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lgdas
Published on 12/16/06 at 01:47
This is the "high end" of the series AS, Artcore Custom, the quarter with cash beam sustain at an affordable price.
They are built in China by makers of children working 14 hours a day, with no hope of retirement, no social security, one day off per week: progress and sustainable development are underway ... and we can enjoy
This is a guitar blonde, slightly raised from Rimel: all the guitar is maple and acastillage gold, enhanced by elements brown rosewood head veneer, ebony buttons ...
The decoration is successful, the finish is of very good quality.
Plywood body is maple with a flamed maple surface, the most beautiful effect. The table, the gills and back are decorated with a pleated black net / Ivory ... Plastic of course, but quality. The varnish is a bit too much for my taste.
Internal beam in Maple too (but it seems that there is also a fine instrument as bubinga connection between the beam and rounded the table (as far as I can see through the gills).
The handle 3 part maple, separated by two nets bubinga (a kind of mahogany), more for aesthetics than sound or strength. The rosewood fingerboard is adorned with rectangular frames in abalone and mother of pearl (false). A net around the neck ivory: very classy.
The finish of the 22 medium jumbo frets, is impeccable. These frets are quite high, scheduled for tie rods seriously: the 10/48 is a fair bit of 11/50 or higher is preferable.
Bridge-type Tune o-matic, the tailpiece is equipped with fine-tunings ... and we wonder why: the mechanical work very well!
The two microphones, grounded on the beam to sustain, are Super 58 custom, not to be confused with the real Super 58 MIJ: their Chinese version, less efficient. Each has a volume and tone effectively.
The guitar comes with a box, gray ugly black wig inside, low end, but it's still a box, and it is clearly better than nothing poor or nylon cover.
UTILIZATION
Half-boxes are generally large guitars, compared with boxes full. Result: she plays very well seated, it is perfectly balanced (allow time to adjust its size if it has a full case).
The handle is very good, suitable for all types of games, barely wider than a round of Start '(2 mm). The 22 frets are usable, you just dislocate a bit for the last 5.
Originally, the sound is very balanced, intermediate between a "real" semi-hollow and solid body. In fact, I think this guitar is more similar, relatively speaking, to Lucille as a Sheraton, for example. This is an interesting compromise: you lose some wood in the sound, but it becomes more versatile.
Sound vacuum is not very powerful, but you can play without the amp for training.
SOUNDS
This guitar can take in a lot of genres, from jazz to heavy rock work through the reggea. His favorite is the Funk-Blues-Rock.
Sounds original configuration.
Neck pickup: warm sound, a little woody turning down the volume and tone, vibrant good (it also comes from the maple). The saturation is quite dark, but lack of grain. The type of pick used the sound changes a lot.
Micro Bridge: a more aggressive, a little loud in the clear, much better saturation. Harmonics are present, but not easy (you must pick them up with your fingers).
Interesting intermediate position: the sound is dug, the less powerful permetttant playing funky or country with a lot of authenticity: it is the highlight of the guitar in original configuration.
Connected to an old Roland Spirit 30 (transistors), the correct, but very flat. It comes from the amp of course, but it confirms that this guitar needs a good amp to express his qualities.
Plugged into a Vox AD30 (modeling), the couple works well, the models can use the guitar in any situation.
Plugged into a Vox AC 15 (lamps) it takes another dimension. The guitar is really more expressive through the exploitation of the dynamics of the amp.
Plugged into an amp sound ... I have not tried, it would be interesting to do to see if it highlights the side of the woods.
Here are some samples made initially to remove the evil which I lampooned the AS 103 could do jazz sounds.
This is a piece of the theme of In a Sentimental Mood.
Neck pickup: http://media.putfile.com/AF103NeckDug
Intermediate: http://media.putfile.com/AF103IntDug
Bridge pickup: http://media.putfile.com/AF103BridDug
From my point of view, and according to my tastes, the limit of this guitar is the pickups, they are good, usable in all styles ... because very neutral in terms of grain.
Now I wait a guitar it has a type, color, type, that we should fight a little with his character. So I ask Gibson '57 Classic, and now, great!
Sounds custom configuration.
