The 697 (also referred in some markets as model 640) is a Concord series acoustic guitar model introduced by Ibanez for 1974. It was crafted in Japan.
The 697 features a dreadnought body with a fine grained spruce top on selected rosewood back and sides. The round soundhole is adorned with a beautiful mother-of-pearl marquetry rosette. and a black pickguard. The mahogany neck has a 21-fret rosewood fingerboard, mother of pearl hexagon position markers with black side dots and a matching headstock. Components include a plastic saddle in an adjustable rosewood bridge, a plastic nut, and chrome plated start machine heads.
For 1978 the "697" was listed in Germany with the number 640[1]
The 696 is a related model. The 697L is a left-handed model.
