Up for sale, a 2000 Ibanez J Custom HRG2000 (HJCRG-1 NT) in near-mint, 100% original condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original molded hardshell case, CoA, hangtags, and Japanese advertisement. This exquisite, top-of-the-line Ibanez was produced in very limited quantities as a “spot model” exclusively for Japanese retailer Ikebe Gakki. It’s as ornate as an Ibanez can be, featuring five-piece maple/bubinga neck-through construction with select Honduran mahogany body wings, a AAAA quilted maple top, an ebony fretboard, and an HSH trio of DiMarzio humbuckers. Interestingly, this model is widely known (including in the original Ikebe catalog) as the HRG2000, but the included CoA labels it as the HJCRG-1.

The humbucker in the bridge position is a DiMarzio Tone Zone, a bold and powerful high-output pickup that offers great low end and lower-midrange response to ensure the tone stays full and fat. The neck humbucker is a DiMarzio Air Norton, a warm, open-sounding pickup designed with a unique magnetic structure to reduce string pull and increase sustain while maintaining dynamic feel and responsiveness to user inputs. The central single coil is a DiMarzio Blue Velvet, with shimmer and snap, blending well with the humbuckers in positions 2 and 4 on the five-way pickup selector switch. This HRG2000 weighs 8lbs 3oz, professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with 10-46 strings, slinky action, and spot-on intonation.

The five-ply maple/bubinga neck has Ibanez’s Super Wizard profile, a slender D-shaped carve with full shoulders, measuring .745” deep at the 1st fret and .865” at the 12th. The ebony fingerboard is framed by white pearloid binding and features abalone/pearl Tree of Life inlay and flawless jumbo fretwire. This guitar plays cleanly up the 25 1/2“ scale with a straight neck and a responsive, optimally-adjusted truss rod, and the Top Lok III locking nut measures 1 11/16” in width (43mm). The headstock sports a matching quilted maple veneer, framed by multi-ply abalone binding, and the Gotoh tuning machines turn smoothly and hold accurate pitch.

All of the electronics function as intended, with the HSH DiMarzio pickup complement governed by a five-way selector switch and Master Volume and Tone controls. The gold-plated hardware includes the dome-topped knurled knobs and Lo-Pro Edge tremolo. The tremolo control cavity cover even retains the factory protective film, indicative of the limited use this guitar has seen since new.

The gloss Natural finish is framed on top by abalone binding, highlighting the dimensional, wall-to-wall figuring in the stunning AAAA quilted maple top. This guitar is exceptionally well-kept, with just a scant few faint marks on the body as a whole. The smooth satin finish on the neck profile is immaculate.

The original Ibanez-branded molded hardshell case is included, along with the factory hangtags, CoA, and Ikebe’s original Japanese advert.