Ibanez af105 mod advice

[seaguitar]

So, I managed to snag an AF105 natural for 350$ in mint condition - just couldn't resist when I saw it and thought it a good price point to get a guitar I can customize. They come with custom 58 pups which are ok. But I prefer a warmer jazz tone a la ES 175 ( which I can't afford ) and why I thought maybe getting a laminated maple body would get me slightly closer to it. I'm thinking of the following mods to the guitar:

1. Change neck pickup - my choices are Gibson 57 classic, Benedetto B6 or A6
2. Change the metal bridge to a rosewood bridge

Anyone have any advice?

thanks

[Socalbill]

I had that guitar for a few years. I thought the pups were really nice. I (still) have an older AFs75 with the cheap pups and those had to go, but the 105 sounded great to my ear. FWiW, I put Dimarzio 36th Anniversary PAFs in my AFs. I also changed the bridge on the 105 to the included rosewood saddle. I think the 105 is a fantastic guitar. I only sold mine because the thick body was aggravating my back at the time. Now my back is better, but the guitar is gone. Oh well. Enjoy your new guitar.
Bill

[Llacrobat]

I tried Classic 57 in my AF105 some years ago. Almost the same as the original pups.
A wooden bridge is a better investment soundwise. Still, it's some miles to 175-land...
But it's a nice guitar in it's own with a fast playing neck.
Happy NGD!

[seaguitar]

Thanks Bill

Unfortunately being used mine didn't include the rosewood bridge. I didn't find anything on stewmac, but I believe this should work given the existing one is a TOM.

True-Tone Bridge :: True-Tone Bridge | SET - Sadowsky Guitars - Online Store

[seaguitar]

I tried Classic 57 in my AF105 some years ago. Almost the same as the original pups.
A wooden bridge is a better investment soundwise. Still, it's some miles to 175-land...
But it's a nice guitar in it's own with a fast playing neck.
Happy NGD!

Thanks!

[TH]

I put Gibsons in a 105 and I did notice a difference. Duncan Antiquities are also worth a consideration but now we're getting into advice when it's your ear that will know. Depends on the amps you use and the playing technique of course. You should be able to find a wood bridge saddle, StewMac didn't have them? Well try writing to Hoshino in Bensalem, PA. They had drawers full of them when I worked there.
By the way, I use fingers, a Princeton tube amp and I don't roll off a lot of high end. I found the original pickups a little nasally to my ear, the Gibsons really sounded and felt nice. Again, just my ear. I play a lot and I'm picky, I get the sound I like and I can forget it.
David

[seaguitar]

I put Gibsons in a 105 and I did notice a difference. Duncan Antiquities are also worth a consideration but now we're getting into advice when it's your ear that will know. Depends on the amps you use and the playing technique of course. You should be able to find a wood bridge saddle, StewMac didn't have them? Well try writing to Hoshino in Bensalem, PA. They had drawers full of them when I worked there.
By the way, I use fingers, a Princeton tube amp and I don't roll off a lot of high end. I found the original pickups a little nasally to my ear, the Gibsons really sounded and felt nice. Again, just my ear. I play a lot and I'm picky, I get the sound I like and I can forget it.
David

I use a princeton tube amp myself. I use both fingers and a pick depending on what I'm doing. Thanks for the tip - I'll give Hoshino a try.

[KirkP]

Thanks Bill

Unfortunately being used mine didn't include the rosewood bridge. I didn't find anything on stewmac, ....

Stewmac offers two wood archtop bridges (rosewood or ebony) for $20 each. But they are only available for a wound G string.

I'll watch this thread with interest, as I have a stock AF105. I've considered changing to a wood bridge because the tunomatic style bridge seems to add a bit too much metalic twang to the unwound strings.

(I removed one sentence from this post because it was incorrect.)

[GNAPPI]

I have an AF-100 (discontinued for the 105) and the pups are fine, but even though I got it used it came with both bridges, and I do like the rosewood better.

It's so inexpensive to replace the bridge, you could investigate that route b4 pups.

[Socalbill]

Thanks Bill

Unfortunately being used mine didn't include the rosewood bridge. I didn't find anything on stewmac, but I believe this should work given the existing one is a TOM.

True-Tone Bridge :: True-Tone Bridge | SET - Sadowsky Guitars - Online Store

Thanks for that link. I had not seen that design before, and given that I'm my own tech support and luthier (hobby), I may have to try making that for one of my guitars. I think some one mentioned that you could buy the whole bridge from StewMac for 20 bucks and just use the saddle part to try it out. As long as the post spacing is the same it should work, and I think the Ibanez TOMs are standard. Again, enjoy that guitar. Does your's have the ebony knobs? Love those.
Bill

[Socalbill]

I think only the AF105F (with a single floating pup) came with two bridges.

Stewmac offers two wood archtop bridges (rosewood or ebony) for $20 each. But they are only available for a wound G string.

I'll watch this thread with interest, as I have a stock AF105. I've considered changing to a wood bridge because the tunomatic style bridge seems to add a bit too much metalic twang to the unwound strings.

Hi Kirkp,
Mine had two pups and when I got it, it had the wooden bridge still wrapped in plastic in the case. I think they shipped with both. As to TOM twang, I've also experimented successfully with replacing the TOM saddles with nylon or similar. String Savers is a product you see everywhere these days, and they do change your tone somewhat. They are a b#*ch to put in however, and there are folks who sell them assembled that way. Just something else to obsess about!
Bill

[Jabberwocky]

My AF105NT came with a spare rosewood saddle. The Jingho (no, I'm not making this up) T.O.M saddle weighs a ton and I am glad to be rid of it. The rosewood saddle improved the tone considerably. Got rid of the ugly pickguard and all was right.

