1978 Ibanez Musician MC500 Guitarchaeology

[@bigkeg9173]

Probably one of the first Ibanez's that was a high quality build 👍 Great guitar 👌

[@JesHill]

Lovely guitar.

[@We_All_Seek_Truth]

My first electric "was" a similar guitar, ("is" I still have it) a 1982 Musician MC550. A very high quality axe, but the 7-ply neck-thru design makes it top heavy, an annoying problem, but it played wonderfully and sounded beautiful. I always wondered if I should've gone with my first desire, the gorgeous pearl white '82 Musician MC150. It didn't have the active EQ and was only 3-ply neck-thru, but I suspect it would've been much lighter. But all my rigorous gigging sure put a lot of battle scars on that 550. Thanks for demoing that MC500. It's also a great axe!

[@thompsonart1]

You are missing the active eq boost from the cover plate. The black switches are 3 way, hum, single, phase out. Silver is active boast eq or bypass. The eq boost increases the output, overdrives the tube amps right away in the input.

[@PickingandFlipping]

Absolutely love this guitar. I have wanted one FOREVER! That and a Bob Weir are my favorite Ibanez guitars. Nice Kramer bass in there too! Great vid! I🎸🤘🤙

[@PinetopJackson]

We MAY have a video about that Kramer in the works too...

[@dcflat5941]

Great axe. I have one. The “mystery screws” you spoke of actually held the preamp board. Also the two main knobs are a master volume and a preamp volume. Thanks for the video.

[@kharris28]

Nice video, PJ. Those four "extra" screws in the cavity cover were to mount the board for the EQ. Too bad that was removed in Don's guitar, but I understand how it might not be that practical on stage.

[@PinetopJackson]

Too bad, the tech who did it must've took the board. Don had no use for it, but still it'd be a nice thing to keep in the case...

[@kharris28]

For sure, it would've been great to hold onto that part so a future owner could restore the EQ functionality of they chose to. But it doesn't sound like Don has any intention to let this guitar go.

[@LGuitarB]

Ok, I have a Musician like that and I love the cat walking by 😀

[@rupertradar7424]

I have one of these. They are beautiful. Mine had a pre amp I think under the back cover where your missing gear is. It wasn’t working so I had a modern one wired up. I have a 9 volt battery powering it.

[@gavriloprincip11]

why hasnt this been reissude?

[@jerry-st7rc]

It would be very expensive to re issue these guitars. They did in the 1990s but they are very rare to come by.

[@gavriloprincip11]

@@jerry-st7rc I just bought a 78 .....heavy as fuck but plays like glass.......love it

[@jerry-st7rc]

@gavrilopricip11 nice I had a 79 mc500 sold it because of the weight. I then bought a 1982 ibanez mc150 w the maxon super 58 pickups and push button coil tap feature. Glad to hear you like your new axe.

[@gavriloprincip11]

@@jerry-st7rc ....I guess playing a guitar that weighs more than a Volvo saves me time at the gym?.....(it is ridiculously fast for a pre "shred" era guitar and get to entertain my esoteric wannabe Mahavishnu fantasies nobody else but me would want to hear !)

[@gavriloprincip11]

(I've actually been a semi-hollow player most my life ( es-345,a few ibanezes).....my first solid body and I could use it to cantalever a bridge!

[@superior_worm]

great german hip hop, he could play with rheeyana and 2pac

[@foutoconnard4510]

sounds more like blondie rapture song

[@johnm3152]

Purchased my '78(i thought) for $500.00 while staioned in Japan. Still my go to axe. Everedy 🪫🔋 loves me.

[@TheDorkKnight23]

I had this guitar and because of bad choices in doing terrible trades I gave the guitar up for PRS SE. that’s what I get for not doing my research. Cause I would never make that trade today 🫠🫠🫠