Ibanez AM50

this is a 1983 Japanese mine on these models hollowbody Ibanez copied the ES335 reducing the size of the fund by 15%.
The irony of history is that Gibson copied this ibanez guitar for the ES339 out about 20 years later!
the violin is of very high quality and has nothing to envy to Gibson, this is the case with all the old ibanez, the Japanese had reserves of dry wood at this time and these guitars are like good wine, it age and get better in time ...
characteristics:
3-position selector
2 volumes + 2 tone
1 2-position selector (boost) added

UTILIZATION

end sleeve: very nice for my small hands.
the weight is very light, it does not fatigue.
equipped pulling 10-52 is perfect
22 frets, very good access to acute.

SOUNDS

I replaced all the electronics for the original 58 super micro bridge was replaced by his former owner by a emg and mic handle original sin had no more.
I fitted gibson knob and especially a pair of micro PAF seymour duncan antiquity .... and the result is amazing!

I play on a tube head hughes and kettner TubeMeister 36, exit to the cab 1x12 of the same brand and it's .......... Big Foot!
my registry is jazz / rock / blues / bossa / reggae ....

the sound of the mic handle and setting the tone knob allows me to cover jazz and bossa records, the bridge mic I use for blues solos and accompaniment also of course reggae.
I inserted tube screamer pedal Maxon OD808 for the blues / rock and solos, it pulls serious ...
middle position is great for rhythm.
my luthier to add a selector switch 2 positions that couples the two microphones and slightly increase their level of output with a distortion above can be accessed metal sounds without problem, but it's not my thing.

OVERALL OPINION

dreaming of an ES335, which is outside the budget for my apple, I bought secondhand recently on a whim for the heart and also incredibly low price and I still have more progress to make the turn with the mic seymour antiquity the slightest mistake will not forgive!

my teacher has a custom shop ES335 purchased in the U.S., and frankly I'm not jealous, it would even be the opposite ....

value for money: the top I had to purchase 950 roros including guitar + electronics and pickups new! what could be better for a guitar collector that level?
namely that the secondhand listings for this model is around € 1,000 to see a bit more (see argus ibanez on the web)

if it again and my budget would: I would buy all those old ibanez (my second).

of course I keep this guitar exceptional life!

I have a model AM 50 Artist of 1983. This guitar was made in Japan. The aim was to copy the famous Gibson ES335 home.
The pickups are super 58. They allow for a variety of sounds ranging from very smooth jazz, with its round and warm sound more modern typed jazz rock fusion.
Two volume and two tone controls (one for each pickup).
A selector switch to the neck pickup to bridge pickup or both.
The neck is maple and rosewood fingerboard Rio.

UTILIZATION

This guitar is comparable to the ES335. The violin is perfect, mine has a body and a maple neck, the fingerboard is rosewood. The handle is really nice compared to the ES335. Access to acute is very easy.
The ergonomics of the guitar (smaller than a box ES335) provides a good grip and comfort of play
The "sound" is there. Just plug it in, no effects, straight into the amp.

SOUNDS

I bought this guitar there eight years. I use it directly plugged into a fender blues deluxe all lamps.
The sound palette is very wide (its very round and warm neck pickup position to more modern sounds and saturated for rock, jazz fusion ...)
I will never let go.

OVERALL OPINION

I Refer this choice without hesitation if I could fly. Compared to an ES335, I prefer the AM 50.
The problem is to find a market ...

For my part, I possde MODEL AM50 of a 1984 made in Japan.
This is a semi-hollow, Reduces size compared to standard format became the ES335.
The body and neck are Rabl. The key, rosewood, includes 22 boxes.
The guitar has two humbucking, 58 super.
The electronic could not be more conventional with a volume knob of one of Tone for the two humbuckers and a 3 slecteur positions.
FYI, The models "high end" of the SERIES AM have a body and a mahogany neck, while the key is bne (eg, AM 205).

UTILIZATION

The handle is a real rgal. Playing comfort ensured whether chords, riffs or to apply phrass fast.
In any subjectivist (but may be it is also because it is the instrument that has followed most of my progress on guitar ...), it is the handle that I found the more enjoyable to play all the guitars I've tried (though I possde also a GODIN, marks the sleeves are yet rputs! but I did not find that m I ease of play).
CHAC is quite acute for ais and the weight of the instrument is reasonable trs.
The Schematic electronic, classical, can quickly find the sound.

SOUNDS

The handle al the lack of vibrato and rsonnance of the box provide a trs good sustain.
As for the Super 58 pickups, they contribute greatly the quality of the instrument and its versatility: micro dlivrer be serious in warm jazz sound (the dosage of the Tone will provide a sound trs round or more slammin), while the microphone allows aige distos scathing. It's the same type of microphone that can be found throughout the range AM (as well as the MODEL JSM John Scofield Ibanez or other models of quality jazz and blues orientation).
The instrument appears as comfortable in a jazz record that for more aggressive sounds (jazz-rock, blues, rock). Crunches are great!
I believe that the instrument be mounted with a win taking enough lev (10-52). It dlivrera the best of itself on a branch amp lamp will bring out the warmth of tone and harmonics (the saturation of the microphone will be biting acute desire without being too aggressive ). As such, the use of a prampli lamp (type V-Twin) will do the job if we have to grow on transistors. The instrument also s'avre trs good branch of the gear modlisation (such Tonelab).
The use of mdiators Dugain type, can only help improve the sound (but it's true for any guitar possde a minimum of characters!).
Although Obviously, given the nature of the instrument, the sounds are plutt "Gibsonian" (fans of crystalline sounds or sounds modern refrain ...).

OVERALL OPINION

Ultimately, this is an instrument trsrussi particulirement and endearing. I purchased it used about 15 years ago for $ 500 euros, on the advice, Aviss, a professional seller who had it even with rcupre s a jazzeux. It seems that the CTE of this type of instrument Whereas increased!
It is clear that this is the instrument which, when t bnficiait manufactured a quality-price ratio hardly galable! Even if the PM-50 is the "low end" of the AM SERIES, benefitted the instrument of a great quality of manufacture and trs aged well! I do not spare this guitar (even under torture!) And I would be happy to try other models of the SERIES (but they are quite hard to find ...).

Ibanez purchased second amended with two Gibson P94.
easel type tune-o-matic
set neck 22 frets
electronic classic 3 position selector, 2 tone, 2 volume

UTILIZATION

Round handle very similar to the type ES 335
the body is small enough pout a hollow-body shot and light! the central beam greatly limits the feedback, which allows you to play at high volume!
access to super sharp thanks to the double cut
various settings are super efficient

SOUNDS

sounds quite suited to my style (rock, hardcore, punk and even metal from time to time) the neck pickup sounds pretty fat, perfect for styles stoner with no popping sound. the neck pickup it has a bite that hand is reminiscent of a Les Paul Junior.
I played on a marshall class 5 with the distortion and overdrive AX1 wasabi tube Buner.
middle knob to lose a lot of volume I is

OVERALL OPINION

we are grieved for 3 years ...
I tried a lot of 335-like (lucille epiphone, ibanez AF ,...) and a lot of model with P90 (Squier Tele Custom II Ibanez Jet King). this guitar was the perfect cross!
P94 mics are great, I advise them to rock!
a great guitar in perfect condition (just missing the plate, which I intend to buy one day ...) to 350, lowered to 300.
If it all over again, I would hesitate even less!