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Post by BlackAngusYoung on Aug 14, 2010 17:33:37 GMT -5
Hey All,
In the past 2 years or so I've collected a sensible selection of guitars for a wannabe bluesman. Nothing too high-end, but I've modified them all a little bit so they're definitely better than they were originally. I have Les Paul- and Strat-style electrics, a thin hollowbody, and a Jumbo acoustic.
But, of course (wannabe bluesman, remember?) I've wanted a semihollow most of all. Like, an ES-335 kinda thing but not a real Gibson.
I'm not totally sure yet, but I may soon find myself in the market for one!
I'd like any opinions you may have about semi-hollow Ibanez guitars ("AS" series) and the HamerXT Echotone. I ask specifically about these because I get a discount on their products. So whatever I buy will be from one of those two companies.
I am basically trying to decide between the Ibanez AS103 ('burst $1250 MSRP,) AS93 (blue $750 MSRP,) AS73 ('burst $580 MSRP) and the Hamer Echotone ('burst $750 MSRP.)
I assume the pickups and tuners and such on the AS103 will be good enough that I won't want to change them, plus it comes with the case. So it's not really as much more money than the others as it looks, since I'd want to change a lot of things on the others. Of course, if I did realize that the tuners or pickups are crappy, I'd be pretty annoyed. So if anyone knows anything about the AS103 I'd appreciate the feedback.
But here's maybe the most important question to shape my decision:
What do we think about P-90s in semihollows?
I'm thinking I might want to put humbucker-sized p-90s in this guitar, but I'm not sure yet. If I decide I would want to, I'd probably get a cheaper guitar that doesn't already come with good humbuckers. I've never had p-90s but I have a strong hunch I'd like their sound.
Recommendations of humbucker-sized p-90s would be appreciated if anyone has any input to offer.
Also, a selling point of the AS103 is that it has a 5-piece neck instead of a 1-piece. What's the significance of that? Is it worth paying more for?
Thanks for any advice!
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Post by Yew on Aug 15, 2010 5:19:07 GMT -5
If i remember, the worn and faded Epiphone studio Dots got some very good reviews, with some people saying they prefered them to their Gibson 335 counterparts
It wouldnt be too hard to put some P94's in one of those guitars (P94 is a hubucker sized P90)
Yew
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Post by newey on Aug 15, 2010 8:02:15 GMT -5
Well, "too hard" is relative. It's hard to work on hollow-bodied guitars in general, although just a pickup swap without completely removing the wiring harness may not be too tough. It comes down to how much slack is in the wires to the pups.
BAY-
If you are looking to spend upwards of $700 on a guitar, the heads, hardware and pickups shouldn't need to be replaced. I love P90s, but remember that BB has PAFs in Lucille, and lots of other blues guys get their tone from standard HBs.
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Post by BlackAngusYoung on Aug 15, 2010 21:32:26 GMT -5
Yeah, I think I get the best vibes from the best Ibanez, the AS103. It would be around $1000 in a store I think, so it would definitely be a higher grade than I'm used to. I don't have anything with fancy inlays yet.  |
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Post by Yew on Aug 17, 2010 10:10:47 GMT -5
Well, "too hard" is relative. It's hard to work on hollow-bodied guitars in general, although just a pickup swap without completely removing the wiring harness may not be too tough. It comes down to how much slack is in the wires to the pups. BAY- If you are looking to spend upwards of $700 on a guitar, the heads, hardware and pickups shouldn't need to be replaced. I love P90s, but remember that BB has PAFs in Lucille, and lots of other blues guys get their tone from standard HBs. But if you cut the pickup wires in the cavity, not by desoldering them from the pot, and then wire your new pups to them, before shoving them into the hollowbody (maybe taping them so you cant see them) it saves getting the whole harness out ..although you cant sell the old pickups, but nobody would buy those old epiphone though anyway... |
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Post by BlackAngusYoung on Aug 18, 2010 10:02:21 GMT -5
The hassle of doing the work is actually the thing that draws me towards getting something cheaper and modifying it. I know I'll be better off and have a better guitar if I go for the most expensive I can afford... but then I lose the fun of gutting and reviving it! Twisted, I know.
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Post by Yew on Aug 18, 2010 12:50:15 GMT -5
You need good wood, then, you cna change everything on a guitar apart from its wood
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Post by chuck on Aug 18, 2010 13:11:41 GMT -5
10 out of 10 women surveyed agree .... good wood is a must
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Post by D2o on Aug 18, 2010 13:14:29 GMT -5
10 out of 10 women surveyed agree .... good wood is a must As a moderator, I cannot condone this (GOOD ONE!)Don't make me come down there! |
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Post by chuck on Aug 18, 2010 13:28:44 GMT -5
WHAT  ? i was talking about female GUITAR players , and how they all agree that quality tone wood is a MUST for a beautiful sounding guitar  |
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Post by D2o on Aug 18, 2010 13:35:29 GMT -5
Another of the funny!  I repeat: |
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Post by sumgai on Aug 18, 2010 18:34:07 GMT -5
<insert internacine staff warfare sounds here> D2o, We have a standard about bad words here, but we've never set policy about double entendre's. What I say is, the man scored, so let him slide. Besides, you just know that Unklmickey would have Rollie'd him something fierce. <mute> |
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Post by D2o on Aug 18, 2010 19:10:18 GMT -5
I kinda figured the (GOOD ONE!) would make it clear that it should be taken as a joke!
