This Ibanez slide pickup guitar really stood out to me in an old Ibanez catalog. It is the 2663SL, a predecessor of the Iceman, with a triple-coil pickup you can physically slide to change the tone. This article covers what that pickup is, how the slide works and why it lasted only from 1975 to 1977. For the brand as a whole, see the Ibanez guide.
Ibanez 2663SL Quick Facts
- Period covered: 1975 to 1977
- Model: 2663SL, also called The Flash III; an Iceman predecessor
- Pickup: one triple-coil pickup on a sliding mount
- Controls: volume, tone and a bass-cut knob; no selector
- Built by: FujiGen, Japan
- Related: 2663TC (IC210) and Greco M-800 used the same triple-coil system
Prefer to watch? This article is based on my own video below.
Ibanez 2663SL at a Glance
| Spec | 2663SL |
|---|---|
| Years | 1975–1977 |
| Factory | FujiGen, Japan |
| Body and neck | Mahogany body, set neck |
| Scale | 24.75 inches |
| Pickup | One triple-coil pickup on a sliding mount |
| Controls | Master volume, master tone, bass cut |
| Other names | The Flash III, Iceman SL |
Found in an Old Ibanez Catalog
I came across this guitar in an old Ibanez catalog. Next to the regular 2663, the version labeled No. 2663-SL looks different: just one pickup, and an unusual gap above it. Two things immediately caught my attention: the pickup itself, and that gap.
What Is the Triple-Coil Pickup?
After some digging, I found that it is a triple-coil pickup: three coils instead of the two in a humbucker. The same system was later used on other models:
| Model | Pickup setup |
|---|---|
| Ibanez 2663 | Two humbuckers (the standard version) |
| Ibanez 2663SL | One triple-coil pickup that slides |
| Ibanez 2663TC (IC210) | Triple-coil at the bridge, four modes via a rotary switch |
| Greco M-800 (late 1970s) | The same triple-coil system on the Mirage, the Iceman’s Japanese twin |
The Four-Position Rotary Switch, According to the Catalog
An Ibanez catalog calls the pickup the PU-3T, “a groundbreaking design with three coils combined into one,” and explains what each position of the four-way switch does:
| Switch position | What you hear (catalog) |
|---|---|
| 1 | Coil 1 only |
| 2 | Coils 1 + 3 |
| 3 | Coils 1 + 2 + 3 |
| 4 | Coils 1 + 3, plus coil 2 in reverse phase |
The Greco connection makes sense: the Mirage was the domestic twin of the Iceman, built at the same factory. See Ibanez Iceman and Greco Mirage for that story.
The Gap Above the Pickup: How the Ibanez Slide Pickup Works
As the title says, this pickup is slidable. You can physically slide it along the gap to change the tone, so one pickup can cover multiple tonal positions.
One pickup, many positions
A Bass-Cut Knob Instead of a Pickup Selector
Instead of a pickup selector, the 2663SL uses a bass-cut knob. It gives you a way to control the strong character of the triple-coil pickup, but it also makes you wonder if that alone was really enough.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Master volume | Overall level |
| Master tone | Overall brightness |
| Bass cut | Tames the low end of the triple-coil pickup |
1975–1977: A Short-Lived Idea
Made only from 1975 to 1977, the slidable pickup was an incredibly unique idea. The shape carried on, and from 1978 it was sold under the name it is known by today: the Iceman.
Finding a 2663SL Today
With such a short production run, the 2663SL and its Ibanez slide pickup are rare. If you find one, check that the sliding mount moves smoothly and that the pickup and bass-cut circuit are original.
Final Thoughts
The Ibanez slide pickup is one of those ideas that only seems to come out of 1970s Japan. It lasted only three years, but it shows how freely Japanese makers were experimenting before the Iceman name was even born.
FAQ
What is the Ibanez 2663SL?
A 1975 to 1977 Ibanez guitar, the predecessor of the Iceman, with a single triple-coil pickup that slides along the body to change the tone. It is also known as The Flash III.
How does the Ibanez slide pickup work?
The pickup sits on a sliding mount in a gap in the body. Moving it toward the neck or the bridge changes the tone, so one pickup can cover several tonal positions.
What is a triple-coil pickup?
A pickup with three coils instead of the two in a humbucker. Ibanez called it the PU-3T. On the 2663TC, also listed as the IC210, a four-way rotary switch selects coil 1 alone, coils 1 and 3, all three coils, or coils 1 and 3 with coil 2 in reverse phase.
Does the 2663SL have a pickup selector?
No. Instead of a selector, it has master volume, master tone and a bass-cut knob to tame the strong character of the triple-coil pickup.
Is the 2663SL an Iceman?
It belongs to the Iceman lineage. The shape appeared in 1975 as the 2663 series, and the Iceman name was only used from 1978.
Did other guitars use the same triple-coil pickup?
The same triple-coil system was used on the Ibanez 2663TC (IC210) and on Greco’s late-1970s M-800 Mirage.
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