| Author |
Message |
Ibanez2460
Username: Ibanez2460
Registered: 10-2006
| | Posted on Friday, October 13, 2006 - 2:29 am: | |
does anyone know where the new as103 customs are made? and has anyone played one? Im thinking about buying one of the AS model guitars but dont know which one.(as103,120,80,100) any advice? |
Johns
Username: Johns
Registered: 02-2001
| | Posted on Friday, October 13, 2006 - 9:47 am: | |
Ibane2460:
The AS103 Customs are made in China. These are getting very good reviews.
The other AS models you reference are all older and would be used guitars. Depending on what year, these older ones could have been made in Japan or Korea. Many here, feel that the older the better, those would be Japanese made. Mid-80s to late 90s would probably be Korea made. |
Ibanezfreak1960
Username: Ibanezfreak1960
Registered: 03-2004
| | Posted on Friday, October 13, 2006 - 11:55 am: | |
Check out this thread here...
http://www.ibanezcollectors.com/discus/messages/16/14771.html?1152046840 |
Ibanez2460
Username: Ibanez2460
Registered: 10-2006
| | Posted on Friday, October 13, 2006 - 11:46 pm: | |
thank you for that link. the 103 sounds like a good guitar. does the guitar stand up to the older models in build structure and relibilty? and are there any new models being built in japan or korea? like the john scolfield one? |
Gemberbier
Username: Gemberbier
Registered: 05-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, October 14, 2006 - 7:15 am: | |
The Chinese Artcores are well built guitars.
But in the cheaper ones they put these cheap ACH humbuckers, the more expensive models have flame maple woood and the better Super 58 pickups, just like the famous Japanese and Korean semi-acoustics.
This is a very desirable guitar.
Ginger |
Ibanezfreak1960
Username: Ibanezfreak1960
Registered: 03-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, October 14, 2006 - 8:52 am: | |
I have both the AF85VLS and the AS103NT and there is a big difference betweeen the two.
As far as reliability time will tell. I have not had any negative issues with it so far. It always stays in tune and it sounds great. |
Funkle
Username: Funkle
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, October 14, 2006 - 11:23 am: | |
The AS103 has some pretty amazing fretwork - perfectly finished ball-ends on the frets. As long as you like the look, I think you'll be very pleased. The AS83 has sharp fret ends. It's not a bad guitar for the money, but feels like a lower end guitar in many ways. |
Ibanezfreak1960
Username: Ibanezfreak1960
Registered: 03-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, October 14, 2006 - 7:31 pm: | |
After this thread came up I took out the 103 tonight and was doing a bend on the high E 12th fret and snapped the string. The 1st for this guitar. Usually I will piece it back together to see where it broke. It snapped the loop around the ball where it was seated in the fine tuner on the tail piece. |
Gemberbier
Username: Gemberbier
Registered: 05-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, October 14, 2006 - 8:22 pm: | |
Funkle,
Of course there are quality differences. The AS103NT is €310.- more (62%) than the AS83.
But the basics are pretty good for the money, they just give less care to finishing details.
My luthier has a special tool to file the fret ends without damaging the neck/binding: it's some sort of metal file in a white nylon protection strip. He moves it along the neck and the sharp edges are gone in less than a minute.
I believe it's from stewmac.com like most of his stuff.
An honest luthier would do this for less than €10.- I guess, if you keep the conversation short.
If he spends 10-15 minutes, thats €40-60 per hour.
Ginger |
Ibanezfreak1960
Username: Ibanezfreak1960
Registered: 03-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, October 15, 2006 - 8:49 am: | |
Sven, That little bit abaove about the string breakage was in response to your question in the original thread about the the tailpiece. |
Daveh
Username: Daveh
Registered: 07-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, October 15, 2006 - 8:50 am: | |
I don't think the 58's on these are the same Jap-made 58's. |
Ibanezfreak1960
Username: Ibanezfreak1960
Registered: 03-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, October 15, 2006 - 1:26 pm: | |
These are ceramic custom 58's. They sound really nice. There is a discussion about this in the thread I linked above. |
Funkle
Username: Funkle
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 18, 2006 - 11:19 am: | |
Ginger,
I here in the US (in San Francisco anyway) just setting foot in a luthier's shop will cost at least $100  after $100+ on the frets, and a pickup change, you've spent more on the AS83.
