Ibanez AF105F Artcore Custom Electric Guitar (with Case)

Feature:
The guitar included a particularly nice hardshell case. One minor issue for my playing style is that I occasionally bump the volume control with my picking hand, but I'm learning to move torwards the fretboard to avoid that. Some players might want to consider replacing the knobs with a lower profile type, although to my eyes the stock knobs are quite attractive.

Quality:
Fit and finish on the unit I recieved are excellent. My wife, a piano player, took one look at this guitar and annouced that it was her's and that we needed to buy a replacement for me. Enough said! I've used this as my excuse to order my 3rd Ibanez, a George Benson model GB10, which I'm anxiuosly awaiting. BTW, my first Ibanez is a 1983 Artist semi-hollowbody, tabacco sunburst, which to this day remains my favorite general purpose recording electric.

Value:
Compares favorably with instruments (that I own) valued at more than 4 times it's price. Is it a high-end, handbuilt, archtop? No, those start at over $4500.00. Is it worth it current retail? Absolutey!

Desirability:
See above. My wife has become a guitar student, and stolen it away from me, because she fell in love with the look and sound of this guitar. You can bet I'll sneak it away from her on a regular basis.

Sound:
The maple top & single floating pickup give this instrument a really nice voice with subtle, bright overtones, particularly on fully voiced chords. A nice acoustic flavor and initial note attack. I'm playing this instrument directly into a mix board with a good direct box and light amount of high quality reverb and it sounds very good. Overall it's less mid-rangey then my Gretch Double Anniversary or many archtops I've played using the more typical spruce top.

Support:
Truth is, I don't know, in 22 years I've never needed to contact Ibanez with a problem.

Overall:
Ibanez has regularly produced exception instruments that are a fantastic value.

Feature:
Case is enough tough, but it's still poor china made.

Quality:
It is very good quality, even it was made in China. Every detail is done with precission. This guitar is beautiful!

Value:
This product is the best deal! I compared it to some yamaha, gretsch, washburn and even to epiphone. This is the best choice in this price range.

Sound:
Standard pickup is good, sensitive also for acoustic things [picking, etc]. Sound is good but not enough for me. I've changed it to Benedetto S-6 + Fishman Archtop piezo. Now it's amazing!!

Ease of Use:
This guitar is...easy! amazing easy to play, small meansure, easy to handle - awesome...

Overall:
For last 14 years I owned 6 hollow and semi-hollow body guitars. I bought it in US and I'm playing on it all the time now. I've changed pickup to Benedetto S-6 and added a piezo. Now it's sounds beautiful!! It's awesome guitar!!!