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renamed the thread from Ibanez 2630?
I am looking for a thin line guitar with hum buckers to bridge the gap between my Telecaster and '54 ES175 (P90).
Considering an Ibanez 2630 model because Jens Larsen plays one and it sounds great in all of his videos. Does anyone have experience with these versus a similar era 335 or newer Ibanez semi-hollows? What's a fair market price?
Options under consideration from most to least expensive:
Westville Vanguard KR ~$4500
Gibson ES-335 (late 70s model with T-Tops) ~$4500
Ibanez 2630 ~$2000
Ibanez AS200 ~$???
Ibanez AS50 ~$1000
Ibanez AS103 ~$600
Last edited by trailmixer; 05-04-2026 at 10:49 AM.
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05-01-2026 12:10 PM
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Ibanez 2630's are great guitars. I've owned two of them over the years and still own a '78. (see below)
I haven't checked the used market, but if you do find a 2630, be sure to check the binding. During the late 70's Ibanez binding deteriorated badly, especially if the pickguard was left on the guitar. The pickguard 'off-gassed' and caused the binding to crack and crumble.
Also, check the electronics for corrosion. Original 'Flying Finger' pickups were the precursor to their Super 58's. I preferred the 58's.
All that said, if I were in the market for a 2630-style guitar, I'd get a (new or used) Japan made JSM100. In my view that is the best iteration of that entire semi-hollow model series. I don't have a photo of the JSM, but it is an outstanding instrument.
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thanks! I eyed the JSM100 for a long time but after listening to a lot of sound examples I concluded that it sounds too thin and bright for my taste. At least the new ones do. I think modern Ibanez thin lines of the last 10-15 years are just missing the bottom end and thunk I like. The ones from the early 2000s still have it.
Originally Posted by Gitfiddler
Ibanez 2630's are great guitars. I've owned two of them over the years and still own a '78. (see below)
I haven't checked the used market, but if you do find a 2630, be sure to check the binding. During the late 70's Ibanez binding deteriorated badly, especially if the pickguard was left on the guitar. The pickguard 'off-gassed' and caused the binding to crack and crumble.
Also, check the electronics for corrosion. Original 'Flying Finger' pickups were the precursor to their Super 58's. I preferred the 58's.
All that said, if I were in the market for a 2630-style guitar, I'd get a (new or used) Japan made JSM100. In my view that is the best iteration of that entire semi-hollow model series. I don't have a photo of the JSM, but it is an outstanding instrument.
Here’s a direct comparison of a JSM100 with an older AS50 and I definitely prefer the humble AS50.
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Not such a direct comparison, they are not plugged into the same amp. Those guitars sound similar enough to me through my earbuds, however, that a little eq on the knobs could match them even more. That said, I like the aesthetics of the AS50 better.
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Pretty sure it is the same amp. Note the faint split-screen division. Originally Posted by Cunamara
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Yeah it's the same amp.
This is the one I was looking at: Carter Vintage - Ibanez Artist 2630 1978, Sunburst | Carter Vintage Guitar
It's had a binding repair already and been Gibson-ized with 57 Classics and a stop tail. I requested a sound demo from their site with a comment 'clean tones only please' and the nice salesman had it cranked through a Champ so
decided to not buy it blind. I'll be driving through Nashville end of the month and may check it out in person if it's still there.
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My experience with newer Ibanez semis is that I played a fairly recent as200 (not sure of the year, but it had the larger Artstar headstock) a year or so ago. I had my (2005) D'Angelico EX DC with me, so I was able to play them side by side through the same amp. I could barely tell any difference between the two. The neck profiles and overall playability felt the same to me, and I thought they sounded the same. I was a bit surprised because I think most people would put the Ibanez higher in the pecking order, and I expected that to be confirmed, but it really wasn't a better guitar. It might be different with an original 80s version (or the current JSM100 that's supposed to be the same as that), but I haven't played one of those in so long that I really have no particular recollection of what they're like.
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I’ve had an 80s AS100, a modern (2008?) JSM100, and played a mate’s 80’s AS200 extensively. IMHO Ibanez have a brand sound, brighter, snappier, a little more solid feeling than say most Gibsons I’ve played, or indeed the mij tokai I ended up with. If you want the Ibanez sound, they are tremendous guitars, and the JSM may be the highest quality guitar I’ve ever owned.
but they do have a sound
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Quote: "but they do have a sound".
So do Gibsons with T tops. And then they have varying necks and fretboards, and tailpieces......
You really should play any guitar in question - in person. You may get a diff. tone than the next player, and diff. from a Tele or 175.
Good luck and enjoy the searching.
