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I'm afraid I can't make that comparison. The PO of the 103 installed some Gretsch type (genuine or clone I have no idea I'm not curious enough to take them out to confirm) pickups in it and it's as expected voiced a tad twangier and a bit lower output than the Super 58's.
Originally Posted by Meggy
How do the 153s compare to the 103 sound-wise, may I ask Gary?
I actually bought a pair of OEM pups to replace the "Gretchy" pups but I kinda like the vibe it has as it is so I did not replace them. As it is there is virtually no difference in the playability between them.
FYI, I was concerned that if the TP had an issue that since Ibanez does not have it installed on any other gits, I might have a nice looking paperweight so I sprung for a whole replacement TP just in case.
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02-28-2018 02:52 PM
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My first Ibanez walked up to my door with a guy I worked with who needed some money. I came up with the dough and got a Less-Paulish bolt-on sorta solidbody that looked good, played well, and kept its tuning stable, and didn't sound half bad. I used it as a practice guitar and as a back-up on gigs. I actually got it out one night when the atmosphere in the dive we were playing started to get out of hand and I didn't want my #1 (a PRS C24) involved. It was a decent functional axe. I eventually returned it to its original owner, thinking I'd gotten my money's worth and knowing what it meant to him. I also needed the space.
Ibanez #2 was an AF75 from MF, my first electric archtop since parting with my 70's ES-175. An AF75T from AMC pictured as Tourquoise arrived as Sea-Foam Green, which was all right with me. I replaced the Bigsby with a trapeze and gigged with it for a couple of years. It had a really great sound for bottleneck playing. Both AF75 models had nice, rich clean tones, but the T was better suited to overdrive.
Number 4 is a Bubinga AG-95, one of the earliest ones. The dealer threw in the promo poster, which was cool. It's a lovely smaller-bodied archtop reminiscent of the GB line in profile. The perfect living room guitar, it has enough acoustic output for quiet practicing, and a range of clean tones plugged in that make it a joy to play. It's a real looker, too!
Lastly, my AFJ-85 ticked the final box for me - a nice 16"-ish venetian cutaway sunburst with bound traditional f-holes. Bingo!
I have found Ibanez guitars to be unbeatable for quality, functionality, and value. Would definitely buy again, given space and budget.
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Those Bubinga models sound and play Waaayyyy beyond their price point. My little AG-86 makes me smile every time I play it. Originally Posted by citizenk74
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Bought an Abalone covered Ibanez Acoustic (big like a 758) back in '74 when I was going to school.
I was riding the Folk-Rock phase, and this was THE guitar for playing my Neil Young and CSN stuff
Had HUGE tone, and played beautifully... Of course (being Phoenix) the guitar was quickly burgled whilst
I slept after my graveyard shift at Sambos... Bummer...
Jonesing for my Ibanez, saved up all of my dough for the next few months, then went to a guitar store at 16th and Camelback and replaced it with a smaller, bling-less Dreadnought..
And I still have that guitar to this day!
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Dang yt won’t let me play this in the US... Originally Posted by Dutchbopper
I have an 83 blonde FG 100, just like this one. As a matter of fact, one of the hottest - if not THE hottest - jazz guitar live clip on Youtube is played on one just like mine
The only non Gibson archtop I have. Nice guitar.
DB
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2630 right? I have one that looks just like it...a ‘79 my dad bought new in ‘80. Absolutely fantastic guitar in every way Originally Posted by fep
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I absolutely love my 2630. Fantastic guitars. When I got mine someone had already played around with it and put Duncan ‘59s in it as well as modded the guitar so the tri switch (or whatever it’s called) is an out of phase switch and put independent coil tap switches on for each pickup. The hardware looks pretty beat up, most likely from the pickguard gassing out (which is not on the guitar anymore) but I love the looks, feel and sound of that guitar. A real classic. Originally Posted by tonesofpgh
2630 right? I have one that looks just like it...a ‘79 my dad bought new in ‘80. Absolutely fantastic guitar in every way
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I have an AF125 Hollow body that I like a lot. Nice example of a $1,000 hollow body archtop. Plays well, sounds good (not great) the appointments are "Uptown" and the "Amber Burst" is beautiful.
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My own modded 1980 JP20 and 2010 AS103, for no particular reason other than to show them off (again...
).
The pickups are changed on both - the JP20 has a John Anthony Guitars floating CC plus a Ben Fletcher low-wind humbucker, and the AS103 has a set made for it by Oil City Pickups.
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Wow, that JP20 is crazy! Originally Posted by Meggy
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...Like this rather odd looking Barker version, maybe? Originally Posted by TruthHertz
Custom Barker/Ibanez 7-string GB-10 1978 Sunburst | Reverb
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My biggest score and thrill was in May of 2017, winning George Benson's RED one off GB5 and then meeting him in his dressing room the next night after his show... A real gentleman indeed...
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Gotta ask Mike, which one of you is drinking the Bud Lite? Originally Posted by BigMikeinNJ
My biggest score and thrill was in May of 2017, winning George Benson's RED one off GB5 and then meeting him in his dressing room the next night after his show... A real gentleman indeed...
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Originally Posted by ESCC
Neither, there was some theater handler in the dressing room when we were brought up. It was his, Mr. Benson likes a white wine after a gig. I hate beer... Sorry boys, I'm more of a port, or cabernet or bourbon type.
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As a pretty ignorant beginner, I started to look around for something "jazzy" on local ads in my hometown. I stumbled over a used Ibanez AM93, a China made semi-hollow. The brand being familiar (GB, Sco, PM, ....), I thought I couldn't go wrong. Unable to judge by myself, the seller played some chords, and voilà. It was in good condition, with new strings. It is now one of my workhorses, while learning the basics.
