Ibanez AF125

**czgibson** · 12-24-2008, 07:51 AM

I've got an AF75D and its tremendous. For the £150 I paid for it, there is no better guitar!

I tried out an Epi Emperor Joe Pass model with a view to maybe upgrading at some point in the future, but after around ten minutes I'd decided to stick with the Ibanez.

Ibanez AF125-ibanez-af75d-jpg

**Banksia** · 12-24-2008, 08:10 PM

I think we must have the world's highest guitar prices in Australia. One of my local shops had the AF75 as Xmas special @ $699. That's about $490US or 280 pounds stg, and it's $150 below the regular price. The Joe Pass retails around $1000US, but you'd probably get it for $800. I live in Metal country. The Steve Vai's sell faster than they can unpack them but the archtops are mainly used as dust collectors.

chitlinsonrye · 12-31-2008, 07:41 PM

I have the AF105 and I'm very pleased with it. I've been away from the guitar for a few years, and I was shocked at how much guitar you can get for your money these days! A bargain in my eyes.

**Banksia** · 01-02-2009, 10:16 PM

I also hadn't done much guitar shopping for a long time. I've survived on Strat copies from my local pawn shop for 15 years but last year I started checking out local shops. I couldnt believe what's available for the equivalent of 2 weeks pay! The real winners are new students starting out. I was talking to my local music shop owner yesterday and he moans about parents who follow the line: "I'll buy the kid a real dirt cheap guitar and if he gets good at it I'll get him a better one" If people only grasped how much quality step-up there is between $100 and $300. Sometimes I pause and spare a thought for all those lonely unplayed guitars clogging up the bedroom closets of the world. We should make 2009 the United Nations Year of the Neglected Musical Instrument. Every guitar, clarinet etc that hasn't been played in the last 12months has to be donated to your local school.

**Clive Timing** · 01-06-2009, 06:30 AM

Hi there, just thought that i would put my vote in for Ibanez....i have searched long and hard for a guitar that does almost everything well....jazz, rock, country, pop, heavy and cool....i bought an 1990 Ibanez Artstar 120 made in Korea this year for $600 Canadian. It has a jeff beck in the bridge and seymour duncan in the neck and it plays and sounds better than any guitar i have owned. I was always a tele player but found that it didn't offer me the latitude when i started playing more solo jazz/vocal stylings, just not round enough and dark enough. This guitar is far better than the Gibson Howard Roberts i owned or the ES 335. If you can find one, i recommend it...it is a copy of the John Scofield Artist 200, awesome...good luck and good hunting.

**Banksia** · 01-06-2009, 06:58 AM

I hope this site is charging Ibanez a bucketload for all the positive reviews. I've been to other sites where it's mostly young rock players and its the same story there with the RG's and S series. Fender and Gibson may have some "elite" cache but when it comes to word-of-mouth from actual players Ibanez is like a never-ending story.

**Little Jay** · 02-02-2009, 11:31 AM

I underscribe the quality of the cheap eastern guitars! With modern computer-guided cutters/routers they have managed to produce some excellent guitars of consistent quality. Ibanez (also produced in China nowadays I believe) even stands out, but also being priced somewhat higher then the competition.

Especially Chinese and Korean budget guitars I consider excellent value for money nowadays and you can hardly go wrong there. I still hesitate towards Indonesian-produced guitars, but those are getting better too. Even the cheapest of the cheapest Chinese guitars offer good quality necks and bodies, although they lack somewhat in finish, adjustment and hardware (if you know your way around with guitars you can do that yourself though).

I will repeat my (very Dutch and cheap) point of view: why buy an expensive American brand if you can get (almost?) the same amount of guitar (or even more?) for a fraction of the price....

Back on topic: I've played a fellow-guitarist's AF125 and was very impressed. A very good guitar! At least just as good as my favourite cheapo Japanese ES-175 copy from the 70ies, carrying the brandname "Condor".....

**jesse11** · 12-08-2009, 10:10 PM

Hey Guys,

I am new to the hollowbody thing and I have an ibanez AF125. I have been having feedback issues with it (I know feedback is part of the hollowbody guitar use to a degree), I just want to know how to get rid of as much of this as possible- is this my amp? does the packaging tape over f holes actually work?

Thanks

Jesse

**cosmic gumbo** · 12-08-2009, 10:29 PM

Turn it down or stand somewhere where it doesn't feed back. That why they make solidbodies.

