Ibanez 2640 Artist Doubleneck

I actually have 2 of these 2640 Artist Doublenecks. One was made in 1978 and the other 1979.
The features are as follows from the 1978 Ibanez catalog:
Body: Mahogany with carved maple top.
Necks: Rock maple with built-in smooth heels. 12 string and 6 string.
Fingerboards: Choice ebony, abalone dot inlays, 22 VelveTouch frets each, Half & Half nuts.
Pickups: Ibanez Super 80 Tri-Sound pickups. The mounting rings are cream colored.
Bridges: Ibanez Gibraltar adjustable lock down bridges with sustain blocks.
Tailpieces: Ibanez slotted tailpieces.
Controls: Individual volume and tone for each neck, master volume, three position pickup selector for each neck, three position neck selector, two Tri-Sound switches for each neck.
Machine Heads: Ibanez Velve-Tune II.
Hardware: Heavy gold plated.
Available Colors: Antique Violin (AV), Cherry Wine (CW).
Both of my 2640's are in Antique Violin but one is more like a brown two tone sunburst and the other is a more uniform antique brown. The body has binding only on the top portion and both necks and headstocks are bound. Both necks have a valute. There's a "tummy tuck" on the back of each body. The control plates on the back are gold plated with the script print, Built by the proud craftmen of IBANEZ Japan on the large control plate. There are 4 strap buttons...one behind each neck and the other 2 spaced apart at the bottom of the body. Artist is engraved on both plastic truss rod covers.
Both 2640's come with a large brown rectangular form fit case with metal enforced ends. The case interior is a green valour. The case handle is metal enforced with a plastic grip.
A lot of thought was put into this instrument by Ibanez. It was their original design and answer to Gibson's SG Doubleneck.
A slumping 1970's Norlin Gibson and CBS Fender allowed Ibanez to establish itself with the Artist series.
Ibanez was on the map.

Mucho sounds from this double headed Japanese Dragon.
Each pickup set individually has 3 different sounds. With both pickups on, there's plenty of tones.
The 12 string neck sounds very chimey with these Tri-Sound pickups. Not a Rick chime but a thick ringing chime.
The 6 string neck can sound very Gibson like when not splitting the pickup coils. It can also have a nasal underwater tone. These Tri-Sound pickups are very versatile.
The master volume control is positioned so that I can roll it with my pinky for violin string like swells.

My 1978 2640 has thinner necks than the 1979. The 1979 2640 has a rounder "clubier" cut.
The bridges need a bit of work to adjust. A top nut on each bridge must be loosened to raise the bridges. You also need a flat head screw driver to raise and lower them.
Another product or thought of the 70's was "more mass = more sustain". So Ibanez seated each bridge in a gold plated block that is counter sunk into the body.
The finish on each guitar still has a shine and was applied with great care. No checking or alligator like lines after 20+ years of use.
The half and half nuts are a bit of a problem every now and then. The half and half nut is a brass nut with a bone or plastic like nut joined together. Strings can sometimes get hung up and go flat or sharp when doing bends. My 1979 2640 had this problem big time. It drove me nuts until Joe Pickur angled the string slot to better accomodate string movement. Some other guys told me it's the nature of the guitar (the shoemakers). Joe was the one who knew exactly what the problem was and resolved it (THANKS JOE!!!!).
Only and 8 here because of the half & half nut problem.

Built extremely well.
20 + years old and still rocks.
This was Ibanez's statement and leap over corporate 1970's big American guitar companies.

Ibanez answered my questions regarding the 2640 without a hitch.
They even explained the dating the year and month of the Artist.
The first letter = month (A=Jan., B=Feb.,C=Mar.,D=April, you get the idea) and the next 2 numbers indicate the year of manufacture.
My 2640 serial #'s are A795218 (built Jan. 1979) and J786481 (Oct. 1978).
I bought both used and only needed occational adjustments from my luthier.

The Artist 2640 is an incredibly versatile guitar.
It's also INCREDIBLY HEAVY. Try slinging 2 1970 Les Paul Standards around your neck and you'll understand.
I used to use these for every gig with a Stratocaster (to relieve my spine). I now mostly use these in a studio or at home (hey, I'm older now and want my back to function when I retire).
Lots of wood, 12 and 6 string necks and 4 TriSound pickups = a truck load of sounds and a truck load of weight.
Only an 8 rating because it weighs a ton.