Ibanez AS100

Two humbuckers. Best 335 that I have ever played.

Ibanez as100

This is hands down the best 335 that I have ever played. If you can find one of these buy it. They are worth every penny. I paid $1000 for the guitar and it's the best $1000 I have ever spent. It can go from ripping blues, to smooth jazz to pure rock. What a guitar.

Do yourself a huge favor and buy one of these. They are hard to find but if you are lucky enough to find one just buy it. You won't regret it. The neck on this as100 is perfect and the sustain goes on for days. It may just be the best guitar that I have ever owned. I've been playing guitar for 30 years and this one is at the top.

Features have been covered by others. Rosewood fretboard, etc...

Excellent. One guitar simply can't dial in every type of tone, but this one excels at what it does very well indeed. The pickups are hot, yet, you can still get some very clear tones if you simply roll off the volume. The neck pickup is very nice. The bridge pickup is slighly harsh, but that can be remedied by the tone control and your amp... just like a telecaster... It is there if you want it, to cut through the mix. Well, it will give you tremendous fun to play with the smooth ear pleasing tone drenched feedback, that will be completely controlled by you... Sustain and singing... any good instrument sings and this is where this instrument really shines. The overtones and aftertones are just fantastic. It's one of those guitars you don't mind playing unplugged for hours just because it's so comfortable to play.

Looks nice... Mine is a dark burgundy color. The binding is slowly disintegrating in some areas, but maybe it was played and played, sweated on and sweated on... good instruments usually show they've been used and this one is good. The pickup surrounds as we all know, are very likely to break... no big deal... we are after the sound... The neck is as comfortable as any neck you will ever get your hands on. Simply perfect proportions... Great job guys! The finish is really nice. A nice translucent classy job. My nut is a little on the low side, but this is over 25 years old...But still, I can keep the action pretty low with little or no buzzing.

The hardware is good enough, it is played onstage by many first rate that have a lot of guitars to choose from.

Well, it's a used guitar from the friendly fellows at Nippon Gakki... Or did some large conglomerate swallow it up in the 80's or 90's... Who can keep track?

I have been playing over 25 years and I really couldn't ask more from any one guitar... It sound great both clean and with a good dose of sustain. I would recommend this guitar to anyone looking for a humbucker guitar. They will just be playing a second rate one for years until they find a guitar like this one, a very nicely put together blocked semi-acoustic guitar that doesn't weigh 10 tons.

Semi Acoustic electric guitar...very much along the lines of
an ES335 Gibson. This model is from 1982.. the build quality and over all quality are out standing.
Mahogany neck with dot markers. Rosewood fingerboard.Nickle covered hardware including pickup covers.
The humbucking pickups are the Ibanez super 58s, and they sound very sweet!
Maybe just a fraction less output than a PAF type, but a beautiful balance and clarity is present with the super 58s.
2 tone 2 volume controls as to be expected with traditional type classic style guitars.
Body material is maple ply and a maple centre block runs down the middle like the 335.
Very nice tobacco sunburst finish that looks fantastic and is of very high quality.
this is a very high quality instrument and the new models from Ibanez Korea just don`t stack up against this guitar or the AS200 or even the original AS50 for that matter.

Vey musical and sweet sounding. A real gem of an ax.Very versitile. Can get 335 type tones easily,..but I think this guitar has more clarity that most 335s i`ve played.
Not noisy...just quality.
Plugged into a nice twin reverb or MK1 meas boogie, this thing sustains and sounds great.
Highly recommended.

All good. Really high quality from the 1980s Ibanez guitars.
Action and playability are perfect.
The finish is top quality too.

Built to lat with quality

If you like semi acoustic guitars..you should try and seek one out.
They are not that common these days,but can still be found.
The other AS models like the Artist 200 and Artist 50 are great too.
I like this one best as I`ve owned an AS50 and although it was great the AS100 is a little better in my opinion.
The AS200 has an ebony finger board, gold plated hardware and a tri sound coil split switch.

Mid / late 80's Japanese model; semi acoustic model (similar to a smaller version of Gibson ES335); two humbuckers with volume and tone pot for each. Three way selecter. Fairly uninspiring maple top, but finished in a very high gloss tobacco sunburst - the look is not "stunning", but still oozes quality.

The neck has a superb profile (for me at any rate) being slightly wider than a 60's LP neck, but shallower both of which help avoid bouts of "sausage fingers".

I mostly play through a Marshall JCM900 4102.

The combination is awesome!

It sounds gorgeous clean (although maybe a little harsh for some tastes on pure clean using the bridge pick-up only). If you want "balls-out" distortion, however, this guitar will deliver it until your fillings drop out! Despite that, this is not where this guitar really shines (you could get that by adding a couple of pedals and anothe 4x12 cab to an "ordinary" guitar) no - for me this guitar's star quality comes through when you go through the mild overdrive settings - here it has a voice all of it's own (imagine Noel Gallagher's vintage Epiphone at the start of "Shakermaker" or "Roll With it" and you're getting close.

