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It really is! I just can't help fricking around moding my guitars though. I always loved the look of the D'angelo truss rod covers and tried to make my own version.
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07-11-2019 07:32 PM
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I saw your vid unplugged and sounded pretty good.
I don't suppose when you initially had the pickups out that you put strings on and played a bit as an "acoustic only"?
Curious what would sound like with pickup "sound holes" in addition to F-holes.
Half the price of a Godin 5th Ave acoustic only (if you can find one).
I just want to play casually in front of the TV, unplugged like Jimmy Bruno.
I can't play like Jimmy but otherwise pretty similar - except I need to start smoking
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Hi Buzz, no, sorry I didn’t play it without the pickups! I suppose without the pickups dampening the top, it would gain a little volume but if that’s substantial enough to really notice, I don’t know.
Originally Posted by Buzz Lowe
I saw your vid unplugged and sounded pretty good.
I don't suppose when you initially had the pickups out that you put strings on and played a bit as an "acoustic only"?
Curious what would sound like with pickup "sound holes" in addition to F-holes.
Half the price of a Godin 5th Ave acoustic only (if you can find one).
I just want to play casually in front of the TV, unplugged like Jimmy Bruno.
I can't play like Jimmy but otherwise pretty similar - except I need to start smoking
For me it’s the ideal couch guitar because of it being a little thinner than most archtop, but still with nice enough sound and good enough volume to watch the news and hear the guitar ;-)
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Picking one of these up tomorrow for $250 from a local guy and I can’t wait to get some polishing compound from the garage and copy LJ’s work. Already have a rosewood bridge in the drawer to swap out the stock one. I’m toying with finding a good Humbucker-sized P90 to drop in it or maybe get another Stewmac Parson Street PAF...loved the one I had in my budget 175 project. Based on what I’ve read, this should be a really good platform to tinker with and has a good foundation for not a lot of coin.
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Good luck! Keep us posted with the results! Originally Posted by Esport
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Still like mine a lot, btw!
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Nice, LJ. Diggin it. I’m glad you’re still enamored with her! I hope the guy selling his comes through today or tomorrow. Got a text late last night from him that said he couldn’t meet this afternoon so we’ll see if tomorrow works out. I already missed out on a screaming deal on a Broadway with Gibson pickups so two let-downs in a row would kinda sting a little.
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Isn't that where the Gibson L4ces puts it? Originally Posted by Robertkoa
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Yes. Virtual 22nd fret, to be exact. Originally Posted by lawson-stone
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Looks like this thread is still going after nearly 3 years
Jay, I just got an AF55. To be honest, you sold it to me, so thank you.
I really like what you've done to modify yours and expect I will follow your example.
A couple of quick questions:
When you installed the wooden bridge, did you have to cut notches for the strings like a conventional metal bridge or nut would have?
Also, I (try to) play blues rather than jazz - lots of string bending. Do you think that type of wooden bridge can handle that?
And, did you replace the pots, wiring, switch etc? I'm guessing these are all very basic on this budget guitar. Do you think that would make a big difference?
Thanks, and great playing.
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Hey JC2D,
Welcome to the forum!
I did not - and never do - notch the bridge, but I do press the strings into the bridge a little bit the first time. That’s enough in my case with .012 flatwounds. I do bend and I never have the strings (or bridge for that matter) shift and leaving their position. I don’t know if much lighter strings behave differently, no experience with that.
I did change pots and wiring, but to be honest there was no real need for that. I only did it so I could take the whole harness out at once intact, with the origInal pickups, just in case I would have needed to put it back for whatever reason.
Good luck with your new purchase and keep us informed about the results!
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Thanks for your reply Jay. That’s good to know about the bridge.
Your Gibson Es 125 is beautiful by the way, a different league from this budget Ibanez.
Peace, John.
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You’re welcome! Yes, the ES-125 is a very different league, but I enjoy the AF55 a lot too!
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Little Jay,
I must say you're one seriously great player! Wow! Thanks for the inspiration!
