Ibanez AF200 Prestige

[helios]

Ok.. is yours a the new model or a "vintage one"?
That would mean the new model is the same, it's just the way they measured it that is different (they give the center depth on the actual website, and at the rim on the 1990 catalog)?
Very confusing!

Hi,
My 2015 AF200 measures 2.75" at the rim, and the website states 4.25" at the center for this model (which I can't accurately measure). I cannot speak for the dimensions of the earlier versions (but they look the same).

[maggles55]

So it seems that the AF200 has been made for a long time (maybe late 1980s?? to the present). Are all AF200s made in Japan? Is there any difference between them over the years?

Thanks

[eblydian]

Thanks for the video-nice tone (mellow, not bright to me). It's interesting that Pat Methtney preferred the 1989 AF200 to the newer PM200 at that particular shop!!

The shop that the author of the video (Erik de Kamp) is referring to is called The Fellowship of Acoustics
(TFOA) a hell of a shop in the Netherlands and a great website to look at from time to time.

Erik used the Pat Metheny tune just to give an idea about the tone of the AF200.
The real Pat Metheny had no play in this.

[Jx30510]

Yeah that's what I understood too!
There's no relation with Pat Metheny in that video except for the song

[Jx30510]

Did the AF200 replace de FG100?

[eblydian]

Did the AF200 replace de FG100?

The launch of the AF200 in 1988 coincided with the discontinuing of the FG100 in 1987.

But the AF200 was the top-of-the-line model alongside the other "signed" models (Benson, Pass).
I own an '86 FG100 and I'm sure the quality and tone don't remotely compare with the AF200.

[Jx30510]

You mean the AF200 is supposed to be way better?
It's very strange that information is so rare on this guitar? It seems to be a kind of full hollow version of the AS200, in a sort.. same era, same factory, same quality I suppose... but rare and almost unheard of.. was it a flop ? Does it have something that kept people bonding with?

[eblydian]

Yes, the AF200 is way better.
I see FG100's selling for 1200 to 1800 EUR and I think they are totally overpriced.

The AF200 is a non-signature model so maybe that explains why there is lesser hype and love for it than for example PM or GB Ibanez models.

For a 1000 EUR you won't get a better guitar

[eblydian]

I am sure it will. It may help to bring your amp and pedals with you.

Guitar A will never sound like guitar B, if you're buying an Ibanez hoping to get an ES-175. But having said that, I think that the most important is to make sure that you feel comfortable with that guitar in terms of size, neck shape, acoustic quality and so on. The tone may be not convincing straight away, but a proper setup, changing strings and action can have a great impact.

Once again, good luck.

[Jx30510]

Thanks for your thoughtful advice.
Well I have made a bit of search on the AF200 and it seems the closest guitar in the Ibanez line is the LGB300.
One thing that I noticed is that it's one of the only Ibanez hollow body with 20 frets (all the others have 22). And this is absolutely no problem for me.
It just solves a problem for me concerning the neck pickup placement.
I was a bit anxious finding the neck pickup on the AF200 a bit far from the end of the neck, and in consequence the sound being on the bright side in regard of this purely physical aspect.
Well, when I compare the LGB300 and the AF200, the space between the neck and the pickup on the later is where there are the 2 additionnal frets on the LGB300.
I also compared all the necks on the Ibanez line and the AF200 has the thinnest of them all (it's the same as on the PM2).
So if the AF200 I'm willing to purchase (which the serial number is only 10 digits from the one on the Erik the Kamp video!) is built to what I expect from the Terada built Ibanez hollow bodies, I should be VERY happy.
And no, I'm not looking for an ES 175 style guitar, exactly looking for another sound, since my brand new Epiphone Premium fills that job perfectly!
Slim neck (thats what I want), super 58's, MIJ quality, instrument in perfect condition (from the pictures), I just can't wait to put my hands on it.
Life is good

[eblydian]

In terms of pickup placement, the only guitar you need to be wary about is the JP-20 (too far from the neck).
Erik seems very thorough in his YT reviews and if he didn't spot any weakness in the AF-200 you are good to go.

Yeah, life is good

[Jx30510]

I just have made the 4 hour roadtrip to get the AF200, the guy was very nice, kind of humble saying he knew he could have sold it at a higher price, but thinked 1000€ would the price he would like to pay for it.
Like the pictures showed, the guitar is mint, like if it was NOS.. it plays beautifully, and sounds completely different than my Epiphone Es175 Premium. It's very intetesting because I can now very distincly what the Es175 is all about, and the Epi has that woody thunk and very short decay compared to the AF200. I must say, the AF200 was 2100$ new in 1990, the Epiphone is about 700$ today, and while the AF200 is superior in craftmanship, I'm still impressed how GOOD the Epiphone is. The Epi has more character and personnality.
The AF200 is mounted with TI flats, and sounds very very hi-fi..really great, liquid, sound, it is a plain "perfect" sound. In that sense it is perfect.. but I would like a bit more character..
I've never had Thomastiks on my guitars (Chromes or Pyramids). Are these Thomastiks in the hi fi, very
liquidy acoustic, dark and clear territory?
I will swap the strings today, and clean up the fretboard and everything.
I love that part when buying a used guitar, but I have to admit I will be cleaning up apparantly nothing.. I already tried to check if everything was tight, well... it's just damn perfect! I've never seen that on a 28 year old guitar!
Oh yes, another thing, I want to remove that wierd badge on the tailpiece, but it seems very well anchored.. has anyone any idea how to remove it without damage? I know a lot of people have removed it so if someone could chime in..

