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Status: Speculative
Model: unknown
I had someone reach out to me about a Destroyer they have with a Modulus Guitars graphite neck.
Of course, my initial, knee-jerk reaction was: "Fake", "Frankenstein", "garage build"...you get the idea.
Did my due diligence anyway and started slogging around the Internet to see what I could find.
Surprisingly, I ran across several postings where people were asking about an Ibanez Roadstar they had with a Modulus graphite neck but no mention of a Destroyer.
Finally, on one forum, I hit pay dirt.
Jim Donahue posted this reply to someone asking about an Ibanez Roadstar they had with a Modulus graphite neck (typos are in Donahue's original response. Underlining and bolding are mine):
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Jim Donahue
August 20, 2004, 11:42:02 pm
See now that is why I am so useful,
Only about 5 people know about this model and here is the story.
Rich lasner was friends with Modulus so he had some RS necks made by them and me and one other guy (Mark Berkert) installed them on stock Ibanez RS and DT models. Howver the cost for the Neck from Modeuls was around $150.00 on top of the list of $495.00 for the guitar so the price of the models was around $800.00 list and we only sold lke 5 of them.
One problem was no truss rod so the necks were over bowed (Back bowed) And many could not be played.
After about 6 months, I had to take all the necks off of the guitars that did not sell and switch them back to the standard neck.
Jim Donahue
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For those of you unfamiliar with the names, Donahue was a long-time employee of Hoshino USA. Burkert (correct spelling) worked with Donahue. Lasner was the manager of guitar design and R&D with Hoshino USA from about 1984-1989. After Lasner left Hoshino USA, he worked for both Yamaha and Peavey before becoming CTO of Modulus Guitars from 1995-2003.
All of the Roadstars mentioned in the postings I encountered seem to be 1984-1986 models so the timeframe is right.
Here's the full thread for the above discussion:
http://www.ibanezcollectors.com/forum/index.php/topic,2870.0.html
and a similar thread with some really nice pictures:
http://www.ibanezcollectors.com/forum/index.php/topic,32538.msg268956.html#msg268956
The photos clearly show a Modulus graphite neck that has a modified Ibanez logo on the headstock.
I reached out to Mark Burkert and he responded that he couldn't remember much but did say they made some Ibanez guitars for Stanley Jordan with a Modulus neck.
That syncs up well with this thread:
http://www.ibanezcollectors.com/forum/index.php/topic,10165.msg72353.html#msg72353
Finally, I contacted Rich Lasner:
Recently (12/14/2017), I found the following posted on eBay. Images and content are used with the owner's permission. Thanks, Mat.
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Ibanez Destroyer Modulus Graphite series - 1984. Acquired from original owner. Due to tuning issues and other frustrations with the original tremolo, my friend and I installed a Kahler tremolo. We are not Luthiers, but the install was successful. The original bridge was slightly offset to the new kahler and so one of the old bridge pegs remains out due to interference. I played this guitar for about 2 years, gigging and recording, and then put it in storage, almost 30 years. The guitar is in excellent shape. Electronics work, pickups are strong. Graphite neck, of course, is straight and looks, plays & feels incredible. Action is fairly low, set to my preference, hex wrench will be included for adjustment. The trem bar is set to make it easy to palm it while playing. Can be adjusted to suit ones needs. The frets are slightly worn around the 5th and 7th frets, but there is much life left in them. Body has a few slight marks, but no major bumps or chips. The headstock shows marks where the locking nut was replaced. I believe it was too far back and low, and I was having tuning issues when using the tremolo bar. The bridge also had to be tight against the body; It was very rigid and would slam against the body on return. I only have slight regret about changing the trem. I felt the guitar was unusable to me at the time. The Kahler resolved tuning issues and made this guitar into the shredder it was meant to be. I changed out the bottom strap holder and put in a locking one due to the strap slipping off. I do not have the original part, I do not have the original locking nut anymore either. I have the original bridge and will include it, but it is missing some pieces. Guitar is not suitable for a restoration in my opinion - This guitar should be played. Guitar weighs 8 lbs. Strung up with a new set of Elixer 009's. Case is solid with a small scuffs and tears (see pics) all latches function, no key for the lock.
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Initially, I thought this was the real deal but, after further investigation, I'm no longer certain.
After thinking about this for a while, I realized there's one glaring discrepancy I cannot explain: the neck plate shows a build date of G84xxxx which means the guitar was manufactured in July 1984. The body of the guitar is a DT-350 which was not released until the 1985 model year so the earliest date of manufacture this guitar should have is November 1984. The neck plate build date is too early by four (4) months.
If anyone has any additional knowledge regarding these special Destroyers, please contact us.
Thank you.
- TheDestroyerGuy
