Ibanez AS50

Since two years I'm the proud owner of a Ibanez AS50.
I think it's the first type of the 1980 wonders from Japan.
The guitar is equiped with 2 Dimarzio p.u.
What could is say, this guitar is a miracle and plays much beter then the idiot priced ES335 from Gibson.
I fall in love with guitar and believe me I can compare 'cause I play more then 30 years blues and some jazz.
Nothing can beats this guitar even me Gibsons.

I play mostly blues and jazz

No comments, excellent after fine tune it.

Now I will look up for a secound AS50 as backup

Never have ask them something special

More then 30 years. Love everything on this guitar!
Money for value!

Japanese make, Maple top, see-thru "butterscotch" transparent good look, heavy solid feel, two PU passive "335 type"

Lacking crisp bite, or a sound that'll cut the mix, muddy, not like the 335, or starfire personality.

Excellent action, somewhat narrow fretboard width, thin neck..Quite playable. Solid construction

Good solid 335 type guitar, abominable pickups.........Haven't replaced them, so don't know how good it;ll sound with after market PU's....VERY playable, solid and nice feel, quite heavy. Not sure if bolt-on neck is a "bad thing" vs sustain of setneck

just a reasonable Japan made Ibanez -- 1982 -- ES 335 copy, see other reviews for details. Still looks great although used for so many gigs and rehearsals.

Jazz, from electric heavy Scofield to even tradiditional gipsy style swing gigs, experimental music, in some cases I even used the guitar to record grunge tracks with lots of controlled feedback, even tapping etc.

No noise, cool sound, flexible depending on action, strings, playing style. You should not try very thin strings or very low action due to my experience.

Sounds great with Fender 75 (early 70ties), Roland Jazz Chorus, Polytone, or a small Fender Junior Pro, the results were fine during most of my rehearsals on "whatever amp is available".

Probably not ideal - but I played it with several string combinations - even round wounds all these years and adjustment was never a problem.

No problems at all, every 2 years or so I asked my luthier to have a glance on it but never spent a buck for that service. The case wasn't that solid, but I am not sure...

Best support is probably to need no support.

25 year of playing experience, great guitar, never thought of selling it... I would always try to get a similar one...

1981, made in japan, but if that's a downside, I can't tell.
It has 22 frets, which bugs me but not enough to want anything else.
It has two volumes and two tones and a 3 way switch between two humbuckers (don't know what type).
Passive electronic.
It's a half sized semi-hollow body with f holes.
the neck is rosewood i think, and it has a perfect width for a neck... but I have long fingers so it might not work for everyone.
It came with a custom sized case which had the hell beaten out of it but I kept it around cos its the original case. I bought a new case for gigging and I couldn't find any half-sizes so I had to put a T-shirt in there so it wouldn't slide around.

I play hard rock mixed with trippy stuff and a whole mix of other things. It has a rich full sound, which sounds great clean or distorted. I've been able to get any sound out of it from thick metal to Pumpkinesque fuzz to sharp harsh punk distortion. It sounds good in regular tuning, Drop D or even capoed.

It can be noisy cos it has F holes, which causes more feedback. I happen to love feedback and incorporate it into a lot of my songs, so it fits perfectly.

The bass pickup is excellent for thick meaty distortion or clean almost acoustic-like tones. The treble is great for soloing, creating feedback or ear shattering harsh distortion. I don't try having both of them on at the same time to much, but what I have done sounds prety cool.

My setup:
Electro-Harmonix octave multiplexor
Proco Rat II
Danecho
sundown head on a standard marshall cabinet.

Action is excellent for anything from folk style strumming to hard rock thrashing (I've never had a buzzing problem.. not even in drop D).

It has great action for octaves or jazz chords (it is a jazz guitar).

no main flaws.. I bought it used and there's a crack running to the input jack in the finish... not actually in the wood though so its ok.

It's a semi-hollow jazz guitar, so I can't do any major guitar slams like I'd like to do and did do with my old junky solid body, but its taken its fair share of unfortunate knocks and hasn't sustained any damage.
the hardware is older than I am, but has never given me any problems.
One strap buttons a little loose, but the thing is 22 years old.

I depend on it... it's never failed me in practice or a gig.

I have no backups, but i dont worry.

The finish hasnt come off in 20 years and isn't coming off any time soon.

no clue... allegedly they suck, but I have no idea... the guy who I bought it from is a genius and knows everything there is to know about guitars so I haven't had any problems.