[Jx30510]

I'll chime in since I've just bought a mint 89 AF200.
I understand exactly what you're saying, the AF200 is completely different than the Epiphone ES175 I also own. In my opinion you'll never be able to obtain the Es sound and feel with the AF, even with a pickup change.
Acousticly the two guitars show very clearly their character, the AF being clear, hi-fi, liquidy, and the Es having the thump, woody sound, the notes have a natural staccato, while the Ibanez sustains in a different manner, almost like an acoustic guitar.
I would say the Es gets me to play in a funkier style and I get bit wild on it. The AF, I seem to wear a black suit and sunglasses :-)
I would suggest putting roundwound strings, and working with the tone control to tame the brightness they will bring. I suspect that the flatwounds enhance the hifi feeling on the AF.
But it will never sound like an ES175.
My best advice would for you to keep the AF200, because it's the highest quality guitar I've ever played, and buy an Epiphone Es175 premium because for the great price, you'll have that sound, and a very very nice guitar.

[Jx30510]

If it can help, I've changed the ebony bridge for a TOM (from the Epiphone, perfect fit) and put some roundwounds (d'Addario 11-49), and the guitar is completely transformed. I love it like that, I went from a hifi acoustic sound to a really electric jazz sound with much more bite and dynamics. It's truly awesome, and even more playable because the sustain has been improved as well as the attack.
I even recognize the super 58 much more (I have an Ibanez As200 -81), with a lot of character and grit when hiting the notes. It is much better like this, and I suggest you to buy a Gotoh TOM bridge and try for yourself, you'll be impressed how different the guitar will become. The sound reminds me Pat Metheny, Scofield and Pat Martino.
In fact the AF200 is not bright at all, even with roundwounds, I would say it is dark and clear

[Jazzer04]

How is the truss rod on the af200. Can it handle 13-56 flats and still have adjustability after that? Great looking guitar. I have an fg-100 and it's a great sounding, playing guitar. The truss is pretty much maxed with 13's. Luckily it plays great and is pretty stable.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[eblydian]

I am very glad to hear that your NGD worked out fine.
interesting to hear that putting TOM bridge can get that result.

Post some pictures! Did you manage to remove the badge from the tailpiece?

Now I got curious about the "thunk" of a Epiphone ES175 premium...

[Jx30510]

[helios]

A bit hard from my phone to send images, here's one, sorry for the wrong angle.
Yes I'm managed to remove the badge. You have to remove a thin glued layer of plywood, and have to pop it out.
It's an absolute perfect instrument. The best one I've layed my hands on.
The TOM bridge has changed the tone in a radical way, and for me its proves the woodwork is of high quality.

The guitar looks great! I put a Gotoh: GB-2540-002 Nashville TOM on mine. The gold hardware matches the rest of the guitar and it's an exact replacement for the bridge base and neck radius. Ebay: $33.69

2-1/16" String Spacing

2-29/32" Post Spacing

12" Radius

GOLD

Manufactured by Gotoh

#GB-2540-002

[Jx30510]

Thanks very much for the tip. The chrome one doesn't do the guitar justice, but I really wanted to test it. I'm going to order the exact one you advise me.
Wow, this AF200 is a hell of an instrument!
When comparing with my other guitars (that are fine), they seem obviously of lower grade.
It is very sensible to everything, amp settings, picking techniques, tone & volume controls, playing dynamics.. and mistakes!
Sometimes I find myself playing better, in a way it forces me to, and at other times a sloppy control on my playing just bursts out of the amp..
It is a guitar that will make me a better player, since it's such a precise instrument. Delighted with this purchase, for 1000€ I couldn't be happier.
I was a bit relunctant at first, telling myself- well you don't need ANOTHER guitar, do you?-
Well, very glad I followed my instinct..

[Jx30510]

A couple of others.

[eblydian]

What did I tell you? For a 1000 EUR it was a steal. Well done.

This morning I saw an ad on the same website for yet another FG100 in natural selling for 1750 EUR!!

[Jx30510]

I'm trying to find the best setting for the AF200.. I've decided to remove the chrome TOM bridge because it looked a bit akward, and I prefer to order the proper Gotoh than keeping and oddball.
So I put back the original ebony one, with the roundwounds.. well the guitar is very very lively and touch dynamic. It's almost hard to master it, it is the most touch reactive guitar I've played.
Like I've said before, the AF200 does not forgive the slightest mistake. The Epiphone Es175 feels like a dead guitar next to it. It's very good for thunk thunk and wild playing, but watch out for the AF200 after that, night and day, thunk against pure bloomy sound..
It is if as the AF200 had a solid top, and it is very more prone to feedback by the way.
Is the AF200 really laminated spruce? Pressed Spruce, maybe solid? I don't know... it is so much above all the hollow bodies I've tried (including Gibsons) that it's slowly becoming a mystery to me

[eblydian]

I think it's got a pressed spruce top.

[Jx30510]

That's what I read somewhere.. does it mean solid & pressed (vs carved), or pressed laminate?
Really wondering..
the angles of the curves on the top seem to have been by pressing the top.. I can't imagine another way to make that kind of build..
but solid pressed or laminate?

[Hammertone]

My turn! This 2014 AF200 Prestige turned up recently. Gorgeous guitar, but the neck was not for me - I go for the fatboy whopper necks these days. The Japanese know how to make some REALLY nice archtops these days. Everything about this guitar is fabulous, from the Super 58 pickups to the impeccable fretwork.