Ibanez AS103 Artcore Custom Series Semi-Hollowbody Electric Guitar  

This guitar has all the mojo. From playability, construction and tone you would be hard pressed to find something close in this price range. From my prospective I'd rather spend under a grand and get a guitar that is very close to a Gibson 335 as to spending $3 grand or more. The neck is silky and the tone is absolutely outstanding. Much to my surprise it even shines with OD pedals without any unwanted feedback. Well rounded tone, crisp clear highs, nice bite as well as nicely defined lows. If you're a gibson fan, stick some 57's in it, although I doubt you'll want to. Great tuners, and I love the wood control knobs. Comes with a quality case too.  Out of the box mine was flawless. It stays in tune better than some of my more expensive guitars. If you're a hollowbody player I don't think you'll be disapointed with this guitar. I'm about as picky as they come with guitars, amps and tone. I love this guitar.

This guitar has all the classic features of a great semi-hollow. It's just like a Gibson ES-345 - minus the "Varitone" switch. It's a cut above the typical "Dot" style, having nice inlay and binding everywhere. The tuners are very stable, yet easy to turn. The AS103 is a stunning looking guitar. It would be cool to have coil splittig added, but that's really not a biggie. It sounds great clean in all pickup configurations. It sounds great dirty with some crunch for rock rhythm. The notes just chime out! Leads are as cutting or as creamey as you want. Play this baby through a tube amp and you are in Heaven.

I was amazed at how nice this guitar is - right out of the box! There is no need for any set-up with this instrument. The one I got plays with no string buzz on any string or any fret. It feels great in your hand, and is easy to play. I heard about the great set-up on various forums I scouered searching for info - and many praised the "out-of-the-box" playability. The guitar is light, and feels good against your body. It's a bit smaller than an ES-335, which is fine with me because that guitar is too big IMO. The AS103 even sounds good unplugged. I have been noodling around as I watch TV because I can't put it down, and the clarity of the notes and the sustain are great. I love this guitar.

For the price of an equivalant guitar from Gibson you could buy 3 - 5 Ibanez AS103s, and you would not be losing out on any quality. I researched semi-hollows for a long time before my purchase, and many jazz guys prefer the AS103 to the ES-335 in quality, playability and sound. The Custom models from Ibanez are truly a cut above, and it's obvious they take extra care to make sure these guitars are ready for playing BEFORE they leave the factory. In 30 years of playing, I've never had a guitar play this well out of the box. I took a chance purchasing one without having the chance to play one first, and I am not dissappointed. If you like the price of this guitar, you will LOVE Ibanez AS103.

I just have to give it a 10. I can't falut the guitar on anything. I'm usually very critical of anything I buy, but nothing here sticks out as even being slightly annoying. The guitar is still quite new to me, but when you grab a guitar, you just know when it's right. When you are going back and forth about getting something - it's usually because something bugs you and you are deciding if you can live with that. There is notheing to "live with" here. It's all desireable. If the price works for you, there is nothing to lose. I have never reviewed any of my MF purchaes before. I just felt I had to share my thoughts on this particular guitar.

I'm only giving it an 8 for a overall rating because it would be a 10 if it came with Gibson '57 Classic     pickups.

I have owned this guitar since Dec '10.     I took it in today to have Gibson 57 Classic and Classic Plus pickups installed.     When I pulled it from the case, there was silence in the store as several customers came to see it and remarked on how beautiful it was, one customer asked if he could touch it.     One of the guys who runs the studio and is a super fan of ES335's, he had tried his hardest to get me to buy one and not from him (too much money), was amazed at how well it was made, how gorgeous it was, and how well it played unplugged.     This guitar is absolutely wonderful, it plays and sounds like a dream.     The only reason I'm putting Gibson pickups in it is because I know that when I get it back, there will be no reason for me to dream of having an ES335 again. Do yourself a favor, buy this guitar, like I said mine is natural, I can't speak for the vintage brown, but th natural is absolutely beautiful.     The only thing I did to mine when I first got it was to lower the action a bit and set the intonation.

Not a flaw in the finish.     Wood control knobs, wood pickguard.     The bookcase quilted maple is perfect.     Neck is flawless.     Inlays are beautiful. Binding is flawless.     Tuners are great.     Stays in tune.     Tone and volumes starts at 1.     No crackling when you adjust tone or volume.     One thing I don't care for is when you completely turn back one volume in the middle position it will cancel out both pickups, but that's an easy fix, while they are installing     the new pickups.

I got mine on E-Bay new for a great price.     I swear it must have fell off a truck.     Well worth the price.     Beautiful case, high quality.     Say what you will, this guitar does not know it was made in China.