Ibanez Artcore

willtheguitardude · #1 01-20-2012, 08:27 PM

Does anyone like the Ibanez Artcore/ Ibanez Artcore Custom series of full hollow guitars? Look awesome for the cost, but are they truly awesome for the cost? Share your Ibanez stories here, I need some recommendations.

Help!I'maRock! · #2 01-20-2012, 09:50 PM

I'm a big fan of Artcores. The ones I've played seem better constructed than equally priced Epiphones and other budget conscious instruments. My main problem with the brand is simply that i don't like the offered colors. They always fall flat compared to the photoshopped pics on their website.

You might want to hold off on buying anything for a few months. The NAMM show is this weekend and there are lots of new products being offered. Ibanez is expanding the Artcore line, but it'll be a short while until they end up in stores.

va3ux · #3 01-21-2012, 07:34 AM

I've owned one Artcore and it was extremely well made. Not a fault to be found with it. The only reason I don't have it anymore is that the neck shape/profile didn't fit my hand very well. The higher end Artcores have a slightly different neck profile that works better for me. I've played them and I'd buy one in a heartbeat if I didn't already have more guitars than I need.

Whether a guitar is "awesome" or not is totally personal. These are very good guitars and very good value. But let's not pretend that they're the equivalent of a Sadowsky or Benedetto that somehow slipped through the system for just a few hundred $.

Today's generation is very lucky compared to the beginning players of the 60's or 70's. Back then we had a choice of either real entry-level low quality junk - or professional level guitars from Gibson, Fender, Guild, etc. Nothing in between that I recall. The very affordable stuff available today from Korea and China is a dream come true compared to what we had available 40 years ago.

augusjazz · #4 01-21-2012, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by va3ux

Today's generation is very lucky compared to the beginning players of the 60's or 70's. Back then we had a choice of either real entry-level low quality junk - or professional level guitars from Gibson, Fender, Guild, etc. Nothing in between that I recall. The very affordable stuff available today from Korea and China is a dream come true compared to what we had available 40 years ago.

Absolutely.
With regard to Ibanez guitars, the AF95 I like a lot.

Peter C · #5 01-21-2012, 08:13 AM

I acquired a white AF 75 with vibrato via a gear swap, and in general, can't complain regarding build quality. I replaced the string nut with another with wider string spacing, and that's about it. I may swap out the neck pup for something a tad more responsive, but no rush.

Bflat · #6 01-21-2012, 10:12 AM

Hi,

I believe the value is good on the artcore line. The quality of build and parts is equal to the price. I have had 3 artcores but now only have the custom 105 with floating pickup. Replaced the pickup with kent armstrong. The stock pu was good but when I began playing with other musicians the treble notes didn't cut through enough.

I had ak 85 (?) and Af 95 and they were decent for around 300-450. Be sure to shop around as priced very greatly.

I saw Musician's Friend has the new AFJ with single pickup in stock. I would LOVE to check out this guitar!

Happy shopping.

paynow · #7 01-21-2012, 10:30 AM

I currently have an AS73 and have been on the Ibanez email list for years. Just got a "gear for 2012" email and in it was this link to the new Artcores:

Ibanez.com | Hollow Body Guitars | AFJ

I like my AS73 though eventually I'm going to go for something a bit fatter. Good bang for the buck; it cost me about $400 with the case.

Anandbhat · #8 01-21-2012, 12:42 PM

This new model looks cool!

Ibanez.com | Hollow Body Guitars | AF105

Norman931 · #9 01-21-2012, 01:03 PM

AFJ appears to be a replacement for the recently discontinued AK80.

abracadabra · #10 01-21-2012, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anandbhat

This new model looks cool!

Ibanez.com | Hollow Body Guitars | AF105

I have that model from 2008. I think the only difference is the headstock inlay (the new one is much nicer imo), but the guitar is great.

I like the look a lot of the new AFJ models. I wonder how they will be priced and the quality vs the rest of the Artcore range.

hallpass · #11 01-21-2012, 02:56 PM

I am very high on the Artcore Custom models, which are basically all the ones with the model numbers of 100 and greater (AF105, AK105, AF125, AK100, etc). I think they are very reasonably priced and very well made. Super comfortable to play. I have an AK105SM that has been my main jazz guitar for about 4 years. I used to own an AF105 for a short time too. They both just played so perfectly for me...their necks just feel like butter to me!

The standard Artcores are very good values. They have lesser pickups and lesser necks, but can still be very good guitars...and the pickups can of course be upgraded over time.

The Artcore Customs use 5 piece Maple/Walnut and the standard Artcores use a one piece Mahogany neck. There are also Artcore Deluxe models that use a 3pc Maple/Mahogany neck. I believe the fretwork could be different between Customs and Standards as well. The Customs also have nicer appointments, often made of rosewood or the like (pickup rings, knobs, etc).

Here's my AK105SM that I added a pickguard to:

Help!I'maRock! · #12 01-21-2012, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bflat

I saw Musician's Friend has the new AFJ with single pickup in stock. I would LOVE to check out this guitar!

holy crap, they're already available!

ibanez afj Results | Musician's Friend

i guess the only question is, one pickup or two?

abracadabra · #13 01-22-2012, 04:09 AM

wow, $500-$600. if the guitars are as good as Artcores usually are, and with that decent headstock inlay (as opposed to the lightning bolt inlay (which I really dislike), that sounds like a pretty good deal!

