B
BrentDomann
Has a Dedicated Member.
Consider that the Ibanez, used but in great shape with a hard case, is less than the Sheraton II new without a case.
M
MK-Ultra
New member
And your conclusion? I have the Ibanez, so I'd be interested in reading your opinion.
B
BrentDomann
Has a Dedicated Member.
Gah! I don't have a conclusion, that's why I'm asking. I like the Ibanez a lot, but it doesn't have that "classic" factor to it that the Sheraton does. I'm also a bit put off by all that maple. Not the wood, but the lack of paint or stain.
Maybe I can ask: how do you like the Ibanez?
Anyway, the nearest Epi dealer is 50 miles away. I was asking around before I waste 25 bucks in gas.
Maybe I can ask: how do you like the Ibanez?
Anyway, the nearest Epi dealer is 50 miles away. I was asking around before I waste 25 bucks in gas.
lpdeluxe
The Precision Bass Guy
Elderly is in Lansing (1100 N Washington 48906; (517) 372-7880) and they carry Epi.
Personally, I'm waiting to trade a Music Man stack for a Sheraton II in natural. I like the fact that the pickups came be changed out easily, since they use the standard humbucker size. The lead singer in our brand brought home an Ibanez Artcore on loan from the local store but it went right back.
Personally, I'm waiting to trade a Music Man stack for a Sheraton II in natural. I like the fact that the pickups came be changed out easily, since they use the standard humbucker size. The lead singer in our brand brought home an Ibanez Artcore on loan from the local store but it went right back.
B
BrentDomann
Has a Dedicated Member.
Elderly does not carry Epiphone. They have some used Epiphones in, but are not a Gibson/Epi dealer. Gibson squeezed them out with their massive minimum purchase order requirements and with a lawsuit over a used banjo that had a replacement "bell-shaped truss-rod cover" on it.
lpdeluxe
The Precision Bass Guy
I'm sorry to hear that. I just checked, and Epi is gone from the website. Fender did the same thing under CBS and pissed off all their loyal small town dealers.... That's what happens when musicians sell out to accountants.
I think Gibson is going to be a dead duck in a few years. I understand they have sold out to a Danish conglomerate.
As Mars Music proved, guitar sales aren't an artifact of the Wal-Mart mentality: we musicians are benighted enough to still believe that our relationship with the guy selling us the guitar is important.
I think Gibson is going to be a dead duck in a few years. I understand they have sold out to a Danish conglomerate.
As Mars Music proved, guitar sales aren't an artifact of the Wal-Mart mentality: we musicians are benighted enough to still believe that our relationship with the guy selling us the guitar is important.
M
MK-Ultra
New member
I absolutely love my AS103NT. Truly. There may still be a couple of threads around about my quest for the perfect Artcore last summer, and I had to trade up from a AF95VLS. The AS103 was perfectly set up right out of the box, plays like butter, no issues with tuners, intonation, buzzing frets. I alternate between finding the maple boring and beautiful. Oh, and the neck is great, too. I don't have a bad word to say about this guitar, and I am pretty damned picky. I would say that it is *probably* the better bang for the buck guitar.
Two things I learned this year: I love the tone of semi-acoustics, and I love the tones of P90 pups. So, I'll probably buy an Epi Casino this year.
YMMV,
MK
Two things I learned this year: I love the tone of semi-acoustics, and I love the tones of P90 pups. So, I'll probably buy an Epi Casino this year.
YMMV,
MK
lpdeluxe
The Precision Bass Guy
That's cool. I love semi-hollow bodies -- I sold a '63 Gretsch Chet Atkins Country Gentleman last Spring -- and I like the traditional look of the Sheraton II. The controls on the Gretsch were peculiar, to say the least; I like the simple Gibson-style v/v/t/t/ on the Epi.
If I don't get it, though, I'll be pretty happy with my LP gold top.
If I don't get it, though, I'll be pretty happy with my LP gold top.
B
BrentDomann
Has a Dedicated Member.
Well, I didn't get a chance to try a Sheraton II. I saw that Elderly got in a used Joe Pass Emperor II, and I figured since lately I haven't been sure whether to go semi-hollow or hollow I'd give it a try. In the very least, it would give me a reasonable idea of the QC, overall feel, and substance of a nicer Epi.
It was a nice guitar, but the Ibanez beat it hands down. I swear, I haven't seen a company yet that has impressed me more with the necks they produce. I'm not one for those shredder paper-thin Ibanez necks (they're cool, just not my thing), but I have an old Roadstar II that has an amazing neck, and the AS103 is the real deal, too. The rounded fret ends are really nice, the binding is clean and tight, and though I wasn't at first convinced on the maple on maple on maple finish, this guitar screams quality. It's growing on me by the minute. I'm even really liking the finish more and more.
This reference may seem to come from left field, but the AS103 is a 335 clone - there's no doubt about that: The Ibanez plays better than most Gibby's I've played, and it sounds great too. It was also $2100 cheaper. I'm also not trying to turn this into another stupid Gibson bashing thread or a debate about foreign and domestic quality control, but I can tell just by holding this guitar that it is the top of Ibanez's line. They don't sell anything "better" except the Japanese CS signature models, which are in standard hollowbody price ranges ($2500-$3000).
If anyone is looking for an excellent semi-hollow, I'd check these out.
It was a nice guitar, but the Ibanez beat it hands down. I swear, I haven't seen a company yet that has impressed me more with the necks they produce. I'm not one for those shredder paper-thin Ibanez necks (they're cool, just not my thing), but I have an old Roadstar II that has an amazing neck, and the AS103 is the real deal, too. The rounded fret ends are really nice, the binding is clean and tight, and though I wasn't at first convinced on the maple on maple on maple finish, this guitar screams quality. It's growing on me by the minute. I'm even really liking the finish more and more.
This reference may seem to come from left field, but the AS103 is a 335 clone - there's no doubt about that: The Ibanez plays better than most Gibby's I've played, and it sounds great too. It was also $2100 cheaper. I'm also not trying to turn this into another stupid Gibson bashing thread or a debate about foreign and domestic quality control, but I can tell just by holding this guitar that it is the top of Ibanez's line. They don't sell anything "better" except the Japanese CS signature models, which are in standard hollowbody price ranges ($2500-$3000).
If anyone is looking for an excellent semi-hollow, I'd check these out.
M
MK-Ultra
New member
+1. They are now available in various maple forms, spalted, burled, etc, and are also available in a really nice golden honey hue. I don't regret this purchase for an instant, but I would say that I've played a few dodgy lower-end Artcores, including the AF95VLS that I bought prior to the AS103. I've seen quite a few people complain about the AF95VLS, and it isn't really a bottom of the line model. Anyone in the market for a good semi should try one of these out. I certainly wasn't going to spend €2,500.00 + for an ES335, not given Gibson's current reputation.
Cheers,
MK