I've been playing for 5 years... Its my passion and my hobby so I've absorbed all the info and experiences I could.

If it were stolen, I'd kill myself. Then maybe I'd buy another type of guitar since I'd be hard pressed to find another 81 model in such good condition.

My favorite feature is the beautiful feedback it creates... it sounds like a mix of whales singing and violins. It's rich without anyother effects other than my rath II.

1980 Ibanez Artist AS-50. Gibson es-335 copy. Made in Japan. 22 frets. 3 way pickup switch, 2 humbuckers (covered with silvery plate) Rosewood fingerboard with dots. Sunburst finish. Original Tuners replaced with Grovers. Hard Case with Truss Rod Key.

I have had this guitar for more than 10 years and have had it set up many different ways. There were no flaws when I bought it, though I did have the tuning pegs replaced with Grovers on the recomendation of a tech and added a strap lock cause I jump around a lot. This guitar has always been great.

I use this guitar for gigs in NYC often without backup. I sweat all over it - the finish is still good - it hold tune, even if strings break. Occasionally the little plactic doo-dad on the pick up selector will come off, but some crazy glue sets it right again.

never tried. never expected any. I bought the instrument used.

I have had this guitar more than 10 years and used if for Rock and Jazz gigs. One band likes it so much that they won't let me use any other guitars (I have a 75 strat that I would love to use more...) I have been told by 2 different techs in NY that this is a lawsuit model but I have not seen others in this forum discuss that. I am looking for verification of this fact. In anycase my friend likes this better than his roommates es-335 which cost close to twice what I paid. The only thing that I sometimes wish is that it had nicer inlays on the neck, but that ain't got nothin to do with the essence of this thing - and it is a fantastic all around instrument.

Body is nice, Neck so-so, sound is abominable

This guitars sound stinks, acoustically it sounds like a banjo, and this is an improvement over it's "lower" action awfull dead sound..(yes I tried new strings, not the strings) This is one of those guitars that has such a bizarre muddied tone it's tough to even tune..Heck, the tele on the bridge PU is easier to tune than this dampened, dead sound.

I'm getting rid of it, it's by far a goose-egg among the lower-end semi-hollow guitars

1998 Art Star AS50 (supposed limitted release, according to some sources, I dunno, the serial number is hand written though,)
...features two open coil humbuckers gracing a laminated maple top semi-hollow ES-335 style body, tune-o-matic style (Fulltune) bridge, 3 bolt bolt-on 22 fret neck (supposedly a George Benson style, seems that way, doesn't it?), bound body . . . just a really nice guitar.

I wonder what it would be like with a Bigsby? That might make it a 10.

This is a really nice sounding guitar. It can conjure up a wide variety of tones when plugged in. Very "woody" as my friend Dale put it, he said it gave him one just listening to it. Nice sounding even unplugged, the acoustic tone is full, bright, and pleasing to the ears.

It can jazz it up, rock the house, freak the funk, and wail like a stood up Banshee in a grave yard. This guitar can cry, really weep if you want it. It can make you feel all warm inside. You can damage your hearing just letting this baby feedback.

I am actually a big fan of having both pick-ups on and just blending the two together by adjusting the tone and volume knobs. One set for each pick-up with a three way toggle up the top - this really can make all sorts of sounds, I like that in a guitar. It can be quiet plugged in, and as for sustain, well, if you can ride it through, this guitar will sustain for you. I have gone for about 6 1/2 minutes on a D5 chord with both pick-ups blended through a Marshall 75 reverb with a Classic Fuzz in front. I had to stop it, not the guitar...

I guess it is not a metal guitar, but, it did sound good laying down Anthrax's "I Am The Law,"

I can bombard this instrument with all the toy boxes -DOD Classic Fuzz, Stereo Chorus, Stereo Phaser, Analog Delay; EH Small Stone; Dunlop Wah; Marshall VibraTrem; Ross Flanger...it sounds great. Really a tonal machine when you sit down and play it. I use an Accoustic 134 and a Marshall 75 Reverb, it sounds great through both.

Hey, try one out...what have you got to lose?

I pulled it off the wall, and it was set up perfectly, believe that or not, Mr. Ripley...

Fit was great. Everything was well seated and lined up. Great action with 9's on it. No funny "creaks" or "sprongs" or "chirps". No static plugged in. Electronic are nicely done, routed and tubed up. Knobs and jack were tight and solid.

