AW100

[pathofspirit]

Just bought an AW100 last night. I was getting rid of an epiphone ej-200 that was just too big for me. I also own a Masterbilt aj500m which I love. I own a couple of Artcore electrics that I'm very happy with so the Artwood piqued my curiosity. The AW gives me a "lower end" guitar to take places when I want to protect the Masterbilt but I must admit; I'm very suprised/pleased with the sound and feel of this guitar. Given that I paid $199 for this new (it looks like this model has been discontinued) it's a very good guitar.

[babablowfish]

I assume you are talking about the Ibanez AW100? If so, I had one and agree, it was a lot of guitar for the money.

[DeepEnd]

Congratulations. I'm pretty much the "official" local Ibanez Artwood fan and you got a great guitar for a terrific price. A quick Google search turned up prices of $342.99-374.99 for that model. I own an AW120 as my "good" guitar and I love it. Artwoods are seriously underrated IMHO.

[Vibroluxman]

Congrats! I loved mine, played it until the top had two cracks (stable ones on the lower bought) and the frets were gone and lifting. Still got 250 for it in trade USED towards my taylor. You got a great deal sir.

[pathofspirit]

The more I play this guitar the more I like it. I've been a pretty solid advocate of the Epiphone Masterbilt line (and still am). I own an AF500M - solid mahogany side and back. Cost me $550. A great sounding guitar that I love and would recommend to anyone.

 

However, now that I'm in touch with the Artwood line, I'd have to do some serious thinking about future purchases. For instance, the Masterbilt is a better guitar in that it has solid wood sides and back. But is it $350 better than the $199 AW100 that sounds and plays great? I'd have to think about that. It looks like the Artwood line has some other fine guitars at a pretty good price.

[LaXu]

I like the Artwoods too. Not the best built guitars in their price ranges (that honor goes to Yamaha) but one of the best sounding IMO. I've got the all solid wood AW800.

[DeepEnd]

 

The more I play this guitar the more I like it. I've been a pretty solid advocate of the Epiphone Masterbilt line (and still am). I own an AF500M - solid mahogany side and back. Cost me $550. A great sounding guitar that I love and would recommend to anyone. However, now that I'm in touch with the Artwood line, I'd have to do some serious thinking about future purchases. For instance, the Masterbilt is a better guitar in that it has solid wood sides and back. But is it $350 better than the $199 AW100 that sounds and plays great? I'd have to think about that. It looks like the Artwood line has some other fine guitars at a pretty good price.

 

After a recent trip to Guitar Center, I realized that the newer Chinese-made Artwoods aren't up to the standard of the older Korean-made models like mine. Soundwise, they might be comparable but in terms of fit-and-finish, the older models are superior. GC only had the AW120 in stock out of the entire Artwood line but I've seen the AW800 http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Ibanez-AW800-ARTWOOD-SERIES-Acoustic-Guitar-?sku=512317 compared favorably with the Masterbilt. Both are all solid wood for about the same price so there's some hope for at least the higher end Artwood models. BTW, I couldn't find anything on the AF500M. Did you mean the EF500M or perhaps the AJ500M?

[pathofspirit]

 

BTW, I couldn't find anything on the AF500M. Did you mean the EF500M or perhaps the AJ500M?

 

You're right. I must have been thinking of my AF75 and AFS75 Artcores. Mine is the AJ500M.

[pathofspirit]

 

After a recent trip to Guitar Center, I realized that the newer Chinese-made Artwoods aren't up to the standard of the older Korean-made models like mine. Soundwise, they might be comparable but in terms of fit-and-finish, the older models are superior.

 

And this . . . Mine is one of the Korean models; the only one a local "ma and pa" type store had hanging around.