Three New Ibanez Artist Guitars Introduced

AR3000VV (Click for a close-up)

The 2004 Winter NAMM Show marked the debut of three new Artist guitars, the AR3000 Prestige, AR300 Deluxe, and AR200 Standard. "We upgraded the existing models and added the new lower priced, AR200, which in real dollars may be the least expensive Artist we've ever offered," said Shogo Hayashi of the Ibanez Electric Guitar division. "In addition, we returned to the original thicker body shape of the '70s to get the original fat mahogany tone that first put the Artist on the map. We also have the original '70 Artist inlays on the Prestige and Deluxe models."

The Ibanez Artist was one of Ibanez's first original designs in the middle '70s when much of Ibanez's business was in making copies of other instruments. The guitar was originally conceived as a more affordable, more comfortably countoured double-cutaway alternative to Gibson's Les Paul.

The AR3000 Prestige lists for $1999.99. The AR300 Standard lists for $799.99. The AR200 lists for $659.99.

Model AR3000

• List $1999.99
• Available Finish VV Vintage Violin
• Body Material Mahogany with AAA Flamed Maple Top
• Neck Material 3pc Maple Prestige Set-in
• Neck Scale 24 3/4"
• No. Frets/Type 22/Medium
• Fingerboard Bound Rosewood
• Inlay Artist Block
• Bridge Gibraltar II
• H/W Color Gold
• Neck Pickup Super 58
• Bridge Pickup Super 58
• Controls Two volume, Two Tone
• Other Special Features '70s Style Decorated Tailpiece
• Case AM50C
• Case List $169.99

Model AR300

• List $799.99
• Available Finish HS Honey Sunburst
• Body Material Mahogany with Flamed Maple Top
• Neck Material 3pc Maple Prestige Set-in
• Neck Scale 24 3/4"
• No. Frets/Type 22/Large
• Fingerboard Bound Rosewood
• Inlay Artist Block
• Bridge BR-EG
• H/W Color Chrome
• Neck Pickup Super 58
• Bridge Pickup Super 58
• Controls Two volume, Two Tone
• Other Special Features
• Case AM50C
• Case List $169.99

Model AR200

• List $659.99
• Available Finish BI Black Iron
• Body Material Mahogany
• Neck Material 3pc Maple Set-in
• Neck Scale 24 3/4"
• No. Frets/Type 22/Medium
• Fingerboard Bound Rosewood
• Inlay Pearl Dot
• Bridge BR-EG
• H/W Color Chrome
• Neck Pickup IBZ Axis AH2
• Bridge Pickup IBZ Axis AH2
• Controls Two volume, Two Tone
• Case AM50C
• Case List $169.99