Ibanez ASH300

[Jx30510]

There might be a sound post. Be sure to take a look inside and tell us !
For instance, I thought the D'Angelico Excel SS Soho thinline was fully hollow, and watching Mark Whitfield's video, I catched that little phrase " it has a post"..
You never know before having the instrument in your hands. A lot of people don't really pay attention to such details..

[DustinG]

looking forward to reading abt your impressions trailmixer.

as for construction... really?? it's semihollow... AS series, specs have been posted several times, what is the confusion?!

I think the H in ASH stands for Hollowbody.

Maybe not technically the AS Series, but the Prestige AM2000 is fully hollow; as are a couple other models, like the AMH100FM. The light weight listed for the ASH300 implies it could be fully hollow (and Sweetwater's website says hollowbody - not semihollow), as Ibanez AS semi-hollow models usually tend to be on the heavy side.


I've also been considering the ASH300 model (along with the AM153FM). Interested in hearing trailmix's thoughts on it. At the listed price in the U.S. (probably due to nonsense tariffs) you can find something like a used MIJ JSM100 or AS200 for a similar price.

[Woody Sound]

For instance, I thought the D'Angelico Excel SS Soho thinline was fully hollow, and watching Mark Whitfield's video, I catched that little phrase " it has a post".

That was on the initial run. The later and current issues are fully hollow. I had an early one, and now own the fully hollow version. Great guitar now, similar sound to an ES-330.

[Jx30510]

Great info on the Soho, thanks.
This guitar really appeals to me.

[MikeTT]

here's another look, guy says "99% hollow", Is This the Sharpest Hollow‑Body Finish at NAMM? - YouTube

[trailmixer]

Sorry for the crummy photo, but there is a center block under the bridge, as previous posters suggested.

There are also parallel braces running lengthwise on the top.

So whether you want to call this a semi-hollow or hollow is a matter of semantics, I suppose.

[MikeTT]

Thanks! Is the block or the braces in any way connected to the back? Going full semi-nerd-mod, lol

[lammie200]

Sorry for the crummy photo, but there is a center block under the bridge, as previous posters suggested.

There are also parallel braces running lengthwise on the top.

So whether you want to call this a semi-hollow or hollow is a matter of semantics, I suppose.

Pretty common. I think every single Peerless model has a sound post.

[Woody Sound]

Sorry for the crummy photo, but there is a center block under the bridge, as previous posters suggested.

So whether you want to call this a semi-hollow or hollow is a matter of semantics, I suppose.

Actually, it's a perfect photo for its purpose. FWIW, *I* would call it a semi, *JMO*.

[Mick-7]

Here's another look, guy says "99% hollow", Is This the Sharpest Hollow?Body Finish at NAMM? - YouTube

When is a sound post a center block? Does it sound like a hollow body guitar?

They are calling it a hollow body: HOLLOW BODIES | PRODUCTS | Ibanez guitars

[Woody Sound]

here's another look, guy says "99% hollow", Is This the Sharpest Hollow?Body Finish at NAMM? - YouTube

"Got a little switch here that will change the sound range(?)". Man, that's detailed info.

[Gitterbug]

With that block under the bridge, solid spruce top may not make much tonal difference vs. lightweight laminate. But it's prone to dings from loose plugs etc., and not without the risk of cracking.

[Jx30510]

Does a solid pressed top sound really different than a
pressed laminate anyway ? This more a question than a affirmation. But I can't keep myself from being dubitative.

[Archie]

Does a solid pressed top sound really different than a
pressed laminate anyway ? This more a question than a affirmation. But I can't keep myself from being dubitative.

Both are under tension but the solid spruce will be able to vibrate more freely making it louder and likely more treble focused.

In regards to the wider topic, it’s generally not the manufacturers intentions to make thinline hollow guitars, they warp very easily; the short sides offer little resistance to the forces applied by the strings. This is a very common problem for old thinline hollowbody Gibsons and Guilds, which suffer badly from the neck block pushing its way down. The body will then start folding at the waist and cutaway, which is the weakest areas.
To make a small bodied, solid topped, thinline model with two cutaways, would potentially be a serious design flaw, hence the block of wood.

[Woody Sound]

Does a solid pressed top sound really different than a
pressed laminate anyway ? This more a question than a affirmation. But I can't keep myself from being dubitative.

I've only owned two solid pressed tops in my life. In my experience, they sound sorta in-between a solid carve and a lam. Definitely more "solid-carved-like" than a lam.

