Is the maple top on AF105 solid or la...

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Author Message Acetan Username: Acetan Registered: 09-2003 Posted on Friday, January 20, 2006 - 1:23 pm:    Bought one yesterday and waiting for delivery. For the price, I should know that it must be laminated, but just like to have it confirmed. Ace Acetan Username: Acetan Registered: 09-2003 Posted on Friday, January 20, 2006 - 6:26 pm:    ...are all maple tops laminated? Ace Wildfield Username: Wildfield Registered: 05-2005 Posted on Friday, January 20, 2006 - 10:18 pm:    "...are all maple tops laminated?" - Acetan There are guitars with carved maple tops. I think the Heritage H-575 has a carved maple top. I'm sure there are others, but I can't think of another example off the top of my head. Msawitzke Username: Msawitzke Registered: 03-2004 Posted on Sunday, January 22, 2006 - 2:40 am:    A lot of guitars use carved maple tops...most high end, single luthier sorts of guitars use solid tops. Most "cheap" stuff, and the 175 are laminates... Acetan Username: Acetan Registered: 09-2003 Posted on Sunday, January 22, 2006 - 11:59 am:    Thanks for the info. Ace Johns Username: Johns Registered: 02-2001 Posted on Sunday, January 22, 2006 - 12:56 pm:    The AF105 is definitely a lam top. Only a few hollowbodies had solid tops. Besides the special few in the 70s (the 2461S, 2464S, 2470S, 2471S, FA700 and FA800), Jim Donahue mentioned a few high end, special model GBs (not the GB10 or GB20) were solid tops. Otherwise, every thing Ibanez is a laminate. Edgehill Username: Edgehill Registered: 09-2005 Posted on Sunday, January 22, 2006 - 3:01 pm:    What is the laminate made of? The reason I ask is this: the AS103 that I just bought has a pick guard that is exactly the same thickness (and "feel") as the rest of the body. *Very* thin wood veneer bottom, some sort of plasticky material in the middle (most of the thickness) and a quite thin maple veneer top layer. Now, to me it seems that the rest of the guitar is made of the same material (except the wooden sustain block inside the body). The body material is very rigid, does not feel like wood at all. Try knocking it...IMO does not sound like wood. Can't tell for sure though...the guitar sounds nice both plugged and unplugged. Inquiring minds want to know! Acetan Username: Acetan Registered: 09-2003 Posted on Saturday, February 04, 2006 - 12:18 am:    The AF105NT arrived today. It is very well built. I think the Chinese are learning the game at a nice pace. The guitar sonds very acoustic unplugged and it sounds not too bad with the totally unsuitable light gauge round wounds. Will put some flats on it this weekend and try again. Ace Three generations of FG's? Musash Username: Musash Registered: 01-2002 Posted on Saturday, February 04, 2006 - 1:31 pm:    Acetan, I am also enjoying my new AF105NT! Can you tell me the difference that you expect when you put on flatwounds? Why are the round wounds not suitable for this guitar? Acetan Username: Acetan Registered: 09-2003 Posted on Saturday, February 04, 2006 - 3:36 pm:    I apologize. Should have said,"...totally unsuitable for what I have in mind to use this guitar for." I think flat wounds give a smoother, mellower sound than rounds, especially on acoustic electrics. Ace Funkle Username: Funkle Registered: 12-2001 Posted on Saturday, February 04, 2006 - 7:09 pm:    I just played both AF105 models. Man they are nice! The frets and neck are great. Good fit & finish too. Those whimpy strings are a joke though. -Sven Dvsleeko Username: Dvsleeko Registered: 03-2006 Posted on Tuesday, March 21, 2006 - 8:08 am:    Yep,first thing I did on my AF84 was to put on a new set of D'addario chrome flatwound 13's. BIG difference. Louder and way smoooother. I wondered about the wood in the body of the guitar as well. I used to do cabinet making and darned if I can identify the type if wood I see inside the guitar. Sort of looks like Lueon (spelling?) with a real different grain pattern. Most of the Ibanez hollowbodies I've seen use this wood. The AF105 - from the pictures I've seen, look like maple inside. Anybody with one of these confirm this? Thanks. (;^)~ Dvsleeko Username: Dvsleeko Registered: 03-2006 Posted on Tuesday, March 21, 2006 - 9:50 pm:    Nice family shot there Acetan. The one on the left - did you change the tailpiece? ?;^)~ Acetan Username: Acetan Registered: 09-2003 Posted on Tuesday, March 21, 2006 - 10:26 pm:    No, that's the original tail-piece it came with. Ace Dvsleeko Username: Dvsleeko Registered: 03-2006 Posted on Tuesday, March 21, 2006 - 10:38 pm:    Kinda reminds me of the one on the new AK86 without the inlay. What model is that? Acetan Username: Acetan Registered: 09-2003 Posted on Tuesday, March 21, 2006 - 10:59 pm:    These are AG and AF 195's. I think the tail-pieces are the weakest part on them. I got these waiting in the wings. Ace