Ibanez Artcore

[BHJazzman]

Hello All,
I also have an AFS75. Nice guitar, very comfortable to play. I put D'Addario XL Chromes 11s on it plus I have changed the bridge to a wooden bridge, Ibanez 2GB1H1WD. The guitar sounds jazzier and warmer with the wooden bridge and 11s. Good move closer to what I am going for. For the money, it is a really good guitar. Ibanez no longer offers the AFS75, only the AFS75TD with the vibrato. Too bad. The AFS75 is lighter without the vibrato. Great go to guitar... I would buy another.
But no matter what I do to it to warm it up it is not a Byrdland or L5 CT.
As far as Ibanez on a whole goes, I have a 1981 AS50 I bought new, and play everyday, this AFS75 which I use in the studio often, and a GSRM20 Mikro Bass that I love.
Play on guys.

[Chip]

Hi Will (theguitardude),

I purchased the AF105 with floating pickup used about 3 years ago. Still had the foam under the bridge, and basically looked brand new. I bought it on a whim to "replace" a guitar I've played for 36 years - a Gibby L-5 ! Although I have taken care of the Gibby, I just felt that for the money, I could "save" the Gibby for special occasions.

To be honest, the Gibby has not been played in 3 years. Not that I just play the Ibby, but rather, the Ibby rotates on a daily basis with 2 Peerless models (and soon it will rotate with one more Peerless!), but I digress..........

FOR THE MONEY, it's pretty hard to beat the 105. I have not played in a group recently, so the stock pickup is fine. I play through a Crate 30 Watt Acoustic amp w/ a touch of reverb (that I stole from my Son)and that works for me. I'm short (5"4"), I'm slightly overweight (in the belly) and I have small hands----the neck is just perfect. I found that many of the jazz chords that I struggled with on the L-5,became a "piece of cake" on the 105. It's quite a bit smaller, and so is super comfortable to play, comfortable to hold (I play mostly seated nowadays) and I couldn't be happier with her.

This past Friday , I gave a lesson to a friend outside in a Gazebo in the middle of town......It was humid and hot and I wasn't about to take any of the other guitars with me. I took the 105, and she performed flawlessly.......About the only "negative" comment I have is that with the Maple top, and even sporting a floating pick up, she's pretty weak without an amp - I fingerpick a lot, and that compounds the problem a bit, but I do fingerpick w/o the amp at home and just accept the weakness. It's just a great guitar....in fact, I'll be getting her out for my evening practice as I complete this .

If you have the opportunity to compare/contrast these Artcores with other brands, I highly recommend doing so. But I don't think you'll be disappointed if you cannot make the side -by- side test. Merely my 2 1/2 cents. Good Luck !

Chip

[MikeConner]

I have an AF95. (Could not find a review I posted previously). The small retaining clips and the screws can be loose. Once you have the saddles set for intonation, but a small dab of clear nail polish on each adjustment screw and the rattle is eliminated.