Ibanez PM20 - buy or no buy?

[chris32895]

Recently came across an Ibanez PM20 that I could buy for $800 shipped to me. This is a guitar I have been wanting for a very long time - it checks a ton of boxes for me and they rarely seem to pop up and when they do, they can easily be over $1k, so the price is good. I've attached pictures and keep in mind there is no case included. Some (perhaps major) caveats -> there is lacquer separation at the neck joint (in the neck pocket) as well as what seems heavy wear in that area, and the hole for the jack was enlarged in what looks like a hack job with the jack affixed to the instrument with a fairly large washer to cover it up. Still, the rest of the instrument seems OK. What do you fine folks think - buy or pass? I could always return, but that is always a hassle. I don't want to pick up an instrument that is lackluster, but at the same time I don't want to pass something up when it's issues could be easily overlooked.

[deacon Mark]

Well, the neck joint looks fine nothing unusual those seems can be a problem as lacquer shrinks and expands. The jack thing I find not much of a problem it is an $800 guitar and depending on the way you look at guitars that is the bottom line. If you like these guitars and the price it much better, then to me this is not a huge issue. You can send it back if it is a total dog. It is an $800 guitar I would not overthink it too much. Ibanez has a good rep.

[AllanAllen]

It’s coming from a good shop. If there were structural issues I think they would find and disclose them.

[wolflen]

I would pass on it. It wasn't cared for..the "no case" says alot!

I really don't like how the neck joint does not align...The neck may have been removed for some reason.

The "repair" job is a disaster..both the owner and the worker did not care how the jack looked..and most likely cared less how it would work to its
original function.

shopper beware..there are going to be much better PM20 models that are cared for..w/case..and worth the extra price.

FWIW..I did extensive research on my guitars before I bought them-new..If I was going to buy a "pre-owned" I would want it to be
in as good condition as possible. There are many reasons why people sell their equipment..but the one reason I can see and not accept is..
"I don't care"

[MikeTT]

I can only speak of the model in general, not the condition/price of this specific one: I played all of the PM models (except the newest one) and the PM20 is my favourite of the cheaper models.

[arnie65]

The PM20 is one of the better built PM models, it was built in Korea and it is a solid instrument. Even with a few issues, if there's no cracks on the top or back and the neck is straight; it's a good buy for $800 shipped....




Cheers,
Arnie..

[chris32895]

I'm going to mull it over I think. May try to get the price down a little further

[dconeill]

... The "repair" job is a disaster..both the owner and the worker did not care how the jack looked..and most likely cared less how it would work to its original function. ...

I strongly disagree with a piece of this statement.

The damage to the output jack plausibly is due to having the guitar plugged in and then having it fall over. Whether that was due to negligence or just misadventure I can't say.

But what I disagree with is " ... did not care how the jack looked..and most likely cared less how it would work to its original function. ..." (How do you care less than "did not care"? There's a rhetorical problem here.) I think it's the opposite: the owner cared that the output jack performed its original function - to allow the guitar to be connected to an amplifier - and didn't want to spend the money for a more polished cosmetic fix. That seems to me to have been very practical.

If you look at photos of old archtops in use you will sometimes see a metal plate screwed into the body at the location of the output jack, with the output jack mounted through the metal plate. The sort of output-jack damage suffered by this guitar is not uncommon.

[chris32895]

I think if I go for it I may just buy a jack plate similar to what is seen on Les Paul's and install that instead of the washer, similar to what is found in this thread:

Epi Broadway - Advice Needed

[chris32895]

Alas - In my hesitation the instrument was sold when I last refreshed it! There will be more PM20s in the future (hopefully in better condition), I am sure of it.

[Arnesto]

I had one and i loved it

[Jimmy blue note]

Sorry you missed out. I got one while I worked at Ibanez and had literally the pick of any guitar to take home on Purchase Day. The PM20 is as close to a perfect work horse as I'd ever find. It's built exceptionally well (these were Peerless productions) and for me, I changed the pickup to a Duncan (59) and no lie, it's one of the best available 16" jazz boxes.
I have a jack plate on mine. Just for the reason you see (saw).
When you see another, don't hesitate. They got it right on this one.

[dconeill]

Another recollection, too late for this party -

Look at a picture of Metheny's ES175. Notice the toothbrush, plastic wood, and electrical tape. Lesson - guitars don't have to be cosmetically perfect.

[Sleeko]

I see chip marks on the fret board binding as if the guitar fell forward and maybe resulted in the neck joint lacquer separation on the opposite end. That washer around the jack hole is awful. I'd pass but that's just me. As mentioned above about Pat Metheny's ES175, some folks love that stuff and all that charm.