Neck pickup ('57): its very hot, hotter and more wooded than the original, very good dynamic. The microphone captures better the influence of the violin, and reduces the heat a little dominant snapping provided by Maple. The dynamic is reinforced. Saturation is dark, raging, roaring, nothing to do with a Les Paul anyway, but we are not far from a 335 maple, I like! The clean sounds are much more flutes and singing. The nuances of games are faithfully reproduced.
Micro Bridge ('57 +): more aggressive sound, but still exploitable clear: acute are not garish. Saturated, it is the purpose of this microphone, there is the angry side, but more aggressive harmonics come easily.
Middle position: it is great. The sound is cut, always a little less powerful, very sensitive to the nuances of the game: great singing and flute playing when you cast when you brush slamming funky, very country in picking the legate to crunchy blues-rock is a wonder, the control is total saturation with a pick
Anything plugged into it works! Of course the sound is not the same as the amp, but the change is sensitive enough to be noticeable on all system
Meanwhile other samples, this is a start of work on the theme of Autumn Leaves: Neck pickup, Vox AC 15 amp output resumed Line, wha wha pedal Snarling Dogs. http://media.putfile.com/AutomnLeaves
And some samples made before, to see his customized compare to the original: Korg PX4D preamp direct into the sound card, modeling JazzChorus.
Neck pickup, volume-bottom: http://media.putfile.com/Mood-GibV10
The same, volume 4: http://media.putfile.com/Mood-GibV4
OVERALL OPINION
Children Chinese luthiers are working really well: the level of finish is quite imprressionant for this price range, and having in hand a beautiful thing really matters in the pleasure of playing
It is perfectly balanced and easy to play, including a sitting position.
Should I change the pickups?
Not necessarily: the compromise on the sounds and neutrality of origin seem positive. The guitar is quite usable with a good amp.
I customized a guitar for less versatile and more typical. In retrospect, the choice of Classic 57 'seems appropriate to this view (it's still € 300 more ...), but it was not a necessity for the guitar sounds.
Does it cost the maple finish?
There are indeed other less expensive models in the range. With the original pickups, they blies me slightly back from the NT model 103 ... but barely, and I'm not sure that my decision was not influenced by the fact that I love the look of this guitar. Try, then, for example, AF 73
They are built in China by makers of children working 14 hours a day, with no hope of retirement, no social security, one day off per week: progress and sustainable development are underway ... and we can enjoy
This is a guitar blonde, slightly raised from Rimel: all the guitar is maple and acastillage gold, enhanced by elements brown rosewood head veneer, ebony buttons ...
The decoration is successful, the finish is of very good quality.
Plywood body is maple with a flamed maple surface, the most beautiful effect. The table, the gills and back are decorated with a pleated black net / Ivory ... Plastic of course, but quality. The varnish is a bit too much for my taste.
Internal beam in Maple too (but it seems that there is also a fine instrument as bubinga connection between the beam and rounded the table (as far as I can see through the gills).
The handle 3 part maple, separated by two nets bubinga (a kind of mahogany), more for aesthetics than sound or strength. The rosewood fingerboard is adorned with rectangular frames in abalone and mother of pearl (false). A net around the neck ivory: very classy.
The finish of the 22 medium jumbo frets, is impeccable. These frets are quite high, scheduled for tie rods seriously: the 10/48 is a fair bit of 11/50 or higher is preferable.
Bridge-type Tune o-matic, the tailpiece is equipped with fine-tunings ... and we wonder why: the mechanical work very well!
The two microphones, grounded on the beam to sustain, are Super 58 custom, not to be confused with the real Super 58 MIJ: their Chinese version, less efficient. Each has a volume and tone effectively.
The guitar comes with a box, gray ugly black wig inside, low end, but it's still a box, and it is clearly better than nothing poor or nylon cover.
UTILIZATION
Half-boxes are generally large guitars, compared with boxes full. Result: she plays very well seated, it is perfectly balanced (allow time to adjust its size if it has a full case).
The handle is very good, suitable for all types of games, barely wider than a round of Start '(2 mm). The 22 frets are usable, you just dislocate a bit for the last 5.
Originally, the sound is very balanced, intermediate between a "real" semi-hollow and solid body. In fact, I think this guitar is more similar, relatively speaking, to Lucille as a Sheraton, for example. This is an interesting compromise: you lose some wood in the sound, but it becomes more versatile.