If you want to split hairs, the yummy butterscotch finish had a couple of lumpies on the inside of the f-hole, but what are you doing looking there and not playing this guitar, are you soft or something?

The pick guard had this thing where the nut would come off and it would dance around a bit, I dunno, I just tightened it up and it has been good. The input jack nut washer thingee can come loose some times, but hey, show me a guitar that doesn't ever have this happen, and then I'll pinch you and you'll wake up, bub.

Really well made, plain and simple recipe guitar, no frills all thrills...

Let's see, finish is intact. A bit of it has worn of on the back of the neck from playing. The frets and fret board are great. None of the metal plating has worn off or oxidized. Still solid, stays in tune every time, New England winter or summer.

I have knocked this around a bit, and the finish is so thick that it won't ding. Sweet...

Strap buttons, fine. The pick guard came loose a few times, that's all set.

I don't gig with it (only because I don't gig, yo), but it does travel around. I record with it, play a party or jam with friends, it is solid and well built. I can always depend on it, like a good buddy. It always rings true, stays tuned, plays through, etc.

You know, just get a hard shell case, and this guitar will last forever, duh...

This guitar is solid...cue the Chevy theme, thanks Bob...

Oh, and if you don't own a back up, you aren't thinking. Anyone and everyone needs a back up, just like the police, you got to call in for it sometimes, like when a string breaks and the audience doesn't want to watch you change it while your singer tells stupid jokes. Get real, people...

Yeah right, are you flipping kidding me, I think the last guy who talked to Ibanez for support was the same dude who saw a unicorn in the forest...Ibanez for support gets the capital S Capital U capital C capital K capital S...SUCKS

I got more answers from the voices in my head...

ATTENTION IBANEZ/HOSHINO whoever you are:
PEOPLE HATE THE FACT THAT YOUR CUSTOMER SUPPORT SUCKS!!! WE DON'T LIKE THAT. YOUR EQUIPMENT IS GREAT, BUT YOUR SUPPORT IS NON-EXISTANT. DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS, NOW!!!

Warrantee, what is that?

They are just lucky, and me too I guess, that this guitar is so well made...

I pulled this off the wall at the store about a week after having wrist surgery (oh yeah, they went inside and fooled around a bit and put me back together like Steve Austin, the 6 Million Dollar Man. Think of a golf ball sized cyst, mmmmmm appetizing,)on my left wrist, and you know, maybe it was fate or something like the stars lining up right, whatever, but it didn't hurt to play this guitar...it is probably the only guitar I have tried and spent a straight hour and a half trying out unplugged...it was like running into the right woman or something, you just know that's it, don't run away from this...

Really, it fits me well. The neck seems made for my hands, and the body just lines up right sitting or standing. Sounds good picked, thumbed, or strummed.

I'll try to play other guitars, and you know, this is my benchmark. A beautiful, simple, well made, humble, organic, earthy guitar. It can sing you to sleep and it can rattle your fillings, it is all in how you use it.

You know, when you come across something like this, just buy it.

Mine was new, I traded my prized 12 string for it (see -wrist surgery) and I have not regretted it at all, I am glad I got this guitar...

Lost or stolen, NO WAY. This is family, and you don't mess with my family, when I finally go on to the next world, this guitar is going with me. You steal this guitar from me, I'll find you and do terrible things that would require books to be written about and specialists to analyze, I would invent and create new forms of horrible torture, and I would resussitate you and do it over and over and over and over and over until I wanted to play this guitar again, then I'd just let you rot...

1999 AS50 ArtStar
Gibson Scale ES-335 w/bolt-on neck.
Korean made
Butterscotch Transparent finish

I play in a classic rock band running it through an RP-7 a MuTronIII and a CryBaby into a Bassman 10. It sounds great on the neck pickup. Plenty of gain really makes my amp crunch. The bridge pickup is clean and fat. I don't use it much in what I play but it wouls kick butt in a jazz group. The reason I bought the guitar was it's sound.

Big dissapointment on the lack of finish fretwork of the neck. This guitar is very well put together. I did however need to have fret work done to get the g-string to play in tune at the second fret. I had the frets leveled and crowned. It was a very fast neck before the crown, It is scary fast after. I also had a bone nut put on it for grins while the frets were done.

Had it since February. so far so good.