**jesse11** · 12-08-2009, 10:39 PM

I am aware of that... but in some situations its impossible to do so...

**fep** · 12-08-2009, 11:12 PM

Sometimes it's a small range of notes that feedback which is partially dependent on the room you're in.

For instance in my bedroom, it's the A#, B, and C on the sixth string (or fifith string) (That's A#2, B2, & C3) The B2 is the worse offender.

The B2 is about 123 hz, see the chart linked below

Frequencies of Musical Notes

That's a handy chart to have when you perform. If you can find the notes that are feeding back the worse, you refer to the chart and you then know the frequency to eq cut on your parametric equalizer.

So if you have a parametric equalizer, you can set it too the offensive frequency - in my case 123 hz, select a narrow Q, and knock off about 5 decibels. Then play around with the width of the Q and the number of decibels cut until the feedback becomes manageable. Cut as little as possible.

Note that you'll affect the tone of your guitar when you do this, just the tone of the notes that you're eqing and the notes below that frequency (the harmonics of lower notes may be in the frequency that you're cutting). I don't find it to be a problem at those settings as I'm only affecting the lowest notes on the guitar and it's not too noticable and it's much better than feedback.

**riovine** · 12-08-2009, 11:17 PM

Originally Posted by jesse11

Hey Guys,

I am new to the hollowbody thing and I have an ibanez AF125. I have been having feedback issues with it (I know feedback is part of the hollowbody guitar use to a degree), I just want to know how to get rid of as much of this as possible- is this my amp? does the packaging tape over f holes actually work?

Thanks

Jesse

When using a hollowbody and having issues with feedback, it's been my experience that the guitar is only half the equation. You really need to consider the whole guitar/amp as a system. I've had the same hollowbody guitar feedback like a banshee through some amps and hardly at all through other amps. Even when playing at similar volumes & guitar placements etc.

If you can't experiment with using other amps, try getting your amp off the floor and putting it on a chair. Also, place the amp on the headstock side of the guitar (rather than the body side). Both of those should help.

**Bill C** · 12-09-2009, 02:45 AM

These can help: Dougs Plugs

**Little Jay** · 12-09-2009, 05:44 AM

Those f-hole plugs realy work great preventing feedback. (I made some myself, realy easy to do... sorry Doug ;-). In my case only 'plugging' the upper f-hole was already sufficient.
And it doesn't diminish the sound of the guitar at all imho.

Taping off your f-holes works a little, but not great. And it's a hassle.

Some other tricks:
- dial out the bass-frequencies, since it's usualy those who feedback
- carefully positioning yourself in regard to your amp
- putting a foam-block inside your guitar

A more permanent solution is to place a staple under the brigde.

**Senior** · 12-09-2009, 05:33 PM

I also have the Ibanez AF125. I have 2 amps and found that my Crate gives more feed back than the Behringer. Standing off to the side of the amp has eliminated all feed back in my situation.

**tejastani** · 12-24-2009, 08:30 AM

Something I stumbled across playing amplified acoustic (flat-top) guitar that should work for the Ibanez-- I play thru a cheap ART Tube MP mic preamp for a little tube compression and to boost my signal. It has a phase reverse switch that takes the guitar top ( the feedback culprit) out of phase and limits feedback. I also like the tone of this preamp-- it warms up an SS amp without adding distortion.

**guitar freek** · 02-06-2010, 06:53 PM

I Have Possibly A Monday Morning One. Nothing But Trouble With The Guitar, Supplier & Uk Distributer.
Nice Looking Guitar. Was Taken Back To Village Music East Kilbride 3 Times Where I Purchased It & Sent Back To The Uk Distributer. When It Came Back The Case Was Damaged. It Took Months To Have It Replaced And Twice They Sent The Wrong Case. The Response From Both Was Tough. I Eventually Stripped The Instrument In Frustration Myself. I Had To Tighten The Machine Heads, Pot Nuts, Set The Truss Rod And Most Importantly Replace The Bridge Before I Could Get It Working Satisfactorily. Obviously The So Called Profesionals Had No Idea Or Made No Decent Attempt To Fix It.
I Have Been Told That They No Longer Manufacture This Guitar Maybe This Is Why.
This Is One Of Many Guitars That I Own. Only Bad Experience.

