Compelling Reasons To Buy The AF105F

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Author Message Wildfield Username: Wildfield Registered: 05-2005 Posted on Wednesday, May 03, 2006 - 1:04 pm:    I've been contemplating purchasing the AF105F (w/floater). I saw one deeply discounted the other day. I guess if I'm going to buy one, now is as good a time as any. The main reason I want to purchase one is because I do not have an archtop with a floating p/u now. I very much like the feel of the AF105 - neck and fretboard are great, scale is very comfortable, fretwork seems good, body size is comfortable and overall quality seems great. I'm not head-over-heals for the stock pickup, but that is very easily remedied by replacing it with a different pickup. About the only thing I do not like is the lightning bold although the one on the AF105 is a little less obnoxious (to me anyway) than the ones on the other Artcores. So, aesthetics aside, I like the fit, function and feel of the AF105F Anyway, I am looking for comments from you AF105F owners, to hear what your likes and dislikes are about this specific guitar. Please let me know your opinions, likes and dislikes about the AF105F. Garyelcrrt Username: Garyelcrrt Registered: 03-2006 Posted on Wednesday, May 03, 2006 - 10:42 pm:    Current favorite. Decent sound, GREAT feel. Agree the pickup isn't the best, but far far better than other company's mid-priced offerings, and easily replaced. You can even push it to a fairly good blues sound with a bit of gain. Its most noticeable characteristic, smooth smooth smooth sounds. If it were my only guitar, I would want a bit more treble definition. And that's my only grumble. I would like another one, if they offered it in a different finish. Wildfield Username: Wildfield Registered: 05-2005 Posted on Thursday, May 04, 2006 - 11:29 pm:    Garyelcrrt, Thanks for the feedback. Gosh, I was expecting more compelling pressure from the other AF105F experts! Isn't this the IBC??? Ha, ha - just kidding. Okay, I guess I didn't require much encouragement. I stopped by my local shop tonight and played the AF105F. I played it through a Fishman Loudbox and a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe. Not my first two choices in jazz amps, but what the heck. Neck is a little rounder than the AG195 but the overall feel and playability is great. No dings, dents, etc. Pickup was a little nasally but as mentioned, nothing that a p/u swap won't fix. Round wound strings...actually I like the sound of round rounds - clear, ringing, articulate, etc. I thought I'd better take a look at the case before making the final decision. One of the sales guys ran to the back to dig it out. It was still in the shipping box. When he pulled out the case, there was a huge hole in the back. Looks like it got crunched some how. Spare rosewood bridge, owners manual and allen key was present. I offered $499 w/o case and offer was accepted. I guess not too bad, huh? Luckily I happened to have an Ibanez TKL artcore case at home - one that fits an AF. I like the black TKL better than the grey alligator AF105 case anyway, so all's well that ends well. Now...any suggestions for a nice floating p/u? I'm thinking Benedetto or Kent Armstrong. Garyelcrrt Username: Garyelcrrt Registered: 03-2006 Posted on Friday, May 05, 2006 - 2:23 am:    I cannot say I ever heard either, though I hear other people say good things about them. I will say that it seems like a lot of the upper-mid level makers, like the Eastman guitars or the Martin CF1's and 2's, use a Kent Armstrong while those a little smaller and trendier are more likely to have a Benedetto. Don't know for sure what that says, but I think it possible one is looking for a very nice, but SAFE, sound while the other is maybe just a bit more willing to take a risk with a newer, perhaps more distinctive sound. Mrryte Username: Mrryte Registered: 01-2006 Posted on Friday, May 05, 2006 - 9:51 am:    WOW, $499? I'd say that's a very nice deal. Funkle Username: Funkle Registered: 12-2001 Posted on Friday, May 05, 2006 - 10:56 am:    Wildfield, I haven't tried the Benedetto floater, but the PAF is awesome. Many of the Kent Armstrongs that WD sells are made in Korea, including the floater, but Kent will personally hand wind you a pickup. I've heard these are great. -Sven Wildfield Username: Wildfield Registered: 05-2005 Posted on Friday, May 05, 2006 - 7:11 pm:    Thanks Sven. I see that archtop dot com seems to have the real deal (p/u's wound by Kent Armstrong). I may try the Benedetto first. On a side note, I ordered a WD Korean Kent Armstrong PAF a couple years ago. It sounded alright but died 