Ibanez AS80

1997 AS-80 Semi-hollowbody. Two humbuckers, pickup selctor, 2 volume and 2 tone controls. Honey Blonde finish with Maple neck and body. Made in Korea. Outstanding Super 58 pickups. Bought it used from GC for $295. No case, but I picked up an SKB 335 case for it. Wasn't expecting much for that price, but I was wrong! The only thing I've had to replace was the beat-up bridge that was on it and I put in a graphite nut. No dings or scratches and the frets were in perfect shape. I bought it in 2008 and waited a year to write a review to see how it held up under my abuse.

I've always been a strat and tele man and I still am. But, this guitar is a perfect second guitar for me. I use it 1/4-1/2 the night, sometimes the whole show if it's really singing to me. I play this and my tele through a Boss ME-50 to a Peavey ValveKing 112. The front pickup is kind of muddy, but I don't use that one alone anyway. The bridge PU is honkin'! I play Country, Southern Rock and Blues and it gives me a gorgeous, Toy Cladwell-kind-of-sound for all of it. I generally keep the bridge PU full on, the tone rolled back to 7 and the front PU on 8 and tone full on and I get a clear, full sound going from rear to middle setting.

Factory sttings, I couldn't tell you. The action was high and had too much relief when I got it from GC, but that took about 30 min. to set right. For a 12 year old Korean guitar that I bought used and sight-unseen, OMG! Everything was factory on it when I got it. Like I said, the bridge was pretty beat up and the plastic nut was crap, but that was the only things I've had to change.

I know it's reliable! Setting up at a gig, the bass player knocked my guitar stand over and the AS80 went face first onto the hardwood stage with a loud thud. My heart sank, I threatened to kill him, then I checked the guitar. Not a ding, no cracks and only 2 strings went out of tune. Try that with a REAL 335 and see what you get. As I said before, it's my second guitar behind a tele, but it doesn't need a backup.

Way out of warranty when I got it. Not much support from Ibanez Customer Support. I ordered the new bridge from them to have factory parts on it. It took a month to get it in and every time I called to check on it, I couldn't get a straight answer and was treated like I was bothering them. Never got that from Fender.

Been playing 35 years, Ive had more strats and teles in that time than I care to recall and I can tell you that this guitar is a keeper. If it were lost or stolen, I'd try to find another. I've tried all the low-end semi's including Epiphone, PRS SE's and Gretsch and none of them moved me to purchase. I'm not going to go out and pay $3000 for a real 335 as a second guitar (or even a first, I don't think they're worth it for what you get). So , I'll stick with my AS80.

1993 vintage Artstar AS80. 22 Frets. ES335 copy. Made in Korea. 22 Frets.

So that we don't compare chalk and cheese - this is not an 80s Artist. its a mid 90s Ibanez Artstar box. I think the Artists became Artstars when they started outsourcing the lower end models to Korea in the 90s. Experts correct me.

Featurewise it's just what you would expect. H/H passive with gibson style controls. The jack is on the top, like on the 335.

Missing features? Well the upscale AS's have coil taps. This doesn't. Easy to fit them though.

I'm so pleased by this instrument. Let me tell you how I came to buy it.

I was in the market for a 335 clone and tried out a bunch of contemporary models in a local music store.

The cheap Epi's Dots felt like off-cuts from a furniture factory, awful! I don't think they are made of wood, they felt like fiberboard or something. Necks like baseball bats too.

I tried a Epi Sheraton. Its way big and heavy, the build is respectable, and I guess it would sound OK with real pickups but for me simply had no mojo.

Next up was a Hofner contemporary Verythin. I have some vintage Hofners and they are good guitars. The modern German built Hofners are excellent as their 3000Euro price tag tells you. This 390Euro chinese built Hofner was simply junk . Just as bad as the Epi Dots. Hofner should be ashamed of themselves putting their name to this.

Next up was a Ibanez AS 73. The cheep veneer finish looked a bit plasticky but the guitar was playable enough but sounded like a solid body. No semi sound at all. Loud but boring ceramic pickups. I'd have bought it if I was 17.

I was very disappointed so the sales guy let me try one of the cheaper (1800Euro) Gibson 335s. Just as I suspected, a real Guitar. The difference was night and day. Not a great great guitar but at least a real one with pickups you would throw away 30 seconds after you got it out of the shop. Couldn't afford it though. I gave up.

A few days later, this Artstar box appeared on Ebay, since it wasn't a 80s Artist, and the guy selling failed to mention John Schofield 6 times in the ad, nobody was much interested in it and and I got it for a laughable 300Euros.

