Artcore Full and Semi Acoustics Announced at NAMM

With prices of just $399.99 and $459.99, the new Ibanez Artcore full and semi-acoustic guitars should definitely rock. The accepted wisdom has always been that semi and full acoustic guitars are expensive if they are a brand name and a no-name if they were inexpensive. "But the new Artcore features the prices formerly associated with generics," said Bill Reim, Vice President of Ibanez marketing and advertising, "but with the Ibanez brand name" Reim added that Artcore guitars will be subject to the decades old Ibanez policy of 100% inspection and set-up no matter whether the guitar is less than $300.00 or more than $3000.00. "We're still the only company that does that."

While full and semi-acoustics are also often associated with older jazz players, the new guitars target the young rocker. "But we never forget jazzers," stated Reim. "The line also has full bodied models that are perfect for jazz students and players on a budget who would formerly have had to settle for a solid body in this price range to get anything decent. We are very excited to have something like this to offer players and we think our retailers will, too."

The Artcore includes eight different models in assorted finishes including standard full-acoustics, thin full acoustics, small full acoustics, standard semi-acoustics and a Talman-shaped single cutaway hollow body.

All Artcore guitars feature mahogany necks with rosewood fingerboards, 24 3/4" scale necks with 22 fets, all maple bodies with binding, two Artcore medium output pickups, two volume, two tone and one toggle switch, and f-holes with binding.

Specifications:

• Model - AFS75T
• List - 459.99
• Available Finish - TBL Transparent Blue, TBR Transparent Brown, TRD Transparent Red
• Body Material - Maple Top, Sides and Back
• Body Dimensions - 1 11/16" (43mm) at the tail
• Neck Material - Mahogany
• Neck Scale - 24 3/4" scale/set in
• No. Frets/Type - 22/Large
• Fingerboard - Bound Rosewood
• Inlay - Pearl Block
• Bridge - ART2 Roller Bridge w/VBF70 Vintage Vibrato
• H/W Color - Chrome
• Neck Pickup - ACH1 Humbucker
• Bridge Pickup - ACH2 Humbucker
• Controls - 2 volume, 2 tone, 1 toggle
• Case - AF100C
• Case List - $99.99

• Model - TM71T
• List - 459.99
• Available Finish - JBT Jewel Blue Top (with black back and sides)
• Body Material - Maple Top, Sides and Back
• Body Dimensions - 1 11/16" (43mm) at the tail
• Neck Material - Mahogany
• Neck Scale/Type - 24 3/4" scale/set in
• No. Frets/Type - 22/Large
• Fingerboard - Bound Rosewood
• Inlay - Pearl Dot
• Bridge - ART2 Roller Bridge w/VBX60 Vintage Vibrato
• H/W Color - Chrome
• Neck Pickup - ACH1 Humbucker
• Bridge Pickup - ACH2 Humbucker
• Controls - 2 volume, 2 tone, 1 toggle
• Case - AG100C
• Case - List $99.99