Dvsleeko Username: Dvsleeko Registered: 03-2006 Posted on Tuesday, March 21, 2006 - 11:03 pm:    Sweet ! ?;^)~ Wildfield Username: Wildfield Registered: 05-2005 Posted on Tuesday, March 21, 2006 - 11:46 pm:    Hey Ace, Are those tailpieces from the seller on e-Bay? I purchased a couple of the plain ones from the guy who calls himself Inlaid Artist. I agree with you by the way. I really didn't like the stock tailpiece on my AG195. I recently replaced it with the tailpiece off of a AG75 (simple chrome tailpiece) that I purchased off of e-Bay. Eventually I'd like to find the tailpiece from an AF105 or perhaps have one custom made. I'll be interested to see what your guitars will look like once you install those tailpieces. Please be sure to post pics. Are you going to use the cable suspension piece or do you have another plan to fit these to your guitar? Johns Username: Johns Registered: 02-2001 Posted on Wednesday, March 22, 2006 - 8:08 am:    What do you guys think of the difference that a metal tailpiece makes over a wood one? Is there a difference in the sound or sustain? For me, from a cosmetic standpoint, the wood wins hands down. I love the ones that Ace shows above. I also have no fondness for metal ones constructed of the thin rails, like my AF200 (the plastic insert makes it even uglier, IMO). The GB10 one is the best metal one, I can think of. Acetan Username: Acetan Registered: 09-2003 Posted on Wednesday, March 22, 2006 - 12:23 pm:    Hi Wildfield, Yes, those are from "Inlaid Artist". I think I'll try the cable suspension piece so I don't have to put extra pieces of metal on it. As for the AF105, if I decide to keep it, I'll put a wooden tail-piece on it and replace the tun-o-matic with an ebony bridge. Johns, I feel that a tail-piece with a massive block of metal takes a lot of wood tone away from a full acoustic. The ones on my FA and FG 100 are ok as they are quite light in construction. I really prefer tail-pieces made of very dense wood. Ace Garyelcrrt Username: Garyelcrrt Registered: 03-2006 Posted on Wednesday, March 22, 2006 - 9:04 pm:    Acetan, this question relates to the only problem I've had in 3 months with my new AF105FNT - How do you keep the bullet end of the string in the metal part of the tailpiece while using both hands at the OTHER end of the guitar to "thread the needle"? As an aside, the only time I tried this, I also changed into the rosewood bridge that came with the guitar. I have never before seen a guitar with TWO bridges included in the deal. BTW, it adds, or enables, a much woodier (?) tone. In fact, the only other quibble I have with the guitar is that it is so da*n WHITE in color. I've never seen maple that light before, and would have preferred a little amber tinting to bring it to a pale golden color - perhaps something along the lines of a glass of Miller Genuine Draft. But then, if Elle McPherson shared my life I'd probably still want Selma Hayek too... Acetan Username: Acetan Registered: 09-2003 Posted on Wednesday, March 22, 2006 - 10:30 pm:    It does require some busy fingers, palms, wrists and elbows to change the strings on the AF105, doesn't it? I know there are lots of buyers got two bridges for their AF105 but mine only came with the metal one. ...but then, after all is said, pale color and all, it is an excellent guitar at a very attractive price. Ace Wildfield Username: Wildfield Registered: 05-2005 Posted on Wednesday, March 22, 2006 - 11:15 pm:    Hey Ace, One comment on the cable. The one that comes with the tailpieces from the Inlaid Artist are pretty thin. I found that they stretch way too much. I ordered a couple of cables from Stew Mac - the ones that work on the Benedetto tailpiece. I had to enlarge the diameter of the hole into which you route the cable by using a drill bit that was just slightly larger in diameter than the cable. Over all, I prefer the Benedetto cable - much more secure. I also used a Dunlop strap lock instead of the plastic button that is included with the Inlaid tailpiece. It secures the Benedetto cable nicely and closely to the body of the guitar, without affecting the way the strap lock works. I'll try to post pics after I'm done with the entire extreme makeover of my AM70. Darryl Garyelcrrt Username: Garyelcrrt Registered: 03-2006 Posted on Wednesday, March 22, 2006 - 11:15 pm:    I have an idea - and whoever tries it first, should report back here. When changing the strings, pick up the tailpiece, put all six string ends into the retainer and put a strip of scotch tape across the openings. Then finish stringing and pull the tape off from the (now) underside of the tailpiece. Howzzat sound? Wildfield Username: Wildfield Registered: 05-2005 Posted on Thursday, March 23, 2006 - 12:47 am:    AM70 with an ebony trapeze tailpiece AM70 with an ebony tailpiece - view of cable anchor Okay, I failed miserably trying to post some pics so here are