Quality and stability of the cheaper Ibanez Artcores

[Peter C]

I have a 10 or so year old Ibanez Artcore AF75TDG - the one fitted with a faux Bigsby. I got this guitar in a swap and eventually ditched the vibrato unit (no comments on that as I don't wish to offend). This instrument introduced me to archtop guitars.

Although it has spent most of its time hanging on one wall or another, it has never really been subjected to extremes in relative humidity or temperature for any length of time; those walls have been in a bedroom or an office.

However, after a recent fret dressing marathon involving this guitar, a 35 year old Japanese Strat and a 40 year old Suzuki dreadnought, it became apparent that a fret(board?) buzz problem on the Artcore was going to require a lot more investigation - not going to happen for now as I have another nice archtop to play on.

My thinking is going along these lines right now: the Strat has had a reasonably comfortable life in a case, though hardly mollycoddled (look it up ESL speakers, it's fun), whereas the Suzuki has spent years unattended in a beaten up, badly fitting old case in hellish conditions and neither of them has suffered anything in the way of fret sprout or other neck problems worthy of mention. If these two guitars were made in Japan 35-40 years ago, and the Artcore was made quite recently, could there be an issue here with (lower-end) Chinese instruments being built with inadquately dried/cured woods? Some other factor that my player-not-tech brain has not seen?

Is your own Artcore a "tank"?

[citizenk74]

All the Artcores I have owned (four) have been tanks.

[jazzkritter]

Have both Chinese and Indonesian Artcore AFs and they are excellent builds. Close to my MIJs ... not equal but close.

[life_with_a_song]

Peter, I have that same guitar. The brief story behind my getting it two years ago is that it hung on the wall for three years in a music store in a town where my wife and I go for vacation every year. Last year, I told myself that if it was still hanging there, then I was going to buy it. It was and I did, and I like to think that I rescued it!

Anyhow, I got it home, cleaned it up, set it up, installed better tuners and a set of Phat Cats, and as for playability, sound, and overall enjoyment, it's one of my favorite guitars. And I own several much more expensive guitars, a few of which might make the move before I'd consider letting this one go now. It's rock-solid, and I don't anticipate anything happening to it as long as I take care of it--and I do tend to take good care of my guitars, although I do play them a lot.

-Greg

[DonEsteban]

I've owned more than 10 Ibanez hollow and semi hollow guitars, MiJ, MiC and elsewhere... never had a single technical problem like you described. Matter of fact their 3 piece necks seem to be the most stable on the market.

But wood is a natural material, so anything can happen, just I don't think it's principally inherent in Ibanez models.

[pingu]

my cheap Ibanezes af120 and af81 are very very solid and stable
i’ve upgraded switches and jack sockets
on them to Switchcraft parts
other than that they’re totally reliable

[Peter C]

Thanks for the feedback guys, very helpful.

After many many years of playing solid bodies (last one was a marvellous Heritage 150), I enjoyed the AF75 so much that I got another Ibanez archtop (which I enjoy even more!). I can imagine that Phat Cats would be a good fit for the AF75.

Judging by the posts, maybe I haven't cared for this guitar as much as I should have: it was looked over by a luthier "of great repute" (ain't kidding), who already hinted that the buzz would require time to evaluate. Thing is, he's very expensive and doesn't seem to be au fait with current MIC quality in general ("Oh, made in China"). It's a pity because this is my "flatwound" guitar, so that 10% of my playing is missing right now.

[dragger201]

I've had my AF75 for more then a few years(ok, 13).....it's been thru the mill. From changes I made to less then helpful atmospheric conditions. I've got a "raised" fret end on the 15th fret. It's been there since I got it and that helped when I bought it(got a couple sets of strings, a cord, handful of picks). It's only a problem on the 1st string(high E). The only thing was having the neck adjusted because of heavier strings(Chrome 13-56). Considering what I've put this thing thru I would definitely consider it a tank.