Ibanez 2622 Artist EQ

I bought it new in 1980. This is a very heavy double cutaway solid body, Japan-made beauty. I don't know which wood was used, colour is high gloss brown sunburst, with gold-plated Ibanez PU's and hardware. After 25 years of playing, it is still in mint condition.
There is a volume control, the classic 3-way selector and the active equalizer, powered by 2 9-volt blocks. These are accessible from the back, hidden (OK, not really, given the size of the cover...)under a gold-colour plate, which also covers the electronics. You need to remove 5 screws, which is not very comfortable. But you do this once in a blue moon, if you take care to remove your cable from the jack, which acts as a power switch. There are a bypass switch, 3 tone controls, +/-15dB, at 200, 600 and 2000 Hz, and a booster, again + 15dB. Open it all, and you don't need a distortion pedal although I have always used a few stomp boxes.
It has the bridge featured on all Artist models, which in my opinion is among the best ever.
The tuners are gold plated, with mother of pearl buttons, very high quality machines with adjustable friction.
It came complete with case, tools and manuals.

I play many different styles, from hard rock to blues over latin, pop and so on. This beauty - with little fiddling on the EQ - has it all.
Over the years, I have used a large number of effects, both stomp boxes and multi-effects (I prefer boxes, though), on a 1976 Yamaha B212 100 Watt solid state amp.
Of course, if you boost the equalizer to the limits, you will have some noise, but even on a non-earthed outlet, it is acceptable. Please consider the electronics are 25 years old.

My shop (Hill's in Brussels, now only into accoustic instruments) set it up expertly as usual, I have since slightly changed adjustments when using different strings. I use flatwounds, they are less noisy and still very flexible.
The construction is perfect, I have never sawn a string over a fret.

As said, it has been played for 25 years, it has lived through a number of gigs, jams, concerts and numerous rehearsals. The whole instrument was built to last forever.
I have never had a back up available, and have never regretted it.

Given the quality of the guitar, who needs support ?

I own a few guitars and keyboards.
"Is there something you wish you had asked before buying this guitar?" I like this question. Yes, I would have asked why they did not make this a few years earlier.
Buy it again if stolen ? I would hunt down the criminal, and make him eat a few Gibsons and Fenders !!!
The sound (even without the equalizer on) and sustain are grand.
The best part is the flexibility of the sound. I forgot to mention it stays tuned "forever".
The only drawback is the weight, it is really heavy. But if you want an exceptional sustain, that's the price to pay.
This guitar is perfect, it would probably be even more perfect with split PUs (humbucker/single coil/counterphase). I have considered modifying it, but I have an unbranded Les Paul copy which I am rebuilding. I may stick a few tricks in that one.
The price then (23.000 BEF) was less than a US made Strat (30.000) and way less than a Les Paul (45.000 and up).