The Vinnie Vincent Forum - Where Freedom Rocks!

http://www.kissfaq.com/forum11/viewtopi ... =1&t=81268

thanks to the excellent Timstar78 of Kissfaq.com

About effin time we got some info on this! Ibanez were a dead end when I contacted them a couple of years ago and the gurus on the Ibanez forum could offer no help either!
So an American made Ibi at the custom shop in Bensalem PA.

From http://www.jemsite.com

The History of the Ibanez "USA Custom Shop"

The introduction of the "improved" RG and new JEM in 1987 set a precedent for Ibanez guitars. Over the next few years Ibanez would add more models, set trends and sign up rock 'n roll heavyweights. It was crystal clear that Ibanez' Japanese guitar factory had shifted into high gear. They were skilled at making bodies, necks, parts, painting and overall assembly. While Ibanez was setting a high standard for those to follow, most of us didn't realize that hot on their trail was a small group of Ibanez employees in America.

In the late 80s, Japan started shipments of Ibanez guitar bodies and necks to the Hoshino USA factory in Bensalem, PA. This supply of guitar parts enabled Hoshino USA to begin the arduous task of learning the business of custom guitar creation. To no surprise, the American team would show itself as a studious apprentice. Sometime in 1988, Hoshino of Japan decided to put their new "resources" to use. They provided the final piece of the puzzle by supplying the Bensalem factory with guitar building equipment. With this turn of events a new division of Ibanez employees would be formed. Internally it would be called "H&S Guitars", the heart and soul of the legendary "Ibanez Custom Shop".

Thanks ankh and Timstar78(if you still visit here?)

Great.. so john curruthers made it. Great find.

I've sent an email to Mr Carruthers!!!!! Lets hope we get a reply!!!!!

Cool this is great.

Excellent stuff! The Ibanez looks a lot like the Washburn, save the headstock.

Does the body shape look a little different.. not quite as dynamic or is it just me?
Could be lens angle.
We may have to wait decades after vv is gone to ever see these guitars surface.

Best vv look.

The bottom fin is a smidge too small.

http://www.carruthersguitars.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Carruther ... 8649558091



Carruthers Guitars
4700 Calle Carga
Camarillo, CA 93012
310-392-3919
805-482-9696
OPEN by appointment only, generally on Tuesdays, and Thursdays through Saturdays.

[youtube][/youtube]

So now we know who made all the vv models apart from exactly the guy at esp.

Do I hear any interview with John Carruthers simmering on the cook top.

shramiac wrote:The bottom fin is a smidge too small.

there are 2 basic keys to getting the design "right" ..this model misses them both

FREDDYB3 wrote:

shramiac wrote:The bottom fin is a smidge too small.

there are 2 basic keys to getting the design "right" ..this model misses them both

I see it Freddie but could you elaborate ?

No answer to the emails I sent either!

Maybe Kev can pull in and have a chat to Mr Carruthers one day?

shramiac wrote:No answer to the emails I sent either!

Maybe Kev can pull in and have a chat to Mr Carruthers one day?

I will try the next time I take a trip up to Central California and pass through his town

Yay Kev! That would be great if you could.

Alright Uncle Kev !!!!

poserboy71 wrote:

FREDDYB3 wrote:

shramiac wrote:The bottom fin is a smidge too small.

there are 2 basic keys to getting the design "right" ..this model misses them both

I see it Freddie but could you elaborate ?

Hi Rick, Happy New Year Bro..

Well of course they are all a little different...
I guess it is my opinion that the Carvin design looks the best. Which design do you prefer ?
The 2 keys are where the body meets the neck (the Carvin is a 24 fret neck)
on top and bottom,(in relation to the frets) and the straight line on the high E side (bottom)
is the shadow fin edge, not the main body. It is kind of a optical allusion, for lack of a better term.
If you try and draw it and you make the body edge the straight line and then add the wing.
It will end up looking cock-eye or the angle will be wrong or it will end being 2 long on the top fin.
if the bottom shadow comes up to high..it throws the look off and if it doesn't come up high enough
it ends up looking too small, as Shram pointed out here. The other factor is the amount of space
between the inside of the V and the back of the trem.. I realize different factors affect to look, i.e non fin-tuner, vs a fine tuning trem. Best description I have in being brief. I am speaking from the perspective and opinion of the Carvin being the best designed VVV (IMO)

I like the pear and carvin best. Washburn also looks good but I heard vv didnt like neck as much as carvin. I know ibanez is slightly off but I still like it.

Yes it is all a matter of opinion Dino... They are all a little bit different...there really aren't any 2 exactly alike which kinda makes the guitar a unique thing. Not all bad.... Great pic of the Ibanez though !

My favorite is the Jackson. Since seeing an unobstructed version of the Carvin(Palecki), I have really grown fond of that as well.

It still bothers me that someone butchered the silver/purple (originally pink/silver ) guitar with that neck pickup. Even the ring mount is hacked.

poserboy71 wrote:My favorite is the Jackson. Since seeing an unobstructed version of the Carvin(Palecki), I have really grown fond of that as well.

It still bothers me that someone butchered the silver/purple (originally pink/silver ) guitar with that neck pickup. Even the ring mount is hacked.

Agree ....how come we don't have a simple "like" button yet ?

I know that I've looked for it a few times !!!!

John is a nice guy and a master luthier. He's worked with quite a stable of artists over the years and I am sure he's got some great stories.

He's done some work on quite a few of my guitars, including my one of my Vinnie-inspired recent guitar purchases: a gold Jackson RR24.



John said he might have the designs of the double V Ibanez, but he wasn't sure. (He also said that he never was in contact with Vinnie himself.) I'll be seeing him in January and my hope is to conduct a brief interview with him for the FAQ and ask him to look for the designs. Fingers crossed...

Very Cool. Thanks timstar78 !!!!

Thanks Tim !
Great info !
Where is the Ibanez VV Now?¡

Sadly, Vinnie isn't a stable artist, hence the many builds of his guitar, with none after Jackson making more than one.

Nice RR24!!

Tim, you are a star!

Awesome Timstar ! Great guitar too ! Thanks for sharing

the ibanez is with vv but he will say its with a friend as he does not want kiss to know he owns anything of value. The value of those guitars has gone way down in the last few years however.

Yes, saying something was "pre-owned by Vinnie" now has a negative impact on it's value, much to Vinnie's chagrin. He banks on everyday items being worth 100 times their regular value because he's touched them.

His trash used to be insured for a million dollars in case someone took it and parted it out on eBay. Those days are long gone.