Ibanez® Silver Series PJ, Sunburst - Sold

The instrument is from what Ibanez described as the Silver Series, as inscribed on the headstock. However it might better have been called the Fender Series as it is a direct copy of a 1970's Fender Precision bass. The bass has a neckplate date of July 1977 and is from the so-called 'lawsuit' period. In 1977 Gibson sued Ibanez for trademark infringement which resulted in Ibanez withdrawing their more obvious knockoff instruments. On the one hand the lawsuit guitars and basses that Ibanez were making were clearly trading on the Fender and Gibson brands. On the other, they really were great quality instruments, often every bit as good if not better than the ones they were emulating, at at time when Fender and Gibson quality was not at its best.

This one is especially rare as it is a Precision style bass with an additional Jazz style pickup, hence the "PJ" designation. It has the classic black block inlays on the maple neck and in all material respsects is just like a '70s Fender Precision from the bridge to the tuners. Whilst this has a couple of major dings, the instrument is in generally good condition and it plays well. One particularly nice feature is the flame on the back of the neck. The Precision pickup is deep and warm, a little more so than you might expect from a real Precision from the '70s. The Jazz pickup give you everything you would expect from a '70s Jazz. And then of course there is the combination which provides a third tonal option.

A rare vintage instrument with an interesting history and Fender pedigree.

Sale Price: $1 000.00

Freight cost (contiguous USA): $35.00

Reference #: 3752

Call or email us for an in-hand description of this item. 212 353 1775

Hard-shell case included. For orders shipping to a confirmed address in the contiguous USA, buy this now with your credit card or PayPal using our secure server. For all other orders, please contact us. We must provide individual shipping quotes for all overseas destinations.