"I've made a friend."
Feature:
Remember; this is in the context of a $350-range mass produced guitar: This beauty comes with no pick guard or tremelo. I am more than satisfied with that setup, although, I've always enjoyed using a quality tremelo. And,it can be added if necessary. A Pick guard just isn't a critical item, and again, it's easily added after the fact. What you do get are two excellent pickups, a decent set of tuners, a very good bridge and tailpiece and a superbly finished neck, head and body.
Quality:
As I alluded to in "Features", you are not going to get this kind of quality materials and construction for this price in other brands without some long and careful shopping --- and maybe a friend in the guitar selling business. I found the general fit and finish to be as good as instruments costing twice as much.
As far as dependability, I've had mine for about 6 months. It holds its tune very well. I haven't played gigs since the 50's and 60's, so it will not have to suffer the road as my SG's and 335's did, so I can't really say at this point. What I can see from experience is with the full body, neck and head binding and general construction, it should wear fine. You have to care for any grade of instrument.
Value:
Get one now. Don't wait.
Desirability:
I musically bonded to this understated beauty after a couple of blues runs through my trusty Princeton. She now spends about 4 hours a day in my immediate clutches. Sex appeal? Maybe not, but I'd take her anywhere that I'd take my wife.
Sound:
Sound is so darned subjective; if you don't think so just sit down with a group of guitarists and ask them to describe their favorite rock/blues/jazz, etc, guitar sound. You will hear the same guitar and setting described in many seemingly opposed ways.
My best description of the overall sound of the Ibanez AM 73 is warm throatiness without the usual "Jazz" guitar muffle. And It can scream as clear or distorted as you want, but just as quickly give you those full, rich, clean lows. If I compared it to a voice type I'd say it was a Ray Charles. My old ES 335's were similar, but not as throaty (new word?).
Ease of Use:
Now, a real deal maker for me --- the neck: It is fairly wide and flat and simply feels great. Frets are on the wide range and the action was low right out of the box, but easily adjustable. This guitar neck, although bound, which on more cheaply made guitars can feel clunky; feels smooth and clean. The frets were well finished; no sharp ends.
My only "rather" on usability is I'd rather have a better balance; it is somewhat neck heavy. Not a big factor, but something that needs getting used to. I don't notice it now, until I play other semi- hollows.
Support:
Short story about ZZounds: I'm retired on an extremely 'fixed' (read that as small) income. I researched and shopped local and internet sellers for the best guitar I could afford for what I had to spend. I chose mostly based on cost balanced by quality.
With that in mind, I ordered a 'blemished' AM 73 with no small amount of trepidation. The Salesperson assured me that it would be in excellent condition. It arrived on time and very well packed. Unfortunately, a gouge was evident in the inner packaging, barely evident on the outer box. The blow had hit precisely on the top of the three way toggle switch, busting the switch handle off down in the threads.
The guitar itself, looked spotless. It played great right out of the box. I called the ZZounds and explained the shipping damage. But no other blemeshed 73's were available, and a new switch would take days to ship from the factory. The salesperson spoke to his manager and within 5 minutes a brand new, factory fresh Ibanez AM 73 was on its way overnight. That, my friends, is top shelf support. Enough said.
Overall:
I've been a prisoner of music for about 50 ---- Jeez, 50??? ---- years. I've owned and played the good, bad and indifferent, from a pristine Gibson L7 that toppled down a high, winding attic staircase to its total destruction, to SG's, ES 335's, any number of Fenders, Gretchs, Guilds, and many lesser knowns. If I still owned half of the guitars I owned in the "days", I would be wealthy. But, for me, in the final take, an instrument either has a 'presence'---a life to it, Or, it sits there inert; just a hunk of highly polished woods with knobs. I'm sure many of you have had instruments of both kinds---many more by far of the inert type. But, for those 'live' guitars It doesn't always mean you have the greatest playing or sounding guitar; it does mean you have a special connection to that particular instrument. You are happy to pick it up and play it any hour of the day or night.
We are emotional beings and we want to use emotionally 'live' instruments that convey those good vibrations.
I like this dark (somewhat sexy) brown 73. It is becoming a valued friend. It talks to me (my wife has voiced some concern about that). And, when I really relax and play it well, it has some neat things to say.
Submitted: 12/27/2007
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2 of 2 people (100%) found this review helpful. Did you?
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"It was fate"
Feature:
Pretty basic setup, two pickups, two volume and two tone knobs, etc etc. However, the hardware is very good. As mentioned in "sound" it has a great sound, as mentioned in "I Want It" it has a great look. Really, it doesn't fail anywhere, except I did want a bigsby on it, but I plan to buy one very soon.
Quality:
I've never looked at this guitar without thinking good thoughts about it. It's got a solid finish, and strong build, it can withstand hard playing while still looking great. It's easy to keep clean and polished, and easy to keep sounding great. The pickups are high quality and have yet to let me down in any way. Quality is a great word to describe this guitar, especially for it's value.
Value:
Are you kidding? A semi-hollow for $350-400 that sounds this good?
Desirability:
Personally, I own the red finish version of this guitar. She's got a sleek look mixed with a vintage and formal feeling that makes her both perfectly suited for playing and for making guests drool with jealousy. Sure, she doesn't say "Gibson" or "Fender," not even "Gretsch" or "Guild," but she's got her own beauty that I find incomparable.
Sound:
When I first plugged it in in the store, I played a bit of a bluesy tone. Sounded amazing. Then, I played a soft vintage chord progression. Sounded amazing. After buying it a while later, I went to jam with some friends who love to play heavy metal. I turned up the distortion and... sounded amazing. I've yet to find a way to make it sound bad, aside from letting my drummer try to play it.
Ease of Use:
Personally, the most exceptional thing about this guitar is how easy it is to move from fret to fret, bend the strings along the wood of the neck, slide up and down the neck, and overall playing. It's easy to play even the highest of frets, and only an SG's body would be more suited for slicing the high notes. Honestly, there's not much to say about the ease of use other than, it's very easy and very fun to use, able to make a wide range of sounds and tones while your fingers dance over it nicely.
Support:
Haven't needed to call on anyone about it. It's still perfect!
Overall:
When I first walked into the guitar shop I was in no financial status to afford a new guitar. I walked up and down the rows of axes in the shop and on a stand on the floor shoved between a couple of Parkers (Not sure why it was in that section... Maybe so I'd find it) was a red AS-73 with a beautiful white trim. I picked it up, pulled a pick from my pocket and ran it across the strings. It was in tune and sounded great. Within minutes I had it plugged in and it didn't take long for me to say, "This is my guitar." Saved up, and a month later I bought it. Owned it for months now, never had a single complaint... Friends and family get jealous of this guitar because I spend more time with it than with them. But, like all musicians I have a serious bond with my instruments, especially this one. It spoke to me in the store that day and still speaks to me today, a feeling that most experienced musicians know the importance of. If you dont love your instrument, it wont sound like it should, and I love this instrument.
Submitted: 7/16/2008
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3 of 3 people (100%) found this review helpful. Did you?
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