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Not sure how I haven't heard of these, or otherwise missed them. Absolutely beautiful and 70's Ibanez quality is very excellent. Originally Posted by Gitfiddler
Ibanez 2630's are great guitars. I've owned two of them over the years and still own a '78. (see below)
I haven't checked the used market, but if you do find a 2630, be sure to check the binding. During the late 70's Ibanez binding deteriorated badly, especially if the pickguard was left on the guitar. The pickguard 'off-gassed' and caused the binding to crack and crumble.
Also, check the electronics for corrosion. Original 'Flying Finger' pickups were the precursor to their Super 58's. I preferred the 58's.
All that said, if I were in the market for a 2630-style guitar, I'd get a (new or used) Japan made JSM100. In my view that is the best iteration of that entire semi-hollow model series. I don't have a photo of the JSM, but it is an outstanding instrument.
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So I realized those late 70s T-Top hum buckers are really 'polite' which is not what I'm looking for, scratch that out. I already had a 1976 ES-175t and moved it on for that exact reason.
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A friend of mine has an Ibanez AS180, which is a relatively uncommon guitar model from them. Basically it's the same as the AS200 but with a lower bling level. Very nice guitar, good sound and a great neck, although I'm not entirely comfortable with it under my arm for some reason (I've only played it seated). He also has an Epiphone Casino with P90s, which I also like a lot and is somehow a little more comfortable- even though as far as I can tell the body dimensions are very similar.
My own semihollow is a Telecaster-style body which I got from a forum member; mahogany back and maple top. I put a 24 3/4" neck on it with humbuckers, so it's not very Telecaster-ish. It is very versatile.
I've always wanted a 335 style guitar, preferably an actual 335, but I've never gotten around to buying one. Maybe I don't want it as much as I thought I did? But as a style of instrument, they're so versatile. They can fit in any style of music.
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Feel free to ask anything about this guitar, but don't expect a useful answer because I don't remember anything particular about it. According to my ledger I bought it new in April, 1979 and sold it in March, 1980, which was a very short time for me to own a guitar. I had a '71 Gibson ES-355TDSV for all my stand up (pop/rock/soul) gigs during the '70s that I liked quite a bit and I guess the Ibanez wasn't up to displacing it, but as I said...I don't remember.
Danny W.
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The Ibanez do have a sound of their own, many sounds depending on strings, amp, etc. I saw a couple AS100s on Reverb for $2-3K they were early 80s models. I've seen them in the $1000 range and for that price they're a good deal. I bought this one in '89 or '90 it's held up great over the years;
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I recommend checking out Heritage H 535. Dave's has been selling recent used ones for $1650 from time to time.
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The brand new ones are $2,000 -- Heritage Standard H-535 Semi-Hollowbody Electric Guitar | zZounds Originally Posted by Jthompson48
And up until a week ago, they were selling these brand new for $2,000 -- Heritage Standard II Collection H-530 Electric Guitar | zZounds
The old prices are still listed here -- Heritage Standard H-530 Hollowbody Electric Guitar | Equipboard
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Heritage seems to be hitting a high water mark lately for quality+affordability. The Buddy blues review of that p-90 equipped axe was nothing short of amazing. Originally Posted by Mick-7
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Yes, this was a steal at $2k, I'm thinking it was dumb of me not to buy one: Heritage Standard II Collection H-530 Electric Guitar | zZounds Originally Posted by DawgBone
Oh, I see, that's the Standard II, it is the previous model, the Standard I, that was $2,000, but I think they are identical.
Heritage Standard H-530 Hollowbody Electric Guitar (with Case)
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Going back to Gitfiddler’s post, I am thinking a JSM100 might be the way to go after all… the only issue is that I’m not a big fan of the standard finish, most of them have a weird flamey thing going on.
there was an all black limited edition JSM20th. Will have to keep an eye out for one.
Sounds real good here!
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Are you specifically looking for an ES-3x5-style guitar? This is a semi-hollow:
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The II has Heritage pickups instead of Lollar and a slimmer neck profile. I was pleased to save $350 on a very clean 530 (I suspect a floor "demo" or similar given the volume of these Dave's has been selling) but $2k brand new is a great deal as well. Originally Posted by Mick-7
Assuming they are no longer making the old standard, I wonder how long until the inventory is gone and the $2999 Standard IIs are the only available new.
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You forgot the Guild Starfire. I would call that a miss.
Thanks John
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I'd love to hear how that one sounds. Originally Posted by Hammertone
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No but I do need the instrument to have some low-end resonance. In a cruder term... THUNK! Originally Posted by Hammertone
In the Japanese boutique realm, Westville speaks to me more aesthetically than Seventy-Seven. But there are scant impressions or sound demos.
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I think we're there inventory wise because I no longer see anyone selling the Standard I new for $2k. Originally Posted by Jthompson48
The neck description of it says: "Neck Profile: Standard" That's helpful!
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