Well what a bargain! 'cos this, people, is a very fine instrument indeed.

You simply can't compare this box with any instrument available for less than 1500 at the moment. It's simply a Gibson/PRS class guitar. Sure, not a top of the line vintage or custom shop 335 but definitely a way better instrument than the lowend Gibson faded 335s. As for the Epis and Artcore and Hofner's - well less said the better.

The finish is faultless. No silly wood finishes, plane maple, with a clasic cherry sunburst paint job. The hardware is like new after 16 years and the neck is wide but extremely comfortable, one of the best I've played.

The hidden gem in this instrument is the pickups. They are Ibanez own Super70s. Why doesn't Ibanez put these in their Artcore models instead of those horrible lifeless ceramic cheepo and the scratchy bass-free Super 58 Customs they fit in the upscale models?

These Super70s are fabulous, as good as any SD/DiM pickup you can name. Probably as good as a boutique pickup. Balanced, refined, detailed. Great distorted or clean. They are not very PAF like but have their own more modern detailed sound and higher output.

I bought this guitar mainly for Jazz, but I'm so blown away about how great is sound loud that I might get back into Rock playing. The note sustain is incredible, better than my Les Paul. Yet you can hear every note in a power chord.

If you are looking for that Mr335 sound, its all here. If you want BB put the selector in the middle and you have it. If you are in the mood for mellowed out archtop sounds (without the bulk) it delivers a very respectable Jazz tone.

Apart from a pleasing mellow yellow aging in the bindings (even the f holes are bound) the finish is still new condition.

The like new condition says everything about the build qualty.

No problem with the action. They previous owner had it high. I jacked it down a few notches and it plays great now.

If you are looking for a guitar with sexy wood finishes, like the AS200, then you are going to find this a bit dull. But if you are looking for playability and sound its all here for a stupid 2nd hand price.

Well it's 16 years old and there is only one flaw - the 20th fret buzzes slightly and needs dressing. An easy job. One tone control crackles occasionally. Again after 16 years they should be replaced I guess. No big effort to replace it.

2nd hand but Ibanez generally are good at shipping spare parts.

I've been playing for 35 years and own Fenders and Gibsons and a bunch of vintage German Jazz guitars. I think this is the best bargain I have yet bought.

Basically the deal is everyone who is in the market for an AS series want's the hip 80s AS1000 and AS2000. They are collectable and you get to bore anyone in reach by mentioning that, yes, John Scho. plays one.

The younger players who don't know who Scho is, go for the fancy finishes on the Artcore series and Epis.

Nobody wants these 90s Ibanez boxes despite the fact that the quality is probably higher than the low end 1980s AS series. And that, my friends, keeps the prices low low low for great great great instruments.

Thats my tip.

1983 Japanese AS-80 3/4 hollow body
Cherry-red
Chrome hardware with "Smooth Tuners"

They came with chrome-humbucker type pickups (good for blues but I found them muddy and not versatile enough). I replaced with a DiMarzio PAF in neck and a Dual Sound in bridge (toggle switch: single coil/clean vs. distorted). Excellent p/u combination for rock, blues, pop, and jazz. Sounds great with/without pedals.

I have owned dozens of top brand electic guitars and this has best action and feel of anything I have ever played. This is the guitar I could not replace. It feels just as right today as it did 25 years ago. Beautiful color and finish.

I have played out many times and usually reach for this guitar. It is extremely-well made and looks/sounds great when I play back a video recording of a gig.

I just recently had to get the neck adjusted after 25 years. This was done through store where it was originally purchased. No experience with warranty.

I bought a ES-335 in 1974 for $440. Regretably, I sold it in late 70's. In 1983 I went to the local music store to buy another ES-335 but wanted to see the Ibanez because Patrick Simmons of the Doobies was playing an Ibanez. I saw both side by side and the Ibanez just looked and felt right. I paid $ 508 (I think the ES-335 was about a grand at the time). I had enough for the Gibson.

Korean made ES-335 Version. Replaced PUs. One Kloppmann '58 (neck), one Kloppmann '59 (bridge). Replaced Bridge (Duesenberg steel), replaced tail piece (Duesenberg alu), replaced tuners (sperzel trim lock), replaced nut (bone), replaced potis (500 K-Ohm), replaced PU-rings (better ones). And what you have got? Wow !!! There are just two ES-335 style guitars out there which have complete solid, unlaminated sustain-block. One is the Aria T(itan)A(rtist)-100 and the other one is this here. Accurately made by Samick in 1995.

