Recently picked up one of these on ebay a few months ago $170 in near-new condition. A '98 build with satin finish and a really nice flare in the spruce top The build quality and finish is just superb. Gave it a TUSQ saddle and pins and widened the string spacing a little for my fat fingers (fitted a 1 3/4" TUSQ nut and notched the saddle a little, the neck is wide enough to take it). The thing is easy playing and it just ROARS...I'm lovin' it.
This is the exact guitar I have. I love the thing. The neck is a tad wider than I would like. But this instrument covers the gamut. It is a guitar for a beginner to expert. Just got a Fishman Matrix Infinity put in. Great review, by the way. My guitar is looking a little worse for the wear compared to this one. Too many moves and a couple of accidents where the strap popped off while playing. Still sounds great. Would buy a second one without hesitation if I could find this exact model and year again. If you have one, hold onto it. If you find one for sale that is in good shape, buy it.
@115975830495867306680 I think it is an AW100. It is strange that the actual model is not on any od the documentation that I still have, nor is it stamped on the guitar anywhere. But look for the one that is Made in Korea or Japan. The later versions had a greatly degraded sound in my opinion.
Have you gotten a fret job yet? LOL I had a luthier just tell me to buy a new guitar because the fret job costs more than the guitar. Thinking of attempting one myself.
Sorry to bother you! Got hots for a. Old Ibanez after watching this guy’s review made 11 years ago. That’s one fine sounding Ibanez aw100. Found serval for sale . A 1995 model , 96 and @2003 all made in Korea except the 2003 days made at cort factory in korea . Just wondering if you may have any preference to what year and I know it impossible without playing the thing..any help wold be appreciated! Thanks ! Jeff Clark from Rockdale Texas
@@jefferyclark351 no worries at all. I think mine is an 82 and I love it. I've played some for the 2000s and they aren't as good. I'd suggest one from the 80s or 90s if you can find one. They're still pretty inexpensive.
Preference for a specific "sound" is a lot about how you cultivate your ear. I've owned many Martins over the past 30 years and would rarely touch another brand. Now I own three Taylors and have come to prefer their clean, crisp balance (what you and others call "brightness"). Now I cringe at the sound of a guitar that has busy, chaotic overtones that drown out the mids. Martins that I used to consider being "resonate and throaty" now strike me as "muddy." My favorite Taylor is a 414e (Ovangkol). It has the tonal range of rosewood, but cuts through a mix like mahogany.
I think mine is a 96 as well. March of 2015 it got its first setup. I also had a Lil Biggs sound hole pickup installed. Also added a Bone nut and saddle. The guitar plays amazing, sounds incredible [acoustic or electric] on any given day I buy and sell guitars as a hobby. My Ibenez Artwood will NEVER be for sale. It just gets better with age and for you guitarist young and old out there, do yourself a favor and add one of these to your collection.
Well it could be a couple of things man. Neck may need to be straightened, bridge may be out to low or high, frets could be too low if its been filed to much. Also the nut may be to low as well and may need to be adjusted. Best thing to do is take back if you bought it from somewhere and have them SET IT UP properly or take it to your local Luthier and they can determine whats wrong. By and by though Acoustics dont need to be Strummed loudly. Cheers
I got the exact same guitar in 1996 as well. I still have it and love it. Although I wish I knew the model number of this thing. It's been a while since I've played it. I should pick it up again.
We have an AW as well. Not sure what year, looks very similar to yours, but my father-in-law bought it used for my wife years ago. I think he paid like $350 for it. My friend played it once after we got it and it sounded awesome! After deciding it was time to finally get it out and learn to play it I found a crack in the head between two of the tuner pegs :( Should be fixable I hope.
Its a AW like 150 or something. Its the basis model of the AW series back in '96. I believe you posted a comment to me about a song at 2:43? The song I was playing about 30 sec before was, Johnny Cash's "Folsom Prison Blues" intro.
Great video. I have a '79 or '80 AW20 which I purchased new in 1980. I'm not sure which year it was produced. Beautiful guitar. Beautiful wood, and the top keeps getting darker and more beautiful year after year. I had a bone nut and saddle installed many yeas ago, and honestly, I don't like the result. The guitar became very trebly (sp). It's overly crispy and the lows don't come through very well. Marginal low end response. The intonation is not bad, but not perfect. On the positive side...this thing plays like a Les Paul! Very easy on the fingers,and it is a pretty loud instrument. I love the neck. The best I've ever played. Visually, it is beautiful, and I will never get rid of it.
What's the model number? I want to try one of these out. Though, I see this is a 96, so, I'm sure those are going to be a whole helluvalot better than the ones you'd get new today.