2 weeks after I installed it. Darryl Garyelcrrt Username: Garyelcrrt Registered: 03-2006 Posted on Saturday, May 06, 2006 - 12:08 pm:    Wildfield, You may like the roundwounds now, but just wait until you string up a set of good flatwounds. The Thomastik-Infeld 11/47 Jazz Swing seems to hit the sweet spot on mine. Tone is more complex, darker, smoother and very very sweet. The AF105F has now become my 2nd favorite acoustic because of that tonal improvement - very rare for any electric, but then, with the floating pickup, I guess it really IS an amplified acoustic, isn't it? Wildfield Username: Wildfield Registered: 05-2005 Posted on Saturday, May 06, 2006 - 5:26 pm:    Thanks for the suggestion Garyelcrrt. Actually, I changed the strings as soon as I got it home. I purchased Thomastik-Infeld Jazz Swing .013-.053 (JS113) flatwounds. First time using Thomastik-Infeld strings for me. Wow, what great strings they are. I immediately put the same set on my AG195. I can see now why others rave about these strings. Garyelcrrt Username: Garyelcrrt Registered: 03-2006 Posted on Sunday, May 07, 2006 - 1:15 am:    I have 13's on my Martin - and I have to say I love the tone, but I've muffed a grace note more than once on the big E string because I didn't have the finger and hand strength to be both as quick as I wanted to play while simultaneously holding DOWN enough to get a good solid tone off the fret. I'm pretty sure I can handle the 12's though, on the acoustic anyway - gotta have that sound! But the electrics will have to stay with the 11's, I'm thinking. Got no desire to add rope burns to the callus collection on my fingers... Wildfield Username: Wildfield Registered: 05-2005 Posted on Saturday, May 13, 2006 - 3:18 pm:    Having spent a little more time playing the AF105F through the amp, I have come to the conclusion that the stock pickup is very nice. Sounds very clear and airy (airy - is that a good adjective? I mean it in a positive sense). Although it has a nice, crisp pop, it is not harsh at all. Roll back the tone pot and the pickup remains clear; not muffled at all; just a nicer, darker tone. What a great playing and great sounding guitar. Couldn't be happier with my purchase. Now I'm wondering why I didn't like my GB100 with floating pickups. Wish I could get it back to do a little A/B comparison. No worries; this AF105F does not leave me wanting. Funkle Username: Funkle Registered: 12-2001 Posted on Saturday, May 13, 2006 - 7:39 pm:    Darryl, I see you already pulled the trigger, but for anyone else contemplating an Artcore Custom, this is what the Ibanezrules.com webmaster had to say: "These Customs show real promise in Chinese production. When I first saw them I swore the fretwork was J Custom. I'd think long and hard about actually selling these guitars if I didn't have such strict standards, and have to warranty everything I do sell. The old adage "you get what you pay for" just might not apply to these 3 models. *** Conflicting information come from Australia where somebody reports that an Ibanez brochure stated the Custom necks were Made in Japan and shipped to China to be mated to Chinese parts. I tend to believe this, as the necks were absolutely JC to me in every way." The conflicting report from Au is incorrect. I think they may have talking about the Artcore United, for which this is true. -Sven Garyelcrrt Username: Garyelcrrt Registered: 03-2006 Posted on Saturday, May 13, 2006 - 9:39 pm:    Wildfield-Glad you're pleased with the AF105F. I try to tell people that it just grows on you. The more you play it, the more you WANT to play it. And its really hard to explain. Nothing really smacks you upside the head to get your attention, its just far enough above average in looks, tone, and playability that it takes a bit to realize just exactly how well it all works together. What I really admire the most is, there aren't any "things" I can point to and say "That's not a good way to do that", and not what I'm used to from an out of the box new guitar. Nothing is compromised anywhere. And doesn't that make it just a nice day after all? Wildfield Username: Wildfield Registered: 05-2005 Posted on Sunday, May 14, 2006 - 1:23 pm:    Gary, I think it is growing on me. In fact, although it is too late now, I was thinking this morning that maybe I should have spec'd a floater on the new guitar I have ordered. The top has already been routed for a Kent Armstrong PAF style (handwound) pickup so a floater is not an option. No worries - I think it was a passing urge. I'm sure I'll like the top mounted pickup on this other guitar. About the only thing I do not like on the AF105F (and