Ibanez AK85

Bought it from Music123, at a total cost of $517 with hardcase and shipping.(Customs not included.)

The quality feeling, and tone of this guitar is probably not matched by many others in its price category.Very easy to play, and set up with relatively low string action. Finish is spotless. Very nice crafted neck inlays.Very stable tuning, even in long sessions. And last but not least, Nice tone! You can tweak a real smooth Pat Metheny like tone, or you can set it up for some growl to play the blues or some fusion. Works very nice for either. I bought it with the AF-100 hardshell case and the case is nice to. The guitar fits snuggly and securely in a lovely fluffy fabric. Enough space for lots of extra strings, a tuner and a few tools.

Some minor drawbacks: Its factory strung with .009 strings,so you might have to adjust the neck if you prefer heavier gauges. On my model there is a very small gap between the headstock binding and the string saddle on each side. The plastic toggle switch knob is not sufficently tightened. A tiny screw on the pickguard has been screwed in a little bit to one side, resulting in a barely noticeable flaw.

The guitar seems to be very well built apart from the aforementioned flaws. Nice craftmanship for the money! The intonation is near perfect. No buzzing in any frets.

This is a keeper. I am never getting rid of this one! Might change the pickups in the future, but they work very well for now.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

Previous advice to see CHARACTERISTICS.
The easel is not fix the table, dtail information for those who are not habit. The sound comes out richer and more harmonious, but be careful to mark the position of the bridge, changing strings, and guitar will sound false.
Good violin! And the woods are well chosen.

UTILIZATION

The handle is comfortable trs, anything.
I'm used to play acoustic adaptation is almost IMMEDIATE, and it benefitted the ease of electric guitar and more. Trs grip.

SOUNDS

It sounds pretty unplugged for a hollow body! Thanks to the fact that there is no support beam in the case rsonance is rich and natural.

Good microphones (2 humbuckers) are average. I also have installed two Seymour Duncan SH2 and SH4. With the original mics, one can arrive a few rglages INTERESTED, but the sound is almost neutral and fade trs, even approximately, for the bridge pickup. The neck pickup is a little more crdible. But really, given the quality of the guitar itself, a change of pickups required. Otherwise, it does not benefit 100% of the guitar, but the sound will in any case at least as good as the other rpliques priced double.

OVERALL OPINION

I use trs active recording and live for 2 weeks. She is beautiful and has everything a great (good microphones set aside).
I have tried many hollow-bodies before I shall decide on the l. The Epiphone, Washburn, Aria, Gretsch and others. The range of Ibanez Artcore AK85 and particulirement that are well above those of most of these, and with an investment in the best microphones (60 x 2 in import) the ratio is even more qualitprix unbeatable!

For fans of jazz sounds rich and natural, Do not hesitate one second! Finally, when even try it eh ...

Guitar made in China, excellent finish, 2 humbucker pickups type, selector 1/2/1 classic with traditional knobs.
Wooden Bridge very aesthetic.

Gibson 175 copy of very good quality.

UTILIZATION

Handle very nice and accurate. The frets low-rise can walk without any problems.
Access facilitated by the sharp cutaway.
General ergonomics perfect.

No complaints regarding my use (rhythm and blues jazz).

SOUNDS

No amplified sounds come out perfectly and already bcp roundness ...

I use an Ibanez TA35 Amp.

The two microphones are fairly original ways. Considering the price of the guitar (under € 500), we had to make concessions.
The original sound is not bad in itself but I find a great lack of personality. It's pretty dull ...

However, I brought up the top and Benedetti attention is the slap. JAZZ by a bridge and a BLU-N neck. € 330 for the installation and adjustment at the luthier (Mainnemarre in Rouen), it is all for € 800, the price of a Sheraton (or Yorktown) with the original pickups.
And to have compared these two models, I guarantee you it has nothing to do!

Power, precision, incredible sustain, the pickups use the full potential of the guitar and is quite impressive. It is almost a 175 ... except that the price is not the same!

So I put 6 / 10 on the guitar with the original pickups ...
but with Benedetti is 10/10 ...

OVERALL OPINION

Purchased from Lead Guitar to € 475 in late November.

Excellent quality / price ratio despite the need to change the pickups to really use the full potential of the fund. But the advantage is that each user can choose the sound according to what he plays.

All this is very subjective, of course, but the AK85 is largely on the level of its more expensive competitors.

And with microphones that hold the road is a killer!

Chinese-made but of good quality trs. Impeccable finishes. Play with the guitar lends rglage factory.
Typical configuration for an archtop with 2 humbuckers non-floating.

UTILIZATION

Channel trs comfortable with a good cutaway for easy Access in treble.
Excellent ergonomics, balance.

The guitar factory is just even RULES by changing the strings by largest intonation is perfect (check with a good tuner). the action is nickel (confirmed in a few days to see if the handle does not move under the tension).

SOUNDS

Personally it for use jazz / latin. I plugged into an acoustic amp (roland ac 60) with all the rglages to neutral).

First, we must lay the origins of the bin strings (that is ultralight for a guitar of this type, I do not see why ibanez does not rise the true cords larger, quite on the rpercuter selling price). I put D'Addario chromes 12 -> 52 (net flat), my usual game (on a copy of strata).

The sound is good to rev as if entremme noted other micro lack of personality. They do well out the acoustic guitar but a little too neutral for some. With legalization lgre you can really have a whole palette of sounds hot at your fingertips.

If there is a weak point on this guitar are the microphone. They are not bad (much better than on some epiphone) but a bit too neutral. The price of the guitar you can invest without microphones more typs bp.

Unplug the sound is really up correctly. Trs powerful but not well enough what truly equilibrated to work. In fact I plan to mount even a piezo sensor on the bridge to try to rcuprer the acoustics ... Someone test (I'd be curious to see what happens)?

OVERALL OPINION

2 days only.
Guitar really nice, comfortable trs, trs well finished and good sound branch / unplug.
The only change would be amliorable microphones. I for one am not waiting for me to press and ... plus it's not easy to choose.

I'm curious whether someone tried to put a piezo rcuprer for the acoustics of the guitar ... It might be nice for some styles.

It is found in ff tui € 450 which is a good price. Personally I bought € 310 + € 64 of tui in www.guitarbargains.com (if your not far you can go to the store in belgium rcuprer if you must add € 95 to safe harbor.

I tried other models at the store (af 75 ....). trs are good but a little less acoustically (not the same wood on the table). I also look less but that's personal