Up for sale, a 1985 Ibanez AH-10 Allan Holdsworth signature in 100% original condition and in perfect working order. Produced between 1985-87, the AH-10 is a collaboration between Ibanez and British jazz fusion guitarist Allan Holdsworth, taking the body of the Rockstar II and augmenting it with a series of unique modifications including the proprietary solitary humbucker, ebony fretboard, and specially configured PoweRocker Special tremolo. Interestingly enough, it was also the first mass-produced guitar with a basswood body, which was selected by Ibanez’s luthiers to sate Holdsworth’s desire for a lightweight instrument. The body is chambered beneath the pickguard to further achieve the lightness Holdsworth requested, resulting in an instrument that weighs a mere 6lbs 14oz.

Acoustically, this guitar has a balanced, smooth presence, with the inherent glassy note attack of the ebony fretboard. The stock AH Special pickup was custom wound exclusively for Holdsworth’s signatures (the AH-10 and the two-pickup AH-20), featuring 12 individually adjustable pole pieces for optimal string-to-string volume calibration. It’s a lively and powerful humbucker, metering at 8.9k ohms, with plenty of lower-midrange warmth and sharp, singing highs that provide exceptional articulation. When clean, it’s absolutely pristine and sweet, and the AH Special also takes gain notably well, delivering fat, crunchy chords and white-hot leads alike. This AH-10 has been professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with 9-42 strings, slinky action, and spot-on intonation.

The maple neck has a slender C-shaped profile carve with well-rounded shoulders in every register, measuring .795” deep at the 1st fret and .855” at the 12th. The slab ebony fretboard features pearloid dot inlay, with an Allan Holdsworth signature-embossed block inlay at the 22nd fret, and a built-for-speed 17” radius. The stock jumbo fretwire is practically perfect with well-rounded crowns, showing just a hint of wear beneath the plain strings on frets 1-2. This guitar plays cleanly up the 25 1/2“ scale with a straight neck and a responsive, optimally-adjusted truss rod. The nut measures 1.650” (42mm) in width. The headstock sports Holdsworth’s unique spider design and gold Ibanez logo, and the Smooth Tuner Mini II black tuning machines turn (as the name would suggest) smoothly and hold accurate pitch.

All of the electronics function as intended, with the AH Special humbucker wired to the stock harness and governed by Master Volume and Tone controls. Plastics include the one-ply black pickguard which has pick scuffing across the strum path. The black chrome hardware includes the dome-topped knurled knobs and the notably clean PoweRocker Special tremolo. The PoweRocker Special tremolo is an upgraded version of the non-locking, synchronized PoweRocker, only appearing on Holdsworth’s signature guitars, It has a couple unique features, including the aluminum block, narrower string spacing, a black chrome finish, and short 150mm push-in arm. It actuates smoothly and bounces back to pitch quickly, perfect for expressive warbles and deeper dives.

The gloss Burgundy finish exhibits a number of dings on the body as a whole, most prominent along the lower bout perimeter, an area of pick scuffing extending to the bass-side waist beyond pickguard edge, and a handful of faint finish scratches. The neck profile retains its smooth gloss, with several shallow marks along the profile length that don't distract the palm while fretting.

A faux leather padded gigbag is included.