Ibanez Artcore AS53 Semi-Hollow Electric Guitar  

• Solid center block jazz guitar with semi hollow body & f holes.
• Neck profile is not slender (good for me I like like a bulkier neck)
• Single volume & tonr knob for both pickups (I like the single knobs - the pickups are hot and I can clean up my tone by rolling back the single volume knob - funtionality)
• Satin sapele body - feels good - sounds open
• FYI - the black model is dark brown sapele with black stain rubbed on - it's more brown than black
• I gave it a 9 because ethey simply painted the Ibanez logo on the headstock

• stays in tune
• fit & finish is very good
• tone is very warm when you play clean and the gain is great if you overdrive it
• this is a serious stripped down jazz guitar
• I own 7 Gibson guitars and the quality of this Ibanez surprised me (it's my first Ibanez guitar in 23 years)

I compared the Ibanez to an Epi DOT.  The Ibanez had better pots, better bridge, better tuners, the fret dressing was better on the Ibanez, the wood grain was prettier on the Ibanez.

Fantastic value.

"Oveall" this is a really decent stripped down jazz guitar.  I won't hesitate to play it live or record with it.  The value is fantastic.  The pots, tuners, bridges and frets are all good quality.  The bare wood grain (if you peek into the f holes) looks very nice.

I think that if you spent twice as much you may get a guitar that is 15% better.

My AS53......

Basic set-up - 2 humbuckers, 3 way toggle, 1 Volume and 1 Tone knobs - all work  as they should with no noise. Nice faded finish (I got the red) - feels sturdy.

Just cannot beat the quality to price ratio - am absolutely floored at the sound of this AS53! Comparable to the Gibson ES in many ways, except for the name.

For those of you who would not be embarrassed to be seen without the Gibson logo, I dare you to try this budget, yet outstanding guitar.

Best $300 spent on a guitar - unbelievable value, sound, and looks. Way to go Ibanez!

Has every thing you need unless you want a vibrato.

Really good. For me I see no reason to order the higher priced models like the as73 or as93, unless you don't like the color choice or type of pickup. The Ibanez site describes the pickups and other things too. As for the wood  in this one,sapele, I believe it's the only one that has it. If you go to a site like Bell  Forest Products you will see its a fairly expensive wood and is popular for musical instruments.This may be an actual advantage over the higher priced models. Mine is the transparent black, but with the wood showing through some, it's more of a subdued chocolate brown---understated color and I love it.

Most Ibanez guitars, except for the Talman,which is junk, is a good value.

I gave it a 9 but it could just as easily be a 10---just a matter of features you want.

I like to keep it simple 3 way switch and tone and volume.

Nice set up right out of the box. Matt type finish and limited chrome give it a nice mellow look to match its sound.

Bought it when they had it for a great deal.  Great guitar for the price.