last leg of my journey

abracadabra · #1 06-09-2009, 03:07 PM

Okay I'm on the last leg of my guitar search, but want to try to eek out the last bit of info I can.

I'm looking at the following guitars, and I've noted what good and bad points I know about them. If you have any other points to note, please let me know!

Ibanez AF105 - Great finish, plays and looks like it costs a lot more. Not a great acoustic tone. Sounds great plugged-in. Pretty reliable in terms of quality control.

Ibanez AF125 - Same as above but with even fancier wood (quilted effect). But looks a bit too fancy for my taste, especially the NT version (too many colours)

Hagstrom HL550 - Great to play, good acoustic tone, sounds great through an amp, looks really nice, but I would have to order this one online and I've read several reviews that caution new buyers against the quality control out of the factory. The one I played was really nice though, but it's in another country..!

Epiphone Emporer Regent - Excellent acoustically, but not the greatest plugged-in, unless you change the pickup, and the general quality, esp. electronics, is lower than the others I've listed. Cheaper at first sight, but with changing the electronics, maybe the bridge, and the volume/tone covers, plus the case is not included, would cost quite a bit more.

Ibanez PM35 - Bit of a risk as I have not been able to find one to play. But I believe it has the same body/neck/neck-pup as the AF105, but with only one pickup and no pick-gaurd/rest. Since I don't need the bridge pup or the rest, seems like a good buy, also looks better. But why is it more expensive than the 105NT??

I've played a bunch of others and rejected them for one reason or another. I've looked at every guitar shop in my area and there are no other guitars I would consider, and I won't consider any that I can't play first (PM35 excepted)

So if you own/have-owned any of these, or decided not to buy one of them for some reason, please let me if you have any other points to note.

Many thanks!

kingweck · #2 06-09-2009, 04:34 PM

I just bought a AF105NT not long ago after doing some research. It is hard to find a competitor in terms of quality and sound at its price ($500 used).

One minor thing is that the pickguard would buzz at certain notes. I tried to tighten the screws but didn't help much. Then I added some slips in the small gap between pickguard and pick mount. The buzz is gone. I believe it came from untighten screws somewhere and is very easy to fix if you want. Of course if you buy PM35, you don't need to worry about this

Good luck!

Stringbean · #3 06-10-2009, 12:33 PM

I'd say get the cheapest one of the list, to hold you over until you find "the one". ¥ou'll know it when you pick it up. Start saving so you'll be ready to pull the trigger with cash on hand.

derek · #4 06-10-2009, 01:58 PM

They all sound like serviceable instruments that are a pretty good value. I don't think there is anything wrong with any of them. Having said that, I agree with the notion of not buying online, unless they have a pretty liberal return policy, like Musician's Friend. Most, if not all of those are made in China, and you never know what you will get unless you play it first. Happy hunting.

abracadabra · #5 06-10-2009, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stringbean

I'd say get the cheapest one of the list, to hold you over until you find "the one".

As far as my wife is concerned this is 'the one'!

RAQ · #6 06-11-2009, 02:42 AM

Some of the Ibanez range look a bit too 'clunky' for me, but that's just my view - there's no doubt htey are well made and good value. Don't know much about the Hagstrom at all. Not the first name you'd think of, but I've seen some good comments on them. I can only really offer opinions on the PM35 and the Epi Emperor, but either of these are good choices. The PM35 is no risk at all, IMO, as an instrument; but what matters is how it matches up to the kind of guitar you're looking for. In my rambling sort of way I think I'm saying the PM35 and Epi are different ... PM35: 16inch, slim line, single pick-up (still with a good acoustic sound) against the Epi: 17inch, deep jazz box, floating pick-up. Each are equally good (agreed you may have to mod the Epi, but this can be fun and educational). We are lucky to have the choice of a number of good guitars, what matters is that you pick the one that does what you want it to do. Break it to your wife gently that this sometimes means owning more than one. The only thing I disagree with is your ref. to the 'last leg of your journey' ... a new guitar is the first step of a newe journey. Good luck.

abracadabra · #7 06-11-2009, 07:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RAQ

Break it to your wife gently that this sometimes means owning more than one. The only thing I disagree with is your ref. to the 'last leg of your journey' ... a new guitar is the first step of a newe journey. Good luck.

