|
|
Post by mandough on Sept 15, 2004 9:08:13 GMT -5
I'm going on down today to get my new Ibanez. My choice boiled down between an AF85, and the AK85. the differences are the cutaway(AF-round...AK-sharp), the top(AF-Maple...AK-Spruce), and the color(AF-Violin SB...AK-Dark VSB).
When I first learned about the Artcore line, I thought it must be junk due to the prices. Now I have one, and I'm getting annother one today. Positive proof that one need not have the open-book headstock for thousands of bucks, when Ibanez makes it easy for us multi-thousand-airs to get a great hollow box.
|
|
|
|
Post by CAFeathers on Sept 15, 2004 10:07:39 GMT -5
I have been eying the AF85 myself. Very nice looking guitar.
Good Luck and post a review.
|
|
|
|
Post by mandough on Sept 15, 2004 19:06:19 GMT -5
I did what most experts regard as the most important thing when I decided on this one... I took my amp to the store, went into the quiet room, and took both of them for a hour-long ride. I found that the maple on the AF-85 gave it a more nasal quality. The ACH PUPs already have a spike in the high mid-range making them sound a bit more like a Pearly Gate than a flatter PAF tone. I might have to go and get me a set of SD "Seth Lover" PUPs to get my tone flatter. However, I found that the spruce top on the AK rounded some of it out, but I still might get those other PUPs.
The neck is VERY nice and feels beefy, yet not too fat. The inlays are big pearl blocks, with smaller abalone inserts. Classy, for sure. The pickguard is the same finish as the body, and has an inlay of spruce on top, and is multi bound, as are the body, head, back, fretboard, and f-holes. This thing will look understated on stage, especialy when I change out the cream PUP rings and amber speed knobs with black all around.
Feedback could be a problem, but I don't play that loud anyway, so no prob there. The tone is warm, warm warm. The notes have a bit more articulation than my AS-73(semi-hollow a la 335) and the thing makes less gain from the PUPs. I haven't had it onstage yet, but after I do, I'll embellish this review.
In short--if you want a good hollow box for not much dough, one of these (or the AF-85 if you like the higher tone) will be a welcome addition to your stable.
|
|
|
|
Post by CAFeathers on Sept 15, 2004 19:12:00 GMT -5
Instead of changing pups you might want to consider just changing the value of the capacitors.
As far as feedback use a lower volume on the guitar and a higher volume on the amp.
|
|
|
|
Post by mandough on Sept 15, 2004 19:15:21 GMT -5
That's not a bad idea there CA! ! That surely would take some of the "nose" out of them. What's more, I have a friend who is a whiz at electronics, and he's in the same band as me, so no charge for that.
|
|
|
|
Post by mandough on Sept 20, 2004 16:44:08 GMT -5
I got the urge to do some re-search, and found out that the Artcore Humbuckers are ceramic magnet, which should account for some of the high-mid tone I have. I asked the representative from the company, and found out that a pair of Super 58s only list for $95, and I got the Guitar Center I deal with to order a set. They ran me $30 each, plus $8 shipping.
The Super 58 is Ibanez's version of the original humbuckers with alnico 2 magnets, and medium output. They should flatten out my frequency curve a bit and give me the more smooth vintage tone I like.
|
|
