The AR100 is an Artist series solid body electric guitar model introduced by Ibanez in 1979. It was made in Japan by FujiGen.
The AR100 features an arched flame maple top on a double-cutaway mahogany body mated to a set-in three-piece maple neck with a 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with binding and pearloid dot position markers. Components include a pair of Ibanez V2 humbucking pickups mounted in creme pickup rings with individual volume and tone controls, a Gibraltar Tune-O-Matic style bridge and Quik Change tailpiece with an ornamental scalloped plate, rubberized Sure Grip control knobs, and VelveTune machine heads.
For 1982 the V2 pickups were replaced by brass covered Super 58 pickups. For 1983 the Gibraltar bridge and tailpiece were replaced with the Gibraltar II bridge and Quik Change tailpiece. For 1983 Duo Sound coil-splitting functionality was added via individual push-push switches on each tone pot. It's possible there was an interim change sometime in 1982 where the Duo Sound functionality was controlled for both pickups with a single mini-toggle (see image of AR100-PW below); it's also possible that this modification of this guitar was done sometime after the guitar left the factory.
The AR100L is a left-handed version. The AR105 is a similar model with a burl mahogany top. The AR150 is a similar model with a tremolo bridge. The AR112 is a 12-string version. The AR200 is a related model with different pickups and a Tri-sound switch.
Controls: 1979–1982: Two volumes / two tones / 3-way toggle pickup selector 1983–1984: Two volumes / two tones / 3-way toggle pickup selector / individual push-push Duo Sound switches on tone pots
