Moving right along with our ongoing NAMM 2007 coverage (I promise, this won’t last much longer,) Ibanez unveiled yet two more handsome additions to its Artcore line of hollowbody guitars this weekend––the semi-acoustic AS73B, and the Artcore Custom AS103BM.
Both instruments feature the same basic double-cutaway design, sound block-mounted pickups (for increased sustain,) rosewood fingerboards, 22 frets (large wires on the AS73B, medium wires on the AS103BM,) set-in neck construction, and a ART1 bridge, but the similarities pretty much stop there.
Artcore AS73B While pricing doesn’t seem to be available yet, Ibanez’s AS73B appears to be a budget model, sporting a maple body (including top, back & sides,) bound fretboard, pearl “dot” fingerboard inlays, and a “Black Flat” finish. Electronics include an ACH1-S humbucker in the neck position, ACH2-S in the bridge position, and dual volume & tone knobs.
Artcore Custom AS103BM The Artcore Custom AS103BM takes things quite a few steps further. The guitar boasts exotic Burled Maple on its top, back and sides, a 5-piece Artcore Custom neck, bound fingerboard, block-style Artcore Custom inlays, and is available only in Natural finish. Electronics include IBZ Custom 58 humbuckers in both positions, plus dual volume and tone controls, and 3-way pickup switching.
Pricing and accessories are yet to be announced.
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July 30th, 2007 at 7:26 am
Sweet. The AS103BM looks a lot like the old John Scofield Artist (made in Japan) that I used to have in the early 90s….and loved. I think these are made in Indonesia or Korea.
This model has the same shape, binded neck, and pickup configuration as the John Scofield. Unfortunately, I haven’t seen these much of these models (AS1XX) at the Guitar Centers I frequent or even online merchants. The John Scofield has this incredible neck that felt like a classic ES-335. I’m in the market for a guitar that feels like that.
July 31st, 2007 at 9:30 am
Those do indeed look sweet. I have a couple acoustics and a couple electrics. I’ve always thought the hollow body would be an interesting mix. So who plays one? What do you like and dislike about them as compared to the pure electric or pure acoustic?
July 31st, 2007 at 4:23 pm
Semi-hallows do not sound like acoustic guitars at all. They sound closer to solid bodies… but definitely have their own distinctive sound…. They tend to taper off the attack of each note but generally have great sustain. In my opinion they are great for jazz/fusion/blues…non-ball to the wall type music where the differences in tone are more subtle. They are also obviously a little louder than a solid body when they are not plugged in. Good enough for practicing in a confided space.
January 22nd, 2008 at 9:20 pm
Great guitars, if you like rock/blues get the exposed coil AS73B, much more pychobilly.
Slide is great with both.
Yeah….
May 1st, 2008 at 11:59 am
Hey, I just bought an AS 103! any idea where i can find reviews or prices of the ibz 58 humbuckers?
August 29th, 2010 at 5:32 am
man.. this makes me miss my AS73 so much, lol. Had to sell it a few months back.. sucks.