Sound vacuum is not very powerful, but you can play without the amp for training.
SOUNDS
This guitar can take in a lot of genres, from jazz to heavy rock work through the reggea. His favorite is the Funk-Blues-Rock.
Sounds original configuration.
Neck pickup: warm sound, a little woody turning down the volume and tone, vibrant good (it also comes from the maple). The saturation is quite dark, but lack of grain. The type of pick used the sound changes a lot.
Micro Bridge: a more aggressive, a little loud in the clear, much better saturation. Harmonics are present, but not easy (you must pick them up with your fingers).
Interesting intermediate position: the sound is dug, the less powerful permetttant playing funky or country with a lot of authenticity: it is the highlight of the guitar in original configuration.
Connected to an old Roland Spirit 30 (transistors), the correct, but very flat. It comes from the amp of course, but it confirms that this guitar needs a good amp to express his qualities.
Plugged into a Vox AD30 (modeling), the couple works well, the models can use the guitar in any situation.
Plugged into a Vox AC 15 (lamps) it takes another dimension. The guitar is really more expressive through the exploitation of the dynamics of the amp.
Plugged into an amp sound ... I have not tried, it would be interesting to do to see if it highlights the side of the woods.
Here are some samples made initially to remove the evil which I lampooned the AS 103 could do jazz sounds.
This is a piece of the theme of In a Sentimental Mood.
Neck pickup: http://media.putfile.com/AF103NeckDug
Intermediate: http://media.putfile.com/AF103IntDug
Bridge pickup: http://media.putfile.com/AF103BridDug
From my point of view, and according to my tastes, the limit of this guitar is the pickups, they are good, usable in all styles ... because very neutral in terms of grain.
Now I wait a guitar it has a type, color, type, that we should fight a little with his character. So I ask Gibson '57 Classic, and now, great!
Sounds custom configuration.
Neck pickup ('57): its very hot, hotter and more wooded than the original, very good dynamic. The microphone captures better the influence of the violin, and reduces the heat a little dominant snapping provided by Maple. The dynamic is reinforced. Saturation is dark, raging, roaring, nothing to do with a Les Paul anyway, but we are not far from a 335 maple, I like! The clean sounds are much more flutes and singing. The nuances of games are faithfully reproduced.
Micro Bridge ('57 +): more aggressive sound, but still exploitable clear: acute are not garish. Saturated, it is the purpose of this microphone, there is the angry side, but more aggressive harmonics come easily.
Middle position: it is great. The sound is cut, always a little less powerful, very sensitive to the nuances of the game: great singing and flute playing when you cast when you brush slamming funky, very country in picking the legate to crunchy blues-rock is a wonder, the control is total saturation with a pick
Anything plugged into it works! Of course the sound is not the same as the amp, but the change is sensitive enough to be noticeable on all system
Meanwhile other samples, this is a start of work on the theme of Autumn Leaves: Neck pickup, Vox AC 15 amp output resumed Line, wha wha pedal Snarling Dogs. http://media.putfile.com/AutomnLeaves
And some samples made before, to see his customized compare to the original: Korg PX4D preamp direct into the sound card, modeling JazzChorus.
Neck pickup, volume-bottom: http://media.putfile.com/Mood-GibV10
The same, volume 4: http://media.putfile.com/Mood-GibV4
OVERALL OPINION
Children Chinese luthiers are working really well: the level of finish is quite imprressionant for this price range, and having in hand a beautiful thing really matters in the pleasure of playing
It is perfectly balanced and easy to play, including a sitting position.
Should I change the pickups?
Not necessarily: the compromise on the sounds and neutrality of origin seem positive. The guitar is quite usable with a good amp.
I customized a guitar for less versatile and more typical. In retrospect, the choice of Classic 57 'seems appropriate to this view (it's still € 300 more ...), but it was not a necessity for the guitar sounds.
Does it cost the maple finish?
There are indeed other less expensive models in the range. With the original pickups, they blies me slightly back from the NT model 103 ... but barely, and I'm not sure that my decision was not influenced by the fact that I love the look of this guitar. Try, then, for example, AF 73