AM103BM-ABR

[artfield]

http://www.mercatinomusicale.com/mm/a_ibanez-artist-am-205-super-edition_id938754.html

[Juha T]

http://www.mercatinomusicale.com/mm/a_ibanez-artist-am-205-super-edition_id938754.html

"inserito il 07/04/2008", still valid ad?

Juha

[wakuhn1]

Where are these "limited edition" artcore's made?

Juha, can you compare the sound and playability to any of the other AM series?

[Roland_G303]

If there are not any in the States, is there anyone in Europe that may want to help? I contacted the company that Juha listed, and they do not ship to the US.

Bill,

I'm down around Baltimore right now with work and saw a AM103BM in a music store in Columbia, MD.  If I remember the name of the store I could post it here.  I'm 99.9% it was the exact same guitar.

Patrick

[Roland_G303]

Here it is Bill...it's in Catonsville, MD.

http://www.billsmusiconline.com/ibaas103bm-abr.html

Patrick

[Ibaneezer_Scrooge]

And on Ebay he is...

http://stores.ebay.com/billsmusic


Different store, same area...looks like a chain store...like Guitar Center.

[wakuhn1]

Thanks Patrick!
Checked it out... that was the AS.
I'm looking for the AM, like the smaller scale bodies much better

I may have located one... Are these made in the US?
Debating over this and possibly another early 80's AM...

[Ibaneezer_Scrooge]

Made in the USA?

No Way...

Made In China.

Check the price...that should tell you all you need to know.

[Juha T]

Where are these "limited edition" artcore's made?

Juha, can you compare the sound and playability to any of the other AM series?

All Artcores are Made in China. Anyway at least models numbered from 80 up show good craftmanship, better than low end MIK Artstars.

I have not had the possibility to play MIJ Artist AM's (50, 205) or MIJ Artstar (200).
AM103 has small frets, with the smaller body this is so far the most noticeable difference compared to AS103, which is a very good 335 copy for its price.

Juha

[Ibaneezer_Scrooge]

IMO...and nothing more...so don't flame me.

The Artcore Customs made in China are of better fit and finish than anything Ibanez put out previously.  I am talking about the woods, veneers, construction, and finishes.   Not the hardware.

I would assume a lot of this is due to the CNC machines used to accurately cut and shape the woods.

The finishes too are nice and thin....not thick poly like the early MIJ models.

This is not due to a lack of craftsmanship, but rather due to the advances made the last 15 years in guitar manufacturing.

You can only do so much with hand held tools...including training the operators.

Now with a CNC machine, just about any monkey can stamp out guitar after guitar without much effort...and the results are usually better than most "handmade" guitars.

[Juha T]

I guess US residents may find vintage Artist AM50 or Artstar AM70 at the same price (or even lower) as AM103 costs in Europe.

Playback's price shipping included: 665 EUR = 832 USD (AM or AS ??)

Musik Schmidt's price shipping included: 796 EUR = 996 USD

And also AM200 (205?) may fit in the range?

Juha

[jason43]

IIRC, the AM103 sold for around $800 even, at least online, in the US.

[wakuhn1]

$800?
Do u remember where it was online that you saw it?

[jason43]

I believe it was Chesbro's website. Thats why I mentioned contacting them in my last post, since they, instead of Hoshino, distributed the AM103 in the US.

[Juha T]

Price went down 80 EUR

http://www.musik-schmidt.de/products/gb/Electric-Guitars/Semi-Acoustics/Ibanez-AM-103-BM-ABR-Artcore-CST-African-Brown.html

Juha