| Author |
Message |
Eastmongo
Username: Eastmongo
Registered: 03-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 27, 2005 - 4:48 am: | |
Any Jazz players and Jazz lovers?
How do you like your Ibanez guitars ?
Why Ibanez?
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Zhen
Username: Zhen
Registered: 01-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 27, 2005 - 5:16 am: | |
I didn't actually want an electric guitar before I tried Ibanez AS73... I played jazz on my acoustic guitar and nothing bothered me... but I fell in love with the tone Ibanez produced... later I spent weeks trying different guitars (like Epiphone, Gretsch, Guild, Squier, Greg Bennett, Samick) and none of them suited me... I did like the tone of some guits, but they didn't lie in my arms like Ibanez did... so I decided to go with Ibanez... besides, my favorite five guitarists play Ibanez  it's Abercrombie, Metheny, Pass, Benson and Scofield ;) |
Stugotts
Username: Stugotts
Registered: 07-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 27, 2005 - 7:47 am: | |
Hey Zehn, Like you, I tried a lot of guitars other than Ibanez. The Joe Pass Epi came close, but no cigar. There are quite a few big guitar stores in the Orlando area, and I made visits to most of them. Side by side the AF 85 put the Epi down and out, not to mention the price difference.
My two all time favorite players are Barney Kessel and Wes Montgomery, contemporary artist include Rittenour, Klugh, Metheny and of course Benson. I have been a pro musician for all of my adult life, semi retired now. I have been playing for 50 years and I know what I like in the feel, look and tone of a guitar, The AF 85 has it... Stu |
Guitartim
Username: Guitartim
Registered: 04-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 27, 2005 - 11:42 am: | |
Like a lot of players, I fell hard for George Benson's GB10 tone. Even though he played other archtops before and after his deal with Ibanez, nothing else could touch a sweet GB10. And it's a great guitar for all jazz styles...and perfect for us wannabe jazzers.  |
Funkle
Username: Funkle
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 27, 2005 - 12:15 pm: | |
Still loving my AG195 for jazz.
-Sven |
Bigmike
Username: Bigmike
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 27, 2005 - 1:39 pm: | |
GB10s are it for me, you find an old Johnny Smith copy try it out - they're great too. The Byrdland and L5 copies are nothing to sneeze at either...
BigMike |
Wildfield
Username: Wildfield
Registered: 05-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 27, 2005 - 1:53 pm: | |
I've had several Ibanez jazz guitars - AM70, ES175 copy (unknown model), GB100, AF85VLS, AF120 and the latest (and only Ibanez currently in my possession) AG195. My favorite of all of these is my AG195, even above the GB100. My least favorite was the AF120. Of the ones I no longer own, I wish I could get the AM70 back at the price I sold it for.
I think Ibanez has had a very diverse offering of jazz guitars over the years. They have been the only maker that I am aware of that has offered a budget 7-string archtop. The 14.5¨ GB body size is one of the more unique archtop offerings compared to the 16¨ or 17¨ industry standard. I also like the reduced lower bout dimension of the AM series produced in the 80's - reminds me of the Gibson ES336.
Overall, I think Ibanez has made a great contribution to world of jazz guitar. |
Guitartim
Username: Guitartim
Registered: 04-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 27, 2005 - 4:08 pm: | |
Wildfield, you got rid of a GB100???
Most of us would love to have a shot at one of those beauties!! |
Tidou
Username: Tidou
Registered: 08-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 27, 2005 - 4:34 pm: | |
I have gb10 1986 mad-in Japan and copy L-5 Paul busher
one yamaha AEX 500N and Fender stratocaster
One amp Fender blues deluxe mad-in us covered Tolex =)
I find Gb 20 or gb12 =) |
Wildfield
Username: Wildfield
Registered: 05-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 27, 2005 - 5:06 pm: | |
"Wildfield, you got rid of a GB100???
Most of us would love to have a shot at one of those beauties!!" - Guitartim
I have to admit that I had wanted that guitar for a long time. However, to the best of my knowledge, it was not (and is still not) available in the U.S. I happened to stumble across a new one while traveling in Asia. It was very reasonably priced too.
