-
It's gonna be my 40th birthday next month and my wife has given me a pass to acquire a guitar to mark the occasion.
I currently have an Ibanez artcore as93, albeit heavily upgraded.
I've been looking at the made in Japan ibanez jsm100 and the as200 prestige. I've seen plenty of reviews and video demos of the jsm100, but not too much about the as200. Has anyone compared these models?
Then there's the as153 and the jsm10 which seem to be made in China versions of the 1st 2. Maybe these would be viable options given the good reviews they get. Is there a vast difference between these 2 sets of guitars?
-
03-14-2015 03:57 AM
-
If you like to have an Ibby that is high quality (MIJ) and exceptional, I have am AM200 for sale... A bit darker sounding (more beefy) than the AS.
-
Cool. I just turned 40 in January and my wife picked me up a Hagstrom HJ600; which is a actually a hollow with a bit of block inside. Put flatwounds on it and haven't put it down since. Ibanez makes some sweet options.
-
You may then want to read through this recent thread: https://www.jazzguitar.be/forum/guita...nez-200-a.html
-
I wonder why I didnt got a guitar for my 40th birthday.... wrong wife?
-
You have to sell those milestones for sure.
Originally Posted by lapideusvir
I wonder why I didnt got a guitar for my 40th birthday.... wrong wife?
-
Sorry to derail the topic, but I'm curious about the upgrades you did. Originally Posted by eazilyled
-
One must make the most of the milestone birthdays. Always. 40 is a great time to show you have developed a sense of taste. Get a early or mid 80s AS200. There really is a big difference in the way they feel, play and sound. You owe it to yourself. AND they really hold their value so if you get a real good clean and stock one you'll never have trouble selling it. I've had at least 3, a sunburst from '81, a white Terada from '89 and a blonde from '90. The nicest AS200 I ever saw was a 90ish Terada in cherry. Darned hard to find but they used really flamed out wood and it screamed PLAY ME...
My blonde Terada, long sold to a broker friend
-
Thanks but I'm really looking for the as shape Originally Posted by lapideusvir
-
Cool thanks some good info in that thread. Originally Posted by Aant
-
Yeah I'm a lucky guy! Originally Posted by lapideusvir
I wonder why I didnt got a guitar for my 40th birthday.... wrong wife?
-
I changed the pickups to Gibson classic 57s, replaced the electronics and used Gibson pots (heritage I think), changed the bridge and tailpiece to Gotoh (510 I think), had a bone but put in, changed the tuners to grovers. So quite a lot! The pickups and bridge seemed to make the most difference in terms of sound. It's always felt easy to play Originally Posted by m_d
-
So you think the old ones are better than the new ones? Originally Posted by BigMikeinNJ
One must make the most of the milestone birthdays. Always. 40 is a great time to show you have developed a sense of taste. Get a early or mid 80s AS200. There really is a big difference in the way they feel, play and sound. You owe it to yourself. AND they really hold their value so if you get a real good clean and stock one you'll never have trouble selling it. I've had at least 3, a sunburst from '81, a white Terada from '89 and a blonde from '90. The nicest AS200 I ever saw was a 90ish Terada in cherry. Darned hard to find but they used really flamed out wood and it screamed PLAY ME...
My blonde Terada, long sold to a broker friend
The other thread also seems to suggest that a Japanese model would be better
-
Thanks a lot! I'm planning some upgrades on my own artcore, an AM93, and gathering info. Nut, bridge and tuner mostly, nickel replacing gold, Gotoh for good compatibility. The one really bad part is the nut. I agree they play really nice as they are.Good luck on your new one. Originally Posted by eazilyled
-
I did not say that the older ones were better than the newer ones.
BUT I think one of the things I like about the AS200 is, though there are cliques that like certain years of manufacture more than others, based on my experience of owning 80s and 90s AS200s they were all spectacular guitars very well worth what I paid for them. As long as you are buying an AS200 you are getting one of THE top tier guitars Ibanez makes. End of story... What made you think the AS200 was made anywhere else other than Japan, they were made first at Fuji Gen Gakki and later (and still) at Terada plants in Japan, no other country. Like I said the AS200 is one of THE top tier Ibanez and will always be. There ARE really great Ibanez branded guitars made in China these days but we are talking about AS200s here...Last edited by BigMikeinNJ; 03-14-2015 at 08:34 PM.
-
Ok no worries. I was considering other models too (jsm10 and as153 made in China and jsm100 made in Japan) so that's what I meant Originally Posted by BigMikeinNJ
-
Terada is a Japanese surname not a place, Terada are located in Nagoya, the current AS200 is built by FujiGen located in Nagano.
-
Originally Posted by Para
Again I referred to Terada, the factory, no inference of it being a location except in your head.
So you are saying Hoshino switched back to Fuji Gen ?? Wow. Interesting.
And the JSM10 and AS153 guitars are nice, Hoshino is going out of it's way to produce more affordable versions of their old standbys. Look at the George Benson LGB300 and then you see they also produced a more affordable LGB30 for much less. I haven't played either yet but I bet both are nice for what you pay. Same with the JSM100, Hoshino puts out a JSM10 for those who can't quite carry the price of the upper tier Japanese built JSM100 instrument.
