Ibanez AM73 Artcore Semi-Hollowbody Electric Guitar
The Ibanez AM73 has deep sustain thanks to its semi-hollow maple body, while its ACH humbucker pickups produce fluent, pristine high-end tone.
Overall User Ratings (based on 61 ratings)
Submitted March 10, 2005 by a customer from yahoo.com
"Sweet Guitar, Sweet Price"
I will keep this guitar for a long, long time. It fits well between my Strat and acoustics sounds, with a nice jazzy sound. Can go from nearly acoustic to Chicago blues.
Sound
Excellent bridge pickup sound, bright but not annoying. It is really sweet through my little tube amp, with goog balance. It can play clean but really shines when it's on the edge of light distortion. Sweet!
Quality
I can't believe a guitar in this price range is this well made. The wood is nice, the translucent finish is excellent, the bindings are okay (better than you expect for the price) and the workmanship is good. It came set up out of the box, and while I will eventually tweak it, that really isn't necessary.
Value
I still cannot believe that a guitar this good cost so little. In this price range, it is head and shoulders above the competitors.
The Wow Factor
This guitar is sweet! It feels good, it seems to know what you want it to sound like. I wasn't looking for a guitar when I first played one, but knew I had to have it afterwards.
Musical Background:
serious hobbyist, play some live and record
Musical Style:
rock, folk, blues
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Submitted January 4, 2004 by a customer from hotmail.com
"Guitar of the Year!"
If for some reason I lost my Artcore, I would unquestionably get another immediately. Heck, buy a bunch of them now while theyre cheap and make a truckload of money off them twenty years down the road.
Sound
The Artcore was impressive right out of the box and has only improved with more use. I have a Strat too, which is an exceptional instrument, but the vibe from the Artcore, although entirely different, is just as brilliant.
Although the factory PUPs are very good, Ive now installed a set of Seymour Duncan 59s that compliment the AM73 perfectly. The Artcore now positively glows and the variety of sounds that can be coaxed from it are amazing. It can go from dark and sweet, to badass raunchy, along with everything else in between. Set it up with heavy strings as soon as you get it.
Features
I was disappointed this classy guitar didnt include a pickguard and really detested the knobs for tone and volume. Finding a case for it has also been a hassle. Aside from those minor details, this guitar is perfect. For the price, you just know some corners had to be cut. Ibanez was smart to reduce production costs on these minor and easily corrected details, instead of on the quality of construction (which is superb), wood or electronics. Good job Ibanez!
Quality
Quality is very important to me and it just oozes from this guitar! The blue finish is perfect. Nothing was skimped in the construction, the build is top notch. The pots and switch feel solid and it stays in tune no matter what. The black headstock looks classy with the Ibanez name in mother of pearl and silver logo. I didnt find this quality even on guitars that were MUCH more expensive. Its a set neck and interior kerfing. This sucker is solid!
Value
This is a perfect beginners guitar. The price is right and this axe will lead you down the road a loooooong ways. In the hands of an experienced player, it can do anything! Twenty years from now, the AM73 will be a classic; it really is a sexy beast. Everyone who has seen mine, think it cost me at least three times more than I paid for it.
Manufacturer Support
Don't really know...don't think I ever will.
The Wow Factor
Its stunning. I know a lot of people like the brown, but the blue is gorgeous. My next-door neighbor is a Sound Engineer and says it has great stage presence all I can say is that it looks impressive in my practice room!
Musical Style:
Blues, Acoustic, Rock
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Submitted July 5, 2005 by a customer from bellsouth.net
"Unique sound great price"
Ibanez has a hit. Price may be a problem. Players may look at this as a beginners AXE because of price. Marketing to guitar player can't be easy. Price is a part of marketing. I need a something more distintive regarding sound. This Ibanez nailed it for me. The price just happen to be low. I am glad my development as a player did not cost me $$$, just time.
Sound
I purchased this guitar for jazz playing howver the guitar has a harder edge. IT HAS A GOOD CLEAN TONE. It's a darker strat like sound. I am at the point in my development that I am looking for my own sound. I had to get away from strats and pauls to do that. I run this guitar clean thru a Line 6 amp with a little flange. I no longer sound like everybody else!
Features
no accessories at this price.
Quality
Quality is impressive. Maple body-neck is set in the body. You can get hang up on USA made verses China. I overpaid for a Les paul. It has good sound and quality. But it does not offer $2000 more in sound quality. Technology has closed that gap. The head Are Cheap. I had them replaced with grovers. That make this a $370 investment for a great guitar.Because I spent the money I fought hard to justify my pricer guitars. I am now brutality Honest with myself. As my own skill improves, this guitar does the job Intonation, sustain and neck feel match some higher priced guitars.
Value
The guitar sound and quality exceeds price.This beat more alternatives on the market The neck was better than the epiphone ES 335 copies
Manufacturer Support
Limited Warranty is just one year
The Wow Factor
I like to smaller body AM73 over the AS73. The finish is good. It looks great on stage. Again sound is more important than looks. I use a strat and this guitar. Its very comfortable to play.
Musical Background:
Active Musician
Musical Style:
Blus, Jazz and R&B
6 of 6 people (100%) people found this review helpful. Did you?
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Submitted July 21, 2006 by a customer from optonline.net
"Your search is over!"
