Antares built Iceman copies around 1980. I've not been able to find out much about Antares as a company, so if you know anything or have a story to relate concerning this rare copy, please let me know. I'll post the details on this page. So far the only Antares I've seen are this red/maroon finish. The headstock is black on one and red on the other and the neck plates are two different sizes - but that's the main differences I can see. The bridges are not the same, but they could have been easily changed out. I believe the one with the chrome pickup covers to be the most original of the two. I took one of the chrome covers off to reveal green tape holding the pickup coil wires in place. The other seems to have aftermarket pickups (no name brand and the solder on the pots is disturbed). Also, one has white cavity plates covering the electronics on the back - and these are made out of some plastic that was obviously not meant for the guitar originally (flimsy and has a texture on it). In other words, they are replacements. The black covers are standard guitar-type and I'm 99% sure those are the originals. Hopefully this sheds a little bit of light on the rare and unusual Antares copies.
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