Ibanez AS53, cheap, but how good could it be?

[m_d]

On the other hand that matte may be thinner than the gloss which could be a good thing?

[Meggy]

Thanks for the replies chaps - I was really just using that AS73G-NT as an example, since to me the finish looked reasonable and quite attractive (as far as one can tell from photos). I'm not about to rush in an order for one.

In general, re the Ibanez finishes, I don't find any of them to be perfect. The matte I don't at all dislike personally, although from what you say pants, I might like it less if I got an up close look - the artificial wood vinyl flooring comparison you give is less than appealing! And yes, a shiny poly finish, especially applied on the thick side, can be rather unsubtle. And the "paying for bling point" is very well made I feel - la-di-dah extra fancy binding, gold hardware, block inlays and all that kind of stuff of course does nothing to benefit the sound or playability, and can easily look a bit tacky, especially on a less-expensive guitar.

But I may just have found a very good, second-hand buy for a nice but inexpensive semi-acoustic - still thinking about things at the mo, but if so, then I'll say more later...

[pants]

Ok, I should have been more specific... THESE are the finishes I had a particular issue with.
Vintage | Ibanez Guitars
The "vintage" line. It's like fake relic'd.
I'm not opposed to matte in general. I have a gretsch g100ce with a matte finish that looks (and most notably FEELS) quite nice. The neck in particular has taken on an exceptionally smooth feel. There is no stickiness like some highly polished finishes can have and my hand just glides over it.
My as83 does have a pretty thick gloss finish... it doesn't bother me, but does probably contribute a bit to being a heavier feel. Otherwise the thing really is put together well. Only quality issues I've had is minor superficial crack lines on the pickup surrounds and a couple of the little plastic bushings that space the post of tuning knob from the machine part (not sure all the technical terminology there) have broken off but the still function fine just a little "sticky." I'm planning to replace the tuners, which is easy enough. I also quite like the stock ACH pickups.
Of course I'm mostly going off a 13 year old guitar, but Ibanez has always been known for great QC.
However you decide to go, hope you get a git that does well for you!

[Meggy]

Ok, I should have been more specific... THESE are the finishes I had a particular issue with.
Vintage | Ibanez Guitars
The "vintage" line. It's like fake relic'd.
I'm not opposed to matte in general. I have a gretsch g100ce with a matte finish that looks (and most notably FEELS) quite nice. The neck in particular has taken on an exceptionally smooth feel. There is no stickiness like some highly polished finishes can have and my hand just glides over it.
My as83 does have a pretty thick gloss finish... it doesn't bother me, but does probably contribute a bit to being a heavier feel. Otherwise the thing really is put together well. Only quality issues I've had is minor superficial crack lines on the pickup surrounds and a couple of the little plastic bushings that space the post of tuning knob from the machine part (not sure all the technical terminology there) have broken off but the still function fine just a little "sticky." I'm planning to replace the tuners, which is easy enough. I also quite like the stock ACH pickups.
Of course I'm mostly going off a 13 year old guitar, but Ibanez has always been known for great QC.
However you decide to go, hope you get a git that does well for you!

Thanks pants, I'm hoping to get the right one as well. The Vintage Line of distressed/reliced/aged... however one wants to put it, is unquestionably awful, I quite agree with you there. I guess there's a market for it, and Ibanez are a business, and will do what it takes to maximise sales, and I don't blame them for that, but... horrible!

My hoped for good buy (a nice-looking dark cherry finished AS73, including hard case for £200 second hand at a large UK store) appears to have gone sadly - I sent the shop an enquiry about it, and they've just replied to say it sold this morning - perhaps I should have dived in when I first saw it yesterday. Anyhow, plenty of guitars in the sea and all that...

[EllenGtrGrl]

In the past had an AS73, and a late 90s/early 00s Artstar AS120. The AS73 was an OK guitar (I had to sell it back in 2007, when I was flat broke, due to some unexpected bills), and the AS120 was a pretty decent guitar, that in retrospect, I shouldn't have sold (at that time [2009], I decided that I was "sick of ES335-style guitars", silly me!). Like the higher end Artist versions, it had Super 58 pickups, and had an oh, so nice neck. As some of you may know, I'm GASing at the present time for a Howard Roberts Custom or a D'Angelico EXL-1. Well, I need to come clean, last week, GAS got the best of me, and I put on layaway (till payday) an Artstar AS80, which is basically the same as my old MIK AS120 Artstar, but minus the gold plated bling. I got it used for $350 (a nice deal - normally they go for $500-$600 used), and tonight after work, I'm bringing it home. It's probably going to sit until I get it refretted (nickel and stainless steel frets don't agree with my allergies), but I didn't want the guitar getting snapped up from under me. When it gets refretted, hello John Schofield, hello fusion, hello 70s era Rush! The Super 58s are great sounding pickups, and combined with the guitar create a very versatile piece of guitar gear.

The Artcores and Artstars are pretty decent guitars.

