Ibanez AS50

I have an IBANEZ ARTIST AS 50, 1982, purchased in 1982, Japanese-made. Despite his 25 years, it remains a superb scratch (so say those who saw it)
22 frets, super 59 pickups neck and bridge.
QUICK easel ... sorry I did not know too much. 1 volume knob and 1 tone knob for the microphone. I play jazz, bossa nova.
D handle fairly large but very comfortable, very easy to acute attacks: with a proper adjustment of the bridge is reached supersonic speeds.

I plan to replace the pickups with Gibson Classic 57 to sound for a little less acute. But I am afraid to do something stupid: so if an expert could give me his opinion? Thank you in advance

UTILIZATION

The handle a little off is very nice: the highs are easy to access. Given the build quality (violin and hardware) its weight is correct. Good ergonomics.
For good sound, to look for a bit.

SOUNDS

For jazz, blues, bossa nova, it's great. This guitar is versatile, can play rock as well.
FENDER POWER CHORUS I use one and a Peavey Classic 30.

OVERALL OPINION

I am very pleased with this instrument. Excellent quality / price ratio at the time, today it has gained value.
You can play everything.
Without hesitation I would do this choice.

Japanese manufacturing, this guitar is inspired by the Gibson ES 335, but the body dimensions are less than the "original", which earned him the nickname of Small Body.Ce model has been discontinued since 1983.
Originally, two humbucker pickups Super 59 with the patch is a bit sharper than the 57 Classic Gibson.Règlage volume and tone for each.
I replaced the pickups with Gibson 57 Classic 2 and it really rips.
But despite this, probably due to the "Small Body" is not a 335. Instead, a 339 in this configuration "customized".
22 jumbo frets.
The violin is perfect (which is not always the case of the model it was inspired!
Even with low action, it goes without zinguer!

UTILIZATION

D handle quite large but very nice, makes a good velocity.
Gotoh mechanical clutch, smooth and reliable.
Sound not always easy to find: the microphone / handle is hot, the next bridge is quite bitter, we must find the right balance depending on the style and the amp.
But once we have understood the trick ... !
In blues / rock, great combination with my distortion lamps 2 Seymour Duncan SFX 03 Twin Tube Clasica (the ultimate weapon!) And my Fender Blues Deluxe.

SOUNDS

This guitar will allow you to jazz (fusion) to classic rock as long as the strings change depending on usage. By "flat mesh" for jazz, it sounds very sweet, very hot.
But attention, initially, it's not a Gibson, the sound is like, but it has its own character.
It will ideally be assisted by a Start or Tele (or other guitar with single coil pickups).
It is not at all adapted to the metal.

OVERALL OPINION

The model I own as of March 1982, and I use it regularly for six or seven ans.Je have exchanged (not purchased).
A perfect violin. An excellent guitar that is not a Gibson, but that has nothing to envy.
His rating from argus (between 600 and 800 euros) makes a guitar a very high quality / price ratio.
Only drawback: the difficulty of finding one. (Warning, a Korean model Artstar AS 50 is still marketed, but does not take the comparison with the model starting Artist 80).
So if you see a move to hand, try it, but cautiously, to try it, it is often adopted.

A Japanese 82 with an excellent finish. Micro double (in my case replaced by Tom Holmes by his former owner). Wooden handle. See descriptions below for more dtails. The only criticism one could make it, it is the quality of the knobs which I think is fairly average.

UTILIZATION

This guitar is very well balance, pretty small and lightweight (ca exchange dead horse that I had: an ES 345 TD!). The violin is nickel, but its weak point RSID apparently mics that are pretty average (I say apparently because these are rumors and I have not had a chance to try them)

SOUNDS

I do not know the microphones with the original! So I refrain ...

OVERALL OPINION

Not used for 1 year ... prs
Middle dpart hot but we know the more you apprcie.
From rock to jazz, she can do everything (except the black / grind / atmosphric / doom).
The report is qualitprix dmentiel but they are rare and trs hill climbing mchamment risk in the future.
ATTENTION Nothing do with ARTCORE (confusion often made) that are not at all in the same way, this guitar is the 'little sister' of Scofield MODELS (AS 100 I think)

I will not repeat the basic features ... Mem year for mine: 82

but mine is special:
I picked this guitar "rotting in a corner ..." it had been defaced: a router was dug to place a single microphone in the middle (yes, I know .... sacrilege). Fucking for fucking, so I've been asked a microphone (apparently a fender from the lute ist ...), restored the circuit, a mini switch to activate the microphone in quesiton.

( https://fr.audiofanzine.com/img/membres/normal/1/1/115733.jpg )

The settings are the following: a micro volume, a general tone, a micro switch that allows rle micro station, so I have 8 sounds at my disposal, with all assays available ...

I do not know how to note, given the changes, however, the result is an extreme versatility then the rating would have rather good ... zOther part of the general features are very nice, reasonable size of the fund, aesthetics adorable (for those who like shift case), the handle is very comfortable, well described by others ...

UTILIZATION

I do not return on ergonomics which has been well described, I usually play on '59 LP sleeve, so larger and I'd much rather handle it if thinner, but not for '60 as it is wider . access to the treble is very good ... the guitar is not heavy.

EDIT 04/09: Caution on small scenes whether you are included and you use lots of gain (overdrive) ... It hangs easily, in my case it was serious ... ...

SOUNDS

The weak point of this guitar: pickups, apparently they are not Paraffined .. I have the unfortunate tendency to push the overdrive far away (you might say: it is not made for it!) bin why not? and then, with the overdrive driven, AC whistles severe .... else aprt I found their sound medium high enough, I'll wait for something more spacious. I'm wondering what mics I'll be able to offer at least I'll paraffin micro ...
I ordered 2 Seymour Duncan Alnico 2 Pro.
Apart from this problem, I found that I was looking for versatility, the middle pickup has the sound palette of the strata, exactly what I was looking for. Happiness wholesale crunch. I add that I play 70's rock power trio (cream, hendrix, gallagher ....)

OVERALL OPINION

I've had it a week, I love the round, the aesthetic, playing comfort, versatility and the particularity of mine, I love the sound (except hiss).
I like less the position of the switch, down, accustomed to having it reach the top ... habit has taken?

EDIT April 209: be careful if you play disto ... attachment security on small scenes whether you are included.