Guitar Collector Forum

Hi,

I've found this guitar in ads for pretty cheap but there is no info about the guitar, all I know is that guitar has hidden pickups (beneath the pickguard) has "visible signs of use" (you can see them on pictures, nothing too bad). I was searching for a cheap guitar because i have one with a floyd rose and its a big drag to change tunings, this one caught my eye because you don't see a guitar with hidden pickups often.



p.s. I checked its not a fender Marauder or Stealth Esquire (i wish it was )

Hi Ahaja, looks like an interesting find.... a few questions (you might not know, but maybe ask the seller?)

Is it a through neck? (or thru neck if you prefer!)

How many pickups?

Active or passive pickups? (i.e. does it need a battery?)

Is there a pickup selector switch? (can't see one, but could be part of one of the knobs)

Are there any serial numbers or makers marks at all? Possibly on the back of the head?

It's got a 1980s/90s Ibanez look to it with the light wood laminations, but I suspect it was probably just home-made from parts by an amateur. That doesn't make it a bad guitar, it depends on the quality of the parts! This was a popular thing to do in the 80's, when necks, bodies, pickups etc were easy to buy as parts and you just bolt them all together and do some simple wiring.

Incidentally, the reason under-scratchplate pickups are unusual is that it puts them a long way from the strings - it could suffer from low output and/or mains hum/interference, unless the pickups were well chosen or specially made.

fwiw, if it's cheap I'd just but it and try it out!! You can always sell it again if it's no good.

If you do buy it, post some more detailed photos and details here and we'll try to find out more about it.

Hi,

Thanks for response.

To answer your questions:
1. Yes it is trough neck.
2. It has 2 passive pickups controlled with 2 knobs, the third one is for volume.
3.There are no serial numbers or markings on guitar but its really old and it could be that they faded away. Seller says its full wood not laminate.

Pickups are hot and there shouldn't be any problems with them. Pickups should be similar to humbuckers but instead of aligning them north-south to cancel hum, they are aligned north-north to boost magnetic field.

I will buy this guitar in few days and will see then for sure.