Ibanez Artist 2622

The Ibanez 2622 was manufactured from 1977 to 1979. Also known as Artist EQ, it is often associated with Steve Miller, who appeared on the cover of the ’77 catalog with a 2622 in sunburst.

This one is a little difficult to classify. It does not have a serial number (unusual for this time) but shows all the specifications of a ’77 model. This includes the cloud ornament, which is attached with just one screw, and the pickup frames with two screws for adjusting the humbuckers. It could be a pre-serial model.

The 2622 has a mahogany body with a maple top and multi-layer cream binding. Its neck is made of three-piece maple and offers an ebony fingerboard with binding. Block inlays made of abalone / MOP serve as orientation.

It is equipped with two Super 80 humbuckers and a 3-band EQ, which earned it the nickname. Treble, mids and bass can each be boosted or cut by 15 dB.
There is also a three-way toggle switch for selecting the pickups, master volume and preamp gain control, as well as an on/off toggle switch for the EQ. The circuit can be operated actively or passively. In passive mode only Master Volume Control is available.

The guitar is largely original. Only the tuners were replaced at some point by Schaller M6 and the cover for the electronics was missing. Here I made a replacement out of pickguard material. The frets were pretty worn when I bought the guitar and I had them replaced. And last the mastervolume and preamp gain control knobs are replaced by sure grip I similar ones. The original has speed dome/barrel knobs.

The playability is now excellent up to the last fret. And the sound? The Super 80 have ceramic magnets and therefore produce a very clear, but some say sterile, sound. I wouldn’t emphasize that, on the contrary, I like these pickups. They are powerful, defined and support the sound characteristics of the guitar very positively. Fast response, clean intonation and plenty of sustain characterize this artist. A really great guitar that is currently my main instrument.