SOLD - Ibanez 2387CT Rocket Roll Sr. Flying V- Japan 1976-77

SOLD

From Ibanez: 

‘The 2387CT or 2387 Custom is a solid body electric guitar model introduced by Ibanez in 1975. It was made in Japan by FujiGen. It was among the first models in what would come to be the Rocket Roll series. This model is also known as the Rocket Roll Sr. 

The 2387CT features a vee-shaped body modeled on the Gibson Flying V. It has a solid ash (or Japanese sen) body mated to a set-in 3-ply maple neck with a 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearloid dot position markers. Components include a Tune-o-matic style fixed bridge, through-body string routing with a vee-shaped "Cadillac" ornament, a pair of Ibanez humbucking pickups mounted in black pickup rings, a black pickguard, top hat style knobs, and Smooth Tuner "Star" machine heads. The output jack is mounted on the inside of the lower (treble) wing. 

Early models may have had uncovered humbuckers with black bobbins, but by the end of 1975 the new Super 70 pickups with gold covers were being used. 

This guitar is part of the legendary Korina Trio along with the 2459 "Korina Destroyer" and the 2469 "Futura" which were copies of Gibson's trio of "modernistic" designs from the 1950s. While Ibanez's previous Rocket Roll models were based off an early '70's Gibson reissue of the original Flying V, the 2387CT targeted the original 1958 model directly. While those earlier Gibson guitars were made of African limba wood (also known as korina), the exact species of wood used for the Ibanez trio has been much debated — the catalogs say "solid ash", some marketing materials claimed they were "African korina" while many experts insist they were made of Japanese sen, which has a grain structure similar to ash. In any event, the translucent "African Korina" finish gave them a yellowish hue which was quite similar to Gibson's originals. 

The 2387CT was discontinued in 1978 as Ibanez was phasing out production of copies of guitars from other manufacturers in favor of original designs. The shape would reappear in mildly altered form as the Rocket Roll II for 1982.’ 

Features: 

Body type: Solid body 

Body material: Selected solid ash 

Neck joint: Set-in 

Bridge: Tune-o-matic style fixed 

Tailpiece: V-shaped "Cadillac" ornament (string through body) 

Pickguard: Black/ white/ black 

Knob style: Top hat 

Hardware colour: Gold 

Neck material: 3-piece maple 

Scale length: 628mm/ 24¾" 

Fingerboard material: Rosewood 

Fingerboard inlays: Pearloid dot 

Frets: 22 

Machine heads: Smooth Tuner Star 

Pickup configuration: HH 

Bridge pickup: Ibanez Super 70 gold cover 

Neck pickup: Ibanez Super 70 gold cover 

Controls: Two volumes / master tone / 3-way toggle pickup selector 

Output jack: ¼" mono (side mounted)

At only 7.1 lbs, this V is a light and easy player, but with serious fat output from the pickups. 
 
The neck has a C shaped profile which is more slender and fast-feeling at the nut, but with big shoulders and lots of roundness and heft up the board. The unbound rosewood fretboard retains the original medium jumbo frets which show very little wear at their full factory height.  

Adhering to traditional specs for a Flying V, this guitar has a 24 3/4" scale length and a hand-carved bone nut that measures just over 1 9/16" in width. The Smooth Tuners are working perfectly. 
 

All of the original hardware is intact including the black top hat knobs, tailpiece, and nickel bridge. Cosmetically, this guitar has no buckle rash on the back, with a few dings and finish chips on the body but nothing offensive. The original ‘Korina’ finish has aged beautifully and thoroughly enhances this nearly 50-year-old guitar. 

A big bonus is that it comes in its original fitted hard shell case in good condition.