Ibanez Concord 684-6 & 686-12CS - Japan c.1975

Here’s a rare opportunity to own a beautifully preserved matched pair of mid-'70s Ibanez Concord acoustics — the 684-6 6-string and the 686-12CS 12-string — both finished in rich vintage sunburst and built in Japan around 1975. These guitars were produced during Ibanez’s highly regarded “lawsuit era,” when their acoustic line rivalled and often exceeded the quality of far more expensive American brands.

The Ibanez Concord series launched in the early '70s and quickly gained respect for its high build standards and tonewood choices. The 684-6 and 686-12CS models represent Ibanez’s take on the classic square-shouldered dreadnought, clearly influenced by Gibson’s iconic acoustics, but with a distinctly Ibanez voice — warm, open, and well-balanced. These guitars were made at the FujiGen factory and are from a period before serial numbers were consistently applied, which is common for Ibanez acoustics from this era.

Both guitars feature spruce tops, mahogany back and sides, rosewood fingerboards with parallelogram inlays, and multi-ply binding. The 12-string, designated 686-12CS, delivers a shimmering, harmonically rich sound without overwhelming the low end — excellent for open tunings, jangly rhythm work, or lush studio textures. The 6-string 684-6 is bold and articulate, with focused mids and excellent clarity for fingerpicking or strumming.

Playability on both is impressively smooth for their age, with comfortable medium-profile necks, good action, and surprisingly well-preserved frets. These Concords are increasingly hard to come by — especially as a matched set — and would be a fantastic addition to any collection or working studio.

Both come in non-original gig bags.

Features:

Models: Ibanez Concord 684-6 (6-string) & 686-12CS (12-string)

Year: Circa 1975

Finish: Vintage Sunburst

Top: Spruce (laminate)

Back & Sides: Mahogany (laminate)

Neck: Mahogany

Fingerboard: Rosewood with parallelogram inlays

Bridge: Rosewood

Tuners: Enclosed vintage-style

Binding: Multi-ply body, single-ply neck

Scale Length: 25.5"