Very nice, peercussive sound with a lot of sustain. I also have an ES-335 original from 1967. This Ibanez comes very close to this original sound. Closer than all other copies I have had. Acoustically it is a bit louder than the Gibson. I bought it with the Kloppmanns already installed. No reasons, to put them out ;-)
Ther is a 10 down there, but i would have given an 11.

Adjust what you want, you can.

I do not exactly know how this guitar is right from the factory, but this way it is forever. Just do not drop it.

Wasn't necessary.

I also have an original ES-335 from 1967, but this guitar might be the second for the rest of my live. There is nothing collectible on it for all the changings, but these changings really made a first class custom shop instrument out of it.

This one is Japanese one from about 1981. Pretty standard. Double Hum, Two volume, two tone,, stoptail. Basic 335 style. Sunburst. Chrome hardware.

If I could give it an eleven, I would. The guitar sounds great. Definitely one of the most versatile semi-hollow guitars I've ever played. I bought it with flat wounds and was using it strictly for jazz, but this guitar just has too much balls to not unleash it every once and a while. The tone controls are super responsive. I can make it super growly if need be, but roll off just a little it becomes super smooth.

These old jap ibanez artists all play better than just about anything Gibson makes now, if you ask me. I worked for a gibson dealer for five years and never picked up a post kalamazoo 335 that could hold a candle to this guitar. Finish looks great it's a rather dark sunburst but it fits the guitar.

Truss rod still has plenty of play. Could use a refret but. it's almost thirty years old. Stays in tune great. Never had a problem.

It's past warranty because it's vintage.

These old jap artists are incredible for the buck. MAKE SURE IT SAYS JAPAN. The korean ones are not the same quality. AS200's sell for upwards of 1500 bucks sometimes because it's the one scofield plays, but the AS80 and AS100 are virtually the exact same guitar for far less. You couldn't pay me to own one of the korean ones though not the same guitar.

Typically ES335 style body and electronics...vintage sunburst finish. I'm pretty sure it's a 2000, but it may be a '98 or '99. After that they changed some of the design characteristics (truss rod cover and headstock logo), so I'm pretty sure it's not from any later than 2000 or so.

It sounds pretty friggin' amazing. I play alot of stuff, but my main focus is harder rock/stoner rock kind of stuff. A couple years ago I picked up an Ibanez Artcore AF75 (big bodied single cutaway full hollow body). I love it, but I always wished it could take heavier overdrive better...since it will feedback uncontrollably at high volumes and gain settings. So I was shopping for a semi-hollow double cut ES335 style. I found this used for $250 and I couldn't pass it up. It sounds INCREDIBLE over all ranges. Clean to bluesy to crunchy to full fuzzed out heaviness. I'm running it through a Fuzz Face reissue and a Peavey Classic 30...it fuzzes up real nice but stays clear. It adds a nice element of airiness that my SG just doesn't have. Keeps it heavy and clear.
At first I wasn't too keen on the neck...thought it was a little too thin for my liking. I'm used to thicker Gibson necks...and not the slim taper variety. I've always like the fatter log-type necks, like that found on my 2002 Gibson SG Special Faded (also amazing, if anyone was wondering). But anyway, I got used to the neck quite quickly, and now I find it more comfortable. For longer periods of playing, my hand doesn't ache from gripping chords. I have a hard time going back to my SG after playing this.

Everything was set up nearly perfectly right from the store. The frets and neck feel great, thanks to the binding. The finish is in perfect condition. I can't even believe it's used, the condition is pristine. I didn't even have to intonate when I tune it down.

Seems rather durable. I haven't had it that long yet (month or so) and I haven't played out...but it seems like a powerhouse. It's weighty and can take a pounding.

Never had to deal with them.

Amazing. Worth every penny. Ibanez has been putting out great semi and full hollow bodies for years while keeping the price down. Because of this, not as many people know about them as they should. If the price was higher, people would notice them. It's kind of a shame that more people don't play these. I played mine alongside a whole bunch of Epiphones and a few Gibsons before purchasing. In my opinion, it beats out the entire line of Epiphone semis, and I found it more comfortable than the Gibsons I've played (including an ES335 that cost over a grand). Of course, Gibson is spot on with their ES series, and I'm sure they sound as good if not better than the Ibanez...and I'm sure the quality control on the Gibsons is better as well, but for my money, I'm sticking with the Ibanez's. I've played alot from their semi and full hollow series, and most are quite good. Probably worth double what you'll have to pay.

My AS80 is from the post-2000 era, and although I know that people love to say the older ones were better, this guitar is an absolutely amazing piece of work. I don't believe they make this model anymore, but it's a reddish sunburst, showing the beauty of the wood underneath. The binding is perfect, as is everything else about this guitar.

