sparquelito Posted September 5, 2020 Share Posted September 5, 2020 After many years of buying (and then eventually selling) semi-hollow-body electrics, mostly Ibanez Artcores, I finally purchased the one I should have started with; The Ibanez AM53. Features that I like, a LOT; * naked humbuckers * 1 Volume, 1 Tone and, a smaller than normal body size. MUCH more comfortable to strap on and play. I don't feel like I'm hiding behind a piece of furniture when I'm playing it. And the simpler controls keep things from getting too busy when planning for the stage. The Gibson ES339 was always the gold standard for 'smaller body f-hole guitar', and I coveted one for a long while. But the hefty price, four knobs, and goofy-looking Mickey Mouse horns made that less desirable, to me anyway.😑 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merciful-evans Posted September 5, 2020 Share Posted September 5, 2020 Hey thats a sweet looker Spar! Those Artcores are always eye catching. Yes similar in style to the 339. I much prefer the simple 2 knob layout too. Nice score. 👍 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncle fester Posted September 5, 2020 Share Posted September 5, 2020 Supercool 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparquelito Posted September 5, 2020 Author Share Posted September 5, 2020 Below is the ES339 that came closest to ideal. I must confess, I probably would have removed the pick-guard had I invested in such a thing. Not a fan of the elevated pick guards and all the associated hardware. I reckon I'll always keep an eye on them. 😑https://reverb.com/item/34949245-gibson-es-339-2018-walnut 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparquelito Posted September 5, 2020 Author Share Posted September 5, 2020 I got the Ibanez from American Musical Supply for $249. Regular price is $299, but I gambled on ordering one that had a reported 'slight blemish'. I'm still looking for the blemish. This thing is perfect from every angle. 🤨 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveFord Posted September 5, 2020 Share Posted September 5, 2020 Can't beat the price, enjoy it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tx-ogre Posted September 5, 2020 Share Posted September 5, 2020 Very nice. Congrats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merciful-evans Posted September 6, 2020 Share Posted September 6, 2020 9 hours ago, sparquelito said: Below is the ES339 that came closest to ideal. I must confess, I probably would have removed the pick-guard had I invested in such a thing. Not a fan of the elevated pick guards and all the associated hardware. I reckon I'll always keep an eye on them. 😑https://reverb.com/item/34949245-gibson-es-339-2018-walnut That might be the prettiest one I've seen, though my ES339 Studio has the 2 knobs & was supplied without a pickguard. Just checked the Gibson Archive for Memphis 2015 ES but it is weirdly missing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparquelito Posted September 6, 2020 Author Share Posted September 6, 2020 (edited) 4 hours ago, merciful-evans said: That might be the prettiest one I've seen, though my ES339 Studio has the 2 knobs & was supplied without a pickguard. Just checked the Gibson Archive for Memphis 2015 ES but it is weirdly missing? Oh man, I would love to see a photo of that one, sir. 2 knobs and no pick guard, pure perfection. 🙂 So it's like this 2014 model, here below? Edited September 6, 2020 by sparquelito 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dub-T-123 Posted September 6, 2020 Share Posted September 6, 2020 Those Ibanez are nice guitars. Congrats! The burst on that 339 looks worse than most chinese guitars. Ya screwed up boys just paint the whole thing black Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merciful-evans Posted September 7, 2020 Share Posted September 7, 2020 22 hours ago, sparquelito said: Oh man, I would love to see a photo of that one, sir. 2 knobs and no pick guard, pure perfection. 🙂 So it's like this 2014 model, here below? pretty much yes. Well I found an old link to the Gibson archive here http://legacy.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/2015/Memphis/ES-339-Studio.aspx This is my one (binding is black so hard to see on both burst and wine). 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparquelito Posted September 7, 2020 Author Share Posted September 7, 2020 1 hour ago, merciful-evans said: pretty much yes. Well I found an old link to the Gibson archive here http://legacy.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/2015/Memphis/ES-339-Studio.aspx This is my one (binding is black so hard to see on both burst and wine). Oh man, that is GORGEOUS. The black binding is both classy and eye-catching. 😘 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly campbell Posted September 7, 2020 Share Posted September 7, 2020 Congrats..Nice looking guitar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merciful-evans Posted September 8, 2020 Share Posted September 8, 2020 (edited) Spar, the body shape of the AM53 is really nice. It reminds me a little of the Fender Esprit which is a similar small semi-hollow (though without f-holes). Much nicer shape to the horns than the Gibsons that inspired them. Edited September 8, 2020 by merciful-evans 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twang Gang Posted September 8, 2020 Share Posted September 8, 2020 Always congrats on a NGD and I hope it does all you want it to. What I noticed about the shape is that the lower bout seems very long. If you compare the Gibsons and this Ibanez, for example the bridge on the Gibsons is about in the middle of the F-holes, whereas the Ibanez the bridge is about half way between the middle and the top of the F-holes. Not sure what affect that shape has on the tone? Personally not a fan of only two knobs, if I have two pickups I like to control them both as much as possible for variety of tones. I guess when it comes to small bodied semi-hollows I have only one thing to say: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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