This is the best review of this axe I've seen so far. If I'm happy with the feel I'm sold. Love there's more playing than talking. Love that you used a quality amp---more than I can pull---, but it shows what the guitar is truly capable of. Cheers!
I just looked at this guitar recently and was impressed with its tone when I played it for blues and jazz type music that I like....warm tone not bright, softer music suits this guitar best...
Fantastic vid! I have one these, and it's been a great guitar for the money. I did mod mine after a bit--I had this late 70's/early 80's Gibson humbucker (used to be in my Tele) that I swapped into the neck position, and bought a Burstbucker 2 off eBay for the bridge--I just couldn't get along with the higher output ceramic magnet stock pups (ymmv!). I was kinda going for a poor man's Steve Howe thing anyway, so it had to be the Gibson 'bucker sound. The other mod was separate vol controls so I could get more tones in the both pup's position. Finally, and somewhat obviously, flatwounds will absolutely put these guitars solidly in jazz territory, so keep w/ roundwounds if you're going for the blues/rockabilly/blues-rock (or prog rock) thing.
This is the lowest spec & price AF model, and when I tried it against others from the range, my conclusion was: "spend more, get more". I recall that the AF55 played _ok,_ but it wasn't as comfortable to play as the others, and I just didn't find it satisfying. That said, it's cheap enough to be a good modding platform, and with a decent setup, a pickup swap and maybe tuners too, you could alter it to your own taste.
I tried many Gretsch and Ibanez guitars in the music store, and this was the most comfortable guitar to play of all of them. Everybody is different. We have different hand sizes and playing styles.
I am really impressed with your T-Shirt - you must have put in a lot of thought and energy before coming up with that T-Shirt design. I am absolutely certain of that. We are all very proud of you. Well done mate and congratulations.
@@intheblues I suspected that you had assistance in some way. We don't have Walmart stores in Australia. The equivalent is Kmart or Target stores. Anyway, well done once again and congratulations on your T-Shirt decision.
I have an AF 95, and love it. I had checked out the AF 75, which was a bit cheaper price, but the 95 felt better made The AF 125 was even nicer, but was way more, but Ibanez has progressed, and the lower models are getting better. I do like the AF series
I'm thinking about grabbing one of these as my first venture into the full hollowbody guitar world. Seems like a good value to dip my toe into this realm of playing.
I love the looks and sound of that guitar, i have a soft spot for hollow and semi hollow bodies. I can smell faint traces of whiskey and cigarettes on that one😊
Cheapest guitar in the range maybe, but still beats the living daylights out of the lions share of the competition Pickups aside! One old fellas opinion obviously.
I just found this semi acoustic thing with my HB35 plus fed to some ToneX's Bogners. No wonder there is so many cheap 335-likes in Thomann's catalog. It is amazing how the singing and musical quality makes you play more. Those acoustically boosted magical lower mid mids hit the amp and simulate cranked Fender tube amp. Other thing to note is that as the bridge pickup is more in the middle of the body the tone is surprisingly fat. The musicality crawled to daylight even with a Spider V60 which has that ugly nasal plastic speaker tone. The AF55 immediately adds more of everything. It still is blues-rock machine. It is in the middle of the full size jazz box and 335 size. To addition of this video a nice example can be found at Thomann's example for AF55 where is the rare section of a band playing beautiful ballsy rocking bluesy jazz called "rockabilly". Someone at Thomann got carried away so much they made a totally separate track for AF55. Such a pity there is no sunburst version of AF55 but I could live with that brown finish no doubt...
Being more prone to squeal is a feature, not a hindrance. Play some Stranglehold and make it squeal like Ted. Can it do the 335 or Byrdland growl and squeal? Enquiring minds want to know.
Imagine how much better it gets when the shipping foam is removed from under the bridge. The Japan/USA Ibanez stuff knocks on the door of Gibson often. They know archtops.
That looks great. I am a huge fan of archtop guitars for playing dirty blues.
First Ibanez I’d consider to buy
This is the best review of this axe I've seen so far. If I'm happy with the feel I'm sold. Love there's more playing than talking. Love that you used a quality amp---more than I can pull---, but it shows what the guitar is truly capable of. Cheers!
I just looked at this guitar recently and was impressed with its tone when I played it for blues and jazz type music that I like....warm tone not bright, softer music suits this guitar best...
Jazz Hands 🤗🔥
Sounding great! Looks like a fun one,Thanks Shane
Fantastic vid! I have one these, and it's been a great guitar for the money. I did mod mine after a bit--I had this late 70's/early 80's Gibson humbucker (used to be in my Tele) that I swapped into the neck position, and bought a Burstbucker 2 off eBay for the bridge--I just couldn't get along with the higher output ceramic magnet stock pups (ymmv!). I was kinda going for a poor man's Steve Howe thing anyway, so it had to be the Gibson 'bucker sound. The other mod was separate vol controls so I could get more tones in the both pup's position. Finally, and somewhat obviously, flatwounds will absolutely put these guitars solidly in jazz territory, so keep w/ roundwounds if you're going for the blues/rockabilly/blues-rock (or prog rock) thing.
Those are the best sounding pups on a lower end Ibanez I have ever heard ! Great demo and review Shane !
