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David Knauss
Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:06 am:   

Can anybody tell me if the early 80's AS50 models are full size (like the AS100 etc.) or 3/4 size like the AM-205 etc. series that followed in 1984-86?

I have heard conflicting things. Does it depend on the year of production?

Thanks very much,

David
Harold
Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:06 am:   

David,
This is straight from the 1982 Ibanez Catalog:

"AS50...... "the smaller package"
Many solid body players find difficulty in transitioning to a semi acoustic because of the body size. We trimmed about 15% from our full sized semi acoustics and incorporated features to make the AS50 a bit hotter than the standard semi acoustic." ...end quote! .....

I believe some AS50 models have Ibanez V2 pickups which are a bit hotter than the Super 58's or Super 70's. As far as I know the AS50 has always been 15% smaller than the AS100 thru AS400 models.

The AS50 has a larger body size than the AM50 thru AM255 models. That's right they are NOT the same body size!

Harold
David K.
Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:06 am:   

You're a wealth of knowledge!
Thanks very much Harold.
This is a great website, and as others have pointed out, a potentially very dangerous habit!

David
John T. Carroll
Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:06 am:   

I had a 1980 AS-50 and (like a dope) sold it. In looking for a replacement, I keep running into bulbous ES-335 sized axes when I am quite sure that MY AS-50 was only slightly larger than an Artist solidbody. There's a cool vintage Ibanez site that cleared things up for me. From 1980 to the mid 80's the AS 50 WAS a SMALL body (as I thought). After 1984, Bodies of this size took on the "AM" designation and the AS-50 became a more fat-assed guitar, although STILL not FULL-sized (I reckon they're about 7/8 sized). That said, does anybody out there HAVE a small bodied AS-50 that they want to sell? (will also consider AM's). If so, please e-mail John at TVR1977@aol.com. Thanks
JohnS
Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:06 am:   

Hey John:

I'm a definite lover of the AM series. I've been lusting after "just the right" AM200/205 for a couple of years, now.

But I also own 3 of those AS series guitars that you are calling "bulbous". These are beautiful guitars. I wouldn't own 3 if they weren't fanatastic and desireable. Also, I do believe the AS200 dates back to '78. Definitely '79, because I have one.

Us Ibanez lovers have to stick together, ya know.

JohnS
jimid
Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:06 am:   

I've got an AM100 that basically qualified as my first "real" electric guitar when I picked it up many moons ago. Lovely instrument - picked it up to restring it last night and played it for three hours afterwards - it has that kind of effect on me :')

Once, in a moment of weakness, I thought I might put it up for sale (I'd been playing my Alvarez Summit small-bodied semi for a few weeks instead of the AM), but when I picked it up to consider the idea, I decided it was forever... No way this one gets sold. It's just a great blues/rock axe, with a unique voice, cool styling and it's the perfect size... So I guess I have three wicked little small-bodied semi-hollows :')

See My Guitars Here
Mike G.
Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:06 am:   

Hello everyone,

I am way late adding to this but I concur with Harold about the sizes of the AM50-255,AS50,AS100-AS200.
While taking photos of these I lined them up together and it became very obvious when you see the 3 different sizes at the same time.
I will send a shot to John that clearly indicates this.
One of these days I'll figure out how to get my pics under 50kb to get them posted unassisted !
Mike G.

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