The 529 appears in both the 1980 and 1982 mandolin catalogs, and is an original design with a snakehead and hollow scroll. The striking hand-rubbed Antique Violin finish was reserved for the most high-end Ibanez instruments.

Initally, the model featured a dot inlay fingerboard, as shown in the 1980 Ibanez Mandolin Catalog.

The later version in the 1982 catalog shows a fancy fingerboard inlay, likely used to distinguish it from the cheaper 528 mandolin which had a dot inlay fingerboard.