Thoughts on new Ibanez AF115 vs AF95?

[TheGentleTone]

Any thoughts on how the new Ibanez AF115 compares to the AF95?
The only difference I can spot in the descriptions is that it has maple vs Linden sides and that for the AF115 it says Super 58 custom pickups vs just Super 58 pickups for AF95 - will that make a difference?

[Jx30510]

I was interested with this as well.
I searched on the Ibanez site, and from what I found out, the AF115 has the fret edge treatment (can't remember how they call it.. Artstar, or Prestige fret edge treatment ?)

In my experience, the neck being the most important part of a guitar, it makes a significant step up. The AF115 looks like a very nice guitar !

[JazzerEU]

FWIW, my main guitar is an Ibanez AF71F. It came with good, not great fretwork. It has a lot of acoustic resonance for the price. My only gripe is the shorter scale length can be cramped for chord solos when you get past the 10th fret, but that’s more of a personal preference. The pickup is very good for my needs. I did find the guitar to be quite bright, forcing me to have to use flatwounds to tame it.

[Gitterbug]

An interesting take, although too much of a redhead to my taste. Macassar Ebony has a lot of color variation, and promotional photos always show the darkest samples. I looked at the specs and found no reference to Super 58 Custom. That may be good news actually, referring to an old Super 58 thread that started here in 2015. Super 58 is an almost generic and intentionally blurry name for Ibanez humbuckers produced from the 1970s onwards in several locations and to different specs. AlNiCo III magnets are rare, AlNiCo V on most. I've owned a few guitars with cheaper Super 58s. They are excellent, like the one on my current AFJ-91 from 2014. It has S 58 - N stamped on the cover. The guitar is made in China. The AF115 comes from Indonesia, possibly from the huge Cort complex that produces a million guitars annually, for many top brands.

[LawrenceF]

I have been looking at this as I wanted to switch to a rosewood bridge on my 2025 AF95FM, replacing the Gibraltor Performer. The 115 is an Artstar guitar versus the Artcore 95s. I thought I had a lead on the rosewood bridge used on the 115, but was notified by the Czech dealer that it was not available to the them, I having to settle for the walnut bridge on the 2026 AF95, which is a bit disappointing as it was that brightness offered by the walnut that I wanted to mellow. I did, however, secure a bone nut from the 115. I am also switching to flatwounds, so I hope to get a mellower sound out of my guitar.