Ibanez AFJ95 - Opinions?

**liehax** · 08-03-2016, 08:26 AM

Originally Posted by blackcat

Here is the guitar with my 'improved' ( more contemporary perhaps ) pickguard/finger rest: Attachment 34303 Attachment 34304 and the rear view. Perhaps the best value guitar in my collection ranging from Peerless Cremona to Classic Vibe 50s Tele.

Good choice.

waaaou, David. Your guitar is so beautiful

. And nice pickguard, I must say . Can I replace things by myself or does it need to be done by a "specialist"?

Lie.

**blackcat** · 08-03-2016, 02:08 PM

Originally Posted by liehax

waaaou, David. Your guitar is so beautiful

. And nice pickguard, I must say . Can I replace things by myself or does it need to be done by a "specialist"?

Lie.

Not really, if you can saw accurately and use a drill the biggest 'problem' is making a template in card/paper of the right proportions. If you do make one be sure to keep the original with its bracket and screws in case you ever sell the guitar. Thin ebony can easily be obtained on-line from luthier supplies sites.

**newsense** · 08-03-2016, 02:21 PM

Right on Blackcat

This was the best value mod I ever made to a guitar. A piece of ebony headstock veneer - £8 from eBay, and less than 1 hour to cut drill and sand/polish, replacing a pointy piece of plastic from the original builders.

Ibanez AFJ95 - Opinions?-pickguard-jpg

**qblue** · 09-04-2016, 09:27 PM

I have had that model for the past three years, and it is a great guitar. It has become one of my favorite guitars. You are going to really appreciate this Artcore Expressionist, which means a lot of value for the money.

Mine is in Vintage Sunburst like this one.

**Thumpalumpacus** · 09-05-2016, 05:07 AM

Happy playing, brotha ... sweet box you got there.

Originally Posted by Headshot

Danny, great guitar, congrats. As to having a bridge pickup instead of just a neck pickup...I use the middle position a lot, but use the bridge pickup just to add a little "color" to the neck. Play around with the knobs and you will find a "voice" that you will like as an option to just the neck pickup. Again, congrats.

This is good advice here. The thing I love about a 4-knob harness is that you'll find a multitude of tones simply by diming the tones and balancing the volumes against each other.

**TOMMO** · 09-05-2016, 05:49 AM

Originally Posted by Thumpalumpacus

The thing I love about a 4-knob harness is that you'll find a multitude of tones simply by diming the tones and balancing the volumes against each other.

Right, Thumbs!

I have had my AFJ95 now for about a year and a half and it's a real joy to play. I can't compare it to more expensive archtops since I don't have any hands on experience with any but I can tell when a guitar is a good one and this is a good one.

**Giovanni Goria** · 11-05-2016, 02:27 AM

Hi!

2 days ago, my new guitar finally arrived at my house. Brand new Ibanez Artcore Expressionist AFJ95. Spruce top, flame maple back and side. Super 58 pickup (in which i make a thread before asking if i have to replace the pickup or not), rosewood bridge.
This is my first hollowbody guitar, in which i previously use a Fender and PRS. I am looking for a hollowbodied guitar with like $500 price tag, and this guitar kinda match it. After reading some review and watch Tom Quayle review this guitar, i order this from a website with a $450 (which is 5,8 million rupiahs in Indonesia). After 3 days, the guitar arrived.
My first impression was, the guitar has quite nice finish. The build quality is perfect for the price. The neck is comfortable, the binding is nice (which it has 3 ply of binding). Factory setup was quite okay, in which i only have to loosen the trussrod to eliminate stringbuzz in the middle frets.
To me, the guitar sounds awesome. It has that top end sparkle and warmness which i love. Not really a fan of bridge pickup, but on this one, i can probably imagine what can i do with the pickup because it is quite nice as well. The rosewood bridge adds warmness to the tone. Volume and tone pot is responsive in both pickup. Roll the tone down, and i get that Jim Hall and Pat Metheny kinda sound, which i am lokking after. Roll it up, and it still sounds nice to me.
I am in love with this guitar. For the price tag, this guitar is awesome!

Instagram
This is me playing the guitar.

Gio from Indonesia.

PS : sorry for the bad english. I still kinda learning how to write in English 😀

**citizenk74** · 11-05-2016, 05:28 PM

Congratulations on an excellent choice. I have the AFJ-85 version, and am very happy with it. Play yours in good health!

**Cunamara** · 11-05-2016, 06:41 PM

Nice guitar and nice playing. You have very good left hand finger independence and relaxed, smooth technique.

**GNAPPI** · 11-05-2016, 07:28 PM

I ALWAYS wonder why folks say "for the price". I have some inexpensive gits that stand shoulder to shoulder with some MUCH more expensive models I own.

I also have some cheapies that I have kept over much more expensive models.

That AFJ95 has appointments that rival models costing 5x more and sound that a git that cost 5x more does NOT sound 5x better. Enjoy it and keep us posted should you feel compelled to "upgrade" it... and sell me the pups if you do :-)

**Giovanni Goria** · 11-06-2016, 01:51 AM

Originally Posted by citizenk74

Congratulations on an excellent choice. I have the AFJ-85 version, and am very happy with it. Play yours in good health!

Hehe thanks! What's the difference between AFJ85 and AJF95?

**Giovanni Goria** · 11-06-2016, 01:56 AM

Originally Posted by GNAPPI

I ALWAYS wonder why folks say "for the price". I have some inexpensive gits that stand shoulder to shoulder with some MUCH more expensive models I own.