Yep, Unk would have liked it fer sher! ;D
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Post by chuck on Aug 18, 2010 21:50:49 GMT -5
Joke ?
what joke ?
i dont get it .......
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Post by sumgai on Aug 19, 2010 10:37:57 GMT -5
chuck, Joke ?
what joke ?
i dont get it ....... You wouldn't by chance be hanging out with Kyle Is In My Head, would you? That would explain a lot..... |
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Post by KIIMH on Aug 19, 2010 11:58:01 GMT -5
do'nt admit to nuthing, chuck - truts me ... i once admited i knew me ...
... kneed i say moer?
kyel
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Post by chuck on Aug 19, 2010 22:23:49 GMT -5
call me Shultz .... i know NOTHING !
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Post by ijustwannastrat on Aug 19, 2010 22:41:51 GMT -5
Hey, if you do buy a semi-hollow, make sure you can raise the action high enough to do some open tuning slide licks. It'll be worth it. Trust me, I'm a doctor. (winky face) BTW, what happened to the winky face?  |
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Post by sumgai on Aug 20, 2010 1:59:30 GMT -5
.....
BTW, what happened to the winky face? You'll have to grovel before The Almighty newey for an answer to that one - like chuck, "I know nossink!" |
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Post by newey on Aug 20, 2010 7:24:36 GMT -5
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Post by BlackAngusYoung on Aug 20, 2010 12:27:38 GMT -5
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Post by ijustwannastrat on Aug 20, 2010 12:31:47 GMT -5
Well blow my whistle, it IS there! |
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Post by chuck on Aug 21, 2010 13:44:39 GMT -5
which model Artcore did you go for ?
i have been wanting an AF105 ... the one with the floating pickup
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Post by BlackAngusYoung on Aug 22, 2010 15:04:05 GMT -5
which model Artcore did you go for ? i have been wanting an AF105 ... the one with the floating pickup Yeah, that's really nice, too... maybe next time. I really wanted a semi-hollow, though, and the AF105 is full-hollow. I got the AS103. Both are in the super-sweet "Artcore Custom" series, but I think they just added the semi. (F=full-hollow, S=semi-hollow in the model number, I guess.) I don't have any experience with either guitar or even either type, I just always like the sound and vibe of semis when I see them on concert videos or YouTube lessons. Seems to sit in the right spot between hollow and solid, for the kind of sound I want... in the tonal spectrum I always imagine when thinking about these things.  I just bought these 3 guitars. A relative gave me money as a gift and said to spend it on something important to me that will have a lasting good effect on my day-to-day life. And I like the idea of getting something really really cool if I suddenly have money, rather than trying to save it. Not that saving it doesn't seem like the wiser choice... but between being proud of myself for saving it and dreaming about what I might be saving it for... the money always somehow transforms itself into a pile of empty whisky bottles and pizza boxes. |
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Post by chuck on Aug 22, 2010 21:13:43 GMT -5
that is a SWEET trio ! i really like the looks of the AS103 .... i think i need one to go with the AF105 on my want list |
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Post by BlackAngusYoung on Aug 23, 2010 10:07:07 GMT -5
that is a SWEET trio ! i really like the looks of the AS103 .... i think i need one to go with the AF105 on my want list I'm with ya... It's back on my want list, too.  I've been persuaded to cancel my order by people who are wiser than I. (Coincidentally... not people who play guitar.) I already have the Jumbo, though... which is good because it's my only acoustic. I do probably have enough electrics at this time, too. I'm sure I do. |
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Post by ijustwannastrat on Aug 23, 2010 12:05:21 GMT -5
 You teased us? Seriously though, lefty is a hotty. Maybe sans pickguard. |
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Post by BlackAngusYoung on Aug 24, 2010 9:44:35 GMT -5
Well, I started the thread saying I thought I may soon be in the market. A couple days later I decided I was. It turns out I was wrong. So I won't be getting the guitar I spent a couple days thinking I would be getting... and I stupidly posted about it already. But that's ok because now somebody here may provide some more insight that will affect the decision if it ever comes up again. |
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Post by D2o on Aug 25, 2010 7:40:54 GMT -5
BAY - if the subject you have arrived at discussing is guitars, you are pretty much forgiven ... no matter how you arrived at it.
In your case, though, you are beyond reproach - it was an honest intention that simply didn't pan out.
Tell me of even one person that this has not happened to!*
D2o
* other than kyle is in my head ... he has a condition known as, in Latin, Dimentia Intentia.
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punkkitty
Rookie Solder Flinger
Posts: 5
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Post by punkkitty on Aug 28, 2010 9:11:08 GMT -5
WHAT ? i was talking about female GUITAR players , and how they all agree that quality tone wood is a MUST for a beautiful sounding guitar Damn straight. This girl loves her Ibanez AM73 semi hollow. I installed a set of BG Pure 90's in mine. Fantastic handmade pickups.  The Ibanez Artcores are great guitars made with great wood. The stock pickups leave something to be desired IMHO. Especially on the semi hollows. They seem to be okay on the full hollow bodies. Stock pickups sounded great in my AF85 before I sold the guitar. |
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I repeat:
