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Has anyone tried the Ibanez AFJ85 or 81?
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01-07-2013 07:21 PM
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No, but there's one down the road from work in a store. May pop down and try it for kicks.
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I tried one of em...very attractive. Skinny little neck profile...played very "tight."
Overall, quite bright toned and difficult to play. Not for me.
Looks like Ibanez actually ships these with flatwounds on it.
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I think they're some of the better built production guitars on the market, and for the money, the AF's are a lot of guitar. I worked for Ibanez, saw every guitar that came into this country and on these, it was always a joy to see the high production values from that particular factory (different models come from different factories/countries so their line could be wildly divergent.) I also liked the balance on the acoustic sound of the guitar. For the stock pickups, I would always change them out, to suit my taste or the person I was giving the guitar to (being an employee means lots of friends got gifts from me.)
On those particular guitars, with serious pickups, you can get an instrument that can hold its own against a much more expensive pro guitar. In all fairness, lots of production guitars are really amazingly good these days. And truth be told, many of them, regardless of the headstock name, are made side by side in the same factory. Pickups, however, are often proprietary, and the weakness in the guitar.
Ibanez also had a fast customer support dept, as far as I saw. Problem? They just pull another off the wall of guitars, set it up and it replaces the lemon.
David
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Found one in a nearby store and sat with it for about 30 minutes into an early 80's JC120.
Acoustically, it was as Mr. B described. It was very tight sounding. I don't mean that in a bad way. I thought it sounded very pleasant but a very tight bottom end.
I liked the neck... but that is probaby due to me spending most of my playing life on an Ibanez.
Plugged in it wasn't bad. Not great, but not bad. What do you expect for a guitar retailing for $450?
Very attractive looking.
Does have flatwounds on them stock.
I'd take one and not have any issues.
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I recently purchased an Ebanez AM-93 at Guitar Centre in an unopened box direct from the factory. I thought that it was a gamble to buy without examining first. It cost $450 (100 buck discount sale) and when I received the guitar, I was amazed at the quality and beauty. New strings and a bridge adjustment and I am in love with this axe! I guess this Artcore line is made in China and labor is cheap. But, Ebanez some how must maintain strict quality control to make these for this price.
Jazz Classic
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From my limited experience (own 1 have had another in the 70's) I think Ibanez necks are as good as anything Gibson makes, but for some reason I can't totally "warm up" to them. I have a beautiful natural AF100 that plays like a dream, I like it OK, but I don't play it very often.
Originally Posted by barrymclark
I liked the neck... but that is probaby due to me spending most of my playing life on an Ibanez. Plugged in it wasn't bad. Not great, but not bad. What do you expect for a guitar retailing for $450?
I have been collecting "unusual" pups over the last 5 years or so, I may have a hand at finding one that takes a so-so guitar out of the doldrums.
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From my limited experience (own 1 have had another in the 70's) I think Ibanez necks are as good as anything Gibson makes, but for some reason I can't totally "warm up" to them. I have a beautiful natural finish AF100 that plays like a dream, I like it OK, but I don't play it very often. Originally Posted by barrymclark
I liked the neck... but that is probaby due to me spending most of my playing life on an Ibanez. Plugged in it wasn't bad. Not great, but not bad. What do you expect for a guitar retailing for $450?
I have been collecting "unusual" HB pups over the last 5 years or so, I may have a hand at finding one that takes a so-so guitar out of the doldrums.
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I tried an AFJ85. Nice body and neck size, very nice frets and finish, although the action was set way too low. The pickups were a little trebly for my taste also. Really not bad, definitely better with a good setup.
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Whereas I like the action... but agree with the pickups. Ceramic I believe.
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Picked one up almost new for great price. Agree with the trebly pickups. I almost have the money for some Pete Biltoffs. For me the Ibanez necks are a great fit for my hands. Setup is everything. Thanks for the imput.
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Great! I will own another Ibanez one day. Glad to say I never let loose of a hollowbody one. All of mine were solid bodies. Originally Posted by Jazzchief1
I gotta say when I played one, I looked at the price at thought, "For this price, a case and redo on the electronics (for my tastes) and this would be a very, very good guitar at a very, very good price."
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Jazzchief1, Originally Posted by Jazzchief1
Lovely instrument . tried it and almost bought one though as Mr Beaumont says , a tad "tight", verging on "tinny" . Through the Forim, I found Peerless.. Mine's a Monarch. In my opinion, it's in a a differnent league from the Ibanez AFJ85.
