerpot on headstock….BUT….very close inspection with a luthier shows no serial number. I have heard that a fellow who was a Master japanese mandolin builder, possible associated with bluebell mandos may have handmade some early instruments…..anyone know why mine has no serial number?

]]> Comment on Model 524 by richard kacsur http://ibanezmandolin.com/ibanez-mandolin-models/model-524-ibanez-mandolin/comment-page-1/#comment-323 richard kacsur Mon, 07 Feb 2011 06:34:01 +0000 http://ibanezmandolin.com/?page_id=81#comment-323 I have an Ibanez 524 serial no. c788046. It is in brand new condition and has not been played. There is a crack along the side by the tail peg next to the ivoriod purfling(?)and does not appear to affect its structural integrity. It seems to be a seperation of the white trim. I'd like to know what an instrument in this condition is worth. I have an Ibanez 524 serial no. c788046. It is in brand new condition and has not been played. There is a crack along the side by the tail peg next to the ivoriod purfling(?)and does not appear to affect its structural integrity. It seems to be a seperation of the white trim. I’d like to know what an instrument in this condition is worth.

]]> Comment on Japanese Blue Bell Mandolin by Dennis Schut http://ibanezmandolin.com/2010/06/japanese-blue-bell-mandolin/comment-page-1/#comment-314 Dennis Schut Tue, 18 Jan 2011 12:34:06 +0000 http://ibanezmandolin.com/?p=281#comment-314 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKGSNAHsRIk here is the link I tried to send.... sorry http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKGSNAHsRIk here is the link I tried to send…. sorry

]]> Comment on Japanese Blue Bell Mandolin by Dennis Schut http://ibanezmandolin.com/2010/06/japanese-blue-bell-mandolin/comment-page-1/#comment-313 Dennis Schut Tue, 18 Jan 2011 12:33:36 +0000 http://ibanezmandolin.com/?p=281#comment-313 Hi there, great site! Here is a clip of a friend of mine - Ingeborg Schultze from the Netherlands - playing her old no number Ibanez 523. I have found the Ibanez banjo and mandolin folder i promised you, I have it double and you can have it if you send me a postal address by mail to send it to. best wishes from Brussels Dennis Schut 626 as payed by my son ralph in the clip featured on your website Hi there, great site!

Here is a clip of a friend of mine – Ingeborg Schultze from the Netherlands – playing her old no number Ibanez 523. I have found the Ibanez banjo and mandolin folder i promised you, I have it double and you can have it if you send me a postal address by mail to send it to.

best wishes from Brussels

Dennis Schut
626 as payed by my son ralph in the clip featured on your website

]]> Comment on Original Owner Raul Blacksten Interview by A.J.White http://ibanezmandolin.com/2008/07/original-owner-interview-raul-blacksten/comment-page-1/#comment-258 A.J.White Sun, 12 Dec 2010 05:38:52 +0000 http://ibanezmandolin.com/?p=62#comment-258 mr.blacksten, you are a very lucky man to have such a woderful mandolin as the Ibanez. I also own a teardrop model which I love to play at open mic jams and house partys. it is not a carved one i'm afraid but I love the tone just the same. I would really love to find a carved one but at 79 it's a little late to go the price of one. maybe i'll get lucky and find one in a garage sale some day. I live in Canada and our musical instruments are high price here. A.J.White mr.blacksten, you are a very lucky man to have such a woderful mandolin as the Ibanez. I also own a teardrop model which I love to play at open mic jams and house partys. it is not a carved one i’m afraid but I love the tone just the same. I would really love to find a carved one but at 79 it’s a little late to go the price of one. maybe i’ll get lucky and find one in a garage sale some day. I live in Canada and our musical instruments are high price here.
A.J.White

]]> Comment on Model 529 by Derek Sadko http://ibanezmandolin.com/ibanez-mandolin-models/model-529-ibanez-mandolin/comment-page-1/#comment-239 Derek Sadko Thu, 04 Nov 2010 14:41:37 +0000 http://ibanezmandolin.com/?page_id=80#comment-239 I have a 529 as well...serial No. A815941 with the beautiful deep red (wine) mattte finish. I am the original owner, having purchased the instrument in Montreal in December 1981 for $795 Canadian. It has aged very nicely (wish i could say the same for myself) and sounds great! I have a 529 as well…serial No. A815941 with the beautiful deep red (wine) mattte finish. I am the original owner, having purchased the instrument in Montreal in December 1981 for $795 Canadian. It has aged very nicely (wish i could say the same for myself) and sounds great!

]]> Comment on Model 529 by Nick Wroughton http://ibanezmandolin.com/ibanez-mandolin-models/model-529-ibanez-mandolin/comment-page-1/#comment-238 Nick Wroughton Sun, 31 Oct 2010 19:01:28 +0000 http://ibanezmandolin.com/?page_id=80#comment-238 The USA 'Flea Day' Recession Special 528 I mentioned previously sold for $620(+ $95 worth of seller-acquired case/foreign? shipping though).Anyone musing on what their 529 is worth could always try attempting to project this figure upwards. The USA ‘Flea Day’ Recession Special 528 I mentioned previously sold for $620(+ $95 worth of seller-acquired case/foreign? shipping though).Anyone musing on what their 529 is worth could always try attempting to project this figure upwards.

]]> Comment on Model 529 by Nick Wroughton http://ibanezmandolin.com/ibanez-mandolin-models/model-529-ibanez-mandolin/comment-page-1/#comment-237 Nick Wroughton Sun, 31 Oct 2010 18:42:24 +0000 http://ibanezmandolin.com/?page_id=80#comment-237 Just to correct what I said in previous correspondence.To loosely quote Scott Zimmerman(sorry for quotes not being verbatim folks,but the essence is there)of Japan's Desert Rose Banjos-'When we worked at Ibanez we made 15000 instruments a month EVERY month.The idea of little wizened bearded men hand-rubbing coats of lacquer and tap-tuning instruments' has to be discounted under those mass-production circumstances.He even consulted a 'luthier from the old days(at Ibanez)',who checked on an instrument(which had sat in a rack with others unfinished for years)and concluded 'No deviation from unyielding Ibanez policy here-the finish is sprayed-on Urethane'.I like mine though(post-changes previously described).Originally it was overbuilt/too heavily lacquered I felt.String sets with a bass of .040'' or .041'' were an absolute NO-NO..039'' or .038'' brought the instrument to life much better(and I've stuck with those gauges even after the modifications described in the previous correspondence.All the best,Nick(ex-coalminer & ret'd mental health nurse-England). Just to correct what I said in previous correspondence.To loosely quote Scott Zimmerman(sorry for quotes not being verbatim folks,but the essence is there)of Japan’s Desert Rose Banjos-’When we worked at Ibanez we made 15000 instruments a month EVERY month.The idea of little wizened bearded men hand-rubbing coats of lacquer and tap-tuning instruments’ has to be discounted under those mass-production circumstances.He even consulted a ‘luthier from the old days(at Ibanez)’,who checked on an instrument(which had sat in a rack with others unfinished for years)and concluded ‘No deviation from unyielding Ibanez policy here-the finish is sprayed-on Urethane’.I like mine though(post-changes previously described).Originally it was overbuilt/too heavily lacquered I felt.String sets with a bass of .040” or .041” were an absolute NO-NO..039” or .038” brought the instrument to life much better(and I’ve stuck with those gauges even after the modifications described in the previous correspondence.All the best,Nick(ex-coalminer & ret’d mental health nurse-England).

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