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These have appeared in online stores in the UK as new for 2014, but are not yet on the Ibanez website:
The AF200 Prestige
and the AS200 Prestige
both have a price tag of £1700 - that's $2800 US at today's rate.
The specs seem very similar to the Artstar models, but with Super 58, rather than Super 58 Custom, pickups. I believe the former are MIJ pickups and that the price tag, which is nearly twice that of the Artstar versions, suggests that the guitars themselves are MIJ rather than MIC. However that is still a lot to pay for a pickup upgrade and slightly (?) better build quality.
My AS153 (Artstar) is now nearly 1 year old and I am still considering a pickup upgrade (to Bare Knuckle Mules), but that will only cost me £200, not £1000.
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01-11-2014 04:47 AM
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The AF200 Prestige has interesting tailpiece.
The pick ups are Super 58 pus in As200 Prestige.
Ibanez AF200-BS Features:- Spruce top/Flamed Maple back & sides
- Medium frets w/Prestige fret edge treatment
- Bound Ebony fretboard w/Pearl & Abalone block inlay
- Ebony bridge/AF Special tailpiece
- Gold hardware
- Super 58 pickups
- Flatwound strings
- Max body thickness: 4 1/4"
- Width at lower bout: 16 1/2"
- Hardshell case included
- Made in Japan
Last edited by kris; 01-11-2014 at 05:30 AM.
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Does Ibanez do solid, carved archtops?
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The SS500, now discontinued, I believe, and as rare as hens' teeth has a solid spruce top.
Originally Posted by Broyale
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Having owned a number of the Artstars they are nice guitars, the Super 58 Custom pickups are ok but they're not the Super 58s. The MIC Ibanez are some really good instruments. IF you can find a very rare AS103 in burled maple or spalted maple grab it. Going price should be around $800.00 US with case. Yes the original street price when hey were released in 2006, only 240 of them were made in total: 60 burled maple in NT, 60 burled maple in DS (dark stain), 60 spalted maple in DS and 60 in NT. Flame maple binding everywhere, real wood knobs, amazing neck and fret work. The other models were the full bodied AFs in burled and spalted maple. Really outstanding, except for the pickups. Do some searching over at ICW (IbanezCollectorsWorld.com) for many threads with photos. THESE are The Kind, the under the radar great Ibanez that in 10 to 20 years will be worth far more than their original street price. It'll be a time when people no longer look down their noses at guitars made in China, we still have a way to go (I'm old enough to remember the first of Japanese imports and how they were made the target of jokes).
As for AS200 Prestige, man Europeans sure pay a lot more for guitars, OUCH... Buy used, the older AS200s are terrific deals. Find a used AS200 on eBay from a seller that's willing to ship overseas, reason with them. And if you want Ibanez Super 58s you can order them thru any authorized Ibanez dealer, your local Guitar Center would be a good start, look up the part number on Ibanez's site, go to your local Guitar Center and ask them to order them for you. I did that with the correct tuner kit for a GB10, when I went to pick them up about 10 days later I got a 15% break on the price because Guitar Center was having one of it's many sales. I think the Super 58s are some of the best hum bucker pickups out there.
Last edited by BigMikeinNJ; 01-11-2014 at 08:55 AM.
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They've also added a new Eric Krasnow signature model made in Japan and loaded with a pair of DiMarzio 36th Anniversary PAF's and a big chunky neck.
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Wow just found this on eBay searching IBANEZ ARTCORE...
So much nicer in these photos than the shot you posted, deeeeelish !!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ibanez-Artco...item46181fbb43
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On its way out to customers 2014! SF301, Solid Spruce top / Flamed Maple back & sides full-hollow body
http://www.ibanez.co.jp/products/page13_jp.php?data_id=159&color=CL01&cat_id=7&seri es_id=51
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And Artstars!
http://www.ibanez.co.jp/products/ser...=2013&cat_id=7
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Looks greats ... Specs are also interesting - but I don't need another jazz guitar
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Wouldn't it look better with an ebony tailpiece ? Originally Posted by runeo
The above website lists the price as 157,500 Yen, that's just about £900 ! I can't imagine Ibanez Europe letting them sell for that in the UK.