Anyway, I owned it for about 3 or 4 years and sold it last December to put a deposit on a new custom archtop. I was sad to see it go, but couldn't justify keeping it after spending so much on the new guitar.
I especially liked the 1/2" deeper body and the flame maple top on the GB100. The flame maple and cherry burst finish was very nice. I didn't care for the abalone binding or the veneer that they used on the peg head though. Tone was very nice although just before selling it, I had considered taking it to a local repair guy to see if he could install a routed-in top mount humbucker. Thankfully, I came to my senses. |
Eastmongo
Username: Eastmongo
Registered: 03-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 27, 2005 - 7:57 pm: | |
Wildfield!
What is your custom archtop? |
Wildfield
Username: Wildfield
Registered: 05-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 27, 2005 - 8:11 pm: | |
I've ordered a guitar from Stephen Holst in Oregon. It's probably still 6 months from completion. To keep in the theme of this thread, I like the neck shape of my AG195 so much, I am asking Steve to copy the shape. The only difference will be, I've specified a 1-3/4" nut width instead of 1-11/16". |
Eastmongo
Username: Eastmongo
Registered: 03-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 27, 2005 - 8:30 pm: | |
I heard of him.
Oh man! May I ask how much you gona spend for that?
Since you like AG195 so much, the custom will be the hell of the guitar. Same feel but every thing would be much better. Especially the body sounding will be much louder and richer acoustically.
I envy you. |
Wildfield
Username: Wildfield
Registered: 05-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, July 28, 2005 - 12:26 am: | |
Actually, I'm purchasing his least expensive model. The base price is only $2,500. It has laminated maple top and back plates. Less of an acoustic tone than his solid wood guitar but more resistant to feedback and better suited as an electric guitar. |
Eastmongo
Username: Eastmongo
Registered: 03-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, July 28, 2005 - 1:56 am: | |
I Like good laminated top guitars.
They are not cheep archtop.
Look at Jim Hall's D'aquisato and Jim's current Sadowsky. His sound come from laminated archtop.
It sacrifice acoustic sound, but it has advantages when it goes through the amp. Laminated guitar has more full electric sound. |
Funkle
Username: Funkle
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, July 28, 2005 - 10:17 am: | |
I really like the Sadowsky Jimmy Bruno model. It's about the size of the AG.
 |
Funkle
Username: Funkle
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, July 28, 2005 - 10:17 am: | |
I really like the Sadowsky Jimmy Bruno model. It's about the size of the AG. I hear they are made in Japan.
 |
Wildfield
Username: Wildfield
Registered: 05-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, July 28, 2005 - 10:57 am: | |
I was originally considering the Sadowsky Jim Hall and then later the Jimmy Bruno model. The nice thing about the Holst is you have a little more latitude - you can specify nut width, neck shape, finish, and many other details. It's also $1,500 less. Had I not ordered the Holst, I'd probably have ordered the Jim Hall. |
Bigmike
Username: Bigmike
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, July 28, 2005 - 12:39 pm: | |
I've dealt with Steve Holst many times - but not in as grand a fashion as you. I was looking to update an old L7 that had a non original tailpiece on it with a ebony one. At the time Steve had some handmade tailpieces for sale on eBay and I got to know him through that experience. I ended up buying TWO tailpieces from him, both really cool. For the L7 I had him replicate a Gibson tailpiece like you see on some ES-175's - the T shaped one with 3 diamonds at the top, in ebony and rosewood. It was an amazing piece. I'll post a photo as I am sure I have one. I ended up doing a lot of emaliing with Steve, he's great, wish I could afford one of his guitars because it seems he really does a helluva job, as evidenced by the tailpiece experiences I had...