What's the difference, well the less expensive models are made in factories in China, labor is cheaper. They also use lower quality timbers and electronics, pots, wiring and pickups (Super 58 CUSTOMS, not the old tried and true Super 58 (Alnico II) used in the high end models. Now if you know me I am not looking down my nose at the Made in China instruments saying this being 4 of my 5 guitars are all Made in China, my one other guitar, a Greco RG800 Ric 360 copy being made in Japan.
You get what you pay for and there is some VERY stiff competition between these guitar companies.
BUT again, being this is a MILESTONE in your life and life IS SHORT I say go for the gold baby, get an AS200, as long as it's clean and the original pick guard hasn't gassed out you're good to go. Best thing to do is to try to find one locally, take your amp along and play it thru your amp. They really are one of THE BEST semi's out there in my book. My only other vote would be an Eastman T186smd. Reason I like those a whole lot is now they've got Duncan pickups stock, they have a carved solid flame maple top, solid mahogany back and sport a block only under the bridge and tailpiece so you get a lighter guitar than your average semi, it's almost a 330 sound. The one downside if you will, if you really like the bling of the pearl/abalone block inlays on the AS200 then you might find the mere abalone dots of the Eastman T186mx a little boring, what you do get cosmetically is flame maple binding everywhere and I'll say it a million times, the Eastman guitars don't relay the quality fit or feel well in photos. Hold one and play it and see. I scan eBay all the time and once in a while a one off T186mx with screaming wood and inlays on the fingerboard go across my radar for around $1700.00, with Duncan 59s stock. Very competitive market, a win win for you.
Good luck deciding and by the way CONGRATULATIONS on your 40th.
BigMike
Last edited by BigMikeinNJ; 03-15-2015 at 07:45 AM.
-
"You get what you pay for".
I cant help but notice that the newer (cheaper) Ibanez-models just dont FEEL as good as the older MIJ. When I play my own AM200 (MIJ) it is just comfortable and easy to play. I often read that people are pleased with the new AM93 for example, but I tried it and it´s just not in the same league! Same is with and older AS200 (MIJ) and the new ones IMHO.
-
Ok thanks for the info Mike, much appreciated Originally Posted by BigMikeinNJ
-
An AM200 is also very noteworthy, they have a smaller body than the 16 inch AS200, really top flight woods for the top and back, Super 58 pickups and if you're a slightly smaller person very comfortable. The ones from the mid 80s are KILLER... I'm a big guy (as my handle implies) and I like the 16 inch wide body, but then again for ages my gigging guitar (church gigs) was an Ibanez GB10nt. Also another worthy guitar.
Bottom line is look around on CL, eBay, Reberb.com and see what's for sale. I think I paid $1500.00 for that blonde AS200, I paid $700.00 for the Eastman T186mx which I think had souped up with Duncan Seth Lover 4 wires and Duncan Triple shot switches and a whole new CTS wiring harness. It can recreate so many tones and all in all I have $1300.00 in it. It's white with a sort of ivory binding, not plastic, definitely has a grain to it. There's deals all the time man so just hunt around.
-
I just ran my T186mx out for a photo shoot, notice the Triple Shot switches on the pickup surrounds, upper switches control the upper coils, lower switches the lower coils, lovely binding.
-
Take my confession as an advice: Originally Posted by lapideusvir
I wonder why I didnt got a guitar for my 40th birthday.... wrong wife?
Since my wife wouldn't ever give me a guitar for my birthday, I simply bought my present MYSELF...
... on HER birthday!
:hide
-
Hi guys
My first post in here.
I was reading (with interest) about the difference between the AS200 and the Chinese made guitars.
In my younger days, 35 years ago, I had an AS200 great guitar but I found out that it was not exactly my style (at that time) I was more into Fender Stratocaster and have played that since.
Now I got the fever again
and was looking for a Semi-hollow body guitar. Every time I have heard people talk about them it has (nearly) always been Gibson 335. I looked into that but quickly found out that it was too expensive for me. I live in New Zealand, and here you won't find a 335 under $3000 (NZ$). Then I started to look for a second-hand AS200 wow they also have become expensive. I had never heard about the JSM-10 or JSM-100 but again the JSM-100 was too expensive, so I looked into the Chinese made JSM-10. I was a little sceptic but al (not many) reviews I could find was - wow what a great guitar, sounds amazing & fantastic finish. I ended up buying one a week ago and now it is my turn to say WOW..... I have played it every day since and it just gets better and better the more I get to know it! and with the Tri-sound switch you have so many different sounds.
I am just writing this because if anybody is sitting out there and is not sure about a the Chinese guitars, I can only say. Get one
Last edited by Klausm; 03-13-2016 at 04:46 PM.
-
a Good for you Klausm !!!!
Reply With Quote
Loar Vs. Samick (Tone Examples)
Today, 12:29 PM in The Songs