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Bummer! Not on the US site. I really dig the SF301.
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Happens to have an AS153, cost in yen according to url above 115000 and actual cost in EU like 800 pound 825 euro.
sf301 155000 yen should then be around 1100 pound/euro.
Yes there gas in the car!
/Rune, also Steelydan'ist!
The Loar 650
The Heritage Sweet 16 -91
And more ...
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Yes as with many companies Ibanez makes guitars that are only for sale (say) in Japan, a great example of that is the AS103 in burled and spalted maple I mentioned earlier. There were only 240 of the AS models made and 60 of the AF models. A handful made it to Germany, but most were sold in Japan. I found two in very northern American stores, one in Fairbanks Alaska and the other in Montana (where that dealer also had AF models in burl and spalted maple).
The text in the ad states the circumstances of the Ibanez dealer getting that one, and man it IS a beauty.
Sadly I am not in the market for anything but groceries at this time...
Somebody get that guitar it's a keeper.
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Seeing that nice AS200 I wonder if they still do the jsm100, which is basically a AS200 with some minor updates?
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This is curious. I came across the AF200 in a recent search but couldn't find it mentioned on the Ibanez website. I thought it might have been old stock but didn't remember Ibanez doing any non signature guitars in that price range.
I guess it's new then.
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I wish Ibanez would do an all solid carved 3 inch rim single pickup hollowbody archtop.
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i don't understand why some models are not available in europe or the us...
some of these japanese artstars look amazing, i would love to get my hands on the sas300 or the as180!
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Damn, I'm lusting after the AS200 Prestige even though I'm perfectly happy with the AS153 I got last year for my B-Day. If I had known, then I would have held off and put less money into my kids' education fund. Would have just meant they ate more Kraft Dinner in university but they love me so I'm sure they wouldn't have minded.
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There's quite a lot of Kraft dinners as the the AS200 is more than double the price. Originally Posted by FrankyNoTone
How's the AS153? I'm thinking this might be my best option in that price range.
Ibanez 2014 releasesLast edited by Sean65; 01-12-2014 at 01:12 PM.
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Just tell yourself that that the front-mounted jack socket on the AS200 is a deal breaker, then swap the pickups on your AS153 (e.g. the DiMarzio 36th Anniversary PAF's as on the Eric Krasnow signature). You'll be even happier......... and your kids will still be able to eat healthily. Originally Posted by FrankyNoTone
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Sean - I also have an AS153, hence my knowing comment above. I've had it a year and been very pleased with it, but have always wondered about a pickup swap as it seems a tad weak in the mids. However, it obviously isn't bothering me too much, or I would have already done the swap. Originally Posted by Sean65
A word of advice, though: although I bought mine mail order, there are a number of posts on the Ibanez forum from guys who were less than pleased with the build of the As153s they bought this way. So if you can find one, it would be best (as always) to try before you buy. However, I know this isn't always possible.
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Yes, I'm hoping a shop can get one in for me. I've played the AFJ91 and the AF155 side by side and although I preferred the looks of the 91, I could feel and hear the extra attention in the 155. It just felt a whole lot tidier that the 91. Both very nice guitar though. Originally Posted by newsense
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<strong> Can't locate the comments but a number of my buddys on ICW had the 153s and had fret issues with what they were sent. A few hours in a luthiers' would solve the problem but hey, how about sending it out RIGHT ?? Not like many of the other MIC Ibanez Artcore Customs I've owned, which were flat amazing.
Last edited by BigMikeinNJ; 01-12-2014 at 05:46 PM.
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for info the AF200 is an old japan built model which Originally Posted by Sean65
was very nice (i believe , never played one
been trying to find one for ages)
I play a AF120 which is the Korean version
and it's great
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