a couple links to photos of my AM70 with an ebony tailpiece. Garyelcrrt Username: Garyelcrrt Registered: 03-2006 Posted on Thursday, March 23, 2006 - 1:15 am:    http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a393/garyelcrrt/mine2/Abby.jpg http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a393/garyelcrrt/mine2/Jazzbox.jpg The top link is to a pic of my AF105FNT with the rosewood bridge. Bottom link is same guitar but with the metal bridge. Mostly, I'm just trying to figure out how to post a picture here. Doesn't seem to work like I expect, even though I think I followed instructions from the getting started and formatting sections of the site. Oh, well. Acetan Username: Acetan Registered: 09-2003 Posted on Thursday, March 23, 2006 - 9:39 am:    Hi Darryl, Do you have Stew Mac's contact information handy? Thank you. Ace Acetan Username: Acetan Registered: 09-2003 Posted on Thursday, March 23, 2006 - 10:01 am:    Found it. Never mind, Darryl, thank you. Ace Wildfield Username: Wildfield Registered: 05-2005 Posted on Thursday, March 23, 2006 - 11:45 am:    Ace, If you order the cable from Stew Mac, you may find that you need to shorten it. Obviously the length of the cable affects the position of the tailpiece on your guitar. I found that because the depth of my AM70 is so shallow and because the Benedetto cable's length is designed to work with archtops with a full depth, the cable was too long. I ended up cutting one end the cable and by using a simple aluminum ferrule from Home Depot, I was able to make a cable end that kept the cable securely seated in the tailpiece. Of course I left the other adjustable piece intact on the other end of the cable, giving me some adjustability should I need it. In your case, the depth of the AF195 or AG195 may not require that you shorten the cable. If you do have to shorten the cable, measure twice and cut once. If you have any questions on how to shorten the cable and attach the ferrule, don't hesitate to holler. I wasted one of the cables experimenting, and learned a bit in the process. Darryl Acetan Username: Acetan Registered: 09-2003 Posted on Friday, March 24, 2006 - 6:14 pm:    Thanks for the tip Darryl. I was just wondering whether I should order the long one or the short one. If I run into problems installing them, I'll call you. Ace Wildfield Username: Wildfield Registered: 05-2005 Posted on Friday, March 24, 2006 - 11:54 pm:    Hmmm. That's a tough one. I'm guessing the short one will work but at the end of the day, both might be too long. Here's what I found: If you have to cut the cable, it's better to get the long one. The threaded end pieces are pretty long. If you get the short one and it's just slightly too long, cutting off the threaded piece might leave you with a cable that is too short. On the other hand, the short one might work without any modification. Sorry - I know that probably doesn't help much. I've snapped some photos of the long cable next to the one I have modified as well as shots of the ferrule crimped on the end, etc. If you'd like to see any of the photos, I can post them or e-mail them to you. Darryl Petruz Username: Petruz Registered: 05-2004 Posted on Sunday, March 26, 2006 - 11:48 am:    wildfield, the mod you did on your AM70 is exactly what i wanted to do a year ago, i posted a thread at the time. i had found a very good deal on an AM70 but unfortunately i passed it. i would highly appreciate if you post your impressions regarding the tone of this instrument when the mod will be done. what pups are you going to use? the modded guitar reminds me of a very cool, custom AM-like guitar played by sheryl bailey (can't remember the luthier's name). Wildfield Username: Wildfield Registered: 05-2005 Posted on Sunday, March 26, 2006 - 5:43 pm:    Sheryl Bailey plays a cool guitar made by Rick McCurdy. I could be wrong, but I thought he based the design on a neat Yamaha SAS1500 that Sheryl also playes. I have installed Seymour Duncan 59 (gold covers) in the neck and bridge positions. I also installed gold Gover tuners, Tones Pro tune-o-matic with a homemade rosewood bridge. By the way, I got it all wired up today. I changed the wiring scheme a little, to make it more usable for me - 1 volume, 2 tone, 1 pan pot and a 3-Way switch. The pan pot sits where the bridge volume pot was. The neck volume now controls both pickups (I do not care for separate volume controls). The tone pots remain as before - one for each pickup. The pan pot allows you to adjust the mix between the neck and bridge when the 3-Way switch is in the middle position. I wired it all up and...no sound. Guess I have to tear it apart to see if I have a loose connection or some other problem. Personally, I really hate wiring, but it is a necessary evil with electric guitars. Well it looks nice...now if I could just get some sound.

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