mirotone
mirotone
Well I have just re-finished my old Ibanez with 14 coats of mirotone and it looks awsome, Alan was right on the money with this product as it took me about 4 coats before I got my gun dialed in. I gave it 4 coats then let it sit for a couple of days then a light sand then the same again and left it to dry for a week then did another 6 coats and i am very impressed with the result, the only decision I have to make now is wether to leave it as it is of give it a light sand and buff it up which I have never done before so I dont want to stuff it up.
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rocket
- Blackwood
- Posts: 1210
- Joined: Thu Apr 30, 2009 8:43 pm
- Location: melbourne,, outer east
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Re: mirotone
Yeah pics, we like pics, the more the better 
Rod.
Rod.
Like I said before the crash, " Hit the bloody thing, it won't hit ya back
www.octiganguitars.com
www.octiganguitars.com
Re: mirotone
Ok tomorrow you shall have pictures. I still have it as a bare body just hanging for a couple of weeks to harden fully before I decide wether to polish or assemble.
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charangohabsburg
- Blackwood
- Posts: 1818
- Joined: Sat Oct 16, 2010 1:25 am
- Location: Switzerland
Re: mirotone
If the finish of this guitar turned out so shiny that its glare could hurt our yes you'd better not post any pictures at all! 
...or at least send us some free GuitarGlareBan ® - sunglasses before you post pictures.
...or at least send us some free GuitarGlareBan ® - sunglasses before you post pictures.
Markus
To be stupid is like to be dead. Oneself will not be aware of it.
It's only the others who suffer.
To be stupid is like to be dead. Oneself will not be aware of it.
It's only the others who suffer.
Re: mirotone
Cool
Great job on the finish.
That body (and original colour) looks like an Aria, Aria Pro2, or perhaps a Westone of something else from the Matsumoku factory?
I had "Conora" hippy sandwich, 5 peice maple/walnut neck thru, with swamp ash wings. I am led to believe these were yet another Matsumoku made guitar branded for some Melbourne or Sydney based music shop back in the 70's. According to Aria Pro2 promo material of the early 80's, Matsumoko were using "Canadian" swamp ash in all their ash guitars, and I dare say if the body of your guitar was made by them, then its Canadian swamp ash also.
It may seem a bit of a stretch to say that when I do not know what the body belongs to, but with that shape and its original colour it is possible I am correct regardless of what is written on the headstock. Matsumoku's main business was sub-contracting to Aria/pro2 and their own branding was Westone, but they would take work from anyone who would pay as demonstrated by the small run Aussie only Canora. They produced some excellent guitars many of which filled the higher end product range for companies such as Washburn, Yamaha, Greco, Univox, Electra, Vox, Epiphone, Ibanez etc, etc, etc..
Regardless it will be nice to see this guitar all back together...so more photos when ur done..
(EDIT) I just searched ur previous topics and see this is an 82 Ibanez so it's in that window which would make it likely for Matsumoku to have supplied the body at least...nice ash, I have an 83 Aria Pro2 strat clone up for a refinish soon, same wood
Cheers
Kim
Great job on the finish.
That body (and original colour) looks like an Aria, Aria Pro2, or perhaps a Westone of something else from the Matsumoku factory?
I had "Conora" hippy sandwich, 5 peice maple/walnut neck thru, with swamp ash wings. I am led to believe these were yet another Matsumoku made guitar branded for some Melbourne or Sydney based music shop back in the 70's. According to Aria Pro2 promo material of the early 80's, Matsumoko were using "Canadian" swamp ash in all their ash guitars, and I dare say if the body of your guitar was made by them, then its Canadian swamp ash also.
It may seem a bit of a stretch to say that when I do not know what the body belongs to, but with that shape and its original colour it is possible I am correct regardless of what is written on the headstock. Matsumoku's main business was sub-contracting to Aria/pro2 and their own branding was Westone, but they would take work from anyone who would pay as demonstrated by the small run Aussie only Canora. They produced some excellent guitars many of which filled the higher end product range for companies such as Washburn, Yamaha, Greco, Univox, Electra, Vox, Epiphone, Ibanez etc, etc, etc..
Regardless it will be nice to see this guitar all back together...so more photos when ur done..
