Ibanez AFJ81

**Jazzman301** · 02-05-2012, 11:59 AM

So I am very interested in this guitar but can't find out if this is a 16" or 17" lower bout. Also I read that it has a CARVED spruce top. This seems not possible for the low price of $549. Any thoughts?

'Mike

**djelley** · 02-05-2012, 12:07 PM

Mine will arrive on Wednesday and I'll provide a review. As far as I know, it is 17" and it is NOT carved. It is a pressed, laminate spruce top with laminate maple back and sides.

I swore that I was done buying cheaper archtops, but I've always loved the Artcores and couldn't resist this one.

**Jazzman301** · 02-05-2012, 12:28 PM

I am in the same boat. I have a really nice Peerless Monarch that is a 17" with set humbucker that I got from Lou over at guitarsnjazz. I caught this and I had instand GAS. Would love to hear this thing as well as read a honest review.

I love the color.

'Mike

**goshawk** · 02-05-2012, 11:47 PM

Ibanez makes nice guitars, but getting any decent information about them is ridiculous. As far as I've been able to determine, the AFJ85 has a 16" lower bout and is 3-5/8" deep. Now, that's from Guitar Center's website, so take it for what it's worth, but that seems to make sense since the 85 looks like it's supposed to be an ES-175 type guitar.

To me, the AFJ81 looks like it's the same size... but there's really no way to tell, and I haven't been able to find specs anywhere.

**tytlfamily** · 02-06-2012, 12:30 AM

From the Ibanez website under the basic AF models:

The AF is the benchmark of the Artcore full-hollow bodies. 15.75 inch body is producing rich and complex tones, the AF is the guitar for the purist in all of us.

I assume that the AFJ 81 shares the same dimensions, seems to be the AF75 pretty much, minus one pickup.......I love my AF75 for what is is worth . Have it strung with .13's, and have a SD jazz pickup in the neck.

I also had my eye on it, but I guess a bit hard to justify since I already have the AF75 model.

**Double 07** · 02-06-2012, 02:07 AM

I like the color looks nice. I like the design of this model.

**monkmiles** · 02-06-2012, 11:50 AM

It will probably be a 15.75" body like the AF and AK line. Which is a comfortable size to me. It is a laminate top as all Artcores in the US are (there is an Artcore model only available in Japan that has a solid top).

**djelley** · 02-06-2012, 12:31 PM

Originally Posted by martinopass

(there is an Artcore model only available in Japan that has a solid top).

I own one of those (SJ500) and it is SWEET! I hate to admit it, but it is every bit as nice as my 175.

**mangotango** · 02-06-2012, 01:42 PM

About £450 over here, not a bad price; just wish that the AFJ81 came in the Vintage Sunburst, like the AFJ 85. Really couldn't bear that red colour. Deal breaker straight away.

**monkmiles** · 02-06-2012, 02:36 PM

Originally Posted by djelley

I own one of those (SJ500) and it is SWEET! I hate to admit it, but it is every bit as nice as my 175.

Wow, nice! How'd you get one?

I end up sticking with laminate tops to prevent any feedback issues since I play electrically primarily.

**djelley** · 02-06-2012, 03:36 PM

I set an ebay alert and waited just about a year. When one came up I bought it straight away. Best purchase I've ever made! I've never seen another.

I really need to take some of my own photos, but I do have a few from the original auction:

The really funny thing is, I've seen these discussed on other forums and they always show these photos of MY guitar. I guess they really are hard to come by!

Awesome instrument.

**tytlfamily** · 02-06-2012, 03:41 PM

Wow, that is a nice looking axe.

**monkmiles** · 02-07-2012, 11:10 AM

Nice looking guitar, djelley!

**pingu** · 02-07-2012, 02:28 PM

Originally Posted by tytlfamily

From the Ibanez website under the basic AF models:

The AF is the benchmark of the Artcore full-hollow bodies. 15.75 inch body is producing rich and complex tones, the AF is the guitar for the purist in all of us.

I assume that the AFJ 81 shares the same dimensions, seems to be the AF75 pretty much, minus one pickup.......I love my AF75 for what is is worth . Have it strung with .13's, and have a SD jazz pickup in the neck.

I also had my eye on it, but I guess a bit hard to justify since I already have the AF75 model.

These AFJ guitars are spruce lam top 3 piece neck .........

Just seen they've put out a florentine 175 a-like AKJ85
Lam Maple top 3 piece neck

Hollow Bodies - ARTCORE JAZZ | Ibanez guitars

They seem to have it covered (pun intended !)

I'm saving up for an AFJ81 , but hey I like red
My first guitar was london bus Red (40 odd years ago)

**pingu** · 02-07-2012, 02:32 PM

That SJ500 is lovely (how much tho ?)

**monkmiles** · 02-08-2012, 05:01 PM

I'm a sucker for the florentine cutaway, so I like that AKJ85. However, it's not as nice as my AK105SM.

**Bflat** · 02-09-2012, 06:16 PM

djelly, did your artcore arrive yet? looking forward to your review.

thanks

**djelley** · 02-09-2012, 06:27 PM

Originally Posted by Bflat

djelly, did your artcore arrive yet? looking forward to your review.

thanks

Got it yesterday and played it for only a couple of minutes unplugged. Seems very nice (especially for the money). I'll post a full review as soon as I get a chance.

**Jazzman301** · 02-09-2012, 06:55 PM

Thats awesome Djelley. Look forward to it. If you can post a video that would be soapy Ts and ice cream.

'Mike

**Double 07** · 02-09-2012, 09:08 PM

Wow love the finish on your SJ500. Really nice looking guitar. That model has a solid top doesn't it?

iron john · 02-24-2012, 05:31 PM

I own a new AF J-81 single pick up; short scale, great fingerboard and neck, brillant jazz sound. cheap price too!

**nosoyninja** · 05-23-2012, 05:41 PM

I just had a chance to play the AFJ81 at a guitar store here in Mexico City. I know a lot of you out there are curious about this axe and it's pretty unusual to see one on the floor.

It played and sounded quite nicely. The string spacing seemed to me to be a hair wider than on the AK95, which I own. It might have been my imagination, but I felt my fingers got in less nots doing drop2 inversions with this neck.

It has the same thick finish as the other artcores in the price range, and the same sort of "sunken" top where the neck meets the body. The pickup sounded pretty good with the tone knob about half way down, although as I mentioned I was playing in a guitar store with a cheapo Laney amp.

All in all, I'm very tempted to buy one. It looks like a great starter or student guitar for straight ahead traditional jazz, or a great backup for those times when a more precious instrument is not appropriate. A good fixer upper too.