mid 80s MIJ Ibanez are hard to beat. my favourites are the JB 10 and the AM 205. the latter are mahogany semis, they come with super 58s but they really shine with gibson 57 classics pups and better pots. i have 2 of those 205, one i have played for 30 years, no issues whatsoever in 30 years plays amaizing stays in tune and still looks beautiful. the as50 is a fab instrument, the maple carries some punch, but the 205 which is all mahogany has greater presence . anyway thank you for your fab videos and playing. you found a way to sound like a horn yet in a natural way for the guitar. this is a real achievement
I have an Ibanez AS50 I bought in 1981. Loved it from the beginning. Body size, neck and playability is superior. I would not give it up for any other guitar. I also have a AFS75, but, the AS50 is my favorite. If you can get your hands on one, you won’t want to let it go. Thanks for this review.
@@beneunsonRight, I bought the AFS75 because it resembled the Byrdland or ES350T. Wanted a hollow body of that sort. The AFS75 neck and fingerboard feels wider. I put an ebony bridge on it and it sounds a bit more natural. Different animal from the AS50 altogether. Still the AS50 is more comfortable to play, I Like the smaller body etc. Different axes. While the AS50 might not be the ultimately perfect or detailed as far as neck binding etc. it IS a fantastic piece for the price, size, build and weight. Perfect fit for me. I have been a studio owner and producer for 40 years. I am a keyboard player and have had many great players in my studio. But, over the years, if I was looking for a “sound” from guitarist, I many time would purchase the guitar and play it myself,Rickenbacker 330, LP Deluxe, ES165, AFS75, AS50, Epi Sorrento, even an Ibanez MIKRO bass, I play rhythm and some lead parts. So, of all the guitars I have, I love my AS50. Play one, you’ll want one!!!
Great video Ben. I first saw these Ibanez guitars in the mid 80s when they started showing up everywhere! Everyone from the Doobies to LRB to jazz players had these axes. Great to hear you play it.
Excellent video Ben. I remember seeing a video of you years ago with this guitar, I think it was live in Brooklyn with Sean Wayland and Nate Wood. I've always been curious about it, and it's great to hear some more!
I feel that way about by AM 50. If I had to sum it up in a word: quality. Everything is done well with great attention to detail. And such a range of tones...
Ben, Ive got a '73/'74 set neck Ibanez Les Paul(since 1979), an 80s RG440, and a 70s Ibanez Strat that I had refurbished. Yes, Ibanez are good guitars( if thin necks).
Great guitar. I have two; one cherry and one sunburst. Yours does not have the original pickups though. You can see that the pickup rings are three hole and yours has a hole drilled into them to accommodate the 2-screw pickups in yours.
My first "good" guitar. Sold it a long time ago, along with 2 other inexpensive Ibanez's, and got my Gibson LP Custom (post-Norlin, when the quality had picked up but the prices hadn't...). Recently acquired a 339, not least because it reminded me of my AS-50. I think if the AS-50 had had the Super-58's I might've kept it. At the time I craved that PAF sound...
Merci pour vos vidéo, j ai tellement aimé votre vidéo sur l ibanez AM 153 QA , que j'ai décidé de choisir le modèle en dessous , La AM 93 QM , qui rentre dans mon budget , pourtant au départ je voulais la AS93 , mais peur qu elle soit trop grande .
I owned two Ibanez AS-200’s. Both were great. I sold them; the last one was sold because it needed fretwork. 40 years is a long time for a guitar. Buy something new!
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I have one! Bought it in January 1981. Still play it to this day. In fact I just played it at a gig last night. Best guitar ever. Plays like butter.
Play on!!!
mid 80s MIJ Ibanez are hard to beat. my favourites are the JB 10 and the AM 205. the latter are mahogany semis, they come with super 58s but they really shine with gibson 57 classics pups and better pots. i have 2 of those 205, one i have played for 30 years, no issues whatsoever in 30 years plays amaizing stays in tune and still looks beautiful. the as50 is a fab instrument, the maple carries some punch, but the 205 which is all mahogany has greater presence . anyway thank you for your fab videos and playing. you found a way to sound like a horn yet in a natural way for the guitar. this is a real achievement
Yes the 80s MIJ guitars are incredible. Love the AM205, thank you so much for watching! 😀
stunning video m8. Your videos just get better and better. This is such a golden era for Ibanez and strangely isn't talked about that often
Thanks so much! Yes you're right, it doesn't get talked about nearly enough!
I have an Ibanez AS50 I bought in 1981. Loved it from the beginning. Body size, neck and playability is superior. I would not give it up for any other guitar. I also have a AFS75, but, the AS50 is my favorite. If you can get your hands on one, you won’t want to let it go.
Thanks for this review.
Both are beautiful guitars, the AS50 is especially a classic!
@@beneunsonRight, I bought the AFS75 because it resembled the Byrdland or ES350T. Wanted a hollow body of that sort. The AFS75 neck and fingerboard feels wider. I put an ebony bridge on it and it sounds a bit more natural. Different animal from the AS50 altogether.
