Ibanez Review: Artcore AS73

History:

Purchase: Funky Music, Naples,Florida. Cost $450 including hard case

What I Like About This Ibanez Artcore AS73: Good quality build. Maples front and back, mahogany neck, rosewood fingerboard,jumbo frets, 2 humbuckers. Nice clean plummy sound.. The choice was this or the Epiphone at around $800 excl case (or of course a Gibson E335 at a whole lot more).The Epi was really nice to play, but not +$350 nice, so I went for the Ibanez. The action is nice, with no bizzing frets, and is a joy to play.

What I Do NOT Like About The Ibanez Artcore AS73: Hey, I wish it was a Gibson, but as a first step into semi-acoustic, I reckon I have got real value for money. The clear blue on black finish is realy nice. I would have preferred bigger dot markers on the finger board, with the trapezoid type inlays rather than dots, but, hey I am not the designer, and it saved killing a whole load of those little abalones.

Ibanez Artcore AS73 Quality Rating: Very nice, no flaws visable, and its doens rattle when u shake it. The metal parts all fit and they all work. nice thin neck, not too wide or too narrow fretboard. Heavy as it is solid in the middle to avoid that hum

Review Summary: Yes, if I was spending £300 - £400, I would make the same choice again.They also had the same thing with a bigsby, but who needs out of tune strings - dont want a trem. The other model the AS75 is a fatter wideth jazz guitar, for the same price. I think I got the best choice, but would have liked both. Hey, this model is not yet available in the UK, and it is sure to be worth waiting for.

Rating of this Ibanez product: 4

This Ibanez Artcore AS73 Electric Guitars Review Submitted By: Frederick John

Review Date: 2002-08-31