A: Well, everything I have on anything should be up on the site. I try very hard to update it anytime new information comes in. I may be working on a section that pertains to your guitar, in which case patience will be rewarded! Chances are if I have the information it will be posted, and if I don't, It'll be tough to answer your question.  =]  You might also post your question on the Message Board. That is why it's there! =]

A: Boy is this a toughie! First, the actual value depends on what the market will bear at that particular time. Factors such as Hype, Name Frenzy or Name Flinging, time of year, how many are available, condition, modifications, and on and on will have a bearing on perceived value. So much comes into play one really has to stay on top of it. Usually there is an acceptable ballpark value that can be used as a general guide, but it all boils down to how bad people in the market want that guitar (or how bad you want it). I usually use eBay to gauge what a guitar is worth, and it is a pretty good indicator as to what a large base of individuals are willing to pay for a guitar. You probably shouldn't go by what you see on guitar dealer websites. They are listing what they want for it, not necessarily what someone will pay for it. If it were such a good deal, would it be there long?

Also, don't go solely by what a Music store tells you either, unless they have a genuine interest in you, your guitar, and your music. Most music stores are businesses first, focused on one thing: The almighty dollar. If you are trying to trade in or sell, many will give you a very low figure, and if you want what they have, most likely the figure will be much higher for the SAME guitar. The "MegaStores" are notorious for this so be warned. If you have come across a store that is genuinely interested in music and you as a player, by all means, patronize them! They're a rare and dying breed in this age of MegaStores (see definitions)!

A: This is more than likely not the case. Although many options, features, appointments, and finishes are listed in a catalog's specs, this does not mean that is all that was available from the factory. Every smart company tests the market, making minor variations available. It may be a limited run, but that doesn't mean it was special order, "custom shop", or otherwise one-off. Also, with Matsumoku guitars, some of the aforementioned features were changed according to the targeted geographical market. What was available here in the States may not have been in the UK, and the reverse. Models and variations may have become available first in one location, then later in another, and by that time the specs may have changed. Without a verifiable Certificate of Authenticity (COA) it's pretty much just a guess, hunch, or hope that it's something rare or one-of-a-kind.

A: First thing to consider is has it been modified? If YOU bought it new like this that's one story, but if you got it second hand and are unsure of it's history (or cannot confirm it), or there is no COA, then you can't be sure. Also, see the previous question and answer as it applies to this as well.

A: Look here! NEVER accept someone's word on something like this unless they are a saint, or close to it! Don't fall victim to hype such as this (See the blurb on Hype)! Autographs, purported celebrity ownership, celebrity encounters, or any other claim of this nature (you get my drift) are nothing more than interesting anecdotes or embellishments unless they can be verified by means other than a simple verbal claim. When a claim like this is made, you should always demand evidence such as photographic negatives (pictures can be doctored), a verifiable COA, or you hear it directly from the horse's mouth. In the case of Elvis Presley or Kurt Kobain, the "horse's mouth" method will be difficult at best!

A: NO! NO! And NO! This one gets me fired up every time! Elger/Hoshino (Ibanez) did NOT make Aria, Aria Pro II, Westone, Vantage, Electra, Westbury, Japanese Washburns, or any of the other guitars in these lines. They were made by Matsumoku in partnership with Shiro Aria co. in entirely different facilities. More likely, Hoshino contracted Matsumoku than the converse. There's one of two things going on when you see this. First, the seller is obviously unaware of the guitar's origins, or second and more often the case, the seller is flinging the Ibanez name to both increase interest and jack up the price, or worse yet, keyword spamming if it's an auction listing (see the blurb on hype). Fortunately, if this was your question, you are doing your homework (hopefully beforehand)! Good for you!

A: Oh boy! Here's another doosie that gets my drawers in a bunch! Far too often it is nothing more than hype to jack the price of a guitar up, and less often an actual "Lawsuit" model (open book or "mustache" headstock). You would be surprised to know how many people don't know exactly what a "lawsuit" model is, and unfortunately, sellers sometimes take advantage of this. See the blurb on Hype elsewhere on this page. It boils down to this: If it truly is a lawsuit model, and you are willing to fork out the extra $$$ for a headstock shape, more power to you! Me? I'll skip the "mustache" and save the cash! =]

A: No, no, no, no, and once more no. Please don't ask. If I decide to sell off one of my sweethearts, I will post a message on the Message Board in the For Sale forum a week or two before I intend to list it on eBay. This goes for parts and such also. This IS written in stone, believe it or not, and I will post a picture of the rock itself on My Guitar Family's page soon. =]    If you are looking for something specific you might get a nibble or two if you post a message in the Wanted forum on the Message Board.

A: Yup, at present. I'm sure I'll add more as time goes on.

BlahBlah: A term used here to represent another term, word, brand, or model which is either unknown, or where a blanket term is best suited. (also written in singular form as Bleep).

SoSo.com: Term used to represent a site name that needn't be, could not, or should not be referred to directly.

MegaStores: I am sure you know what I'm talking about here! Those Wal-Mart sized puppies with a thousand different pretty flavors of sharp-fretted buzz saws hanging on the walls and lurking in stands just waiting to knaw on their next victim. The places where tone-deaf metal-masters are born. Cacaphony palaces. You get the picture!

Hype: 1: Deception, put-on. 2: Publicity 3: Obnoxious blabber. 4: Misleading statements. 5: A plethera of partially or completely irrelevant over-enthusiastic slanted prose designed to induce in one the extreme desire to throw away their hard earned money. 6: See below.