Ibanez AF55

[Little Jay]

Gfs pups
surf90-neck
nadhville-bridge
custom Eddie Cochran inspired pickguard
bigsby
roller bridge


Attachment 109331Attachment 109330Attachment 109329Attachment 109328

That has a serious Gretsch-vibe to it, well done!

The transparent pickguard looks great!

If it was my guitar I would perhaps even put nice Gretsch-like metal dome knobs and a Gretsch space control roller bridge (I put a copy from AliExpress on my Gretsch Streamliner and it looks great and works well. Note: these streamliners also come from an Indonesian factory, just like my AF55 and I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s the same factory, the quality is very much alike!)




It’s nice to see that the AF55 can be such a versatile platform for different guitar styles!

[TexRocker]

Thanks Jay, this forum played a huge role in the success of finishing this twangbox. Thanks to everyone for believing in this low end arch top. For seing it, and having a vision as well. Last, but not least, thank you Jay.

[Little Jay]

Thanks Jay, this forum played a huge role in the success of finishing this twangbox. Thanks to everyone for believing in this low end arch top. For seing it, and having a vision as well. Last, but not least, thank you Jay.

The true purpose of a forum is to inspire and help eachother! So you are more than welcome!

[Kmatuhin]

Hi all! Recently I became the proud owner of an Ibanez AF-55 guitar. First impressions are very good:
1. This is a comfortable and lightweight guitar. (before that I also had Chinese and Korean archtops, ES-175 copies, they were much heavier and bulkier)
2. I like the thin matte finish much better than the thick layers of poly on most Chinese and other archtops (for example, on the Ibanez AF 75). And I'm not sure I want to polish it to a high shine in the future.
3. Good neat assembly overall.
4. Comfortable neck. True, in my case the frets need grinding, but my guitar is from 2012.
5. Good acoustic sound. And the sound into amp too, at least for home practice.


I really liked Little Jay's modifications. I also want to install a wooden bridge and change the pickups with chrome cover. But I want to try leaving one neck pickup first. I wanted to ask: if you remove the bridge pickup, is it enough to just cut the wires and insulate the contacts? Or do I need to solder something extra?

[garybaldy]

Hi all! Recently I became the proud owner of an Ibanez AF-55 guitar. First impressions are very good:
1. This is a comfortable and lightweight guitar. (before that I also had Chinese and Korean archtops, ES-175 copies, they were much heavier and bulkier)
2. I like the thin matte finish much better than the thick layers of poly on most Chinese and other archtops (for example, on the Ibanez AF 75). And I'm not sure I want to polish it to a high shine in the future.
3. Good neat assembly overall.
4. Comfortable neck. True, in my case the frets need grinding, but my guitar is from 2012.
5. Good acoustic sound. And the sound into amp too, at least for home practice.


I really liked Little Jay's modifications. I also want to install a wooden bridge and change the pickups with chrome cover. But I want to try leaving one neck pickup first. I wanted to ask: if you remove the bridge pickup, is it enough to just cut the wires and insulate the contacts? Or do I need to solder something extra?

You have a great guitar. I don't use mine half enough.
Here is a great video with a 55 which I believe is stock. Good tone and good player.

[GuyBoden]

UK members info.

There is a used Ibanez AF55 in UK for £230 + Postage at Back Alley Music in Mold. I played it a few months ago when I was in the shop, it's in very good condition.

Link below:
COM Ibanez AF55

[GuyBoden]

UK members.

Another Ibanez AF55 for sale in the Torquay, UK on Facebook market place £200.

Here:
Facebook

[frabarmus]

[Little Jay]

Hi all! Recently I became the proud owner of an Ibanez AF-55 guitar. First impressions are very good:
1. This is a comfortable and lightweight guitar. (before that I also had Chinese and Korean archtops, ES-175 copies, they were much heavier and bulkier)
2. I like the thin matte finish much better than the thick layers of poly on most Chinese and other archtops (for example, on the Ibanez AF 75). And I'm not sure I want to polish it to a high shine in the future.
3. Good neat assembly overall.
4. Comfortable neck. True, in my case the frets need grinding, but my guitar is from 2012.
5. Good acoustic sound. And the sound into amp too, at least for home practice.