[Meggy]

In the past had an AS73, and a late 90s/early 00s Artstar AS120. The AS73 was an OK guitar (I had to sell it back in 2007, when I was flat broke, due to some unexpected bills), and the AS120 was a pretty decent guitar, that in retrospect, I shouldn't have sold (at that time [2009], I decided that I was "sick of ES335-style guitars", silly me!). Like the higher end Artist versions, it had Super 58 pickups, and had an oh, so nice neck. As some of you may know, I'm GASing at the present time for a Howard Roberts Custom or a D'Angelico EXL-1. Well, I need to come clean, last week, GAS got the best of me, and I put on layaway (till payday) an Artstar AS80, which is basically the same as my old MIK AS120 Artstar, but minus the gold plated bling. I got it used for $350 (a nice deal - normally they go for $500-$600 used), and tonight after work, I'm bringing it home. It's probably going to sit until I get it refretted (nickel and stainless steel frets don't agree with my allergies), but I didn't want the guitar getting snapped up from under me. When it gets refretted, hello John Schofield, hello fusion, hello 70s era Rush! The Super 58s are great sounding pickups, and combined with the guitar create a very versatile piece of guitar gear.

The Artcores and Artstars are pretty decent guitars.

This is good to hear about, congratulations, sounds like a superb deal you got there. I'm just curious as to the type of frets you will be going for if nickel and stainless are a no-go? Thanks for the information on these older Artstar models, very useful. Hello a bit of Larry Carlton as well maybe?

[EllenGtrGrl]

This is good to hear about, congratulations, sounds like a superb deal you got there. I'm just curious as to the type of frets you will be going for if nickel and stainless are a no-go? Thanks for the information on these older Artstar models, very useful. Hello a bit of Larry Carlton as well maybe?

Ahhh! I forgot Mr. 335! Good point!

As for the fret wire used by me - Jescar EVO Gold Hypoallergenic fret wire. It doesn't contain nickel, or chromium (a major component of stainless steel - along with a severe allergy to nickel, I also have a major allergy to chromium).

[jim777]

It's tough to beat a good Ibanez. Of my 6 main guitars, I have one PRS (which is for sale so I can buy an Ibanez PM-120) and 5 Ibanezes Congrats on the new guitar Ellen!

[EllenGtrGrl]

It's tough to beat a good Ibanez. Of my 6 main guitars, I have one PRS (which is for sale so I can buy an Ibanez PM-120) and 5 Ibanezes Congrats on the new guitar Ellen!

Thanks! I'm running very late here at work (but just about done for the day - such is life when you're salaried), so I'm not sure I'll be able to pick it up tonight. I might have to wait until tomorrow (I'm on vacation so I can g pick it up during the day - yay!).

[Thumpalumpacus]

I'm very happy with my AS-93.

[Meggy]

Ahhh! I forgot Mr. 335! Good point!

As for the fret wire used by me - Jescar EVO Gold Hypoallergenic fret wire. It doesn't contain nickel, or chromium (a major component of stainless steel - along with a severe allergy to nickel, I also have a major allergy to chromium).

Thanks - I was just curious really, but I'm very glad there is suitable fret wire out there that you're able to use. I wonder if there's any chance of a pic or two of the new guitar when you have it?

[avantgarlic]

If you have Godin GAS try Geralds Music online in canada. I am a customer not promoting them in any way. Just letting you know they go buy a bunch of them from the Godin factories. Some have minor finish issues and they have deep discounts. I can't put my new Montreal Premiere down. It is a very playable guitar. I tried one that a shop had in stock but there was only one that I was aware of in the entire state of Minnesota.

I played a Gibson 347 for years and this guitar is not a 347 or 335 but it gives you a really cool semi hollow playing experience. You can genre hop from jazz to funk and blues, etc. easily. Good luck.

[Meggy]

If you have Godin GAS try Geralds Music online in canada. I am a customer not promoting them in any way. Just letting you know they go buy a bunch of them from the Godin factories. Some have minor finish issues and they have deep discounts. I can't put my new Montreal Premiere down. It is a very playable guitar. I tried one that a shop had in stock but there was only one that I was aware of in the entire state of Minnesota.

I played a Gibson 347 for years and this guitar is not a 347 or 335 but it gives you a really cool semi hollow playing experience. You can genre hop from jazz to funk and blues, etc. easily. Good luck.

Thanks for the good luck - always handy to have a bit of that when attempting to buy a good guitar. Godin is a brand I'm aware of, but probably not for me on this occasion. But great to hear you're so happy with the Montreal Premiere.

Anyhow, it looks like I have found myself a nice second-hand (but in very good condition) Ibanez AS model in the UK, complete with original hard case. It's not an AS53, AS73 or AS93, and not a current model, and I like the looks more than any other Ibby AS model I've come across - but I will say no more until I have the guitar safely in my possession. Just thought I'd see if anyone wants to guess... I think I said something about only idly toying with the idea of getting such a guitar at the start of this thread, but such are the ways of GAS!