New B'Day Guitar!!!

[NTBluesGuitar]

Well, the birthday was last Thursday (34th) and I got the guitar a week prior to that, but I wanted to make sure I put some time in on it before I posted about it.



Ibanez AF75 in Trans Blue! Serial number looks like it's a 2006. The best part? Scored it on fleaBay for less than $200 ($199 to be exact)!

I probably wouldn't have chosen blue for this if I were buying it new, but in the end, for the price, it doesn't matter. The color has grown on me though. So now I can play blues, right?

Let me say that this guitar feels superb...I had been playing Artcores regularly at the local GC and knew that the AF75 was the one for me. It just fits me perfectly when on my lap or on my shoulder. The previous owner played some energetic music, as there are pick and belt-buckle scratches on it, but nothing that shows in the phtots and can probably be buffed or polished out pretty easily.

The strings were pretty bad and a bit light for me, but nothing a new set wouldn't fix. Threw on my favorite D'Addario .11s (round wounds) and it's like new. Speaking of strings, it's amazing how much more flexible the same gauge strings are on this type of guitar compared to a Strat.

And here are some more shots (I'm no Photoweborama):







This guitar is pretty touch sensitive in and of itself, and when paired with my favorite amp, its amazing how many sounds I can get with my hands alone. I'm still getting used to it, but this thing is so diverse in what it can do with the knobs and pickup combinations. A lot of complex and rich sounds to be had.

And for those who may be thinking that my favorite amp is just another HRDlx, here's a view showing the controls:





I love this thing!

[Mesotech]

Great looking guitar, and a nice score at that price. I like the blue finish.

Happy Birthday too!

[Kap'n]

Those things are a great deal new. Awesome value at the price you snagged it at!

Enjoy.

Of course, once you realize you dig it, there is a Gretsch or Gibson in your future.....

[elicross]

Nice! Sounds like you got a good deal, too. HBD!

[NTBluesGuitar]

Of course, once you realize you dig it, there is a Gretsch or Gibson in your future.....

That's what I'm afraid of....

[stratcat55]

Nt Happy Birthday! Great score. I know you were asking about the AS73. I have a 73 and have been looking at a AF75. Kap'n's right, there is a Gretsch or Gibby in your future if you like the thing. After 40+ years of playing nothing but solid body electrics, I've got the bug. You already have THE amp to get you going. Good luck with it and have fun.

[NTBluesGuitar]

Thanks, Stratcat!

One thing about the AF75 is that it's full hollow. The AS73 is semi-hollow. The AF75 is maple top, sides, and back, too.

I guess if Ibanez is good enough for my heroes, it's good enough for me, right?



We'll see about the Gibby or Gretsch...

[LoveBandit]

I like the blue, it's purrrrrdy. Makes me want a hollow body. LB

[redcoats1976]

nice guitar,and happy birthday.im turning the big 5-0 next sunday...cant wait to get my AARP card LOL

[pc]

Very nice, NT. Let's hear it! (Esp. through that wolf-in-sheeps-clothing amp!!!!)

[NTBluesGuitar]

Sure thing, pc!

I'll try to grab some quick clips soon.

[JAM]

Cool looking guitar, NT. Everyone should own at least one archtop.

Happy B'day too!

[Plugger]

that wolf-in-sheeps-clothing amp!!!!)

The problem with putting a Porsche engine in a Yugo body, is that while it may perform like a Porsche, it still _looks_ like a Yugo.

If nothing else, it significantly increases the danger of your amp being advertently dynamited or tied to train tracks by a TFF moderator.

-Mark

[dubya]

Nice!

[Guitar_Mc]

Nice Guitar NT.

Plugger, you might want to check into some therapy.

[Plugger]

Plugger, you might want to check into some therapy.

Don't worry, I get that comment from members of the Yugo Owners Club all the time.

They actually resent the fact I'm always comparing their cars to the HRDx, apparently...

-Mark

[Kap'n]

man, I suck at photoshop...

[NTBluesGuitar]

[Dave C]

wow..awsome looking guitar!!!!way to go brother.....good lookinamp too....lol....rock on.....

[Kap'n]

That was supposed to be tolex. Instead it comes out looking like a cheap faux-granite countertop

And if I was really smart, there'd be grillecloth on the grille.