You're right of course, but the next journey will require alot more 'forward planning' if you get my meaning.

Thanks for the comments on the Epi/PM35. I had nearly decided on an AF105VB, which looks great, but I will stew on this for a bit longer. (I'm still waiting for the tax refund anyway.)

RAQ · #8 06-11-2009, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abracadabra

You're right of course, but the next journey will require alot more 'forward planning' if you get my meaning.

Thanks for the comments on the Epi/PM35. I had nearly decided on an AF105VB, which looks great, but I will stew on this for a bit longer. (I'm still waiting for the tax refund anyway.)

I should think any of the Ibanez, depending on your preference, should be fine. The Epi is fine too, but is a different kind of beast. I wish you luck with any future 'journeys' you may decide to make.

abracadabra · #9 07-16-2009, 07:29 AM

Finally got my guitar. It's an Ibanez AF105VB. I love it already. Got in in a shop too, which I thought wouldn't be possible, or would be too expensive. In the end they were able to order it from a local distributor and it arrived in three days. The best part, only €25 more than the best online price I found!

It's this one:

Ibanez guitars | Electric Guitars 2009 - GRX0000

Now, down to work!

derek · #10 07-16-2009, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abracadabra

Finally got my guitar. It's an Ibanez AF105VB. I love it already. Got in in a shop too, which I thought wouldn't be possible, or would be too expensive. In the end they were able to order it from a local distributor and it arrived in three days. The best part, only €25 more than the best online price I found!

It's this one:

Ibanez guitars | Electric Guitars 2009 - GRX0000

Now, down to work!

Congrats!

dh82c · #11 07-16-2009, 08:06 PM

Glad to hear it. I wasnt so lucky. No body had anything interesting in stock in a 17 in. Had to go to ebay (chose an Epi Regent in Sunburst from the peerless factory). Cheaper than new but comes out the same with the upgrades (but by that point it is better than the new ones).
Let us know how it sounds

abracadabra · #12 07-17-2009, 04:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dh82c

Let us know how it sounds

Sounds great! I'm actually really surprised with the acoustic volume. I guess there is a big difference between playing it at home and playing it in a noisy shop with the bridge foam protector in place.

Still experimenting with the amp, but getting a good clean tone which I really like. Much better than playing my strat through my old amp. I still have the stock strings on it for the time.

Action came really low, maybe slightly too low, although it occurred to me that the action might be set in the factory when the little foam strip is in place under the bridge, so taking it out, as you must, might lower it slightly.

Rest of the guitar is very well finished. I like the vintage brown colour, as I wasn't crazy about the NT finish, and especially not the NT finish on the AF125.

The only thing I think might be improved is the plastic pickup 'risers' (don't know if that's the technical name), but they look a bit out of place. However, there are a lot of contours going on where the pickups meet the top, so don't think making replacements will be practical.

Anyway, highly recommended. I had tried the Hagstrom HL550, and I think the AF105 is much better. Not an exact comparison as the HL550 has a floating bridge pickup, but I'd much rather have the Ibanez. Didn't get to try the HJ800, which would be a fairer comparison.

callumbtaylor · #13 03-24-2010, 12:45 PM

The irony is that my jazz guitar is actually the AF125NT - the one you appear to hate

I just had to stick up for my guitar when i read this sorry, however i think both guitars are equally beautiful in their own way. As in everything it comes down to personal choice i guess.

On the topic of beautiful guitars, i know it isn't a typical 'jazz' guitar (but hey what is these days? - ted greene and mike stern are/were both on tele's) but what do you think of this beauty? :

YouTube - Suhr Classic T Rocket Ltd Edition

woyvel · #14 03-24-2010, 01:32 PM

Hey ab, if you haven't yet, put flatwounds on it. Artcores ship with roundwound .09's. I changed mine to .12 flats and it sounds much better acoustic, and mine is the slim AFS75, so the deeper body should sound even better.

Squint · #15 03-24-2010, 07:57 PM

Great axe Ab! Schweet!
Is that fretboard rosewood or ebony?