Epiphone Joe Pass vs. Ibanez Artcore AS73

[ruiner54]

Although I can't speak for that particular Artcore, I loved the ones that I have played but I suggest that you be cautious with the DOT. I bought mine and had constant trouble with manufacturing quality..knobs falling off..and the input coming undone and falling inside the guitar. I tried for weeks to get it out and eventually had to make a hole in the back just to reconnect the input and soldering to make it playable again.
I also found it had a cheap and muddy tone...maybe what I experienced was an isolated incident but unfortunately that has put me in a mind frame where I may never buy another Epiphone in my life.

[Milestogo80]

Well I finally went to my local music shop to try a jazz box or full hollowbody for jazz play.I have to say the af 95 and ak are very sharp guitars.I was really interested in a joe pass emperor but the prices on the artcores are alot cheaper.I have been playing on a 04' american deluxe strat which I love,this guitar has many options and plays like butter when set up.So I don't know if it's because I have been playing this heavy solid body for 6 months or what but but the ibanez artcores feel cheap I understand its a full hollowbody but it just seems like alot of extra art and fluff went into this guitar rather than quality playing workmen ship.I just didn't have a connection ,there wasn't any love.Can anybody help with some feedback on these guitar and alittle help with what to expect from flat wounds for the first time.Thanks,Mike

[mongrel]

Originally Posted by Milestogo80

Well I finally went to my local music shop to try a jazz box or full hollowbody for jazz play.I have to say the af 95 and ak are very sharp guitars.I was really interested in a joe pass emperor but the prices on the artcores are alot cheaper.I have been playing on a 04' american deluxe strat which I love,this guitar has many options and plays like butter when set up.So I don't know if it's because I have been playing this heavy solid body for 6 months or what but but the ibanez artcores feel cheap I understand its a full hollowbody but it just seems like alot of extra art and fluff went into this guitar rather than quality playing workmen ship.I just didn't have a connection ,there wasn't any love.Can anybody help with some feedback on these guitar and alittle help with what to expect from flat wounds for the first time.Thanks,Mike

You might want to consider getting a used Joe Pass from the late '90's to the later 2000's. You should be able to find a good one substantially cheaper than a new one or the new Ibanez models. The best JP's in my opinion were made in Korea in the Samick or Peerless factories with serial numbers beginning with "S" and "R" respectively. I have a 2006 made in the Incheon factory (suburb of Seoul) and that number begins with "I" which some have mistakenly identified as "Indonesia". I would stay away from any of the Indonesian made instruments. I like the used ones because it seems like the top loosens up a bit after a couple of years of playing and they sound better acoustically and when plugged in.