I got it used, and changed out the neck pickup, since it seemed rather muddy, but now it's much better, and I can dial in some of the sweetest jazz/blues tones you've ever heard. I also can get some twangy country licks out of just the bridge pickup.

I play it through a Fender Super Reverb, and the sounds I can get are enough to make people swoon. I can't say enough good things about how beautiful this Artstar sings. Hdd to give it an 8, though, because I had to change out one of the pickups to get that incredible sound.

I got it used, but it had been professionally set up, and it is fantastic from a playability standpoint. The neck is fantastic, thin and fast, and I can play all the way to the top frets because of the extra room in the horns, which I can't do as easily with either my Gibson ES330 or ES335, since I have large hands. As a playing machine, this guitar is BETTER than either of my Gibsons, and I couldn't be happier! My Gibsons now sit in the closet...having been relegated to collector's items. The AS80 is the guitar I play on stage and in the studio.

I did add some witch hat knobs, like I have on my Gibsons, simply because I like the way they look. It's fun, because it makes it even harder for people to tell what kind of guitar it is from a distance. Often people come up to the stage and ask me what kind of guitar it is. I LOVE telling them it's an Ibanez AS80, because nobody has ever heard of them...except other Ibanez enthusiasts. It's a well kept secret...

I use the guitar in live settings all the time, and in the studio. It will last, of that, I have no doubt. I always use strap locks, so I don't worry about them. I don't need a backup with this guitar. It has never failed me, and I'm a forty year professional. I demand great playability and sound, and this guitar delivers!

The cool thing is that people ask me about it all the time, since it's got a somewhat different look than the Gibsons...but I guarantee that they NEVER complain about how sweet my AS80 sounds!

I have visited Ibanez's site, but it doesn't appear to be geared toward having people ask questions. That doesn't bother me, though, since I always either take care of my guitars myself or have a local guitar tech help. I can't imagine having to contact a factory for any of my guitars.

I own a project recording studio, so I have tons of equipment. I have been playing some forty years, and spent many years on the road, touring, recording, writing...I play through a Fender Super Reverb, use a Korg AX1000G pedal for various sounds, and this amazingly versatile AS80. If it were stolen, I'd instantly look for another one, although I liked it well enough that I bought two more...and I STILL don't have as much into them as I would for ONE ES335!

I'm a total professional, and I can tell you honestly that this guitar blows away my two Gibsons...and at about 1/10th the price! I used to be a Gibson snob...but now I'm a devout Ibanez snob. I bought one for my son for his high school graduation, and an Ibanez bass and amp for my wife for her birthday. My AS80 made a believer out of me. It's an incredible value...AND a joy to play!

Korean made, uncertain of vintage. 335 copy with same controls. Stop tail piece with fixed (screwed to body) adjustable bridge. Butterscotch finish over quilted maple top and back, very sweet looking. Binding was either finished to look aged or has become yellow toned, in any case a very nice presentation...appears very vintage. Fine understated appearance.

Purchased for studio use to offset inventory of single coil guitars. Main rig is AS80> Clark Gainster> Ibanez AD202 Delay> 1965 Twin Reverb Reissue. Pickups exceptionally quiet, very rich sounding with the neck pup alone as well as combined. Nice funk out of the bridge pup alone. Some frequencies drop out when the volume knobes are rolled off, the more volume rolled on, the more bright tone. This is not much of an issue when using effects for gain when stepping up for leads. With the selector switch in the center position all kinds of tones are possible by using volume and/or tone adjustment. All in all a very versatile guitar.

Purchased used but set up exceptioanlly well. Super low action, STAYS IN TUNE, harmonics and intonation are right on the money. Fit and finish are extraordinary, there is nothing "cheap" about anything I've noticed. The neck set and heel joints are A-1 and this is an area where sloppy workmanship with the binding shows on poorly constructed instruments. The pickguard has found a way to work istelf loose, which in this case is OK...cause it was coming off anyway.

Stays in tune...what else is there? I would recommend locking strap buttons for any hollow body, but thats it. I'd gig it without a backup, but would probably have another couple on the stand anyway.

Screwdriver, pliars, allen wrenches and a soldering iron.