**high** · 05-24-2010, 09:18 AM

hello.
i have an artcore af 125, the guitar has a high guality construction, very good intonation and fretboard, but the sound seems too bright.
A few days ago i played a cort yorktown, very dark sound, ideal for jazz...i think the af 125 suited better for blues stuff.
Anyway, i want that jazzy dark sound and i dont know if i can do it with the artcore 125...very good guitar ... but very bright also.
I heard that the lower end artcores(af 75..85) are more dark sounding and better suited for jazz.
Is that true?

**mr. beaumont** · 05-24-2010, 09:40 AM

the 125 has the floating pickup, right? they are a little brighter sounding, you gotta play around with EQ a little more, that's all--boost some mids and cut some highs.

but the whole concept that a jazz tone has to be dark is kind of silly. I can name you more big-name players who play with a tone on the bright side of the spectrum than i can on the dark side, honestly...

**high** · 05-24-2010, 10:15 AM

no, it has 2 humburgers
i agree with you...when i say dark i dont think pat martino...and i like tone control all open on the guitar...(or almost open)I dont like mud,

but i think the sound is too crispy..the strings have much twang...i want more smoothness.

when i played back to back the af 125 and the cort yorktown....it was like night and day...my fingers played jazzy things on the cort without thinking nothing....the dark smooth sound was the culprit.On the artcore i had more bluesy attitude

but i have to say the ibanez af 125 is a better guitar..very resonate, better articulating, clear notes, better quality..
just too bright

**mr. beaumont** · 05-24-2010, 10:23 AM

IMO, the Cheaper Cort's are junk. You're better off with that Ibanez.

What kind of amp are you using? Did you use the same amp when you tried the Cort? What kind of strings are you using? How is your amp EQ-ed? There's a lot of variables at play in getting you the sound you want.

**Bertrand tB** · 05-24-2010, 10:35 AM

What kind of strings do you use? Rounds or Flats, it will make a difference. Indeed, the Artcore Custom is a bright sounding guitar, you have to think George Benson. I play the 105 and I think it's a hell of a guitar, especially for this amount of money. Do try and turn the treble down on your guitar, you'll lose brightness but not clearness in tone, it should do the trick. Also what kind of amp do you and try to put down the brightness in your amp. I know for shure you'll find your sweet spot. Lots of success!!

**fep** · 05-24-2010, 10:51 AM

Originally Posted by high

and i like tone control all open on the guitar...(or almost open)I dont like mud,

There's the problem.

The jazz tone you're talking about that you've heard... it's accomplished by turning the tone down, way down, and turning the volume down also.

If you think that creates "mud" and don't like mud then you don't like the jazz tone that you're talking about.

Ask around, you'll find many (probably most) get that fat tone with their tone on their guitar turned down.

**mr. beaumont** · 05-24-2010, 11:14 AM

well, fep, i'd start with cutting a little volume to see if that tames the highs before rolling the tone knob too far down. I see a lot of amateurs with the tone rolled almost completely off, but anytime i go see somebody who's a national act, I'm usually struck by the clarity and brightness of their tone.

a good practice is, if EQ-ing the amp and running the volume a little less than full still sounds brighter than you want, then play with the tone knob. Roll it down until it sounds too muddy, then bring it back up gradually until you find a "happy medium."

except for pat martino, of course (who, as much as i love him--his current tone is cardboard)

But, for example, even myself--a confirmed amatuer who occasionally gets paid-- is getting some great jazz tones on that Kay I picked up--and it doesn't even have a tone knob!

I have a suspicion our OP's problem resides in the amplifier, not in the guitar.

**fep** · 05-24-2010, 11:35 AM

I had read that Pat Metheny likes to have his amp bright and the tone on his guitar turned down. He says with his Ibanez he doesn't have to turn the tone down as far as he had to with his ES175.

I've observed beginners being very reluctant to turn their volume of tone down or being timid with how much they turn it down.

You've got to use your ear. At what setting does your tone control really start to cut your tone?

For both my Strat and Ibanez Prestige (w/ humbuckers) and my Eastman (humbucker), the tone control doesn't even seem to effect the tone until about the 5-7 range... in other words at 7, 8 or 10 the tone is all pretty much the same on all those guitars.

I like a pretty bright tone within the jazz range of things. I usually play on the front pu with the tone around 5-7 and the volume at about 5-7 also. This removes some of the "rock guitar" hottness out of the pick ups.

One thing to be aware of is louder sounds better and it's easy to get the impression that the tone and volume on your guitar wide open sounds better because of this louder sounds better phenomenun. As you're experimenting with guitar settings you should adjust the volume on your amp to keep the volume the same as your trying different tone and volume settings on your guitar.