[Woody Sound]

We've gone through this before. A soundpost is not glued/attached. Rather, it's a small contact dowel placed skillfully into a particular position, and adjusted back and forth, to *enhance* the acoustic tone of a particular instrument in a particular way. A glued block connecting the top to the back will certainly diminish the acoustic properties of an instrument.

[MikeTT]

here's another clip, with a bit of blues noodling at the end. (don't know if you can see it without logging in to instagram)
Man, I really don't need another guitar, but...
Instagram

[Woody Sound]

Great info on the Soho, thanks.
This guitar really appeals to me.

Here are two pics. The1st one is my first Soho, with the "post" (block). The 2nd pic is my newer one that's fully hollow & parallel braced. Big difference in tone and volume.

[jazzloverfat]

sooo then is this a semi-semi-hollow? a quarter-hollow?

[Jx30510]

Here are two pics. The1st one is my first Soho, with the "post" (block). The 2nd pic is my newer one that's fully hollow & parallel braced. Big difference in tone and volume.

Thanks for this. So this tends to confirm the fact that a sounds has an impact, since you could compare to exact same models with that difference. That's quite rare.
I wonder what lent them to change the design ?
So, the sound is better with paralell bracing I suppose ?

[Jx30510]

When watching with more attention, I notice the bridge angle is much higher on second version

[Woody Sound]

When watching with more attention, I notice the bridge angle is much higher on second version

I think that's just a coincidence. When I first got each one I was experimenting with setups.

[DustinG]

I've ordered one from Sweetwater and will report back.

Did you get it yet? Thoughts on it?

[trailmixer]

Did you get it yet? Thoughts on it?

Yes, I got it last Thursday. I spent a few days with it and decided to return it yesterday. tl;dr I didn't like the tone. It sounded thin and plinky. My wife agreed it was a beautiful guitar but didn't see herself playing it because the tobacco finish was too masculine. More detailed impressions below.



The guitar is beautiful. There was some real attention put towards its design and it stands out in a sea of ES thinline models. I especially liked the smaller dot inlays, the tortoise binding, the parallel fretboard edge stripes. Build was as you would expect from modern Ibanez, very good but with the feeling of 'stiffness' that I have gotten from other newer Ibanez's. The only blemish was a lack of polish on the brass part of the nut, it was quite visibly scuffed from filing. It looks worse in person than the photo below.



It has a chunkier neck than normal Ibanez 'Artcore/Artstar' which I associate as being slender. This one is more like a 60s Gibson medium C. It reminded me of my 1963 ES330 neck.

It doesn't sound like a laminate instrument. Someone earlier eluded to how a pressed spruce top especially with a bridge block and parallel braces has a unique sound. It doesn't sound like an ES330 or ES335. I always wanted an ES330 with humbuckers a la Emily Remler. Unfortunately I mostly just found this guitar to sound thin and without low-end. It has a lot of sustain. It does have a more responsive top than other Ibanez guitars I've played or owned. But there was zero 'thunk', so it was unsatisfying to play straight-ahead jazz or Bossa on it. Even less than Telecaster levels of 'thunk'. The factory strings were thin D'Addarios which I hate but I had a feeling that even heavier flats or rounds wouldn't have alleviated the issue.

Maybe I was wrong to expect that, but it just wasn't what I was looking for. I think it's a more modern sound profile they are going for here, rather than the 'sound of tradition'. I was principally comparing this guitar to a 2006 Ibanez AF105F I got for $500. I preferred the sound of the AF105F big time. Not the same design at all, but there you go.

I should've probably gone for a D'Angelico for the kind of sound I described. I would say the value prop is questionable at 1799 USD. I didn't realize it was so much less in Europe when ordering. 1300 EUR is more reasonable. I just impulse purchased it because of the looks.

[DustinG]

Yes, I got it last Thursday. I spent a few days with it and decided to return it yesterday. tl;dr I didn't like the tone. It sounded thin and plinky.

Thanks for the writeup! I wonder how much of thin/plinky tone is attributed to it being a nearly fully hollowbody guitar. I have a nearly fully hollow Eastman thinline guitar, and that definitely has a different tone than something like a 335.

I've also been considering the new tobacco burst version of the Ibanez AM153 (the AM153FM). I had an AM153 in the past (which has a full center block) that I somewhat regretfully sold, and the one I had definitely didn't have a thin sound.

The Super 58 pickups do have kinda their own sound though, and I think the ebony fretboard on Ibanez AS/AM models contribute to a bit of a brighter tone than you get with something like an ES-335 (which has a rosewood board).