I'd love to try one out, even though I'm officially not buying any more guitars.

RoyaleT · #14 01-22-2012, 05:49 AM

Are they both 15"+ or is the 81 a full size 17"? Specs are clearer for the 85 that I've seen.

gerraguitar · #15 01-22-2012, 08:13 AM

I use the artcore AK95 for the stuff I do at school, it's a nice gtr for the price. The best part about it is it leaves room for upgrades. At one the pickups started crackling, I don't know what it was but it was a perfect excuse for me to upgrade. Since I don't use the bridge pup at all I left that in and put a gibson 57 classic in the neck, it sounds so great. I have to bring it to another luthier because the one who put the pickup in didn't exactly fix the crackle problem, but I did figure out it has something to do with the tone knob for the pickup. And apparently they have a reverse phase on the pickups so it makes repairs a bit tough.

So I guess they're not perfect but they don't cost a lot and they play great, and the sound that I get with the 57 and my JC120 is bomb, I recommend the artcores

Have fun

hallpass · #16 01-22-2012, 10:02 AM

The new AFJ models do look great! Nice to see a big company doing some products geared towards jazzers.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoyaleT

Are they both 15"+ or is the 81 a full size 17"? Specs are clearer for the 85 that I've seen.

I don't know, but my guess is all the Artcore AF and AK models remain the same size, which is a little smaller than traditional archtops, like 15.75" I believe. Probably helps keep the production costs down that way. The Artcore forums on the Ibanez website usually have more info going around. I don't see body size on their website for them yet, but they're listed here: http://www.ibanez.com/HollowBodyGuitars/Series-afj

I personally like these smaller body sizes cause they're more comfortable to me.

tytlfamily · #17 01-22-2012, 10:11 AM

Hi, I have a AF75, all stock, except the neck PUP changed, and .13 flat wounds....love it very much! Seems to stay in tune good, and easy to intonate.

Cheers

RoyaleT · #18 01-22-2012, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by martinopass

The new AFJ models do look great! Nice to see a big company doing some products geared towards jazzers.

I don't know, but my guess is all the Artcore AF and AK models remain the same size, which is a little smaller than traditional archtops, like 15.75" I believe. Probably helps keep the production costs down that way. The Artcore forums on the Ibanez website usually have more info going around. I don't see body size on their website for them yet, but they're listed here: Ibanez.com | Hollow Body Guitars | AFJ

I personally like these smaller body sizes cause they're more comfortable to me.

Thanks, if I didn't just get a Kingpin II, I would be very interested in one of these smaller AFJ's, Nice fit between my Dot and AF-71 Aria.

Retroman1969 · #19 01-22-2012, 11:37 AM

Not bad, must admit!

tytlfamily · #20 01-22-2012, 12:12 PM

Wow this is a nice looking guitar, that's for sure!

Double 07 · #21 01-22-2012, 12:23 PM

Oh wow very classy looking guitar there. Very nice!

accokeek88 · #22 01-24-2012, 12:46 AM

Just got a discontinued Custom AF100. Big guitar, great neck that feels like butter with flatwounds and a big sound from the neck pickup. Love this guitar. For me, it's about the sound.

tytlfamily · #23 01-24-2012, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gerraguitar

And apparently they have a reverse phase on the pickups so it makes repairs a bit tough. Have fun

I'm not sure what this means...I changed out the neck PUP, and wired it just like you would install any humbucker.....is there something different about the wiring here?

Just curious?.........

willtheguitardude · #24 01-24-2012, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Retroman1969

Not bad, must admit!

I'm looking at this model. It's freaking sweet!

Funster · #25 01-26-2012, 07:51 AM

I bought a used Ibanez Artcore AFS75T a couple years ago and it's great. I tried one of the Gretsch lower priced models but the humbucker sound on the Ibanez was smoother and I was looking for a mellow tone with definition. I made a couple upgrades including changing the ceramic pickups to GFS Alnico IIs. This model is slightly thinner than the other AF75s and the vibrato bar is just fine with no tuning problems. I think you'll find Ibanez customers rating the Artcore quality as quite high for the price.

mangotango · #26 01-26-2012, 08:29 AM

Nice looking guitar. Shame about the red 'burst. Don't like red guitars.

nado64 · #27 01-27-2012, 01:43 AM

I liked the pm35, af105 and as103. I'm not in love with the others.

abracadabra · #28 01-27-2012, 01:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nado64

I liked the pm35, af105 and as103. I'm not in love with the others.

the AF105 seems to have gone for the European site, but the AS103 and PM35 are still there.

Bflat · #29 01-27-2012, 06:13 AM

Who's gonna be the first to order that nice artcore? I'd love to try one out to see if it sounds as good as it looks. If anyone takes the plunge, please give us all a review.

Thanks.

Richard-H · #30 01-28-2012, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by willtheguitardude

Does anyone like the Ibanez Artcore/ Ibanez Artcore Custom series of full hollow guitars? Look awesome for the cost, but are they truly awesome for the cost? Share your Ibanez stories here, I need some recommendations.

I just got an AF95. I love it, but there seem to be an issue with the bridge rattling. Take at look at my post on this issue:

http://www.jazzguitar.be/forum/guita...tml#post199260