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1983 AR1200-AV
AR1200 Antique Violin (more images) Red copyright sprite

The AR1200 is a double neck Artist series solid body electric guitar model introduced by Ibanez in 1979. It was also known as the Artist Twin. It was made in Japan and replaced the similar 2640.

The AR1200 has both a six string and twelve string neck. It features a German carved maple top on a double-cutaway mahogany body mated to a pair of set-in three-piece rock maple necks with 22-fret ebony fingerboards with binding and pearloid dot position markers. Components include a pair of Ibanez humbucking pickups for each neck mounted in cream pickup rings with individual volume and tone controls, a pair of Gibraltar Tune-O-Matic style bridges and special tailpiece with integrated "cloud" ornament, rubberized Sure Grip control knobs, Smooth Tuner machine heads and individual outputs for each neck. The AR1200 weighs in at roughly 15½ pounds (7 kg).[1]

When it was introduced the AR1200 had a mahogany body with a maple top; for 1982 this was changed to a solid ash body. The pickups initially were Super 80 humbuckers with brass covers; for 1982 these 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. Also for 1983, Sure Grip II control knobs replaced the original Sure Grip knobs.

The 2670 (a.k.a. "Artwood Twin") and AR2800 are related Artist series double neck guitars.

The AR1200 was discontinued after 1984.

Specifications[]

Related content: Artist series | Models-icon
Specifications for AR1200
Model name: AR1200
Year(s) offered: 1979–1984
Sold in: Worldwide
Made in: Japan
Finish(es): Antique Violin (AV)
Body
Body type:
Solid body
Body material:
1979–1980: Mahogany w/ German carved maple top
1981–1984: Ash w/ German carved top
Neck joint:
Set-in w/ smooth heel (both necks)
Bridge:
1979–1982: Gibraltar w/ sustain block
1983–1984: Gibraltar II
Tailpiece:
Special tailpiece w/ integrated "cloud" ornament
Knob style:
1979–1982: Sure Grip
1983–1984: Sure Grip II
Hardware color:
Gold
Neck
Neck type:
AR
Neck material:
3-piece rock maple (both necks)
Scale length:
628mm/ 24¾"
Fingerboard material:
Ebony w/ binding
Fingerboard inlays:
Pearloid dot
Frets:
22 / medium (both necks)
Nut:
Half-bone/ half-brass (both necks)
Machine heads:
Smooth Tuner
Electronics
Pickup configuration:
HH
Bridge pickup:
1979–1980: Ibanez Super 80 (H) brass covered
1981–1984 Ibanez Super 58 (H) brass covered
Neck pickup:
1979–1980: Ibanez Super 80 (H) brass covered
1981–1984 Ibanez Super 58 (H) brass covered
Controls:
6-string: Master volume / master tone / 3-way toggle pickup selector / two mini-toggle Tri-sound switches
12-string: Master volume / master tone / 3-way toggle pickup selector / two mini-toggle Tri-sound switches
Both: 3-way neck selector (6 string/ both/ 12 string) / master volume

Images[]

Additional details
AR1200-AV front
Body (front
AR1200-AV rear
Body (rear)
AR1200-AV Headstock
Headstocks
AR1200-AV Headstock rear
Smooth Tuner
1982 AR1200 AV
Catalog 1982
1983 AR1200 controls
Control layout
HH 3-way tri-sound
Pickup switching diagram
AR1200-AV AR300-CS 1981
Advertisement from July '81 Guitar magazine (Japan)[2]

Sources[]

  1. 1980 Guitar catalog (page 7)
  2. Secret Room #20 , Our ARs (Artist registry), archived October 2018
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