It will out-sustain any Gibson Les Paul all day and is far more versatle - it's really like having a LP and an ES335 in one guitar and is acually more flexible than either.

I will dock it a point for the harsh clean bridge sound (although I would never use that configuration myself anyway).

As with most of the reviews my guitar was the best part of 20 years old when I bought it, but was (judging from the condition) an "under the bed example" and had almost no marks (not even pick-swirls on the lacquer).

I would therefore guess that it's set up pretty much as it left the factory. If this is the case then it's a credit to the people at Ibanez, but extremely frustrating for me - I love fiddling with the set up of my guitars but cannot find a thing to adjust on this - it's just perfect!

It will do what it was intended to do all day long but, being a (semi) hollowbody would not (I imagine) take abuse too kindly, but then you wouldn't buy a Ferrari to go off-roading.

If you intend to pur beer over your guitar or smash it into the drum-kit then buy a Fender Strat - you deserve each other!

As I said, the guitar's only 20 or so years old and, being an Ibanez, I haven't had cause to check out their customer service yet!

I will post another review in 2024 to let you know!

I've been playing for about 20 years and own a couple of Fender acoustics.

Prior to the Ibanez I had a Hamer Sunburst which, sadly, expired.

If it was stolen I would definitely replace it - unless you particularly like the tinny-twangy Fender sound this is the only guitar you will ever need.

What I love about it most is that not everybody has one - it sounds stunning and just oozes class.

When I bought this I compared it directly with the Les Paul Studio - I was actually quite disappointed because it was loads better than the LP (and I'd set my heart on a Gibson). The bloke in the shop then suggested that I try an ES335 (about #1,700UK). Although there was no way I could afford it I couldn't pass up the opportunity. Could't believe that the Ibanez was so much better (handling and sounding)
than a guitar three times the price. Very clever salesman.

Ibanez AS100 1981 Made in Japan. Two original Ibanez pickups, volume and tone knobs for each, 3-way selector switch. Semi-hollow maple body, mohogony neck. Tobacco sunburst finish. 335 style body. Got the original hardshell case with it - very nice case.

The only thing I don't like is the way the electronics are wired. When the pickup selector switch is in the middle position, you can control the volume with one of the volume knobs, instead of blending the volumes of each pickup with their respective. It will take some getting used to from my les paul.

This guitar is perfect for my style of playing (jazz/funk/jam). The tone is warm and fat, but also has lots of accent and punch. The tone and volume knobs can be adjusted to give a wide variety of sounds. I play through a 1965 reissue Fender Twin Reverb, with various effects sometimes. The neck pickup seems to be a higher volume than the bridge pickup.

The top of the guitar is perfectly bookmatched - in fact, it is all one piece. It is like butter to play, the fretboard is nice and fast, and has just the right amount of curvature. I'm not sure what else to say because it is the perfect guitar for me and I love it! It is a pleasure to play.

The guitar is lighter than my les paul, but you have to be careful because the wood is fairly thin. The strap buttons are fine. The finish seems very durable given the guitar's age.

Wonderful guitar for a fraction of the price of a Gibson 335, and it sounds better in my opinion.

This is an update of an earlier review.

I installed new pickups. I was never very excited about the neck pickup, and I changed it to a Seymore Duncan Jazz Pickup. The change was dramatic,and I like it much better. It transformed the guitat totally, giving me a whole new palette of sonic options. The Duncan jazz has much better definition than the stock pickup did, and is brighter, without being harsh. It has greater output than the stock pickup, and will overdrive the front end of my amps, but cleans up nicely with a touch of the volume control.

As the Treble pickup was now rather overpowered, I installed a Duncan S 59 to see what would happen. Not only does it now match the Jazz in output, but it has a very nice "chime" to it when you play chords, they almost shimmer and have a chorus like edge to the sound. The tone has sort of a Class "A" amp sort of thing to it, a sheen to the high end like a Vox AC 30 on the edge of overdrive. Back off the tone nob just a tab, and the sound is much more like the Ibanez pickup, but without the slight nasal quality the Ibanez pickup had The tone with both pickups on is quite amazing: It sounds like a Gretsch Country Gentlema on steroids! I was shocked, those two pickups result in a definite Twang. A little slapback and you're in Rockabilly heaven. Very Brian Setzer like when you overdrive the amp a little bit. I wasn't expecting this, so it is a nice bonus. Experimenting with the relative position of the two volume controls reveals a whole palette of colors, form the above Gretsch like twang, to a very good BB King tone. I loved this guitar before, but now it has such a cool vibe to it, it's hard to put it down.

If you have one of these guitars, give the Duncan pickups a try, I think you might be surprised. It makes the Guitar even more of a Treasure than it already is in stock form. Oh, you need to drill out the Ibanez pickp rings with a tiny hole to the center of the side that now has two holes in it, as the Ibanez pickups use three screws to mount. I tried using a Gibson Pickup ring, but the Ibanez Rings are just a tad larger, and the Gibson ring wouldn't quite cover the pickup cavity.

