Ibanez 2405 Custom Agent 1977

Here’s a cool piece of 1970’s guitar history. Ibanez’s 2405 Custom Agent sits right in the middle of the 1970s “lawsuit-era” boom, when Japanese makers were building very high quality guitars for export and competing hard on fit, finish, and hardware. The “lawsuit” label is most often tied to the 1977 Norlin (Gibson) action against Ibanez’s US distributor over the Gibson-style headstock outline. Models like this Fujigen-built Custom Agent are a big part of why that period is still talked about.

The 2405 takes the familiar single-cut recipe and turns the bling factor up to 11: multi-ply binding, an ornate open-book headstock with scrolls, an engraved-style pickguard, and the big pearl inlay work on both the fingerboard and top. It is a set-neck, carved-top guitar with a tune-o-matic style bridge and stop tailpiece, finished in a warm sunburst that shows the wood grain clearly on the back. The bound rosewood fingerboard and heavy inlay work are typical of Ibanez’s higher-end guitars of the time.

Underneath the flashy looks it’s totally straightforward, with two Super 70 humbuckers, a three-way toggle, and the usual 2 volume and 2 tone controls. Super 70s from this era are known for a clear top end and strong midrange, and have become very desirable in their own right.

While the 2405 itself was never a signature model, Ibanez electrics from the same era showed up with top 70’s players like Bob Weir and Steve Miller, who valued the high quality on offer and dug the look.

The guitar is in great condition, with just standard playwear and dings with no cracks. The gold hardware has the expected tarnish for the age. Frets are around 75% remaining, but it plays well. No case is included. Weight is 3700g.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Model: Ibanez 2405 Custom Agent
• Era: 1970s
• Country of manufacture: Japan
• Body type: Solidbody single-cutaway, carved top
• Top: Carved figured top under sunburst finish
• Back: Pronounced ash-style grain visible through the finish
• Neck joint: Set neck
• Neck: Set neck
• Fingerboard: Bound rosewood fingerboard
• Fingerboard inlays: Custom Agent pearl motif inlays
• Top inlay: Large pearl inlay on lower bout
• Binding: Multi-ply body binding, multi-ply headstock binding, bound fingerboard
• Pickguard: Custom Agent pickguard with “Ibanez Custom” script
• Pickups: 2x Ibanez Super 70 humbuckers
• Pickup selector: 3-way toggle
• Controls: 2x volume, 2x tone
• Knobs: Witch-hat style knobs with numbered skirts
• Bridge: Tune-o-matic style bridge
• Tailpiece: Stop tailpiece
• Hardware finish: Gold
• Tuners: Ibanez Star tuners
• Finish: Sunburst gloss
• Frets: 22 frets, approx 75% remaining on this example
• Case: None
• Weight: 3700g