Product: Ibanez 2341
Price Paid: AUS$ 350.00 USED
Submitted
02/21/2007
at
08:03am
by
islandnotes
Email: islandflock at iprimus<dot>com<dot>au
Features
:
9
A Black Beauty Les Paul made in japan in 1977 and bought by me in 1985. It has gold hardware and 3 humbuckers, 2 are the original "finger friendly" Series 70 in gold and the bridge is a DiMarzio cream humbucker installed by previous owner. It has a Tune-O-Matic bridge and stop tailpiece. It has 2 vol, 2 tone and a 3 way selector switch. At 30 years of age it has remained almost unmarked but has been used professionally for gigging and recording so it has truly stood the test of time for the guys who built it.
Sound
:
9
With 3 humbuckers it can scream and wail or be as mellow as yellow. It can pump the heaviest of metal and then select to pop along with a C/W set. I have played it thru my Fender 100 twin and RAD 25 and also occasionally a Marshall stack or DI to my Studiomaster PA. I rarely use any effects and depend on what I can get out of the guitar and amp for sound. It is a very pleasing and satisfying guitar with so much sustain I sometimes get lazy and and just let the Ibanez carry me.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
10
After 30 years the guitar remains a fine example of what a well made instrument should be, everything works as intended. It behaves as a "fretless wonder" with very low action and is a pleasure to play. I have had to replace a selector switch last year due to dry solder and put in a Gibson switch, the trouble was getting the tech to return it cause he fell for its charms to. Strangely enough, most women comment on how good looking the Ibanez is as well.
Reliability/Durability
:
10
The 2341 model seems so rare that I have now semi-retired her, however she is still in her prime and is rock-solid (excuse the pun). Other than the dry solder problem she has never failed me. I now use Optima 24 carat gold strings and tuning almost stays perfect but then my style is not to belt them anyway, to many years of not enough money to replace them to learn to do it differently.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
If I am unable to fix it myself then I use my trusted tech's so have never dealt with Ibanez.
Overall Rating
:
10
I started playing in Kentucky in 1968, moved thru some Fenders and some countries and picked up Blackie after I sold off a 12 string Takemine in Australia. I currently play a 69 Strat but am a sucker for acoustics so have a couple of Fenders and an Ovation. I have played with Gibson Les Pauls and whilst this a copy it can hold its head up in that august company. I will leave this guitar to my family when I go and could not imagine not having it around.
