Ibanez semi hollow

[m_d]

Hi guys

My first post in here.

I was reading (with interest) about the difference between the AS200 and the Chinese made guitars.

In my younger days, 35 years ago, I had an AS200 great guitar but I found out that it was not exactly my style (at that time) I was more into Fender Stratocaster and have played that since.

Now I got the fever again and was looking for a Semi-hollow body guitar. Every time I have heard people talk about them it has (nearly) always been Gibson 335. I looked into that but quickly found out that it was too expensive for me. I live in New Zealand, and here you won't find a 335 under $3000 (NZ$). Then I started to look for a second-hand AS200 wow they also have become expensive. I had never heard about the JSM-10 or JSM-100 but again the JSM-100 was too expensive, so I looked into the Chinese made JSM-10. I was a little sceptic but al (not many) reviews I could find was - wow what a great guitar, sounds amazing & fantastic finish. I ended up buying one a week ago and no it is my turn to say WOW..... I have played it every day since and it just gets better and better the more I get to know it! and with the Tri-sound switch you have so many different sounds.
I am just writing this because if anybody is sitting out there and is not sure about a the chinese guitars, I can only say. Get one

I've read a lot of good things too about the Chinese Scofield, it also has some of the best aesthetics of the whole Ibanez archtop range IMHO. For just a little more money I'd definitely get that one over the AS153 for instance. Meanwhile, I've recently had a full set up done on my AM93 which was expensive but plenty worth it. I can't believe how good that guitar has turned out to be. I've seen Ibanez semi-hollows described as lacking in character, I don't have anything to compare it with so I can't verify that claim, but it certainly doesn't sound that way to me, I think it sounds gorgeous. All parts are stock so there may room for improvements there. I'm in no rush to change anything right now, but maybe in the long run - as it's unlikely I will ever sell that guitar because I got it around the time my daughter was born. I really like the D'Addario NYXLs the luthier put on it, although I didn't expect to. One of the best features is the incredible quality of the neck. On the minus side would be the tacky and unnecessary (to my taste) gold and abalone appointments and high gloss finish, which I hope will wear down over time, but it's just a detail. And yes it needed a crowning and leveling job, but so did a $10k PRS the luthier had in his workshop when I picked up the Ibanez.

[Gitfiddler]

It's gonna be my 40th birthday next month and my wife has given me a pass to acquire a guitar to mark the occasion.

I currently have an Ibanez artcore as93, albeit heavily upgraded.

I've been looking at the made in Japan ibanez jsm100 and the as200 prestige. I've seen plenty of reviews and video demos of the jsm100, but not too much about the as200. Has anyone compared these models?

Then there's the as153 and the jsm10 which seem to be made in China versions of the 1st 2. Maybe these would be viable options given the good reviews they get. Is there a vast difference between these 2 sets of guitars?

Not sure if you are also considering similar models on the USED market.
If so, I know a guy who knows a guy with a nice JSM100 and '78 2630 that might interest you.