I agree about the richness of the sound older guitars. I have a '74 Yamaha FG160 that sounds better then a lot of all-solids I've owned, including many other Yammies. It's now my campfire guitar. I have a pretty good guess why the current Ibanez models don't sound like the pre-90's models: they're no longer made in Japan. They're now made in China. Same goes for Yamaha. There's gotta be a trade-off for increasing production while lowering costs.
Hope you are fine and your crying kid doesn’t cry no more . Great review! What’s the serial number stamped inside your. Thank you ! Jeff Clark from Rockdale Texas
Yeah man, there's too much negative press about artwood, from all these guild Taylor Martin fanatics, these are good budget guitars...plus the 43 mm but is a slight relief for finger pickers
Awesome man. I run 13-56 on my guitar. Thats the Ibanez spec's for mine. You should see what yours is as well. If you run lighter strings you run the risk of crappy sounding music... hehe,
Ha! The algorithm does wonderful things sometimes.
Still playing mine! Keeps getting better with age.
Recently picked up one of these on ebay a few months ago $170 in near-new condition. A '98 build with satin finish and a really nice flare in the spruce top The build quality and finish is just superb. Gave it a TUSQ saddle and pins and widened the string spacing a little for my fat fingers (fitted a 1 3/4" TUSQ nut and notched the saddle a little, the neck is wide enough to take it). The thing is easy playing and it just ROARS...I'm lovin' it.
+MrArmchairspaceman How did you widen the string spacing?
what model is this guitar? I have an Ibanes AW120 and I absolutely love it. Ibanez aw guitars are amazing.
This is the exact guitar I have. I love the thing. The neck is a tad wider than I would like. But this instrument covers the gamut. It is a guitar for a beginner to expert. Just got a Fishman Matrix Infinity put in.
Great review, by the way.
My guitar is looking a little worse for the wear compared to this one. Too many moves and a couple of accidents where the strap popped off while playing. Still sounds great.
Would buy a second one without hesitation if I could find this exact model and year again.
If you have one, hold onto it.
If you find one for sale that is in good shape, buy it.
+Matthew Wilson So what is the model number of it? I noticed it wasn't in the description of the video, so I wouldn't even know what to look for, lol.
@115975830495867306680 I think it is an AW100. It is strange that the actual model is not on any od the documentation that I still have, nor is it stamped on the guitar anywhere.
But look for the one that is Made in Korea or Japan.
The later versions had a greatly degraded sound in my opinion.
Matthew Wilson
Thanks.
Got one of these at a garage sale for $20 today! So stoked. It came without bridge pins or a saddle though. Can you reccomend some?
Ebony works good on these.
I was just looking at one of these at a GC used for $199 with a case too. Couple of tiny dings but I wanted it. I walked out. Now I may go back 😁
Have you gotten a fret job yet? LOL
I had a luthier just tell me to buy a new guitar because the fret job costs more than the guitar. Thinking of attempting one myself.
I've got one of these from the early 80s and it is one of the best sounding acoustic I've ever played. (I've played some very expensive guitars)
You still have your Ibanez. Can’t seem to get this fellow that made the video to answer my comment. Hope he still around
@@jefferyclark351 I do, what do you want to know?
Sorry to bother you! Got hots for a. Old Ibanez after watching this guy’s review made 11 years ago. That’s one fine sounding Ibanez aw100. Found serval for sale . A 1995 model , 96 and @2003 all made in Korea except the 2003 days made at cort factory in korea . Just wondering if you may have any preference to what year and I know it impossible without playing the thing..any help wold be appreciated! Thanks ! Jeff Clark from Rockdale Texas
@@jefferyclark351 no worries at all. I think mine is an 82 and I love it. I've played some for the 2000s and they aren't as good. I'd suggest one from the 80s or 90s if you can find one. They're still pretty inexpensive.
Does your’ sound any thing like the video
Preference for a specific "sound" is a lot about how you cultivate your ear. I've owned many Martins over the past 30 years and would rarely touch another brand. Now I own three Taylors and have come to prefer their clean, crisp balance (what you and others call "brightness"). Now I cringe at the sound of a guitar that has busy, chaotic overtones that drown out the mids. Martins that I used to consider being "resonate and throaty" now strike me as "muddy." My favorite Taylor is a 414e (Ovangkol). It has the tonal range of rosewood, but cuts through a mix like mahogany.
I hear you. I have an amazing Taylor 514CE for many years now.