No customer support at all. I was unable to contact Ibanez at all on the guitar and the dealer I bought it from sucks.

Now that it is set the way I want it. It plays great and sounds great and all totaled up it plays far better than guitars in the same price range(after set-up and fret work and nut about $600.00)

1980 Japanese Made. Semi-hollow Laminated top with maple center block, smaller body than ES-335. Gibson style controls (two vol., two tones and three way selector. P/U configuration H/H (Ibanez Super 58's). Three piece laminated neck (I believe to be maple). The neck is set as opposed to bolt on, like the newr Korean made AS-50s. Tune-O-Matic bridge with stop tailpiece. Non-locking "velvet tune" Tuners (not the greatest). Neck scale semms to be the same as a Gibson (did not measure).

I play mostly acoustic, this is an electric that I happen to own. Suits me fine for when I play blues or rock. The smaller semihollow body gives me just the right amount of ring on top of a "clean electric sound". Can get a decent crunch when I run it through a marshall combo. Mostly play it through an older 60w Ibanez 1 x 12 Combo with a Electro-voice speaker; this works quite well to get a nice clean sound. Almost allways use the neck P/U. Will work adequately for most styles of music (not a metal guitar though). Not really there for the hollowbody sound. This guitar is more of a solidbody sound with a touch of "ring" to it.

Bought used, had setup with tens. Neck and frets are fine. Action is perfect for me (I like it a little high). I was able to bring the action down pretty low with no buzz; so I believe this guitar can be set to anyones preference if need be. Frets are well set and at a nice fit. The Fretboard is Rosewood. Neck P/U is fine. I don't use the bridge P/U much. Top is vintage sunburst, looks like they painted it heavy on the sides by the F-holes (to hide the laminate look). Also, the top looks all right but not as nice as a Gibson. Nickel Hardware has oxidized a bit over the years. The binding has yellowed too (although this adds to its "vintage like" look). Note: have played the newer, larger bodied, bolted neck, Korean versions of this guitar and was not thrilled with them. In my opinion the older (Japanese made) models are a better ES-335 alternatives.

Overall the guitar has lasted well for ten years, seems more solid than an ES-335 (due to the smaller body; not workmanship). Tuners are OK. If I really relied on this guitar, I would replace the tuners. Finish will last, its to thick if you ask me. Strap buttons are small, wpuld replace if I gigged live. Guitar is dependable. I bring a backup when I jam, but never needed it.

The company sucks when I tried to e-mail them. Basically told me they don't support older models and have no interest in them. I basically have no interest in there newer models.

Been playing for 15 years; but only seriously for the last three. I also own a Martin HD28, Ovation Celebrity and a very old Hagstrom electric. My Amp is a reworked 60W Ibanez Solid State (Adequate but whish I had something better). If it were lost or stolen I would buy it again (but never saw anything simular); most semihollows have to big of a body for me. Would probably get a Les Paul style instrument or something with an Artstar shape. I have come to love its ES-335 looks (and sound) with its smaller body feel. I also like its clean creamy tone with a slight ring to it. I whish it had a coil splitter at the neck position and the plug output on the side.

This is a 335 style guitar 2 humbuckers maple body bolt on neck 22 frets 2 volume 2 tone controls

I play any thing from hard rock to heavy jazz for an amp I use a crate vc30 all tube on both chanels this guitar has a warm fat sound B.B. King sound on clean and great crunch on dirty. Pickups are very quiet even at higher volume settings. I dont think I will change the pickups as it seems to work well with everything I play and my style.It also has a really nice feeling thin wide neck with decent size frets plays very well

From the factory they sent the guitar with light strings and super low action some buzzing. heavy guage strings and raising the bridge just a little really made it come to life. The pickups were a little low also, but an easy fix. As far as flaws the guitar is about as flawless as it gets I could find nothing to complain about.

I play out with freinds once a week and I feel safer taking this guitar than my gibson it just feels rock solid. The hardware is very good for a guitar in this price range. The finish is really nice and holds up well, it is very hard to scuff or ding. I play this guitar a lot and it always gets the job done with style and I never have taken a backup.

Ive played for 12 years and have a gibson nighthawk and yamaha acustic and the ibanez gets the most playing time. I love the neck and the body shape better than other 335 style guitars, it has sharper horns and wider F-holes. If it were stolen I would feel like I lost a friend but I would buy the same guitar again.