Pickup features: custom 58
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: 1981 as100 semi 335 type but better
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced:
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup: who knows
You musical style(s): blues rock jazz
Reason for pickup change:

Perceived output level: super hot
Tone: the best
Sonic evaluation: fender delux of super

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: jazz blues rock

Comments: would not change these pickups,,,lovre the out right volume,,tried this guitar,,,against a 1987 335 dot reissue,,a 1995 am std strat,,,a 19??? epiphone casino old american unit,,,and a 330 gibson,,,this ibanez pickup soars above the lot,,,,the sustain is right up there,,,with the best,,,and the tone is real nice,,,the volume is above the guitars mentioned by 25% and the sustain is up by least 40%

Mines a 1980 circa odel in Tobacco Suburst and appears standard. I bought is secondhand and got them to throw in a new case. Has everything I could want

I was going to buy a new electric guitar, with quite a good budget. I have been playing acoustic for 15 years. The guy in the shop suggested I try this out and as soon as I picked it up and heard the sound and felt the quality, I had to have it. Tried some expensive new guitars as a guideline and they felt cheap and the sound hard in comparison. Rich melow tones, nice.

The action is great the fit and finish oooze quality. Just pick one up and you know its good

Mines 20 years old and everthing is as good as new exept for a bit of wear around the jack lead socket

Been playing for at least 15 years. Have a Mugen 78 Acoustic. Was looking for a Hagstrom Viking or Jimmy but settled for this even thought I was taken by its looks, its feel and sound made me see common sense!

Basically a ES-335 Clone. Maple semi-hollow body and mahogany neck.
Mine was made in 1980 and has a tune-o-matic style bridgeand is a sunburst with very light birdseye. The tuners were shot on mine and I replaced them with grovers.

Oh, it's just wonderful. Very much in the 335 mode but it still manages to have it's own personality. It's the only guitar I've owned (I currently have three Fenders including a real 63 Tele and a 52 Goldtop) that non-musicians have commented on the sound. I actually get requests to use this guitar! It's a much better sounding guitar than the Gibson ES-335 Dot I owned in the late 80's. I've played it back to back with an actual 59 Dot, and I found the 59 superior as far has how articulate the neck pickup on my guitar is, otherwise the two guitars were amazingly similar sound wise, considering the fact that the Gibson was much lighter, and felt very delicate, whearas the Ibanez feels like a somewhat larger Les Paul. I just love the Ibanez's bridge pickup though, and it sounds great in combination with the neck one. The neck pickup is just a mite muddy, but only in comparison to the 59's PAF.
My main amp is a 69 Bandmaster Reverb running into an open back 2 x 10" cabinet, or a custom Tweed Deluxe clone for smaller gigs, and I play classic rock to blues/rock style.

It's a very well made guitar. Being how it's over 20 years old, I don't know how it played from the factory. But the way it is now is wonderful.. Ibanex has a neat nut with a brass piece that sort of funtions like a zero fret, and the guitars action down near the nut is the best of any guitar I've owned. It's just effortless without any buzz. It just has that quality feel. It reminds me of the first time I ever picked up an expenseive Gibson when I was a kid, you just know it's a wonderful instrument by the feel.

It's 20 years old a and still gorgeous. The binding has yellowed nicely and the plating on the pickups is starting to look a bit thin. But it looks a lot better than my goldtop looked in 1972, when it was 20 years old. It is a very dependable guitar. The only failure at a gig was when one of the original tuners disintegrated. The original frets still are usable with little visible wear. I alway use a backup guitar at gigs, so I don't have to stop playing to replace a broken string, (as well as to get different sounds) but the Ibanez is my main axe.

Hey, it's a 20 year old guitar.

I've been playing 35 years, I own, In addition to the 63 Custom Tele and Goldtop, a Fender Lonestar Strat, an American Standard Tele, and a Martin DR-1.. I'd buy another one in an instant if this one were stolen or lost. I can't think of another guitar I'd trade this one for. It's become a big part of my sound. It just does what I want a guitar to do for much of what I play which is what you'd call classic rock or blues/rock.

Made in 1981. It is a red dot neck 335 copy. I changed the pickups to Harmonic design Z90's and installed a Bigsby vibrato. Stock Grover tuners. I found it used at a music store a couple years ago. I bought a gibson case for it.

I really like this guitar. Even before the mods, it was a great instrument. Its very quiet. Z90's do not sound like p90's, they have their own sound. Like a high fidelity humbucker.

Played great when I got it.

I have had some trouble with dirty pots. All 335 type guitars are very dificult to work on. Luckily, a few twists of the knobs have made the crackling go away. I have giged without a backup many times.

It was 16 years old when I got it

I am very glad I bought this guitar. It fills my 335 gap in my arsenal. I would buy another, especially for $350