I think mine is a 96 as well. March of 2015 it got its first setup. I also had a Lil Biggs sound hole pickup installed. Also added a Bone nut and saddle. The guitar plays amazing, sounds incredible [acoustic or electric] on any given day I buy and sell guitars as a hobby. My Ibenez Artwood will NEVER be for sale. It just gets better with age and for you guitarist young and old out there, do yourself a favor and add one of these to your collection.
Well it could be a couple of things man. Neck may need to be straightened, bridge may be out to low or high, frets could be too low if its been filed to much. Also the nut may be to low as well and may need to be adjusted. Best thing to do is take back if you bought it from somewhere and have them SET IT UP properly or take it to your local Luthier and they can determine whats wrong.
By and by though Acoustics dont need to be Strummed loudly.
Cheers
Also..I failed to mention that your Artwood sounds incredible. I think the bone bridge I put on mine may have been a mistake.
I got the exact same guitar in 1996 as well. I still have it and love it. Although I wish I knew the model number of this thing. It's been a while since I've played it. I should pick it up again.
I have one
It's an aw 70 lg
We have an AW as well. Not sure what year, looks very similar to yours, but my father-in-law bought it used for my wife years ago. I think he paid like $350 for it. My friend played it once after we got it and it sounded awesome! After deciding it was time to finally get it out and learn to play it I found a crack in the head between two of the tuner pegs :( Should be fixable I hope.
Its a AW like 150 or something. Its the basis model of the AW series back in '96. I believe you posted a comment to me about a song at 2:43? The song I was playing about 30 sec before was, Johnny Cash's "Folsom Prison Blues" intro.
I really like my AW 1050 and have had it for a decade. They retailer around $1k, so not too crazy either way.
Shot bro. I went for the aw coz I don't really get the jangly sounds. I have 13s on and I get really great low downs that sing when you hit em hard
I have an aw100 2002 and best money i ever spent on an acoustic
Great video. I have a '79 or '80 AW20 which I purchased new in 1980. I'm not sure which year it was produced. Beautiful guitar. Beautiful wood, and the top keeps getting darker and more beautiful year after year. I had a bone nut and saddle installed many yeas ago, and honestly, I don't like the result. The guitar became very trebly (sp). It's overly crispy and the lows don't come through very well. Marginal low end response. The intonation is not bad, but not perfect. On the positive side...this thing plays like a Les Paul! Very easy on the fingers,and it is a pretty loud instrument. I love the neck. The best I've ever played. Visually, it is beautiful, and I will never get rid of it.
What's the model number? I want to try one of these out. Though, I see this is a 96, so, I'm sure those are going to be a whole helluvalot better than the ones you'd get new today.
its a AW 100 I believe. Ibanez doent make em anymore.
I think they had a solid top in 1996.
I agree about the richness of the sound older guitars. I have a '74 Yamaha FG160 that sounds better then a lot of all-solids I've owned, including many other Yammies. It's now my campfire guitar. I have a pretty good guess why the current Ibanez models don't sound like the pre-90's models: they're no longer made in Japan. They're now made in China. Same goes for Yamaha. There's gotta be a trade-off for increasing production while lowering costs.
Hope you are fine and your crying kid doesn’t cry no more . Great review! What’s the serial number stamped inside your. Thank you ! Jeff Clark from Rockdale Texas
Hey there! Hope your still alive. Great review. You gave me the fever for this guitar. Drop me a line if you get this message. Thanks
is the ibanez avd9?
Nice guitar. 4:30 I loved this tune. What is this?
Its a Stevie Ray Vaughn intro to an old blues song of his.. not sure the name Old song though
Look up SRV’s Pride and Joy or his I’m Cryin’.
Nicely done review. Thanks
I just got one of the new artwood 2013 and it sounds as good as my $2,000 guitars!!
@polkzoo I see u review old guitars.
Yeah man, there's too much negative press about artwood, from all these guild Taylor Martin fanatics, these are good budget guitars...plus the 43 mm but is a slight relief for finger pickers
What model is this?
AW 10 or something thye dont make them anymore. Ibanez makes a crapppy version of the ArtWood now but its nothing like mine
Aw70 lg
Check Ibanez website and see what the factory says
Awesome man. I run 13-56 on my guitar. Thats the Ibanez spec's for mine. You should see what yours is as well. If you run lighter strings you run the risk of crappy sounding music... hehe,
Martins feel like balsa wood
The AW50 can sound a lot better than this but not all of us can afford $2000 microphones. Nevertheless this gives us an idea of their sound.
It's mahogany, not rosewood
150? NIce man.. get one rt now!! whooo
@polkzoo
Got one with broken headstock for a buck. Garage sale.
i have a aw 40 ;)
a real 1 not like ur vintage hh