Affordable Archtop. Eastman AR372CE, Ibanez GB10EM or AF95

[Jose Brutinel]

Hi all,

I've narrowed my reserch to those 3 models
Eastman AR372CE (second hand, very good shape)
Ibanez GB10EM (new)
Ibanez AF 95 (new)

What would you choose ?

Thanks in advance

[Cunamara]

I have a 1981 Ibanez GB10 but I don't know how close the budget variants come tonally. It's a really comfortable and versatile guitar- useful for jazz, blues and R&B.

I played the Eastman for a few minutes in a music store about 10 years ago. Fat and wide neck, kinda baseball-bat-ish. If that's your jam compared to the Ibanez neck, great; it put me off (and is why I haven't liked many Gibson guitars). Stupidly easy to get a really nice jazz sound, though. I was impressed by the tone.

Haven't tried the Ibanez AF95. But I generally like Ibanez instruments.

[Jose Brutinel]

I have a 1981 Ibanez GB10 but I don't know how close the budget variants come tonally. It's a really comfortable and versatile guitar- useful for jazz, blues and R&B.

I played the Eastman for a few minutes in a music store about 10 years ago. Fat and wide neck, kinda baseball-bat-ish. If that's your jam compared to the Ibanez neck, great; it put me off (and is why I haven't liked many Gibson guitars). Stupidly easy to get a really nice jazz sound, though. I was impressed by the tone.

Haven't tried the Ibanez AF95. But I generally like Ibanez instruments.

thanks for your answer

Its the GB10EM (chinese made) I'm talking about. +/- 780 € $ new

[kile]

thanks for your answer


Its the GB10EM (chinese made) I'm talking about. +/- 780 € $ new

I fell in love with the GB10 style guitars after trying a GB10EM in a shop in early 2020, just before the lockdowns. I loved it, but that doesn't say much because I have very little experience with archtops.

If you decide to go with the GB10EM, keep in mind that these come out of the factory in need of a serious fret leveling. I have tried about 4-5 of these guitars in various local shops, and either the shop had them leveled and set up, or the frets were not only uneven, but they had this cheese-grinder kind of feel to them. It made the guitar practically unplayable. Some also had the wiring resonate against the inside of the body.

The first GB10EM I tried was really nice, well set-up with playable frets. I didn't buy it at the time because I was recovering from a hand injury. A year and a half later I got a used GB10SE. And I love that thing.

[Jose Brutinel]

I fell in love with the GB10 style guitars after trying a GB10EM in a shop in early 2020, just before the lockdowns. I loved it, but that doesn't say much because I have very little experience with archtops.

If you decide to go with the GB10EM, keep in mind that these come out of the factory in need of a serious fret leveling. I have tried about 4-5 of these guitars in various local shops, and either the shop had them leveled and set up, or the frets were not only uneven, but they had this cheese-grinder kind of feel to them. It made the guitar practically unplayable. Some also had the wiring resonate against the inside of the body.

The first GB10EM I tried was really nice, well set-up with playable frets. I didn't buy it at the time because I was recovering from a hand injury. A year and a half later I got a used GB10SE. And I love that thing.

I could maybe wait for an used SE (not easy where I live). A friend of mine is a huge fan of Indonesian guitars especially Telecasters. He always says to me that they are worth the extra money.

[pingu]

i think it’s always best to get
the guitar that feels the most comfortable for you ….

this means you will play it more often
and therefore get better at playing
jazz

then set about setting it up
smoothing frets , use your preferred strings , truss rod adjustments
intonation etc , change of
pickup if you want etc etc

its worth learning how to do these
things yourself , it’s cheap and you’ll
end up eventually with a guitar you
love

comfort first

[Gladders]

I have an AR371 (single neck pickup is I think the only difference) and an Ibanez AF105F which is a slightly slimmer guitar than the AF95 and a bit pimped to earn its "custom" tag.

They are both great. The ibanez is much heavier. The Eastman has a slightly wider fingerboard. Both really comfortable to play, through the Ibanez neck is maybe my favourite of any guitar I've ever played. The Eastman has a brighter, livelier acoustic sound though with much faster decay when plugged in.

I've never played the GB but I don't imagine it is substantially different. My AF105 has a floater and that does affect the sound, but it sounds great. I swapped the ibby pickup for a Zoller and now it sounds even better.

I think you'd be happy with either of the two guitars you suggest. If I had to choose between mine I honestly don't know where I'd go.

Sent from my SM-G973F using Tapatalk

[Jx30510]

It depends what type of sound you're after, the smokey dark electric sound, or the more acoustic airy bright sound. I tried the AR372 and found it didn't sound like a ES175, pretty bright and acoustic like.
I made a lot of research on the GB10EM because I was interested to eventually buy it. What I found is that it 's more on the bright side, and the set up and general feeling was not very good (like you said in your posts).
The AF95 is very much towards the smokey dark electric sound, think Pat Metheny, George Benson (the real GB10 is in my opinion very different from the GB10EM, much more electric sounding).
If it were me I'd go for the AF95, very good guitar in this price range..

[Jx30510]

Just to add that if you're after the GB10 body style, a great alternative is the latest AG95.. I tried one it is really great.
Good luck in your search. Keep us informed with your choice.

[Jose Brutinel]

It depends what type of sound you're after, the smokey dark electric sound, or the more acoustic airy bright sound. I tried the AR372 and found it didn't sound like a ES175, pretty bright and acoustic like.
I made a lot of research on the GB10EM because I was interested to eventually buy it. What I found is that it 's more on the bright side, and the set up and general feeling was not very good (like you said in your posts).
The AF95 is very much towards the smokey dark electric sound, think Pat Metheny, George Benson (the real GB10 is in my opinion very different from the GB10EM, much more electric sounding).
If it were me I'd go for the AF95, very good guitar in this price range..

I prefer the dark electric sound over the acoustic. I know the sound is in the fingers but it's always easier if the gear helps.