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1981 AR50 BK
AR50 Black (more images) Red copyright sprite

The AR50 is an Artist series solid body electric guitar model introduced by Ibanez in mid-1979. It was made in Japan by FujiGen.

The AR50 features an arched 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 dual Ibanez Super 70 humbucking pickups with creme bobbins and no covers mounted in cream pickup rings with individual volume and tone controls, a Gibraltar Tune-O-Matic style bridge and Quik Change tailpiece, rubberized Sure Grip control knobs and VelveTune machine heads.

Some AR50s produced in 1979 had 24-fret fingerboards; most have 22 frets. Cream body binding was added sometime in mid-1980. For 1981 the neck was changed to birch only to be changed back to maple for 1982.

The AR50 (Jr. Series) was this model's immediate predecessor. It was produced in early 1979 with the pickup selector relocated from the upper horn to a location near the volume and tone knobs. This was done to simplify production to allow the guitar to be sold at a lower price. The AR30, introduced in 1982, took a similar approach although the control layout is slightly different on that model.

The AR100 is a similar model with gold hardware among other changes.

The AR50 was discontinued after 1982.

Specifications[]

Related content: Artist series | Models-icon
Specifications for AR50
Model name: AR50
Year(s) offered: 1979–1982
Sold in: Europe / USA
Made in: Japan
Finish(es): Black (BK) / Polar White (PW)
Body
Body type:
Solid body
Body material:
Mahogany w/ maple top
Neck joint:
Set-in
Bridge:
Gibraltar tune-o-matic
Tailpiece:
Quik Change
Knob style:
Sure Grip
Hardware color:
Chrome
Neck
Neck type:
AR
Neck material:
1979–1980, 1982: 3-piece maple
1981: 3-piece birch
Scale length:
628mm/ 24¾"
Fingerboard material:
1979–1980: Rosewood
1980–1982: Rosewood w/ binding
Fingerboard inlays:
Pearloid dot
Frets:
1979: 24
1980–1982: 22 / medium
Nut:
Bone
Machine heads:
VelveTune
Electronics/ Strings
Pickup configuration:
HH
Bridge pickup:
Ibanez Super 70 (H) uncovered
Neck pickup:
Ibanez Super 70 (H) uncovered
Controls:
Two volumes / two tones / 3-way toggle pickup selector
Factory tuning:
1E,2B,3G,4D,5A,6E (E Std.)

Images[]

Additional finishes/ details
1981 AR50 PW
Polar white
1980 AR50 rear
Neck heel (note the lack of binding on the body)
1982 AR50 controls
Controls
HH 3-way toggle
Pickup switching

Sources[]

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