Ok, as many of you know I bought one of the first three-pickup DT-555's that Ibanez released to the public. I was able to use my affiliation with Mom's publishing company - Wild Rose Records - and my status as a BMI registered performing artist - to obtain one in advance of it's release to the public in 1983. I ordered the guitar personally through Joan Chesbro of Chesbro Music in Idaho - one of the largest Ibanez dealers in the nation at that time. This guitar bore a 1984 serial number, even though it was produced and delivered to me in 1983.
Sadly, the $695.00 guitar was stolen from me following a live performance in Hollywood in 1989.
Fast forward 33 years and the DT 555's have increased in value many times over. A near mint example recently sold on Reverb for $3,750.00 with case and documentation, fetching a nearly brand new Gibson Les Paul Custom price.
The Achilles's Heel of the DT 555 ws a very poor Ibanez tremolo. This was the only thing about the guitar I did not like. In 1984, Wayne Charvel installed a Floyd Rose on my DT 555 to imrpove the tuning stability.
For many years, I have wanted another DT 555, but didn't want to buy a weathered relic with the inferior Ibanez tremolo. Secondly, many DT 555's on the market now have had broken neck repairs, ghastly refinsh jobs and some counterfeits are being offered complete with fictitious documentation - at phenomenal prices.
Additionally, I wanted to expand the dimensions of the Destroyer's neck profile to something a little thicker and wider than both the Gibson 50's Profile and the fender 'U' profile, while still retaining the ability to use a common 'R3' nut. My specs call for a full 1.0" of thickness both at the 1st and 12th frets - something several builders simply would not consider.
Initially, I was planning on having the replica struck by a custom builder in Poland, at the cost of €2,650, but they, quite understandably, did not want to replicate the Ibanez headstock and lettering.
This Destroyer was to be built for me personally, not for resale, hence the desire for the Ibanez name. It will also bear the serial number of my original DT 555 that was stolen im 1989. (Subsequent 'King Ghidorah' models will use the Von Herndon 'SnakeHead' style headstock.
Since I was already having prototypes built in China, and I know the quality of work being performed, I approached my builder about the DT 555 project and It was enthusiastically received.
A call to Hoshino USA led to contact with a retired luthier who possessed a set of original DT 555 plans. A graphic designer was contracted who altered the blueprints to include a Floyd Rose Tremolo system.
Once plans were delivered and neck measurements confirmed, we were ready to get down to business.
The project was green-lighted on May 31, 2017 pending completion of the blueprints, which were completed last Monday.
The rough cutout of body and neck was completed yesterday.
Here's the first image...of Serial # A84☆☆☆☆.....
Sadly, the $695.00 guitar was stolen from me following a live performance in Hollywood in 1989.
Fast forward 33 years and the DT 555's have increased in value many times over. A near mint example recently sold on Reverb for $3,750.00 with case and documentation, fetching a nearly brand new Gibson Les Paul Custom price.
The Achilles's Heel of the DT 555 ws a very poor Ibanez tremolo. This was the only thing about the guitar I did not like. In 1984, Wayne Charvel installed a Floyd Rose on my DT 555 to imrpove the tuning stability.
For many years, I have wanted another DT 555, but didn't want to buy a weathered relic with the inferior Ibanez tremolo. Secondly, many DT 555's on the market now have had broken neck repairs, ghastly refinsh jobs and some counterfeits are being offered complete with fictitious documentation - at phenomenal prices.
Additionally, I wanted to expand the dimensions of the Destroyer's neck profile to something a little thicker and wider than both the Gibson 50's Profile and the fender 'U' profile, while still retaining the ability to use a common 'R3' nut. My specs call for a full 1.0" of thickness both at the 1st and 12th frets - something several builders simply would not consider.
Initially, I was planning on having the replica struck by a custom builder in Poland, at the cost of €2,650, but they, quite understandably, did not want to replicate the Ibanez headstock and lettering.
This Destroyer was to be built for me personally, not for resale, hence the desire for the Ibanez name. It will also bear the serial number of my original DT 555 that was stolen im 1989. (Subsequent 'King Ghidorah' models will use the Von Herndon 'SnakeHead' style headstock.
Since I was already having prototypes built in China, and I know the quality of work being performed, I approached my builder about the DT 555 project and It was enthusiastically received.
A call to Hoshino USA led to contact with a retired luthier who possessed a set of original DT 555 plans. A graphic designer was contracted who altered the blueprints to include a Floyd Rose Tremolo system.
Once plans were delivered and neck measurements confirmed, we were ready to get down to business.
The project was green-lighted on May 31, 2017 pending completion of the blueprints, which were completed last Monday.
The rough cutout of body and neck was completed yesterday.
Here's the first image...of Serial # A84☆☆☆☆.....
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