I really liked Little Jay's modifications. I also want to install a wooden bridge and change the pickups with chrome cover. But I want to try leaving one neck pickup first. I wanted to ask: if you remove the bridge pickup, is it enough to just cut the wires and insulate the contacts? Or do I need to solder something extra?

Congrats with your AF55!

You can indeed just cut the wires of the bridge pickup to remove it, preferably as close as possible to where they are soldered to the pickup switch, but if you can manage it’s better to unsolder them from the switch (which then becomes some sort of mute switch for the neck pickup).

The fret edges on mine did need some sanding and filing also but they were perfectly level.

[garybaldy]

This guy seems happy with his AF55. Matt Wilson Guitar - YouTube

[Kmatuhin]

I added pickup covers and ebony bridge. It makes the guitar sound better, in my opinion. And it looks better, too! I'm thinking of making a black hornbeam pickguard, too.

[Little Jay]

I added pickup covers and ebony bridge. It makes the guitar sound better, in my opinion. And it looks better, too! I'm thinking of making a black hornbeam pickguard, too.

Nice! Looks much classier already! I tried an ebony bridge as well but after some experimenting with different bridges (ebony, rosewood, solid foot, split foot) I settled for a rosewood solid foot bridge on my AF55. That sounded and felt best to me.

[Rod_Oliver]

Nice! Looks much classier already! I tried an ebony bridge as well but after some experimenting with different bridges (ebony, rosewood, solid foot, split foot) I settled for a rosewood solid foot bridge on my AF55. That sounded and felt best to me.

Hi Little Jay,

How do you cut the blank to make the pick guard?
Someone cut it to you? What kind of tool is needed?

Thanks!

[Little Jay]

Hi Little Jay,

How do you cut the blank to make the pick guard?
Someone cut it to you? What kind of tool is needed?

Thanks!

I did it with one of these:

What’s that called in English? Jigsaw? Coping saw?

I bevelled the edge by hand with a file.

[garybaldy]

I did it with one of these:

What’s that called in English? Jigsaw? Coping saw?

I bevelled the edge by hand with a file.

Fret saw.

[Little Jay]

So what to improve on an already perfect guitar….. hmmm…. Let’s polish the satin finish on the face of the headstock!

This guitar is still going strong and in terms of economics the best guitar I have…. Most bang for the buck ever!

I gig and jam a lot with it. It perhaps lacks the mojo of my ES-125 and doesn’t sound as sophisticated as a carved top but it always delivers!

[joe2758]

relic it lol

[Little Jay]

relic it lol

Hahaha! You never know what happens when I get bored….. ;-)

[Little Jay]

relic it lol

Remember that Ibanez had a couple of reliced 'vintage' finishes on some models some years ago? Contrary to popular opinion I think those looked pretty good. The AKJV90D Dal was one of them:

[garybaldy]

So what to improve on an already perfect guitar….. hmmm…. Let’s polish the satin finish on the face of the headstock!

This guitar is still going strong and in terms of economics the best guitar I have…. Most bang for the buck ever!

I gig and jam a lot with it. It perhaps lacks the mojo of my ES-125 and doesn’t sound as sophisticated as a carved top but it always delivers!

Ibanez used several different motifs on the headstock of the AF55. At least four I think. To me, the one in your pic is the best. Mine is the same.

[Little Jay]

Ibanez used several different motifs on the headstock of the AF55. At least four I think. To me, the one in your pic is the best. Mine is the same.

Yes, looks nice and classy I think.

[Little Jay]

Ibanez used several different motifs on the headstock of the AF55. At least four I think. To me, the one in your pic is the best. Mine is the same.

You got me curious and I googled some:

[garybaldy]

You got me curious and I googled some:

Of your photos I've seen nos. 1, 5 and 6 on the AF55.