I'm envious as hell...
image{p4190012} |
Bigmike
Username: Bigmike
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, July 28, 2005 - 12:41 pm: | |
 |
Bigmike
Username: Bigmike
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, July 28, 2005 - 12:45 pm: | |
Here are two guitars I had Steve Holst make me tailpieces for. The first is a '69 Gibson ES-150DCN, nice instrument (can't tell you WHY I let that one go) that I put a whole lotta work into. The tailpiece is all ebony: amazing this picture does not show the dark browns in the wood, lovely piece. The 2nd is a 1946 Gibson L-7 (refinned blonde) with the custom ebony/rosewood tailpiece I spoke of in the earlier post. It's it sexy as hell ?? Steve is one cool guy to work with... |
Wildfield
Username: Wildfield
Registered: 05-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, July 28, 2005 - 3:23 pm: | |
Wow, a couple very nice looking guitars!
I actually got to know Steve (at least via e-mail) by ordering a couple of tailpieces from him as well. I ordered one for my AF85VLS (yes, a $70 tailpiece for a $379 guitar) and one for my GB100. I ended up not putting the tailpiece on my GB100 and later installed it on a Epi Zephyr Regent.
Anyway, a year after I ordered the tailpieces, I became interested in ordering a Sadowsky. I had a chance to play a D'Aquisto made in the same shop as the Sadowsky - in fact it looked just like the Jim Hall except for the peg head and tailpiece. Anyway, some guys on the RMMGJ recommended talking to Steve and that he was just launching a new version of his K200 with laminated plates.
So far it's been a great process - very slow, but Steve seems like a great guy and I'm in no rush at all. Here's a link to the bent sides http://www.pacinfo.com/~sholst/lamdn.htm
If anyone is interested, I'll post more links as the guitar progresses.
Sorry Eastmongo for sidetracking this thread.
Darryl |
Eastmongo
Username: Eastmongo
Registered: 03-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, July 28, 2005 - 7:55 pm: | |
Hey Wildfield! Don't forget to show us your guitar progresses.
 |
Bassman
Username: Bassman
Registered: 07-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, July 31, 2005 - 10:48 am: | |
I just picked up a NOS natural AF200 and I am impressed about the sound and the flawless quality of this instrument. I can understand now why a lot of jazz guitar payers are using Ibanez axes. 
bassman |
Johns
Username: Johns
Registered: 02-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, July 31, 2005 - 10:56 am: | |
Bassman:
A natural AF200 sounds cool. They are much rarer than the Vintage burst color. What country are you in?
Can you post some pictures of it? Let me know if you need help with that...most people do. |
Bassman
Username: Bassman
Registered: 07-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, July 31, 2005 - 1:56 pm: | |
Yea it is and it sound cool, and it’s beautiful! I have seen some pictures of sunburst ones but almost none of the natural ones. I have spent all my money for that guitar so I have no digital camera.
No without joking: I will try to post some pictures later on; I have first to take them. I life in Switzerland / Europe.
bassman |
Aroee
Username: Aroee
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Friday, August 05, 2005 - 10:47 pm: | |
I play jazz regularly on a 1974 Ibanez 2355 (es-175). It gets the right tones and it's a good quality instrument but I think the neck is a little too narrow for my taste so I'm currently on a quest for a new jazz guitar with a fatter neck. |
Eastmongo
Username: Eastmongo
Registered: 03-2004
| | Posted on Monday, August 08, 2005 - 10:32 pm: | |
I use Jsm100 exclusively thesedays with Fulltone Full drive II into Polytone Mini Brute II.
It is the contemporally Jazz sound to me.
I get the sound mixture of Jim Hall & Kurt Rosenwinkel. |
Arney
Username: Arney
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Monday, August 08, 2005 - 11:06 pm: | |
A 1946 Gibson L-7...God, what a beautiful guitar.
I found a 1961 L7-C on ebay with a starting bid price of $3,199.00, somewhat beyond my budget.
http://cgi.ebay.com/1961-Gibson-L7-C-Vintage-Archtop-Guitar-NR_W0QQitemZ73416202 39QQcategoryZ33040QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem |
Johnm
Username: Johnm
Registered: 08-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 09, 2005 - 4:45 am: | |
I used to have a blonde Birdland copy that was great. I regret selling it. Now I have an AM100, AM205, AS200 and a ES175 copy.