this is splitting hairs) is the pickguard. I don't like the shape nor the color. I think a simpler shape and ebony coloration would have been nice looking. I happen to have an ebony Benedetto pickguard that I'm thinking about using. Ebony tuner buttons would be nice too, but the tuners themselves have a very nice feel to them. Overall, it's an excellent guitar, especially when you consider the price. Funkle Username: Funkle Registered: 12-2001 Posted on Monday, May 15, 2006 - 11:12 am:    I agree on the pickguard. Luckily this is an easy change. Garyelcrrt Username: Garyelcrrt Registered: 03-2006 Posted on Monday, May 15, 2006 - 6:22 pm:    I suppose you could file off the corners and spray it with aluminum paint if you wanted a different look... Funkle Username: Funkle Registered: 12-2001 Posted on Tuesday, May 16, 2006 - 10:36 am:    Wildfield, I'm really tempted to buy an AF105, or AF105F. How does the tone compare with the AG195? Wildfield Username: Wildfield Registered: 05-2005 Posted on Tuesday, May 16, 2006 - 11:52 am:    Hi Sven, Well, I’m not the best at describing tone but I’ll give it a hack. The AF105F has a clearer, brighter tone. I like to use the adjective “airy” to describe the clarity of tone. It sounds like the amplified tone is being picked up more by a mic then a pickup, if that makes sense. It’s not a completely mic’d sound. There is still the warmth that a humbucker seems to add to the tone. Still, I think the floating mini humbucker produces a tone that is closer to being acoustic than a top mounted PAF style humbucker. It also sounds naturally brighter, but without jangle (if that makes sense). It’s a nice, clean, bright, warm tone If the AG195 gives you a pretty classic, dark, warm jazz guitar tone a la Kenny Burrell, Herb Ellis, etc., the AF105F offers a nice, clear, bright (without being shrill) alternative. I envision this being a great guitar in a duo setting, be it piano/guitar, guitar/guitar or guitar/bass. I think I will still prefer my AG195 sound for a larger combo setting, especially with horns, but having said that, I’ll bet the AF105F being clearer and brighter may have a great ability to cut through the mix of a larger ensemble. Guitar Showcase has an AF105F in stock. They have some nice amps in their acoustic room too including a Polytone MegaBrute and the new Fender solid state head (forget the name) that supposedly rivals the Clarus. Darryl Garyelcrrt Username: Garyelcrrt Registered: 03-2006 Posted on Tuesday, May 16, 2006 - 8:58 pm:    Funkle - if I can stick my 2 cents in -- the sound, while not wussy, is more delicate without being shy or retiring in any fashion. Much easier to hear each note distinctly and separately either in a solo riff or as a chord. This is "high brow" jazz, not "get down" blues tone. Funkle Username: Funkle Registered: 12-2001 Posted on Wednesday, May 17, 2006 - 11:25 am:    Gary, anyones $0.02 is welcome. I have actually played both AFs several times, and the floater did sound more "acoustic". Not exactly a jazz tone I'm comfortable with, but it might be a nice alternative, after some getting used to. -Sven Wildfield Username: Wildfield Registered: 05-2005 Posted on Wednesday, May 17, 2006 - 12:28 pm:    Hey Sven, Did you make your way to Guitar Showcase to play the AF105F? Darryl Funkle Username: Funkle Registered: 12-2001 Posted on Wednesday, May 17, 2006 - 12:36 pm:    No, But they had both the 105 and 105F at B Street. Wildfield Username: Wildfield Registered: 05-2005 Posted on Wednesday, July 05, 2006 - 10:07 am:    I finally got around to replacing the pick guard on my AF105FNT. Overall, I like the new look better. The old pickguard was too big and too white. 2 things I do not like about the new look - the black ground wire on the tone pot was to short to allow me to tuck the wire more inconspicuously; slot in gold bracket is visible. What do you all think? Opinions (positive, negative or neutral) are welcome. Sorry, had to post a link. Still have figured out how to include a photo in my posts. Ebony Finger Rest AF105FNT Wildfield Username: Wildfield Registered: 05-2005 Posted on Wednesday, July 05, 2006 - 10:08 am:    P.S. Although it is not clearly seen in the photo, the volume/tone pots are mounted to the pickguard. Funkle Username: Funkle Registered: 12-2001 Posted on Wednesday, July 05, 2006 - 7:17 pm:    D, I think the color contrast looks good, but a bigger pickguard would look better IMO. Guitartim Username: Guitartim Registered: 04-2001 Posted on Wednesday, July 05, 2006 - 10:26 pm:    The new pickguard really classes up an already classy looking guitar.

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