2008/12/09
I forget these things actually exist but they do.
Recently, I ran across one and it reminded me of that fact so I thought I would share what little info and speculation I have before it slipped my mind (again).
According to the book "Ibanez:The Untold Story" (Specht, Wright & Donahue), the Destroyer prototypes were made completely from mahogany.
The production line was was initially set up based on the original Hoshino-Gakki design but, at the 1975 Chicago NAMM, Hoshino-Gakki saw their prototypes side-by-side with the Gibson Explorers and found that their Destroyer prototypes were just a bit "off".
So they retooled and started full scale production with sen ("Japanese ash") bodies and maple necks.
I would assume that there were some left over all mahogany necks/bodies that went out the door based on the original, incorrect design.