Still the AS50 is more comfortable to play, I
Like the smaller body etc.
Different axes. While the AS50 might not be the ultimately perfect or detailed as far as neck binding etc. it IS a fantastic piece for the price, size, build and weight. Perfect fit for me. I have been a studio owner and producer for 40 years. I am a keyboard player and have had many great players in my studio. But, over the years, if I was looking for a “sound” from guitarist, I many time would purchase the guitar and play it myself,Rickenbacker 330, LP Deluxe, ES165, AFS75, AS50, Epi Sorrento, even an Ibanez MIKRO bass, I play rhythm and some lead parts. So, of all the guitars I have, I love my AS50.
Play one, you’ll want one!!!
Fantastic, they do sound like different axes - but both fantastic! Thanks for sharing your insight, and thanks for watching!
Great video Ben. I first saw these Ibanez guitars in the mid 80s when they started showing up everywhere! Everyone from the Doobies to LRB to jazz players had these axes. Great to hear you play it.
Thanks Orson, yes everyone played them! Such great guitars!
Ben, Really dig that guitar! It’s a good one for you and your style of playing. There’s something about those older Ibanez guitars, they have soul
Thanks so much for checking it out, Nick! I agree with you 100% about the older Ibanez guitars! 😀
Bought a AS2000 (new Prestige version of AS200) in 2021 - it’s absolutely amazing live and in the studio 😎
I bet it's great!
I have a beautiful AM200 which I really love. Sounds great and plays wonderful.
Fantastic guitar!
@@beneunson Thanks, would love to hear it when you played it. Your playing and tone is awesome.
Excellent video Ben. I remember seeing a video of you years ago with this guitar, I think it was live in Brooklyn with Sean Wayland and Nate Wood. I've always been curious about it, and it's great to hear some more!
Thanks Andreas, yes I remember that gig well! Back in 2014 at Freddy's
I feel that way about by AM 50. If I had to sum it up in a word: quality. Everything is done well with great attention to detail. And such a range of tones...
The smaller body AM guitars are favorites of mine too! Incredible attention to detail, and great tones! 😀
Ben, Ive got a '73/'74 set neck Ibanez Les Paul(since 1979), an 80s RG440, and a 70s Ibanez Strat that I had refurbished. Yes, Ibanez are good guitars( if thin necks).
Absolutely! Love the slim neck!
You are a fantastic musician!
Thank you so much!
Hello I have two as120 from Ibanez , they are great guitars as well
Thank you for this video and advises
Brgds from belgium
Yes! The AS120 is great! Thank you so much for watching
I had an 82 cherry AS-50. I liked it, but ended up selling it (for 2x) because I could never quite jive with it. It was definitely a cool guitar tho.
Your playing makes me want to go out and buy one!
Thanks so much for listening!
Great playing Ben! Ibanez did also innovate and have always been high quality and reasonably priced!
Thanks so much for watching, John! And yes, you're right!
gosh i love this! you always blow me aways bro!
thank you so much Urs! I really appreciate you checking it out!!
Great guitar. I have two; one cherry and one sunburst. Yours does not have the original pickups though. You can see that the pickup rings are three hole and yours has a hole drilled into them to accommodate the 2-screw pickups in yours.
My first "good" guitar. Sold it a long time ago, along with 2 other inexpensive Ibanez's, and got my Gibson LP Custom (post-Norlin, when the quality had picked up but the prices hadn't...). Recently acquired a 339, not least because it reminded me of my AS-50. I think if the AS-50 had had the Super-58's I might've kept it. At the time I craved that PAF sound...
Thanks for sharing! Yes, the 339 body and overall feel is definitely reminiscent of the AS-50! Very similar, plus I can understand about the PAF sound
Merci pour vos vidéo, j ai tellement aimé votre vidéo sur l ibanez AM 153 QA , que j'ai décidé de choisir le modèle en dessous , La AM 93 QM , qui rentre dans mon budget , pourtant au départ je voulais la AS93 , mais peur qu elle soit trop grande .
So glad you picked up an AM93! It's a fantastic guitar, I hope you are enjoying it! 😀
@@beneunson merci , et continuez à nous faire de bonne et belle vidéo
@@beneunson la AM93 a bien la taille d un corp de Gibson 339 ?
I owned two Ibanez AS-200’s.
Both were great. I sold them; the last one was sold because it needed fretwork. 40 years is a long time for a guitar. Buy something new!
Wow
thanks for watching!
Very good Congratulations! your work is amazing. If you can watch my work I will be honored.
Early 80's Ibanez guitars are amazing, best Les Paul I ever played wasn't Gibson lol
😂 Haha I'm sure!
Hi! where can I find the backing track of the intro? sounds like fun to practice over changes on it
Thanks so much for watching, I don't have one available right now, but perhaps I will make it available? 🤔
@@beneunson That would be amazing! Not pressuring though
Why. Did. I. Sell. My. 1981 AS-50. For. A PRS . Ten. Years. Ago. 🤦♂