I'd say the AS200 and the AM205 are my favorites for jazz. I guess I just don't like the size and feel of the 175. The AM100 is great but since I have an 205 as well it is sitting in its case most of the time. |
Eastmongo
Username: Eastmongo
Registered: 03-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 09, 2005 - 4:50 am: | |
I wander that how the AM205 sounds when you play chords?
It is mahogany body. I know it is a killer single line player. What about when you play harmony?
Is it less clear than AS200? |
Funkle
Username: Funkle
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 09, 2005 - 11:36 am: | |
Eastmongo,
Regarding my AM200, I'd say that it is a little softer sounding than an AS200, but is still very much a semi-hollow in terms of sound. Compared to a full hollow, chords are brighter and have that Steve Kahn shimmer, and more definition, with a little "solid body" twang.
I'd use the AM200 for groove jazz, something greasy with some hammond B3. Or a more "contemporary" sound. Kurt Resenwinkle, Dave Stryker etc.
-Sven |
Petruz
Username: Petruz
Registered: 05-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 09, 2005 - 11:58 am: | |
talking about dave stryker: in his website there's a photo of him playing a good ol' sunburst GB10... |
Johnm
Username: Johnm
Registered: 08-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 09, 2005 - 1:13 pm: | |
Eastmongo: I have nothing to add to Funkle's comments. |
Eastmongo
Username: Eastmongo
Registered: 03-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 09, 2005 - 4:06 pm: | |
Thanks!
Oh man! I wana play AM200 &205.
 |
Jazzzbo
Username: Jazzzbo
Registered: 09-2005
| | Posted on Monday, September 05, 2005 - 12:41 pm: | |
How about those Ibanez es 175 copies and similar jazz boxes, to me the model 2355 etc or the es 175 copies are the happening jazz guitars made by Ibanez, these guitars sound great, look great and play great once set up, i think they define the essence of jazz, standards, ballads, ive played many , many guitars in the last 40 years, and im very happy with my circa 1975 Ibanez jazz box, what say you?? JAZZZBO |
Jazzgeetar
Username: Jazzgeetar
Registered: 03-2005
| | Posted on Monday, October 10, 2005 - 5:43 pm: | |
I have and use an AF105 and an AM50. I love the hollow body AF105 especially for jazz. |
Jazzgeetar
Username: Jazzgeetar
Registered: 03-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 11, 2005 - 4:17 pm: | |
Meant to add this to my previous post...
I use my AF105 exclusively for jazz. Here's some pics of it: http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/dspilka/album?.dir=9f97 |
Guildibanez
Username: Guildibanez
Registered: 05-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, October 13, 2005 - 1:01 pm: | |
An AK85DVS which is a great instrument especially with the upgraded Gotoh 510 Supermachines added on!
I also love my new Guild X180 Park Avenue in Sunburst. It is heaven to play and with tone not unlike Wes's. Very well built and extremely figured eastern hard maple throughout - no softer and inferior big leaf maple here. |
Guildibanez
Username: Guildibanez
Registered: 05-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, October 16, 2005 - 3:51 pm: | |
currently GASing for the Artcore Deluxe AG85 to complement the AK85. I am going to get one before they do away with the Bubinga because I don't think they have an endless reserve of the "African Rosewood"( bubinga), and they use it on some of their acoustics and those talman-like artcore. Peace |
Michaelkaufman
Username: Michaelkaufman
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Monday, October 17, 2005 - 3:25 pm: | |
The also use it in some of the Prestiges. |
Bassman
Username: Bassman
Registered: 07-2005
| | Posted on Monday, April 24, 2006 - 4:53 am: | |
Sorry it took a little bit longer to take some pics of my blonde AF200. It's serial number is H009282.
I guess I have started to become an Ibanez fan; I have just bougt a NOS AR2000!
Bassman |
Bassman
Username: Bassman
Registered: 07-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 25, 2006 - 4:41 pm: | |
Hmm, to take the pics is one thing; to post them another ... sorry! But here they are:
 |
Johns
Username: Johns
Registered: 02-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 25, 2006 - 5:32 pm: | |
Bassman:
Wow, that's a really nice looking AF200NT. I'll trade you my burst AF200 for it.
Did you take off the pickguard and plastic insert on the tailpiece? Except for the holes, I'd say it's an improvement.
