Ibanez Artcore Expressionist series archtop

[jazzshrink]

Hello all. I’ve been looking at the new Ibanez Artcore Expressionist series archtop. There appear to be two variations. First, the similarities:

Made in Indonesia
Dimensions: Length: 19½”; Width: 15¾”; Depth: 3?"
Scale length: 24¾"
Neck: 3-piece nyatoh/maple
Fingerboard: Macassar ebony
Frets: 20 / medium nickel silver
Nut: plastic (43mm)
Pickups: Ibanez Super 58 (2)

And now, the differences:

AF95
Top: Spruce laminate
Back/sides: Linden
Bridge: Walnut on a wooden base
Tailpiece: VT14 w/ wood cover
Finish: Brown Sunburst (BS) or Dark Amber (DA)





AF95FM
Top/back/sides: Flamed Maple laminate
Bridge: Gibraltar Performer (tune-o-matic) on a wooden base
Tailpiece: VT06 trapeze
Finish: Antique Yellow Sunburst




I’m interested in your thoughts regarding how the choices in tone woods and bridge might contribute to any differences in amplified sound or playability. Any additional comments, complaints or personal attacks will be dealt with on a first-come, first swerve basis. Thanks in advance. Now go kiss some dirt, it's Earth Day!

[rolijen]

All are great entry level archtops and can be set up to play really well. Since they are all laminate guitars, I don’t think the tone is mush different. That said, I would recommend you choose the one you like the look of the most. In my case, I would go for the AF95BS (Brown Sunburst) or AF95DA (Dark Amber) because I like the wood-covered tailpiece, bound f-holes, and wooden bridge. I do not like the sound of the Artcore expressionist pot-metal bridge. But, that’s just me.

I’ve owned several of these (AKJV95, AF95, LGB30, AFC151, and others) and the quality of the Indonesian Ibanezes is getting pretty good. These guitars are also great platforms for upgrades if you want better tuners, bridge or pickups.

Whichever one you choose, it will likely benefit from a good setup and having the bridge base precisely fit to the guitar’s top. That one thing will improve the tone a bunch. Good luck!

[Little Jay]

Indonesian made guitars seem to be very good in general! (I own an Indonesian made AF55). Just got hands on a Gretsch G2420t made in Indonesia and it’s flawless just like my AF55.

I am with Rolijen, don’t like those tunomatic bridges, the wooden bridges sound much better to my ear. Luckily they can be switched out easily and for as little as $6-10.00 you can get rosewood and ebony bridges that work great (got several of them, the solid foot rosewood ones sound best to my ear).

As Rolijen pointed out, they are laminated and it’s just the outer veneer that looks different. I wouldn’t stare blind on that, I don’t expect them to sound much - if at all - different because of that.

I think Ibanez really got the quality control thing down, even on the cheapest models: playability and fit and finish of the Indonesian-made models is very good is my experience.

[0zoro]

I had the AF 95FM and was very pleased with the tone. I did change the tunomatic for an ebony bridge purchased at Thomann, which I thought improved the tone. It is definitely a guitar to play amped, the unplugged tone is thin. My own personal complaint was that it was too large for my body type, or perhaps posture, so I sold it but I am sure you have already tried and approved of the shape yourself.

[jazzkritter]

I have the AF95FM as well as several MIJ Ibanez arch tops. While not equivalent to the MIJ at its price it’s a very fine playing guitar and its sound amplified is good. There’s a YouTube video of a comparison between it and an AS95 which gives a good idea of its sound, although it’s with the stick metal bridge which isn’t as ‘jazzy’ as I would want.

jk