NICE axe Shane! 1 of the best sounding you've showcased of late! Rockin'! \m/
This is the lowest spec & price AF model, and when I tried it against others from the range, my conclusion was: "spend more, get more". I recall that the AF55 played _ok,_ but it wasn't as comfortable to play as the others, and I just didn't find it satisfying. That said, it's cheap enough to be a good modding platform, and with a decent setup, a pickup swap and maybe tuners too, you could alter it to your own taste.
I tried many Gretsch and Ibanez guitars in the music store, and this was the most comfortable guitar to play of all of them. Everybody is different. We have different hand sizes and playing styles.
Thank You SKY MUSIC !
I am really impressed with your T-Shirt - you must have put in a lot of thought and energy before coming up with that T-Shirt design. I am absolutely certain of that.
We are all very proud of you.
Well done mate and congratulations.
I consulted my friends at Walmart for this one 🤣
@@intheblues I suspected that you had assistance in some way.
We don't have Walmart stores in Australia. The equivalent is Kmart or Target stores.
Anyway, well done once again and congratulations on your T-Shirt decision.
Beautiful guitar including processing and coloring. Sound very good. Greetings Pavel CZ.👍👍👍
I have been staring at this guitar off and on for a while. It’s a beaut.
I have an AF 95, and love it.
I had checked out the AF 75, which was a bit cheaper price, but the 95 felt better made
The AF 125 was even nicer, but was way more, but Ibanez has progressed, and the lower models are getting better.
I do like the AF series
Shane, TY Brother for the playthrough on a sweet Sounding 🎸🎸🎸🤘🤠 take care, Your Music-In-Law R Hall
The Artcore line are well made guitars. I still have my AS93 I bought in 2012. It's a workhorse.
Does it SMELL like 1 as well?
@@DMSProduktionsNo.
@@RodVonLongrod GOOD to hear!
WHINNNNNEEEYYYY!
I'm thinking about grabbing one of these as my first venture into the full hollowbody guitar world. Seems like a good value to dip my toe into this realm of playing.
I love the looks and sound of that guitar, i have a soft spot for hollow and semi hollow bodies. I can smell faint traces of whiskey and cigarettes on that one😊
I play rockabilly on it 😁 good for solo work. I got some good flatwounds on it and with a slapback pedal, you’re having a time machine 😎
Cheapest guitar in the range maybe, but still beats the living daylights out of the lions share of the competition
Pickups aside!
One old fellas opinion obviously.
I just found this semi acoustic thing with my HB35 plus fed to some ToneX's Bogners. No wonder there is so many cheap 335-likes in Thomann's catalog. It is amazing how the singing and musical quality makes you play more. Those acoustically boosted magical lower mid mids hit the amp and simulate cranked Fender tube amp. Other thing to note is that as the bridge pickup is more in the middle of the body the tone is surprisingly fat. The musicality crawled to daylight even with a Spider V60 which has that ugly nasal plastic speaker tone. The AF55 immediately adds more of everything. It still is blues-rock machine. It is in the middle of the full size jazz box and 335 size. To addition of this video a nice example can be found at Thomann's example for AF55 where is the rare section of a band playing beautiful ballsy rocking bluesy jazz called "rockabilly". Someone at Thomann got carried away so much they made a totally separate track for AF55. Such a pity there is no sunburst version of AF55 but I could live with that brown finish no doubt...
I personally prefer Semi-hollow guitars. Less feedback. Thanks for the video Shane. Blues On....💙
I love it! SoundscBeautiful
I've been thinking of getting one of these, but my only concern is the floating bridge - how easy is it to set up, especially after a string change? 🤔
Being more prone to squeal is a feature, not a hindrance. Play some Stranglehold and make it squeal like Ted. Can it do the 335 or Byrdland growl and squeal? Enquiring minds want to know.
I am seriously buying this guitar and maybe also getting a jazz master style guitar
You talk about feedback like it's a bad thing 😉
Imagine how much better it gets when the shipping foam is removed from under the bridge. The Japan/USA Ibanez stuff knocks on the door of Gibson often. They know archtops.
Good on you trying something different
I don't think you mentioned that the bridge is a floating type bridge.
Kinda wanted to hear some Rancid played on the guitar.
I want this guitar with distortion style punk rock please!
And the unplugged sound?
You need to check out the Godin 5th Ave Kingpin.
That's pretty cool. Bit it's kind of huge
Who has the largest selection of left handed guitars for sale in the U.S.A.?
Sweetwater has a good selection, Southpaw Guitars in Houston and Jerry's Lefty Guitars are the best I know of.
InTheJazz with Shane Pass
Will you come to Addicted to Gear’s 200th live stream tonight, Shane?
Sadly, his streams start way too late for me. 1:30 or 2am usually.
Nice
These Ibanez jazzboxes always look great but every time I've tried one they've felt incredibly cheap with poor craftsmanship and finish.
Cheap import
NICE Try Ec! NO sausage mate!
Cheap and extremely unattractive guitar. Not worth the money at all. I binned mine. It was a gift.
👍🏾😃Sweet!…but I need a Tremelo Bar on one!🤘🏾😁AF55T?..exists?🤨🥹👌🏾