Gear: Ibanez Artcore AG75-BS

This was around the time when the Starcaster came out, and I have to admit I really wanted one. However my collection of guitars already started growing beyond the extent of justifiable, plus sadly it cost more than what I could afford with a good conscience.

My friend, Peter of EP Guitars was somewhat of a collector himself before he started making instruments, and at some point had to make the painful decision which I am incapable of to this day - selling some of his rarely used instruments.

As we have been close friends since childhood, we played together more and for longer than we have in any other formation, I knew all his instruments and also had the honour of trying out most of them. Hence I was rather puzzled when he told me he was going to sell his Ibanez guitar. “What Ibanez guitar?” - I asked. Turns out he did have one, and even more surprisingly he would have bought it around the time when we still lived in the same area and saw each other often. “It’s a jazz guitar, but would definitely suit rockabilly too” - he says. And then he sent me the above picture. Say no more my friend, if you are selling it, please let me have it. And thank God he did.

It’s one of those guitars that inspire you; almost as if it’s guiding your hands. Like a good midwife helping you bring magic to life with the greatest of ease, even when you are just jamming along.

Does it really suit rockabilly? Oh yes. I might write about my adventures on that front another day, but it can also do so much more. It is an exciting guitar. So much so, that I tried it in more styles, setups and arrangements than most of my other guitars. Yes, it’s probably not going to eat in the territory of the Jag, but it makes things sound exciting where you would expect a semi-acoustic to be simply not fit for purpose.

And just look at it. Isn’t it just..wow

Here is a good and thorough review of this guitar, and here’s what others have to say about it.