It's in the same general ball park financially, .Here in the UK about £300 apart ifyou shop around but worth every penny.
Good luck
RobJazz
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Rob...an AFJ81 or 85 are sold over here for 400/500€ a Monarch costs about 1200€....that explains a lot i think... Originally Posted by RobJazz
Mind, I own a Monarch with extreme satisfaction...I don't know if Jazzchief1 is after an H-H guitar,
because otherwise the PM35 it's a very good piece of axe,for the price,for example remaining in Ibanez ballpark.
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Err, just to clarify... A new Monarch in the UK is €1200. @RobJazz - if you can get them for £300 I will buy 100 off you tomorrow. Originally Posted by peterpanico
Rob...an AFJ81 or 85 are sold over here for 400/500€ a Monarch costs about 1200€....that explains a lot i think...
Mind, I own a Monarch with extreme satisfaction...I don't know if Jazzchief1 is after an H-H guitar,
because otherwise the PM35 it's a very good piece of axe,for the price,for example remaining in Ibanez ballpark.
I have owned Peerless and Ibanez, There really is no comparison wrt quality. Peerless win in every single respect. I repeat, there is no contest. The PM35 is essentially a one pick up AF105. The 105 is a great guitar for the money, as I'm sure the AFJ81 is. But don't compare it to Peerless. They really aren't in the same ball park.
Oh, and I have owned Peerless Manhattan (which I sold) and currently own Peerless Martin Taylor Virtuoso. I also own an Ibanaz AM103 BM (I will keep this forever - hard to get hold of now).
The Ibanez 105 sounds nice amplified, but then so do many guitars. I sold this one to finance the Virtuoso. The 105 sounds crap acoustically, and I don't see why the PM35 should sound any better.
The Peerless Manhattan sounds wonderful acoustically, as does my Virtuoso, and I suspect the Monarch sounds similar as in the UK it's only available as a floating pick up 17 inch version.
Cheers
Phil
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Hey mate,did you read what you wrote? Because "IF" I buy a guitar with pickups,I MEAN to play it through an amplifier,otherwise I will get a full acoustic,because there is no match between the "real acoustic" sound and an archtop played as an acoustic! Now back to business,the 105 is one thing,the PM 35 it's another,said that,the PM 35 costs less than 700€ while again,the Monarch goes for 1200€,it's not difficoult to comprehend,it HAS to be better,so what's your point here? Originally Posted by Philly112
Also they are very different guitars,in fact I asked if the guy who made the request wants a double pickup,a plywood one, or whatever....if someone is looking for a "budget" guitar it's pefectly useless to talk about "expansive" stuff...
By the way,I will neve swap my PM35 for all your Virtuosos....
P.S.
did you find anywhere,in the first post,a mention to the "acoustic" sound of the guitar he is looking for?
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I agree. I love the new AFJ 85. The build quality is amazing. I picked it up used at Guitar center for $299 and it was brand new in the original packing. I am replacing the pups and adding upgraded capacitors and pots but I think it will be well worth it. It won't be in the same league as a Peerless guitar, but a nice Cremona, a Taylor nylon and a G & L Bluesboy are still on the list. After that I'll have to buy a new house because there is no more room. P.S. I like a buttery sound with a little chili added in.
Last edited by Jazzchief1; 01-21-2013 at 04:08 PM.
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"have owned Peerless and Ibanez, There really is no comparison wrt quality. Peerless win in every single respect. I repeat, there is no contest."
That's a pretty broad brush stroke you're using there. Peerless necks that I have seen are joined like very cheap Gibson copies in several sections at the heel and head, whereas Ibanez necks are patterned after the top end Gibsons laminated of fine woods. Here's a pic of comparably priced guitars, the maple on my AF100, the red on a Peerless wizard. Who wouldn't be horrified to see the Wizard neck on an L5?
Last edited by GNAPPI; 01-21-2013 at 05:01 PM.
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BTW, there's lots of chat on Ibanez at:
Ibanez Forum
Lots of people agree on the pup and other doodads that can use upgrading, but the issues are ALL bolt on, quality and design is no issue.
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have and have had students who had the AG / AF 85s....
good guitar for the money...I liked playing them...
Of course mine is a 1977 2355 (ES-175)....bought from a rocker in 1978...he did not like it...
but time on the instrument...
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