Ibanez Artcore AF105 Hollowbody Electric Guitar  

The features of this guitar are excellent. It is quite well done with the exception of some of the minor quality control issues mentioned below. The inlays, quilted maple and finish are equivalent to a guitar probably costing around three times the amount. The tone is actually wonderful. The guitar shipped in cold weather and I thought it sounded a little dead when I first took it out. After about three hours of playing, the sound started to improve to the point that I was very impressed. Not sure if that was because of the warmth or it just needed a quick break in. It makes me wonder how nice it is going to sound with some age on it. Wooden tone controls are good and effective. The PUs have a nice gold treatment and give a nice warm jazz tone at the neck position and a bark in the middle and bridge position. The guitar comes with a metal bridge adjustable for intonation and a substitute rosewood bridge for a more woody jazz tone. The rosewood tailpiece is very nice with the inlay but see my comment below for the finish. I don't want this to sound the wrong way but the people playing this on youtube are not playing it to the guitar's capability. This is a jazz guitar and is capable of some complex tones. So don't use those videos to determine the tone.

I was awestruck opening the case when the guitar arrived. The flamed maple and burst finish are really very well done and definitely more in line with a guitar that would cost three times what it does. The finish on the body where there is finish is flawless. However, the cutaways for the screw heads on the pickguard have some missing and/or rough finish. Also, underneath the neck at the last few frets and above the neck pickup there is no finish applied. This is a little unusual and left me wondering why there would be no finish there as if the body were finished after the neck was joined. Not sure on that. The binding on the F-holes while overall very well done is rough in a few places(side facing inward). There is also a cut mark on the right upper bout in the binding there which is a bit of a blemish. Lastly, the frets are not finished very well on my guitar. At least one of them has what is either some dried glue or perhaps a bit of a burr. The abalone inlays are very elegant looking. I am not sure if they were trying to simulate ebony on the tail piece but it is done in a dark matte finish. I think the tailpiece would look better polished with a lighter varnish on the rosewood. In totality, these are very minor flaws which I would consider consistent with a mass produced guitar in this price range.

I think that this guitar is a superb value. Initially, the idea that the guitar is made in China was a deterrent but I have owned other Ibanez guitars and decided to take a chance. This guitar has characteristics of guitars costing three times the amount. I play Jazz guitar and I would say that the sound is smooth and rich and in capable hands the difference between this and an ES175 would not necessarily be obvious (tone is in the fingers). That being said I have played ES175s and I can say that they are exquisite but probably not five times the cost of this guitar exquisite. I always remember the USA Today article in which the Gibson CEO (HJ) flat out said that he doubled the cost of some of the guitars because marketing showed that people bought more of them that way. So I am not exactly satisfied paying retail for a Gibson. So that's my rant. I bought the Ibanez not because it is the quality of an ES175 (It's not) but for the number of features and appointments for a guitar in the price range. In other words, it has more well done features than any other guitar in my opinion at this cost. I If this broke I would consider purchasing it again.

If you can deal with some minor quality control issues, the guitar in totality is fantastic for the price. The abalone inlays, finish, book matched maple body, binding, tailpiece and headstock are all well done. The sound is terrific and it has the look, feel and tone of a much more expensive piece. I would recommend guitar as a good value.