Congratulations on mastering Faststone Image Viewer. The revised images are excellent. Now you have to pass your experience on to other "image-challenged" members.  |
Guitartim
Username: Guitartim
Registered: 04-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 25, 2006 - 7:13 pm: | |
Great looking AF200NT!! I believe they had NT's like that in the Ibanez catalogues at one time.
Is that an optical illusion, or is the neck profile a bit thicker than other IBZ semi-hollow necks? |
Dvsleeko
Username: Dvsleeko
Registered: 03-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 25, 2006 - 9:00 pm: | |
Wow, I've not actually seen the 3 piece mahogony/maple neck in natural. Tiz quite attractive.
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v302/L4sleeko/DSCN0276.jpg[/IMG]
?;^)~ |
Bassman
Username: Bassman
Registered: 07-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 26, 2006 - 1:47 am: | |
Thanks for the compliments!
As an "image-challenged" member I can not wait to post the pics of my new AR2000. It’s on the way from Italy to Switzerland and I expect that it would be as nice as the AF200.
Yes I have removed the ugly piece of plastic which was in the bridge. Of course I could be reattached but I like it more as it is. I have also removed the pickguard. It’s a strange piece of something like flame maple (or plastic) and I am considering to make something nicer?
The neck has normal width of 1 11/16 (43 mm).
The serial number (H009282) indicates that it was made in 2000 but I read once something that they have changed the headstock on this later models.
Anyway, it’s a great guitar and it plays and sounds wonderful …
Bassman |
Johns
Username: Johns
Registered: 02-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 26, 2006 - 9:22 am: | |
Bassman:
Actually, I'd say your serial number and the headstock shape indicate that it's a 1990 vintage. Check out the 1990 catalog: http://www.ibanezrules.com/catalogs/us/1990/index.htm
Here's a picture of my '88 AF200AV (wishing it were an NT):
 |
Bassman
Username: Bassman
Registered: 07-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 26, 2006 - 9:42 am: | |
Johns
Ok, but so some of the serial number explanations I read on this forum are wrong but anyway!
It’s a mystery for me why the AF200 is so rare because from a quality, look and feel and sound point of view it is on the same level the GB models are but I guess this subject was also discussed in this forum. But it is a proof of concept for me to see that even an Ibanez expert like you own a AF200 
Bassman |
Joevocht
Username: Joevocht
Registered: 08-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 26, 2006 - 11:27 pm: | |
Aroee, I heard your jazz renditions and they are excellent! If you are looking for a fatter neck,and I know your frustration because I started as a classical guitar player and moved to jazz,blues and rock, you probably would like the AS120 which has a perfectly formed neck, thinner and wider than most. I actually like it better than the ES335 dot reissue I had for a month. |
Johns
Username: Johns
Registered: 02-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, April 27, 2006 - 8:28 am: | |
Bassman:
Yeah, some of the info seems contradictory. The serial number situation is definitely not easy to decipher because so many factories have been used, since the mid/late 80s, and each had their own system. There are certainly exceptions to the "rules" which include small production runs and even different factories using the same numbering system for more than one year (see this thread for an example: http://www.ibanezcollectors.com/cgi-bin/discus/show.cgi?tpc=6484&post=18445#POST 18445.)
For models (like the AF200, AS200, GB10, etc.) that spanned long timeframes and were made in different factories you have to identify the features that put it into a specific timeframe and then interpret the serial number from that. In your case (and mine) it's the headstock shape that identifies the late 80s to early 90s starting point. The "H" stands for the factory (probably Terada) that made the high-end Japanese jazz boxes, at that time, not a month.
I would say that if your guitar was made in a Japanese factory in 2000, it would have had an "F" prefix. |
Bassman
Username: Bassman
Registered: 07-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, April 27, 2006 - 9:19 am: | |
Johns
Many thanks to clarify the situation; so I think for the rest of my days that it’s a 1990 one
Important is, that it is a very well built, high quality instrument. I like it and I guess I would buy it again. I is strange that it is so underrated, I guess I am the one and only here in Switzerland owning such an animal …
Bassman |