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Originally Posted by 2bornot2bop
Thanks for answering the question. Oddly enough I wondered the same thing and thought, well the wine glass had to be GB's.
GB looks to be very slim now.
After the show I was told to wait around, and once Security came to kick us out show them the passes - we did that. The actual show started at 8pm, Kenny G ran a long time. He wasn't off the stage until 9:40 - so by the time they got GB's stuff setup it was pushing 10pm when he came on. He did about 75 minutes I am guessing. So waiting for the audience to leave and then waiting near a side exit we were brought down 2 1/2 flights of stairs, with my bad eyes stairs are scary... So we're in this large assembly area, clearly one story or more under the stage with the other 9 people waiting to meet GB. There's boxes of prepared meals (from Chik Fil A next door) and they're hot, you could smell them. Many were marked Vegetarian. Looking at videos from 7 or 8 years ago the entire band had gotten a little chunky. Seeing them this time they'd all cleaned up their act a lot. GB always looked good. His stage getup is dark slacks, a black t shirt and then a dark suit jacket. So when we finally saw him it was almost midnight and he, like us, was tired. But he was the consummate gentleman to me and my neighbor... He was pleased I'd won RED and actually cared I didn't overpay for it winning it. He still had those other 7 or 8 people to talk to.
We were escorted down a half flight of stairs to a side exit with Security. There in the alleyway that exit opened onto were two busses. My assumption is the two groups were using those to head for their next gig. They lead a sort of 2nd shift schedule if you think about it. Performing from 8pm to around 11:30... That's a tough life for a guy that must be about 76 now.
Big
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Thanks for sharing those details, Big. You are the man!
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Originally Posted by rolijen
I don't know about being "the man" but I sure was in the right place at the right time. And it was for me a priceless experience I'll remember always. I think if you really want to see GB see him now, don't put it off thinking next year or the next after that. He'll likely tour until he drops, he spent all his life on the road performing, it's in his DNA. He may PLAN to retire but they keep offering him dates to appear and he tries to do them. It's not about money, between his royalties and his endorsement deals he's very comfortable, HE WANTS TO PERFORM. His show was flat amazing. I was in the front row, just to the left of center stage and I really nit pick performances. Well shucks he really kicks ass, his band is tight, he's still got his trademark voice and he can really play. But everything is finite, so go see him. It's worth the trouble.
Big
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Apologies - I only just saw your reply, and thank you. Anyhow, not to worry - I changed the pickups in my own 103 (although I have the originals carefully stored) but as I find it to be a bright-sounding guitar (not a bad thing of course) I went for pickups aimed more at the fat/warm end of the sound spectrum, rather than Gretchy. But in practice, I wouldn't be at all surprised if the Gretsch style pups sound great. Originally Posted by GNAPPI
I guess I was perhaps looking for a reason to get myself a jet blue burst 153 - if you could have just said something along the lines of "they both sound equally fabulous in their own ways, but the 153JBB does have it's own distinctive and wonderful character..."
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attention to detail!
Last edited by emckenrick; 03-22-2018 at 07:55 PM. Reason: add pic
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Lawsuit Ibanez is top drawer, new stuff also good and reasonable.
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Cool to see spalted maple used on an archtop. I have only seen it on solodbodies (my six string bass has a spalted maple too). I think it looks really cool and like how each instrument looks very individualized due to the wood varying so much from piece to piece. Originally Posted by emckenrick
attention to detail!
Also regarding the lawsuits, if the guitars were treated well they are definitely top notch. I forgot to mention in my post earlier in the thread that I have a ‘77 D’Agostino lawsuit ES-175. It is extremely hard to find accurate info on these guitars but he guy who sold it knew all of the history - apparently their archtops, of which there aren’t many, were built alongside Ibanez guitars and are essentially off branded Ibanez lawsuit guitars. It is a fine instrument and sounds like a 175 (I’ve recorded it next to my PM-100 and real 175 and they all sound almost the same). Good player too and it doesn’t look anywhere near 41 years old, having been well taken care of and also a plus of poly finishes. Between that, my ‘77 Artist 2630 and the various other mid to late 70s Ibanez semis/archtops I have played I can easily recommend them as long as they were taken care of.
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Several years ago I bought an AFJ91 (the first year they were available).
With a little bit of set-up and a rewired p/u, this is one fine, full-bodied guitar.
It doesn't compare completely favorably to my JP20 (Joe Pass model) but it's close enough.
Through any of my clean amps it gives out a fine voice. I expect this guitar will get better with age.
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There are so many good ones - it is hard to choose one best. In terms of semis the 2630 is very hard to beat. I know that the smaller model that came after the 2630 is some people’s favorites and that is certainly a great guitar but I prefer a full size semi comparable to the 335. My 2630 is better than any 335 (or comparable to the very good ones) I have played except for the much older ones that are really some of the best vintage guitars around.
For hollow bodies that is tough because there are many to choose from. The GB10 gets an honorable mention for sure but I prefer the PM100 to any hollow body except my L5. The neck is amazing, it sounds very good unplugged for practice (for a laminate in particular) which isn’t super important but nice, the high fret access is really wonderful with the extra cutaway but more importantly the high feet neck joint and the sound is exactly what I want from a laminate.
I have bought more Ibanez than any other archtop, having had 9 over the years, 5 being he most I had at the same time and currently have 3. I also recommend Ibanez to more people than any other brand. It is almost a disservice to choose a “best” because of how many good ones they are and because they are quite different than one another. Old thread but I thought I’d chime in.
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I am not at all surprised that so many Ibanez 2630 owners express their love for them.
As a high quality semi-hollow guitar it does so much so well.
I've been fortunate to have owned two of them over the years, and still have the first one... My first love, so to speak.
My all time favorite full hollow Ibanez is the GB200. It is just a magnificent instrument in so many ways.
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