Here's a good GAS tip!

[dgassie]

I’ve had my Epiphone Les Paul for about a month, so I’m pretty familiar with it now. After the mods I made, I couldn’t be happier with it. No doubt man, this is a HELL OF A LOT of guitar for your money. I wouldn’t hesitate recommending this guitar to anyone at ANY level of playing. There’s another axe in my arsenal though, I just got to tell you all about. It’s an Ibanez Artist 250 and she’s sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!!!

The 250 has been replaced by the 300. With the exception of block inlays and a change of pups, it’s basically the same guitar. Don’t even worry about the pups; while some seem to like them, I think you should just change them right off. I put DiMarzio’s Humbucker from Hell in the Neck and a Seymour Duncan Custom in the bridge. This combination is incredible! It’s a Mahogany / Flamed Maple top body and I ain’t talking veneer, this is solid wood. It has a set three-piece neck and Rosewood fingerboard and you can get it in any color you want as long as it’s Honeyburst! The finish on these Korean made guitars is PERFECT and I hear the older Japanese models were even better.

Bottom line… this guitar is a player. Compared to the Epi Les Paul, the Artist is quite a bit brighter, a little “twangier”. Through a tube amp, it’s just awesome. Just like the Les Paul, it doesn’t have a huge variety of available tones but what it does; it does very, very, well! It has a slim neck and the action can be adjusted very low, so this sucker is fast. Even so, bends are very easy and smooth. I’d say the neck is even easier to play than my Les Paul and that’s saying quite a bit! Having both the LP and Artist is a hot combination. Although the sounds are similar, they’re different enough to compliment each other very well.

Something else, they’re starting to get expensive. You could probably find one now for about $450 to $600 dollars, but they used to be cheaper. It seems the word is getting out. Look it up on the Internet and read any review. Practically everyone that has one can’t say enough good things about this guitar. There is ONE constant complaint; the balance with a strap just sucks. It can be easily solved but I just can’t bring myself to make a new hole for the strap button. Besides, I play sitting down most of the time. Another thing a lot of reviewers mention is a shitty factory setup. I’ve found ANY guitar you buy deserves a good professional setup to allow it to reach it’s true potential so that’s not really an issue.

If you have some GAS and are in the market for a new guitar, make sure to put this one on your playing list. I’m sure you’ll be as surprised as I was with this guitar. I was lucky enough to buy mine!

Dan

[Steelpriest]

;D I am always drooling at an Ibanez Artist, seems to be a good alternative to a Les Paul. Solid mahogany body, set neck, two humbuckers, and a shape almost alike a Les Paul DC. One day I might purchase one.

[dgassie]

I’m constantly surprised by my Artist. There is another, more expensive version of it, the AR 3000. I had the opportunity to try one and found it’s heavier, has nicer wood but in my opinion, the tailpiece is kind of over the top. No doubt it’s a whole lot “classier” but you would expect that from a guitar running close to $1600! On the other hand the AR300 is a terrific deal, basically the same guitar without the party dress but she ain’t a dog!

Since I am a beginner, I’m still fine-tuning my own reviews and opinions as I learn more about what is considered “good” or “bad” and guitar playing in general. However, I certainly know what I like and feels good to me! Although I may feel a guitar is an outstanding deal, someone with more experience may not agree, so that when I get the opportunity to compare impressions, it helps me grow that much more. In the case of the Artist though, I don’t think many players would disagree with me, but I’d love to compare how someone with more experience feels about it. Just like you Steelpriest, I think of it as an alternative to the Les Paul.

I just wish Ibanez would get their heads straight and install better pickups. The originals aren’t bad but they could do so much better. The pickups I have on mine just transformed this beast and opened her up. You guys ever see the Whoppie Goldburgh movie where she teaches a choir of nuns to sing? There was this little quiet nun who sang very softly but once she learned, found she had this fantastic, monstrous, voice that just projected beautifully… It’s a lot like that!

[sandman]

try loking on ebay at some of the older artist models. if you shop you can find a good deal on an older one, some come with ebony fretboards and they look sweet. you can usually find a good one with case for around $500. a good buy and a great guitar.(especially lke the custom models with the abalone trim)

[Uriah]

Hmm, my brother just purchased something similar... I think... But its a HT style guitar. The Ibanez RIO