(EDIT) I just searched ur previous topics and see this is an 82 Ibanez so it's in that window which would make it likely for Matsumoku to have supplied the body at least...nice ash, I have an 83 Aria Pro2 strat clone up for a refinish soon, same wood
Cheers
Kim
Re: mirotone
The guitar is a 1982 Ibanez SB-70 Studio Blazer, there was apparently only 300 ever made but I cannot confirm this officially but that is what all my internet searching has produced. it has a great action on it and sounds very nice. It plays and feels like a fender strat withour the price.
Re: mirotone
Yes the majority of the 70's & 80's MIJ guitars play really well although some of the lower end guitars dug their way to a new place in the market. 
Ibanez is not actually a company, it's a brand of the company Hoshino Gakki. They also owned/own the brand Greco and as I understand the brand name Ibanez was used to market domestic guitars to the rest of the world..its a big company and just as car manufacturers outsource component work to subcontract, so to did Hoshino Gakki. Nothing rock solid to demonstrate a hard affiliation with Matsumoku, but they were to guitar component in Japan during the 1980's what Bosch Electrics are to the automotive industry...hard to find a single one that does not have some input...but that is generally a very good thing, Matsumoku is highly regarded for good reason. I have a 'Vantage' LP knock-off, it would be from the lower end of Matsumoku's out put but still streets ahead of most others of the time for build quality. Same deal with the Aria Pro2, its every bit as good as any strat in playability stakes and with its full maple neck/FB and swamp ash body it looks the part too..the only fall down, and its slight, would be the quality of pickups.
Anyhow you have the makings of a really good guitar there regardless because Hoshino Gakki, regardless of if or who they subbed out to, generally insisted on high quality and much of Japan at that time was focused upon the same....If you get the chance have a look at the neck pocket rout of a Fender MIJ stat compared to a USA made strat of the same era and you will see what I mean. The Japanese by that time were already using CNC accuracy, Fender USA chose to spend money off-short buying value added rather than upgrading and then try to compete to add value...if you can't beat'm, join'm
Cheers
Kim
Ibanez is not actually a company, it's a brand of the company Hoshino Gakki. They also owned/own the brand Greco and as I understand the brand name Ibanez was used to market domestic guitars to the rest of the world..its a big company and just as car manufacturers outsource component work to subcontract, so to did Hoshino Gakki. Nothing rock solid to demonstrate a hard affiliation with Matsumoku, but they were to guitar component in Japan during the 1980's what Bosch Electrics are to the automotive industry...hard to find a single one that does not have some input...but that is generally a very good thing, Matsumoku is highly regarded for good reason. I have a 'Vantage' LP knock-off, it would be from the lower end of Matsumoku's out put but still streets ahead of most others of the time for build quality. Same deal with the Aria Pro2, its every bit as good as any strat in playability stakes and with its full maple neck/FB and swamp ash body it looks the part too..the only fall down, and its slight, would be the quality of pickups.
Anyhow you have the makings of a really good guitar there regardless because Hoshino Gakki, regardless of if or who they subbed out to, generally insisted on high quality and much of Japan at that time was focused upon the same....If you get the chance have a look at the neck pocket rout of a Fender MIJ stat compared to a USA made strat of the same era and you will see what I mean. The Japanese by that time were already using CNC accuracy, Fender USA chose to spend money off-short buying value added rather than upgrading and then try to compete to add value...if you can't beat'm, join'm
Cheers
Kim
Re: mirotone
I have had a few guitars in my years of playing including a fender strat. I currently have the 82 SB70 also an 83 Artist AS50 and a 96 RG540 all these are Ibanez MIJ guitars and I have bought and sold many but I will be buried with my AS50 and possibly the SB70 as well. The Artist is the best sounding and playing guitar I have ever owned and everyone that plays it loves it. Ibanez may not be of the quality of Fender & Gibson but I sold my Fender and kept the AS50 so thats saying something about how much I like the MIJ Guitars.
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charangohabsburg
- Blackwood
- Posts: 1818
- Joined: Sat Oct 16, 2010 1:25 am
- Location: Switzerland
Re: mirotone
That looks great! 
I would give it a GuitarGlareBan ® rating of 5 sunglasses:
I would give it a GuitarGlareBan ® rating of 5 sunglasses:
Markus
To be stupid is like to be dead. Oneself will not be aware of it.
It's only the others who suffer.
To be stupid is like to be dead. Oneself will not be aware of it.
It's only the others who suffer.
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