- For the later model with the same name, see AR3000 (2004–2005).
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The AR3000 is an Artist series solid body electric guitar model introduced by Ibanez in 1980. It was made in Japan as a limited edition model.
The AR3000 features a two-piece, bookmatched, solid carved curly maple top on a double-cutaway mahogany body mated to a set-in three-piece hard rock maple neck with a 22-fret ebony fingerboard with binding and pearl and Mexican abalone split block position markers. The body is bound with either dark brown ivoroid binding or dark brown wood binding with abalone purfling. Components include a pair of Ibanez Super 58 humbucking pickups with gold/brass covers, a Gibraltar Tune-O-Matic style fixed bridge and tailpiece with decorative cloud ornament, a half-bone/ half-brass nut, and VelveTune machine heads. The body has a hand-rubbed lacquer finish.
Controls consist of a master volume and tone, a ±6 dB boost knob, 3-band ±15 dB active EQ knobs (bass, middle, treble) and a Tri-sound switch for each pickup. A toggle allows the EQ system to be activated along with an LED indicator.
It was part of the Artist Limited Edition series which began as guitars produced only for industry shows to showcase the pinnacle of Ibanez's capabilities. Response to them was so great that the company decided to put them into limited production.
The AR5000 is a similar Artist Limited Edition model with pearl vine fretboard inlays. The AR500 is a regular production model with similar features, but with a figured maple veneer top (as opposed to solid figure maple) and with ivory-colored body binding.
The AR3000 was discontinued after 1981. It is believed that as few as 28 examples were produced over the two years of production.[1]
The AR3000 name was revived in 2004, but that later model lacks the Artist EQ electronics.
Specifications[]
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Images[]
Sources[]
- ↑ AR3000 on ebay?, fox (forum member) on Ibanez Collectors World (enthusiast forum), November 2020
- ↑ 1981 German (Meinl) price list (first column)
