AF125 Comments Requested

[KD]

Anyone familiar with the AF125? What do you think?

[Oscar]

Hello and welcome KD.

I do not have an AF125, but I found some information that may help.
Link to the AF125 on Ibanez.com

Features:

Neck	5pc Artcore custom set-in neck
Neck Type	AF set-in
Body	Quilted Maple top/back/sides
Frets	Medium frets
Fingerboard	Bound Rosewood
Inlay	Artcore Custom
Bridge	ART1 Bridge
NeckPU	IBZ Super 58 neck pu
BridgePU	IBZ Super 58 bridge pu
HW Color	GD

NEW:
MusiciansFriend  $849.99
GuitarCenter $849.99


USED:
Search for them on eBay:
eBay Search AF125


I found two Ibanez AF125 for sale on eBay:
Ebay Item Number #140233389968
Ebay Item Number #300224698984

Video
You can hear it here:
"Donna Lee" played by Paul the Mole & Nils
Ibanez  AF125 and Ovation  B778
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/iwTZnCg8Tvo&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/iwTZnCg8Tvo&rel=1</a>

[KD]

Thanks Oscar. I have all the specs and prices. I'm interested in the quality of the instrument. I have several Japanese Ibys but wondered how the Korean model compares. It looks like a nice guitar for the price but wondered if anybody has first hand experience.

[JohnS]

KD:

I believe that all Artcore Customs are made in China.

Here's a picture of one that I took at the Ibanez booth at NAMM.

[KD]

Yes John, it is manufactured in China. Just bought one and received it yesterday. Just like the amber one you pictured. Very nice quality guitar (and case) for the price. Between the rounded frets and the neck it feels very good. Plays well and very resonate. Nice highs and lows, clean and non-muddy. I hear doubts about the Chinese 58's on the other forum but I have no problem with them. Inlay work is very good. It is a very ornate guitar. For under $850 I'm really happy with it. We'll see how it holds up. I'll put some pictures up soon.

[JohnS]

KD:

Wow, glad to hear that you got one and the positive review of it. Let's see some pictures!

[cohiba]

KD, welcome in the Artcore Customs Owner Club and I wish you as much joy with yours as I have with mine! ;-)

What I found interesting about the Artcore Customs - I own a 105sm-abr for a short time - is that the quality tolerances between the various guitars seems to be very small. I played some of them before buying mine and there was no dull or dead one amongst them! Not as with some other, much higher priced guitars...

There is a thread running on Ibanezcollectorsworld about experiences with various amps together with Artcore Customs, would also be interested about your opinion!

Have Fun,

G.

[KD]

Here's some pics. The guitar is flawless. Only negative was the pick guard fit too tight to the neck and buzzed a little but I tweaked that.

The catalog states Ibanez Super 58's but I don't know if they are furnished to China by Japan or manufactured in China to Japanese specifications. However, they do sound good. Currently using Mesa Rocket 440, 45W tube 4X10 amp. They work nice together. I have a Rivera 30-12 30W 1X12 tube amp which I haven't tried yet but I expect good results.

[Artcores4me]

Here are a few pictures of mine.




It is a very nice playing and sounding guitar. I had the plastic nut replaced with a bone nut and pro
setup done to her. It sounds real nice through my Fender Blues Deluxe and through my Randall RM100
with some of the mid to high gain modules installed.

[KD]

Artcores, nice hollowbody, have you tried the rosewood bridge yet? Yeah, the plastic nut has got to go.

[Artcores4me]

Artcores, nice hollowbody, have you tried the rosewood bridge yet? Yeah, the plastic nut has got to go.

No I have not tried the rosewood bridge. I was after a more blues/rock flavor and thought the rosewood bridge
would make sound more jazz oriented.

[guitarfreek]

I HAVE POSSIBLY A MONDAY MORNING ONE. NOTHING BUT TROUBLE WITH THE GUITAR, SUPPLIER & UK DISTRIBUTER.
NICE LOOKING GUITAR. WAS TAKEN BACK TO VILLAGE MUSIC EAST KILBRIDE 3 TIMES WHERE I PURCHASED IT & SENT BACK TO THE UK DISTRIBUTER. WHEN IT CAME BACK THE CASE WAS DAMAGED. IT TOOK MONTHS TO HAVE IT REPLACED AND TWICE THEY SENT THE WRONG CASE. THE RESPONSE FROM BOTH WAS TOUGH. I EVENTUALLY STRIPPED THE INSTRUMENT IN FRUSTRATION MYSELF. I HAD TO TIGHTEN THE MACHINE HEADS, POT NUTS, SET THE TRUSS ROD AND MOST IMPORTANTLY REPLACE THE BRIDGE BEFORE I COULD GET IT WORKING SATISFACTORILY. OBVIOUSLY THE SO CALLED PROFESIONALS HAD NO IDEA OR MADE NO DECENT ATTEMPT TO FIX IT.
I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THEY NO LONGER MANUFACTURE THIS GUITAR MAYBE THIS IS WHY.
THIS IS ONE OF MANY GUITARS THAT I OWN. ONLY BAD EXPERIENCE.

[guitarlover]

This guitar is amazing, nice effort you have done with it,
 but i think it is too expensive.