[NTBluesGuitar]

...and tubes for headlights, and amp handles for door handles...

[ziess]

Very cool.

You know what you need now? That's right, a Bigsby.

Happy Birthday too,
Tommy.

[NTBluesGuitar]

CLIPS! Well, just some noodling, really; amp is around 6 or 7 for volume, treble around 6, bass around 3, presence at 7, and in fixed bias (set just above 68% max dissipation on Winged C 6L6s) throughout.

Neck pickup, clean. Guitar on 5 or 6:
Clip 1

Neck pickup, a little grit. Guitar turned up higher:
Clip 2

Neck and Bridge pickup. Guitar around 7 or 8:
Clip 3

Bridge pickup with GarageBand Reverb. Clean.
Clip 4

Bridge then Bridge/Neck with GarageBand Reverb. A bit of dirt, too. Good demo of feedback since I was sitting next to the amp.
Clip 5

[pc]

Sounds nice NT. Loved the breakup on that last clip, and was also really impressed with the bridge pickup clean. The neck pickup rolled back is as jazzy as one could want.

My main band (Sharp Circle) just got hired to do a four-hour holiday party thing for 12/1 and our first set is supposed to be all instrumental, straight-ahead jazz. Your clips made me almost go to MF and order one.

But the LP will do fine for an hour of jazz. Dang it.

[NTBluesGuitar]

The neck pickup rolled back is as jazzy as one could want.

Oh, I forgot to mention, in all the clips, I was playing in the Bright Channel. I should try and get some neck pickup clips from the Normal Channel.

[Jonnda]

About half way through clip two you hammer on a chord that triggered a memory of a classic rock song, but it's driving me crazy because I can't place the tune. I thought it was doobie brothers "listen to the music" which is sorta similar, but to fast and it has the wrong tone.

Somthing you played just nailed the tone of a particualar song and I can't remember what it is..... ARGH!

Oh and congrats on the new ax. I have an As73 in the same color. Nice guitar it is.

[mark jacobs]

Nice rig!! Congrats and happy birthday.

[NTBluesGuitar]

About half way through clip two you hammer on a chord that triggered a memory of a classic rock song, but it's driving me crazy because I can't place the tune. I thought it was doobie brothers "listen to the music" which is sorta similar, but to fast and it has the wrong tone.

Somthing you played just nailed the tone of a particualar song and I can't remember what it is..... ARGH!

It's a Minor 7 chord that's the basis for The Doobie Brothers Long Train Runnin' Of course, I purposely didn't play THAT riff for the sake of safe clips for posting.

It pops up in a couple of other clips, too. My drummer pal and I like jammin' with that tune in his garage.

Good ear.

[elicross]

One of the first "real" songs I learned! I think the very first was China Grove. The Doobies taught me a lot about rhythm guitar.

[Jonnda]

It's a Minor 7 chord that's the basis for The Doobie Brothers Long Train Runnin' Of course, I purposely didn't play THAT riff for the sake of safe clips for posting.

It pops up in a couple of other clips, too. My drummer pal and I like jammin' with that tune in his garage.

Good ear.

Yeah! That's it!

Man, nothing worse then having the idea of a song you can't quite place, stuck in your head. I'd rather have the actual song running through my head then fragments of it.

Thanks for the help, and I want to encourage you to play THAT riff on THAT guitar though that amp in public the next time you need to perform "Long Train Running". It's so spot on I got it in one chord.

[NTBluesGuitar]

Heh...that's one riff that is instantaneously recognized on just about any guitar! I love that tune.

[Jonnda]

Heh...that's one riff that is instantaneously recognized on just about any guitar! I love that tune.

Ah i guess your right. It was just how my memory worked i guess. I've listened to it again and there is allot of acoustic guitar, and hollow body electrics originally were meant to be acoustic instruments electrically amplified... and to me they can sound almost acoustic sometimes.

Yeah it's a great song!

So is Fishermen's Blues by the Waterboys, I've been listening to that allot lately.

Have a happy thanksgiving!

[Kap'n]

So is Fishermen's Blues by the Waterboys, I've been listening to that allot lately.

Love that one. We're picking that one up as we speak.

[NeoFauve]

So is Fishermen's Blues by the Waterboys, I've been listening to that allot lately.

Great song, from a great album.