If you’re wondering whether Ibanez Artcore AS53 is worth it or not, don’t worry – you’re in the right place! I recently bought this semi hollow guitar and I decided to share my experience with you. As a big fan of solid body guitars, I wasn’t really sure what to expect from this model. So was it worth the money?
Absolutely! Ibanez AS53 offers a great tone and a stunning look at a really affordable price. I’m actually really surprised that this guitar is so inexpensive. The guitar is also very versatile when it comes to sound, so it will be perfect for a wide range of genres. Undoubtedly, it’s one of the best budget semi-hollow guitars available on the market right now.
Let’s dive deeper with research and find out what makes this guitar so good. I want to tell you a little bit more about my experience with this model. And I actually recorded a sound demo, which you’ll see in the next section.
My Experience With Ibanez AS53
As I mentioned before, I decided to purchase this guitar a few weeks ago. I have to admit that I always liked the look and sound of semi-hollow body guitars. Nevertheless, I always wanted the Gibson ES-335, which is pretty much a holy grail of hollow body guitars. But there’s one problem – the ES-335 costs A LOT!
That’s why I decided to look for something far more affordable. I stumbled upon the Ibanez AS-53 and I quickly fell in love with it. To be honest, it became one of my favorite guitars that I ever had. I’m absolutely sure that it will be perfect for future gigs with my band and I can’t wait to take it on the stage with me!
I recorded a quick video review of Ibanez AS53 as a part of this article. Check it out below – you’ll see how beautiful it is and how great it sounds. If this video is helpful to you, feel free to subscribe to my channel. It will definitely help me grow on YouTube!
Undoubtedly, the guitar has a killer look. Ibanez did a fantastic job and this tobacco brown color version looks great! There is a few different colors available, but I’ve seen them all live and in my opinion this option looked best.
Still, I think that a few things could be improved. This is a long term goal, but at some point in the future I’ll probably add my own pickguard and pickup covers. I feel like these modifications will make this guitar look even better and a little bit more aggressive. In addition, it would also be great to add a Bigsby bridge in here.
Nevertheless, even the regular version makes a stunning first impression. The binding, the color, the natural look – it’s all really eye pleasing. And of course, the tone of this guitar is incredible. I absolutely love playing on the neck pickup setting. In addition, the neck is really comfortable and it’s actually pretty slim. I thought that it’d be a bit wider, but for me – that’s even better!
Specifiations & Pricing
The guitar is made of sapele and nyatoh wood. It has two open-coil humbuckers with ceramic magnets and two knobs (volume and tone). The guitar features a classic semi-hollow body shape. What’s more, the pickups used in this model significantly reduce the common problem with feedback.
It is also worth mentioning that this is one of the most affordable semi-hollow guitars available on the market right now. A lot of reputable guitar brands (such as Epiphone or Gretsch) are making these types of guitars, but their models are usually far more expensive. The Artcore AS53 model features an amazing quality at a relatively low price. Personally, I think that you won’t find a better semi-hollow body guitar at this price level.
Who Is Ibanez AS53 For?
I think that the Ibanez Artcore AS53 will be perfect for both amateur and more advanced musicians. If you’re just starting out, you’ll definitely enjoy the comfortable neck of this guitar. And if you’re an intermediate guitarist, you’ll most likely appreciate the creamy tone that this guitar has.
The AS53 can be used in a wide range of genres. In general, semi-hollow body guitars are really versatile. Whether you like to play blues, jazz, indie or hard rock, this model will be a really good choice. In addition, the guitar works well with guitar pedals. If you checked out my video review linked above, you’ve seen how cool it sounds with reverb and chorus!
Undoubtedly, any guitarist will appreciate the quality and awesomeness of this guitar. As a guitarist who plays in a band and records tracks in a studio from time to time, I can totally recommend this model.
Where is the Ibanez AS53 made?
The AS53 models are currently manufactured in Indonesia. They were manufactured in China in the past, so if you find a used model, there is a high chance that it comes from that region.
What is the weight of Ibanez AS53?
The weight of Ibanez AS53 is somewhere around 3.3kg (over 7 pounds). In comparison with other semi-hollow body guitars, the weight of this guitar is pretty standard. Nevertheless, it may be considered as heavy for players who usually used lightweight solid body guitars (for example made of poplar).
What is Ibanez Artcore?
Ibanez Artcore is a series of hollow and semi-hollow guitars created by Ibanez almost twenty years ago in 2002. The goal of Ibanez was to create inexpensive guitars that offer similar quality as some of the most expensive instruments of this type. The Artcore series quickly become a huge success and in today’s world, these guitars are loved by guitarists all around the world.
Are there any alternatives to the Ibanez AS53?
Yes, there are a few great alternatives to the Ibanez Artcore AS53. If for some reason you don’t like this model, you should definitely check out other guitars from the Artcore series – for example Ibanez AS73. Instead of Ibanez, you can also check out hollow and semi-hollow body guitars by Epiphone and Gretsch.
I recently wrote an article about two great semi-hollow body guitars – Ibanez AS73 and Epiphone Dot Studio. Feel free to check it out here, the sound demos are included.
What genre is Ibanez for?
There are no limits when it comes to this guitar brand. Ibanez has a wide offer of superstrats and guitars made specifically for metal genres, so a lot of people think that their guitars are suitable only for this kind of music. This is not true. The vast majority of Ibanez guitars is really versatile and they can be used in a lot of different genres ranging from folk and blues up to alternative rock and metal.
About Ibanez
Ibanez is a Japanese guitar manufacturer with a long history of operation. The company was founded in 1957 and they are consider as one of the most popular guitar brands in the world along with such companies as Fender and Gibson.
It is also worth mentioning that Ibanez guitars are used by some of the most famous guitarists in the world. That includes such names as Paul Gilbert, Steve Vai and many, many more other talented players. Although Ibanez doesn’t specialize strictly in semi-hollow and hollow body guitars, their guitars of this type feature an extraordinary quality.
Summary
As you can see, Ibanez AS53 is a really cool guitar. It looks great, sounds awesome and it’s not too expensive – who needs anything else? Undoubtedly, it will be a great choice for anyone who’s looking for an affordable semi-hollow body guitar. I’m really happy that I bought this model and I’m sure that I’ll be using it frequently in the future.
What do you think about this guitar? Do you think that there are better guitars than AS53 at this price level? Let me know in the comments below, I’m really interested to hear your thoughts!
Thanks for checking out my article, I hope that it was helpful! If you enjoyed this article, you may also like:
