cooltouch
Ibanez Artcore AG85
No longer in production -- which mystifies me -- the Artcore AG85 was intended to fit squarely between the AG75 and AG95 in terms of features and looks. Basically, it looks and feels like an AG95, but without the gold-plated hardware. This is the guitar that I specifically wanted. Gold plating doesn't last very long with me. My sweat is somewhat on the corrosive side and unfortunately it tends to make short work of gold plating. All the more reason why I prefer chrome, which is much more durable.
[Edit: These comments refer specifically to the earlier model of the AG85. Ibanez made quite a few changes to it for the 2013 model, most of them cheapening moves to keep it at the same price point. Gone are the abalone inlays in the headstock and wood inlay in the tailpiece. The abalone has been replaced by what looks like silkscreen and the tailpiece is a bent wire affair with no more inlay. On the plus side, though, the newer model gets the Super 58 pickups]
The wood used in this guitar's construction is Bubinga, an African hardwood with a lot of figure and a reddish cast. I was rather surprised to realize I could hear the difference this wood makes in the sound of the instrument, especially since it's laminated. But all the laminates must be bubinga as well. It adds a rather complex and textured "woody" sound to the guitar that I am very fond of.
This AG85 plays like an absolute dream, plus it's got that deep body for a full jazz-guitar sound. The body is not as large as some jazz guitars. In fact, it reminds me somewhat of the George Benson models that Ibanez produces, its shape loosely based on the Gibson Les Paul's, albeit larger in dimensions than the solid-body Les Paul. And I happen to like this shape. This slightly smaller body compared to other hollow-body jazz guitars doesn't detract from the sound at all, but makes the guitar a bit less cumbersome and easier to handle.
I was not surprised to see that my AG85 was made in China. But I was surprised at the excellent quality of the fit and finish. I build guitars, so I pay attention to certain things when I look at other guitars. And let me just say this guitar's craftsmanship is equal to that of guitar that cost thousands of dollars more.
Oh, another difference between the AG85 and AG95 is the pickups. The AG85 gets the same ACH pickups that are found in the AG75. The AG95 has a set of pickups that are supposedly better -- the Custom 58s. The ACH pickups have ceramic magnets, whereas the Custom58s' magnets are alnico. Yes, alnico is better than ceramic. It will always be better than ceramic. But when you find out what sort of tones you can extract from this instrument, suddenly criticism of the pickups gets lost in the sounds you'll be getting when you play this guitar. You can't have mine, though. You're gonna have to get your own. One of the best things about this guitar was the resale price. I bought mine used from Guitar Center for $200, which included a very nice hardshell case. Just an unbelievably good deal.
Ibanez Artcore AG85
No longer in production -- which mystifies me -- the Artcore AG85 was intended to fit squarely between the AG75 and AG95 in terms of features and looks. Basically, it looks and feels like an AG95, but without the gold-plated hardware. This is the guitar that I specifically wanted. Gold plating doesn't last very long with me. My sweat is somewhat on the corrosive side and unfortunately it tends to make short work of gold plating. All the more reason why I prefer chrome, which is much more durable.
[Edit: These comments refer specifically to the earlier model of the AG85. Ibanez made quite a few changes to it for the 2013 model, most of them cheapening moves to keep it at the same price point. Gone are the abalone inlays in the headstock and wood inlay in the tailpiece. The abalone has been replaced by what looks like silkscreen and the tailpiece is a bent wire affair with no more inlay. On the plus side, though, the newer model gets the Super 58 pickups]
The wood used in this guitar's construction is Bubinga, an African hardwood with a lot of figure and a reddish cast. I was rather surprised to realize I could hear the difference this wood makes in the sound of the instrument, especially since it's laminated. But all the laminates must be bubinga as well. It adds a rather complex and textured "woody" sound to the guitar that I am very fond of.
This AG85 plays like an absolute dream, plus it's got that deep body for a full jazz-guitar sound. The body is not as large as some jazz guitars. In fact, it reminds me somewhat of the George Benson models that Ibanez produces, its shape loosely based on the Gibson Les Paul's, albeit larger in dimensions than the solid-body Les Paul. And I happen to like this shape. This slightly smaller body compared to other hollow-body jazz guitars doesn't detract from the sound at all, but makes the guitar a bit less cumbersome and easier to handle.
I was not surprised to see that my AG85 was made in China. But I was surprised at the excellent quality of the fit and finish. I build guitars, so I pay attention to certain things when I look at other guitars. And let me just say this guitar's craftsmanship is equal to that of guitar that cost thousands of dollars more.
Oh, another difference between the AG85 and AG95 is the pickups. The AG85 gets the same ACH pickups that are found in the AG75. The AG95 has a set of pickups that are supposedly better -- the Custom 58s. The ACH pickups have ceramic magnets, whereas the Custom58s' magnets are alnico. Yes, alnico is better than ceramic. It will always be better than ceramic. But when you find out what sort of tones you can extract from this instrument, suddenly criticism of the pickups gets lost in the sounds you'll be getting when you play this guitar. You can't have mine, though. You're gonna have to get your own. One of the best things about this guitar was the resale price. I bought mine used from Guitar Center for $200, which included a very nice hardshell case. Just an unbelievably good deal.