I would give Pete Biltoft a shout and have him wire up a neck pup. I like AlNiCo2s and lightly wax-potted pups. The stock pups are not bad really. I would try lowering them and then adjusting the posts. If you're not using the bridge pup, wire the neck pup directly to the tone and volume controls and onwards to the jack. Leave the bridge pup in place though. Its mass contributes to the overall tone.

Take a ball of yarn and try weaving it around the strings between the tailpiece and bridge.

Oh yeah, Happy 2015.

[seaguitar]

Does your's have the ebony knobs? Love those.
Bill

Yes

[seaguitar]

My AF105NT came with a spare rosewood saddle. The Jingho (no, I'm not making this up) T.O.M saddle weighs a ton and I am glad to be rid of it. The rosewood saddle improved the tone considerably. Got rid of the ugly pickguard and all was right.

I would give Pete Biltoft a shout and have him wire up a neck pup. I like AlNiCo2s and lightly wax-potted pups. The stock pups are not bad really. I would try lowering them and then adjusting the posts. If you're not using the bridge pup, wire the neck pup directly to the tone and volume controls and onwards to the jack. Leave the bridge pup in place though. Its mass contributes to the overall tone.

Take a ball of yarn and try weaving it around the strings between the tailpiece and bridge.

Oh yeah, Happy 2015.

Thanks for the Tips.

i like alnico myself. I believe the custom 58s in these are ceramic.

happy new year to you too!

[jasaco]

I think only the AF105F (with a single floating pup) came with two bridges.

My dual-pup 105NT did come with both saddles. I use the rosewood one. Never tried the TOM.

[Rob22315]

My 105nt also came with both saddles FWIW.

[pingu]

Thanks for the Tips.

i like alnico myself. I believe the custom 58s in these are ceramic.

happy new year to you too!

I thought all S58 Customs are alnico
(while the ACH pus are ceramic)

[Para]

Early super 58 Customs were ceramic. I think the AS153 had them but it certainly hasn't now.

[KirkP]

Ibanez has confused things with similar names for three distinct pickups:
Super 58 (alnico)
Custom 58 (ceramic)
Super 58 custom (alnico according to the Ibanez.jp web site, although the web site has some bullets calling this same pickup the Custom 58 -- My guess is that's an editing error)

[seaguitar]

This seems quite definitive since it's from someone at Ibanez:

Which current production guitar is closest to the old AS-200? - Page 2 - Artcore Series - Ibanez Forum

Mine is 2005 ( Serial number is S05011xxx ) and I assume 05 is the year, so it should be ceramic.

I'm not sure there is a difference between Super customs and customs - mine says "S58-N" which is a super 58 custom. Very confusing....

BTW, I realized looking at stock AF-105 pictures that the lower strap button on my guitar is not on the tailpiece end but just below centered, and was missing the top one I'm guessing a previous owner had a mishap with it coming out ( probably not fastened enough at the factory ) and decided to drill another hole below. It's not a big deal but I'll probably fill the old strap button hole in the middle of the tailpiece end with a gold screw. I picked up gold schallers from G.C and they fit fine.

Any of you guys have issues with the strap buttons coming out?

[Jabberwocky]

I don't use a strap so never really noticed the strap button.

[seaguitar]

For those owners of this guitar who are happy with the stock pickups, would you mind sharing which year your guitar was manufactured?

[GNAPPI]

My AF 100 was made in 2008, came with two bridges and Super58 Custom pups, wood knobs, inlaid TP. They're very nice sounding pups, especially with the tape wound strings I have on it.

I don't think many change the Super 58 custom pups out because I've been looking for a set and I've only seen one pair on Ebay (silly expensive) as I'd like to put them in my AS-73 which has the ACH pups. They called them ACH because every time you play it you put it down in disgust and yell ACH :-)

By the way, the AF-100, and AF-125 (and probably others) had a problem with the tailpiece breaking, as did several other reputable makers. Here's a pic of the crummy metal and the cracks for you to watch out for if you have one of the TP's with a wood shell. If so write Ibanez they may recommend strings no heavier than 10's

[KirkP]

For those owners of this guitar who are happy with the stock pickups, would you mind sharing which year your guitar was manufactured?

My AF105NT serial number starts S04 (2004). Pickups are labeled S58-N and S58-B. The pickups sound pretty good and and all parts of the guitar have held up quite well. My only gripe is the TOM bridge. The previous owner lost the wood bridge.

[seaguitar]

My AF 100 was made in 2008, came with two bridges and Super58 Custom pups, wood knobs, inlaid TP. They're very nice sounding pups, especially with the tape wound strings I have on it.

I don't think many change the Super 58 custom pups out because I've been looking for a set and I've only seen one pair on Ebay (silly expensive) as I'd like to put them in my AS-73 which has the ACH pups. They called them ACH because every time you play it you put it down in disgust and yell ACH :-)

By the way, the AF-100, and AF-125 (and probably others) had a problem with the tailpiece breaking, as did several other reputable makers. Here's a pic of the crummy metal and the cracks for you to watch out for if you have one of the TP's with a wood shell. If so write Ibanez they may recommend strings no heavier than 10's

Thanks Gary. The tailpiece seems fine - and I have 11's but will likely not go any higher. I'll keep my eyes open for that. Good luck finding a s58.