I have one of those files. I have rounded fret ends myself using the file, then a rubber polishing wheel in a Dremel, then steel wool. I also round over the edge of the fret board with sandpaper. The results are very good, but it takes me several hours. |
Gemberbier
Username: Gemberbier
Registered: 05-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, October 19, 2006 - 5:08 am: | |
It takes YOU several hours, because you do it very carefully and perhaps with more respect for the instrument than really necessary. This may sound funny, that someone could have too much respect for a guitar, but from a luthier's point of view, we do.
Here in Holland luthiers don't stand on a pedestal. And we communicate on an equal level.
The first time I went to a luthier, I was a little boy of 13-14 years old. There was this huge villa next to the mayor's and I went there all alone with me case because the action of my classical guitar was too high. And the old luthier master was so glad to show a kid around and gave me a complete tour telling the whole history of guitar building, showing pictures of her Majesty the Queen visiting his workshop.
I took about 2 hours. He said that we young guitarists were "soft-handed". (He was old flamengo school).
After a day or two I picked my guitar up.
He had lowered the action at the nut, flattened all the frets and he gave me a few mahogany finis strips to increase the action by putting them under the nut.
He charged... ƒ18.- that's about $10.- in 1978.
Now the old master builder has passed away, I go to his ex-son-in-law who ownes the luthier's shop now.
And what I noticed is that he works fast and with less respect for the instrument than we would expect. And he has bought and made the tools to save time.
But San Francisco is of course a very mythical place when it comes to guitars. Perhaps you should use the yellow pages and go to another town, where you don't pay for the mojo but for the actual working hours.
New Chinese Super 58s cost $44.- each.
If you put them in yourself, that's $88.-
You did the fret end job yourself.
The price difference between an AS83 and an AS103 is €310.- (about $387.50)
So you saved about $300.-
Investments on good tools always pay back.
Ginger |
Acetan
Username: Acetan
Registered: 09-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, October 19, 2006 - 1:02 pm: | |
It is unfortunate that Sven is a busy engineer. I really wish he wouldn't spend all his spare time babying his guitars. Then he can come here more often and give the last word on all discussions, tell us wonderful stories, and cut and paste all those words of wisdom from all over the net. Sven, you really ought to rearrange your priorities.
Ace |
Funkle
Username: Funkle
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, October 19, 2006 - 3:16 pm: | |
Ace, I guess I rubbed you the wrong way on that one. Not really sure what happened, but I'm sorry you took it that way.
Please know these are just MY opinions, and no more. I will try to be convincing. And I will try to back them up with facts. And sometimes play devil's advocate But I also always try to be respectful of other peoples opinions, and I always take them into consideration. I don't believe I've ever told somebody they are wrong, or that my opinion superior to theirs. If I feel I have something to add, I will, but never in the hopes of getting the "last word".
-Sven |
Acetan
Username: Acetan
Registered: 09-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, October 19, 2006 - 3:32 pm: | |
Oh no, Sven you didn't. |
Mr_roadstar
Username: Mr_roadstar
Registered: 06-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, October 19, 2006 - 11:35 pm: | |
It's called "sarcasm", Sven. Apparently you are not he only one who missed it.
I too often spend many hours detailing frets and making setup tweaks. I must have my priorities screwed up as well...
The Bear |
Ibanezfreak1960
Username: Ibanezfreak1960
Registered: 03-2004
| | Posted on Friday, October 20, 2006 - 7:13 am: | |
Maybe we need a new topic entitled "on the rag"? |
Acetan
Username: Acetan
Registered: 09-2003
| | Posted on Friday, October 20, 2006 - 12:40 pm: | |
Haven't heard that term in a long time. |
Ibanezfreak1960
Username: Ibanezfreak1960
Registered: 03-2004
| | Posted on Friday, October 20, 2006 - 4:27 pm: | |
Yeah that just popped in my head Ace. |