This thing is perfect. Just amazing all over. If it came with a case, it would be even better, but at this price, who cares? Stop right where you are and buy this guitar. Your search is over.
Sound
This thing does it all. I'm coming to this from my SG Standard, and it's a whole new world, yet strangely familiar. The pickups are a lot more mellow, but that's what I wanted. Great for ska/rockabilly/punk.
Features
Should have had a case, or at least a gig bag. No pickguard, but it's better that way.
Ease of Use
So easy. The 4-knod Gibson setup. Instantly comfortable. You'll get used to the fretbaord within minutes.
Quality
Unbelieveable quality. The epiphones I was looking at were sloppy and coarse feeling. THis thign is smooth as butter. This thing will last forever.
Value
So amazing. I paid less than half the usual price, since mine was used, but it was only a week old at the time. I would have baid three times the price if that's what it took to have this baby in my hands.
Manufacturer Support
Never needed it, never will.
The Wow Factor
It's gorgeous, in looks and sound. Don't let this one pass you by. I knew the minute I saw it that it was perfect for me. It's an incredibly hard choice between this or my SG, luckily they have different sounds.
Musical Background:
active musician
Musical Style:
punk/ska.grunge/alternative
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Submitted June 7, 2006 by a customer from adelphia.net
"Do anything with this guitar, and it'll sound great!"
Overall, great guitar, sexy look, great price, beautiful sound. Nuff said.
Sound
The sound of this guitar is amazing. Most semi-hollow bodies have a hard time with the whole lead distortion thing, but this guitar does everything. I run in through a 30watt roland amp on the tweed semi distorted setting and it blows everything else i have heard out of the water. Given, i got better pickups than came stock, but putting that aside, its a beatiful instrument to play and you can make it sing however you want.
Features
Not too many features. Its durable though, and surprisingly light.
Ease of Use
Like i said before, you can make this guitar sing however you want, whenever you want. I bend notes like a madman, and the effect you get is like a mournful howl, absolutely beautiful.
Quality
The finish is absoultely breathtaking. The guitar its self is light and unbelievably durable. One of my knobs bent, but all it did was add charactor to the guitar :).
Value
It should cost about $500, seriously. The only better price you could get for a guitar like this is if you walked into a guitar store and out a gun to the owners head.
Manufacturer Support
Never had to use it, so im givin it a 10.
The Wow Factor
The guitar is beautiful. It makes you feel like your a cut above the rest, and you look it, trust me. You'll attract the more classy women, which in my oppinion, is awesome.
Musical Background:
Active musician
Musical Style:
rock, metal, some punk, classic rock, blues
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Submitted February 22, 2012 by Wes Gundersen in El Paso, TX
"A very exceptional divine gift"
I stumbled upon my AM73 TBR as a 10 year old used offering from a local music store, at a price that was higher than Guitar Center's price for the latest variation of this axe which included a hardshell case. I bought it because of its visual allure,totally sexy and beautiful, without a case but in showroom condition. The result of this purchase was absolute bliss since she plays like butter, sounds like a dreamand has become one of the most admired babes among the local musician clan.I paid $100.00 for an Ibanez case for her, cherish and treat her like my soulmate.Tone to the bone and eye candy for sure for any player who appreciates such fine attributes, this production was an exceptional one which I feel blessed to receive.True, the tuners could be better, but I really like the stock PU's output quality which produce an amazing spectrum of creamy rich tone when I crank up the favorite of my amps, a Custom Vibrolux Reverb....no effects needed, just pure tonal orgasm.Plug in and play....these two are a marriage made in Heaven. I am so grateful to own this guitar! I agree with the other reviewers, in 15-20 years the value of these guitars will be substantially equitable, but who in their right mind would ever want to part with such a delight? Not me...this baby and I will forever remain faithful to one another. I will treat her like a queen...she's definitely worth the time and loving.The craftsmanship, materials and attention to detail make this axe a keeper and Ido take care of my equipment. This is really a stunningly beautiful creation to own.Thank you, Ibanez for a job very well done. I am now a true believer in what you do.
Musical Background:
I've been playing guitar for 40+ years, do studio work and play live 2-4 times a month.
Musical Style:
I mostly play the blues which passionately rules my heart, I also enjoy classic rock,acid rock, R&B and various alternative genr
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Submitted July 6, 2006 by a customer from epix.net
"Wonderful guitar!"
Verified Customer
zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
Not much else to say. Great guitar.
Sound
Even for stock pickups, these were some of the smoothest I've heard at a price like this. From soft to clean, then turn on the distortion, and it still sounds great.
Features
Love the maple, set neck, and the knobs. Just needed new tuners.
Ease of Use
Since I think that this is playable for many kinds of styles of music, I'd say it is extremely easy to get great sounds from it. Great guitar.
Quality
I'd say perfect. Very pretty finish, when lights hit it at some angles, its just one of the nicest things to look at. Seems like it will last me a very long time.
Value
Great deal for a guitar of this quality.
Manufacturer Support
No support yet
The Wow Factor
Hmm. Sex appeal. Definately one of the nicest looking guitars I have ever bought.
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Submitted December 26, 2004
Ibanez Artcore AM73 Customer Review
Sound
This is a great looking and sounding instrument that is comfortable to play- my one complaint is that it needs frequent re-tuning.
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