| Author |
Message |
Wildfield
Username: Wildfield
Registered: 05-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 01, 2005 - 11:16 pm: | |
A few weeks ago, there was a nice looking AM70 on e-Bay. The bidding stayed low until the final moments. Thought I had a chance, but the guitar ended up selling for more than the BIN price.
At that juncture, I drew the conclusion that an AM from the 80's was probably out of my reach, unless I was ready and willing to break the bank. I ended up ordering an Artcore AM73. Unfortunately, it was back ordered and it looked like I would have to wait a few weeks before the guitar was back in stock.
In the meantime, the winning bidder on the AM70 backed out. I received a second chance bid. After some thought, I decided to go for it. My AM70 is in transit as we speak and should arrive tomorrow. More on that later.
As luck would have it, before I could cancel my order for the back ordered AM73, it suddenly shipped. That guitar arrived today. Although I knew I would be sending it back, I decided to open the box and plug her in.
Wow, nice guitar for sub-$300. ACH pickups sound nicer than I remember, though they are not Seymour Duncans to be sure. Neck has the standard Artcore flatish/flattened C-shape with just enough nut width to make this guitar more playable than your average bear. The action was a little low out of the box and this guitar could stand to have a nice setup, but it's not bad by any stretch of the imagination. Pickup poles will require some adjustment to balance out the volume of each string but this is a minor adjustment that is often required on any new guitar.
Well, as nice as it sounds (for a sub-$300 guitar) and as nice as it looks, there is something missing. There is something artificial about the finish, though I cannot put my finger on it. Maybe it's snobbery - maybe if I paid $1,000 for this guitar, I'd say how luxurious this thing feels in your hands. Actually, I don't think I'd say that, but I have a hard time explaining why this guitar feels...well, kind of cheap.
Having said that, I'd have to say that overall this is a great guitar for the price. I'm honestly tempted to keep it, except for the fact that the last thing I need is another guitar. And, I have to keep reminding myself that tomorrow my AM70 arrives.
To be continued... |
Acetan
Username: Acetan
Registered: 09-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 01, 2005 - 11:50 pm: | |
If you are impressed by the current AM, brace yourself when you check out the 80's AM70 to-morrow. The difference in quality is very noticable especially when compared side by side.
Ace |
Funkle
Username: Funkle
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 02, 2005 - 5:31 pm: | |
Snobbery is a little harsh, but I know what you mean. I'm on the same page. There's nothing wrong with some of the cheaper guitars, especially after a good setup. The problem is that I just have a hard time taking them seriously. I know people had the same attitude about Japanese guitars in the '70s. Maybe someday people will be raving about these Artcores.
I can almost instantly tell the origins of a guitar by looking at the fingerboard and how it is finished. The chinese guitars have a strange looking rosewood, and you can tell the korean guitars by how the finish on the side of the fingerboard gives way to the unfinished fretboard. this may not substantially affect playability, but it has a psychological affect for me.
-Sven |
Acetan
Username: Acetan
Registered: 09-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 02, 2005 - 6:24 pm: | |
I just spent three weeks in China and am very impressed with what they have done with their newly discovered freedom and fortune. I examined some of their electronic products and they are surprisingly good. My placing the early 80s Japanese guitars over the current Chinese production is just the result of simple comparison, no snobbery involved. Judging by the improvements they've made in the last three years, I have no doubt that one day we will be raving about Artcores, but not at this time just yet.
Ace |
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