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Thank you so much! You just made my day! Originally Posted by 2bornot2bop
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Thanks for the post and the titillation LJ! You have me eyeing the Thomann pages at this very moment. Very tempting.
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Super thread LJ. Thank you.
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Thanks everyone! Still waiting for my commission from Ibanez.... :-D
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Thanks Little Jay, the whole thread has been inspirational, especially your playing. I’m a beginner amateur and started during our initial lockdown, so a long way to go. I fell in love with the sound of hollow body/jazz guitars and was truly lucky to stumble across mine. Hanging in the stairwell of a mostly online store, with a dust jersey and 5 rusty strings, it got left behind for a few weeks as I’d gone there to see an AF75( no joy, not in store, in warehouse
) and I didn’t know anything about it and in that condition it was unplayable 
.
Anyway, circumstances had me back there again, with a lot more info in my head, and it was still there looking sad.
$157 dollars later and it was mine.
New strings, something light I had lying around and WOW!
Action is great, finish is great once the dust was off, and I grab it first every day.
My only gripe is the tuners, they’re a bit dodgy, need upgrading and the bridge spring had to be removed (buzz party).
After reading this, I’m gonna look around for bits and pieces to ‘pimp’ mine. It’s a 2015 model, so who knows how long it languished there before rescue!
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Originally Posted by Highlander
Thanks Little Jay, the whole thread has been inspirational, especially your playing. I’m a beginner amateur and started during our initial lockdown, so a long way to go. I fell in love with the sound of hollow body/jazz guitars and was truly lucky to stumble across mine. Hanging in the stairwell of a mostly online store, with a dust jersey and 5 rusty strings, it got left behind for a few weeks as I’d gone there to see an AF75( no joy, not in store, in warehouse) and I didn’t know anything about it and in that condition it was unplayable .
Anyway, circumstances had me back there again, with a lot more info in my head, and it was still there looking sad.
$157 dollars later and it was mine.
New strings, something light I had lying around and WOW!
Action is great, finish is great once the dust was off, and I grab it first every day.
My only gripe is the tuners, they’re a bit dodgy, need upgrading and the bridge spring had to be removed (buzz party).
After reading this, I’m gonna look around for bits and pieces to ‘pimp’ mine. It’s a 2015 model, so who knows how long it languished there before rescue!
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Good deal for $157! Let the fun begin! Originally Posted by Highlander
Thanks Little Jay, the whole thread has been inspirational, especially your playing. I’m a beginner amateur and started during our initial lockdown, so a long way to go. I fell in love with the sound of hollow body/jazz guitars and was truly lucky to stumble across mine. Hanging in the stairwell of a mostly online store, with a dust jersey and 5 rusty strings, it got left behind for a few weeks as I’d gone there to see an AF75( no joy, not in store, in warehouse) and I didn’t know anything about it and in that condition it was unplayable .
Anyway, circumstances had me back there again, with a lot more info in my head, and it was still there looking sad.
$157 dollars later and it was mine.
New strings, something light I had lying around and WOW!
Action is great, finish is great once the dust was off, and I grab it first every day.
My only gripe is the tuners, they’re a bit dodgy, need upgrading and the bridge spring had to be removed (buzz party).
After reading this, I’m gonna look around for bits and pieces to ‘pimp’ mine. It’s a 2015 model, so who knows how long it languished there before rescue!
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I'm collecting one of these tomorrow! My first Ibanez.
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Cool! Keep us posted! Originally Posted by garybaldy
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It's dated May 2018. Indonesian. I read Ibanez changed the neck from mahogany 'for 2019'. I'm not sure what I have but the neck wood is pretty light coloured. It's mint. Next job is new strings and truss rod tighten! Originally Posted by Little Jay
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Gary you may find the tuners to be a bit wonky, I have two Indonesian Ibanez’s and the only only complaint I would make is the tuners are not that great.
But otherwise... wow they are really great guitars.... best of luck with yours!
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A really nice pickup in a cheap guitar
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