10 years ago I was shocked to see Toy Caldwell playing a 335 through pair of 180 watt Super Twin Reverbs. In a bar setting it was extremely loud, but Toy was able to effect some excellent controlled feedback. I'll never forget that particular show, not long before his death. That etched the tonal possibilities of a 335 or clone with a high watt fender amp into my potential bag o' tricks. With the rig I've assembled a ton of excellent tone possibilities are at hand and complimented with other guitars. My main guitar is a 50th anniversary Tex Mex Strat> Clark Gainster> Ibanez AD202 delay> 65 Twin Reissue. I also buy - sell - trade smaller amps that never seem to stay around long. I did make it a point to check out the newer Ibanez Artcore models before deciding to go with the AS 80. In general, this guitar seems to rank a notch or two above the newer models in all areas of concern. If stolen I would go to prison for tracking down the thief and murdering him for being the lowlife dog that he is.

Year: 2000. This one is made in Korea. Earlier models were built in Japan and there are those that say the Japanese ones are of better quality. I cannot see how... this is a spectacular instrument in every respect. Details: pointy double cutaway, 22 frets, 2 humbucking Super 58s, butterscotch/blonde finish (although there is a dark sunburst available), Tune-O-Matic style bridge, 2 volume and 2 tone control knobs. 3-way pickup switch. Laminated maple body, maple neck, rosewood fretboard with abalone dot inlays, chrome hardware. Triple bound body, f-holes, neck and headstock. I removed the black pick guard and replaced the 4 black tone/volume knobs with solid chrome ones. Very pleasing to the eye!

The AS 80 offers a "punch" through the 2 Super 58 pickups. The center block construction delivers a sustain that rings but you can still hear the rich warm tones of an instrument well-suited to the jazz musician. Rock to jazz -- this baby works! My amps include a Peavey KB-100 and a Peavey Bandit 112 Scorpion played in stereo through a Boss Chorus effects pedal.

This guitar is from the Artstar series and features that famous super-fast neck familiar to Ibanez players. Low action. I use D'Addario 10/46 gauge strings. I've set the bridge pup higher for a driving bite, the neck pup low for the deep rich sound. Easy to adjust tone and volume controls give you the best of both worlds. Slim bodied so it wears easily.

I've been gigging with this one for over 2 years and it's held up perfectly. Never seems to go out of tune. The strap pin on the tail is very shallow so I've been using a strap lock to secure the strap. Other than that, everything works.

Never dealt with them.

You've got to love this guitar... you could best compare the Epiphone Dot or Sheraton but I find them to have a "cheap" feel, especially the tuning keys. A Gibson ES-335 is way overpriced and my experience with inconsistent quality from Gibson (late 70's) has left a lingering sour taste for their products. I'll stand by Ibanez any day over Gibson. From what I've read on this board, the prices paid are all over the map. If you can find one for under $500 US, it's a terrific bargain.

Two Super 58 humbuckers. Tone and volume knobs for each. 3-way pickup switch. The usual. This model is fully bound, including the f-holes and entire neck and body. I never was keen on wanting/needing binding, but after having this for a while I think going forward I'll require it of most non-fender guitars. Tune-o-matic type bridge.

I bought this for jazz. It gets an overly bright, but nice, jazz tone. Not the traditional dark sound, but a lighter, brighter tone. I'm using flatwound d'addario chromes, size 12. I have not tried this guitar with roundwounds on it.

The super 58 pickups have a good rep. I think a PAF or clone would be better for jazz, but for rock I think these pickups are great. Especially the bridge pickup. Since I'm using it mainly for jazz, I'd prefer PAF's. But for the price I paid ($400 shipped from an online dealer, including new strings and OHSC) this is an excellent guitar. Better than the epiphone and equivalent stuff in this price range. They don't make these anymore. The artstars are MUCH better guitars than that artcore stuff they are selling nowadays.

Mine came with fret buzz at the 12th fret on a couple of strings, but this is a used guitar so that is irrelevant for this review. The finish is good - excellent actually. Fully bound and a nice looking guitar. I have the natural finish version. Not a beautiful guitar, but nice. Then again, I don't like natural finishes.

It's a guitar, so reliability/durability is kind of a dumb thing to consider in my opinion. It either works or it doesn't. The tuners seem fine. Other than that, what could go wrong?

I don't call customer support for anything.

For the price it is an excellent value. I wanted something with a darker sound but took a chance on this axe via online mail order. I'm happy with the purchase. It gets a good jazz tone, though a bit bright. I think PAF's or some other more traditional pickups would help, but I won't bother. I recorded some rock stuff tonight into my PC via a Vamp2 with this guitar (with flatwounds no less) using the bridge pickup into an overdrive and distortion models and it sounded fantastic. So for rock these pickups are great. Overall this is an excellent value guitar. I have some sound clips up at my site: www.sixstringtheory.com