How is the Ibanez Artcore series?

[chilln2music]

I've been lookin into getting a AS83vls. Can anyone comment on the tone and construction of that guitar or the Artcore series in general?

[pawel]

I suggest you play it before you buy it - they are great for the money, but aparently somewhat hit-and-miss (especially as far as the fretwork goes), like many guitars in that price bracket. If you buy online/long-distance prepare for the possibility of having some work done to it. That said, even with some extra fretwork, they are tough to beat as far as price goes.

I loved the Artcore Custom jazzbox I tried. It slayed everything in this price range, and even some of the more expensive guitars.

[snowfall]

I have a Talman semi-hollow that I picked up real cheap (<$200 new) --
not an artcore, but the same gotoh hardware and ART humbuckers. It's
really well put together for the price, good fretwork, solid hardware, and the
pickups sound good to my ears... wait -- I haven't heard a pickup lately
that sounded *bad* to my ears, to take that with a grain of salt.

[Jemwielder]

I have an artcore Awd83t and it screams! I had dimarzio pickups put in it (breed in bridge EJ custom in neck) Awesome guitar for the price. My friend who is a PRS snob was actually jealous of all the tone I got out of it. Personally I think it played and sounded better than his hollowbody PRS.

[David McCarroll]

Originally Posted by Jemwielder

I have an artcore Awd83t and it screams! I had dimarzio pickups put in it (breed in bridge EJ custom in neck) Awesome guitar for the price. My friend who is a PRS snob was actually jealous of all the tone I got out of it. Personally I think it played and sounded better than his hollowbody PRS.

Ahem........ the Artcores are superb value for what you pay, but from setting up dozens of the guitars for my local store, they are wildly inconsistent in build quality - so try before you buy - some are un-set-uppable, some come complete with rattles that are impossible to trace (dodgy hardware? loose braces? bits of luthiers lunch left inside?), and some are absolutely fantastic for the money, so get the one that you actually play, not a mail order special! Hmmm - given that the Hollowbody PRS in the same store I mentioned would have to be one of the best guitars I have ever played, you are very lucky indeed with your Artcore Jemwielder!

Cheers,

David

[wemedge]

I have the AK85, and it is fantastic, esp. for the price.

David McCaroll is correct; play the one you buy. I can't generalize to all Artcores, but for mine, it was great after I smoothed out the fret ends and dressed the frets.

Given the low price and the cost of fretwork, if you're not happy with the frets and not doing the work yourself, it may not be worth it. However, if you already have the tools and you're inclined to to some work on it, it's a great bargain. Of course, for $200+ it's no Benedetto but a decent, serviceable instrument.

good luck
wemedge