I also have some cheapies that I have kept over much more expensive models.

That AFJ95 has appointments that rival models costing 5x more and sound that a git that cost 5x more does NOT sound 5x better. Enjoy it and keep us posted should you feel compelled to "upgrade" it... and sell me the pups if you do :-)

I think i'll keep the pickups for a bit longer for i am still in love with those and still finding the best sound of it. Indeed, the appointments, sound and playability of this guitar is mind blowing.

Thank you sir!

**citizenk74** · 11-06-2016, 08:05 AM

Originally Posted by Giovanni Goria

Hehe thanks! What's the difference between AFJ85 and AJF95?

I believe the main difference is the pickups - mine has the ACH pups as opposed to the Super 58s. Properly adjusted, the ACHs sound fine, in my experience. It is a well crafted, solidly built, well-playing instrument which gives me much playing enjoyment. Have fun with yours!

**Giovanni Goria** · 11-06-2016, 08:57 AM

Originally Posted by citizenk74

I believe the main difference is the pickups - mine has the ACH pups as opposed to the Super 58s. Properly adjusted, the ACHs sound fine, in my experience. It is a well crafted, solidly built, well-playing instrument which gives me much playing enjoyment. Have fun with yours!

Woah. I've tried the ACH pickup on Ibanez AF75, and it was nice indeed.

Thanks!

**blackcat** · 11-06-2016, 10:18 AM

Must be one of the best value small, laminated archtops out there. That and my Peerless Renaissance Custom are my two most played models alongside other more exotic/expensive acquisitions.

Good choice - enjoy your new guitar.

**Giovanni Goria** · 11-06-2016, 10:38 AM

Originally Posted by blackcat

Must be one of the best value small, laminated archtops out there. That and my Peerless Renaissance Custom are my two most played models alongside other more exotic/expensive acquisitions.

Good choice - enjoy your new guitar.

Ah, Peerless Renaissance Custom! Always want one, but it's very difficult to find here in Indonesia. Renaissance Custom, if i had the chance to have one, will probably be my next guitar. I try it once, and it was really nice indeed.

Thank you sir! Hope you have a good day!

**qblue** · 11-25-2016, 11:39 PM

Hi. I have the exact model and each day that I play it I am astounded by the feel and sound of this fine instrument. I really see no need to change pickups in the 3 years I've had it.

ENJOY! You already are a good player; this guitar will amplify your technique.

**TOMMO** · 11-26-2016, 06:08 AM

Happy New Guitar Day! I purchased an AFJ95 early last year as my first archtop and I'm still a happy camper . Not in a position to compare it to more expensive archtops soundwise but when it comes to build quality and playability I couldn't think of anything that would missing. Sorry - couldn't access your clip - wouldn't play for me.

**jazzbow** · 11-26-2016, 06:31 AM

Hey GG. I like your playing.
You come across as very relaxed and not self conscious or nervous, a skill a lot of us take a life time to master.

Don't worry about your English, its a language that uses many ways to express oneself. I think you are learning modern English which is what is the norm nowadays. I was brought up learning slang English but also was taught standard English (that's English without slang or accent). I also lived in Scotland for a long time and picked up on Scots english.

Like guitar playing and music in general, English is slow to learn but takes a life time to master.

**GregEL** · 03-22-2017, 10:57 PM

I have that same exact guitar, got it about a month ago. LOVE it! Right out of the box the setup was perfect. Intonation and string height are spot on. Full hollow body, .11 flat wounds, what's not to like? Sounds every bit as good af way more expensive arch tops I've had in the past.

Am real pleased with this acquisition.

**eblydian** · 03-23-2017, 04:43 AM

Originally Posted by rdwhitti

Well I went and bought a hollow body jazz box today. I have only been taking guitar lessons since October of last year but am serious about jazz, at least as serious as I can be at my age (63); I don't ever expect to be all that good but I am only competing against myself.

That's a nice guitar. You can hardly go wrong with Ibanez.
I love reading about people who get serious about jazz at your age.
Happy woodshedding!

**whiskey02** · 03-23-2017, 08:43 AM

Congrats on a nice looking guitar, hope you have a great time playing it. I think you SHOULD expect to be "all that good", because you can be if you put in the effort! You are not competing against anyone, you're just practicing and getting better. Enjoy the ride.

**rdwhitti** · 03-23-2017, 08:20 PM

Originally Posted by whiskey02

Congrats on a nice looking guitar, hope you have a great time playing it. I think you SHOULD expect to be "all that good", because you can be if you put in the effort! You are not competing against anyone, you're just practicing and getting better. Enjoy the ride.

Thanks for the encouragement, I am enjoying the journey and I appreciate this fine guitar more and more every day (and especially appreciate what others have been able to achieve).

**TOMMO** · 03-24-2017, 07:18 AM

I have had my AFJ 95 for almost two years now playing it every day. Never regretted my decision to get this for my first archtop - great guitar!

joaopaz · 03-24-2017, 09:40 AM

Here's another AFJ95 proud owner! I have several guitars from Ibanez (AFJ95, AS153, AR325 plus a FlyingV from the 70s

) and they all are wonderful, no exception - all very well built, great sounding.
And the AFJ95, while not the most expensive in the pack is probably the best one - It's a vintage sunburst from 2014, same as qblue above.

I recently switched the neck pickup for a Bare Knuckles "Manhattan", P90 humbucker size - and now this guitar is really hard to beat!

+++

all this to say - I think you did a wonderful choice!
Congratulations and wish lots of fun and jazzy moments playing your AFJ95! B-)