AR300 Review

The Ibanez AR300 features a mahogany body with a flamed maple top, 3 pc. maple neck, set in neck, bound rosewood fingerboard, artist block inlays, and chrome hardware.

Features:	10
Sound:	9.3
Action:	10
Reliability:	9.3
Impression:	9.7
Overall rating:	9.7
Users rating:	7.1
Comments:	16

overall: 9.8

Featured review by: Xeus, on january 04, 2006

Price paid: $ 915

Purchased from: Foulds Music Centre

Features: Made in 2005 in Korea. 22 jumbo mahogony frets with a slim '60s style Les Paul neck with a through body neck joint. Gibson style quilted cherry sun burst. Double cutaway with a Tune-O-Matic style bridge. Two humbuckers with 2 volume and 2 tone knobs. Grover tuners. Free gig bag. It's basically the same as Gibson Les Paul but with easier upperfret access. So that scores highly with me. // 10

Sound: I mainly play rock, punk, blues and metal but I also play latino and jazz stuff and this guitar suits them all since I can use the control knobs to shape the sound to what I want. I use it with a Marshall MG100DFX through a Vox Wah pedal and a Boss ME-50 multi-effects unit which are highly versatile. It's very full and warm sounding. However I would invest in installing a coil tap so I can get those bright single coil notes. Otherwise it's great. // 9

Action, Fit & Finish: Action was a bit high but I adjusted it as well as the intonation. The pickups were a too low for more liking so I raised them. Other than that everything was great. With a few adjustments it played like a dream. // 10

Reliability & Durability: This guitar feels as solid as a tank I don't believe it will ever let me down in a live gig situation. // 10

Impression: I've been playing the guitar for nearly 10 years and this easily the most comfortable guitar I've ever played, and I've played alot. I love the versatility of the sound and the finish on it is beautiful but the real crowning gem is the neck joint which allows for remarkable upper fret access. If it were stolen or lost I would never ever let that happen. I'm a Gibson man at heart but this guitar plays so much better than any I've tried. For the price of £500 it's a bargain anyway. I love this guitar. // 10

Reviewed by: unregistered, on july 17, 2006

Purchased from: Mom's Music in Jeffersonville, IN

Features: My AR300 is a 2005 model. It has 22 frets and an almost PRS style neck. It is set very well and has a very good action. The inlays are gorgeous and the rosewood fretboard is smooth as silk. The mahogany body is a little heavy, but gives an awesome sound. It has a flamed maple top in a brown-burst finish. I really love the double cut les paul style body. The bridge is an Ibanez Tune-O-Matic bridge with an Ibanez quick load stop-bar. The dual Ibanez humbuckers sound pretty dang good for the price. The dual volume and tone controls and 3-way switch further the amazing sound of this guitar. And the beautiful pearloid Ibanez tuners will keep it in tune for weeks! I didn't recieve any accessories with it though. // 10

Sound: The sound of this guitar is great. It isn't as deep as a les paul, still has good bass response. The only problem that I have with the pickups is that they don't ring long enough. However this guitar can make any kind of sound, from almost acoustic to the most distorted metal sounds ever. The only way this guitar would sound better is with some different pickups and a better amp (not a Vox AVT 15). // 9

Action, Fit & Finish: It was set up perfectly from the factory! // 10

Reliability & Durability: This is the only place where this guitar lacks any real quality. The upper strap button started coming loose the first few times I played it standing up. It can be easily fixed with a longer screw. The input jack came a little loose with frequent use too. // 8

Impression: With only the few quirks, this guitar is the best buy out there! It far exceeds guitars 3 times the price. Everybody Who played it at the store agreed too. The guitar tech there almost cried when I bought it because the loved it so much. This guitar kicks major ass! // 9

Reviewed by: unregistered, on august 24, 2009

Price paid: $ 249.00

Purchased from: Guitar Center

Features: I just received my Ibanez AR 300 today. I was looking for a double cutaway lp but didn't like the colors or prices of the used ones I came across. I just was surfing and amazingly, this one had just arrived a GC in Indiana. I immediately researched the AR 300 and couldn't beleive what I read about how amazing this guitar was rated.

I "stole" it for $249 with the hard Ibanez case and strap. Not a scratch on it, and the plastic coating is still on the back cover plates..As soon as I tuned it and plugged it into my Carvin Belair tube amp, I fell in love..I am 56 and started playing at 11. I've had at least a hundred guitars in my life, including Les Pauls, SG's Samicks, Fender Strats, Teles, Martins, Takamines, etc. etc...I am simply blown away by this guitar..I kept trying to find something wrong with it, but it just got better as I changed the tone and pickup settings. Mine doesn't have the 58 specials, but Dimarzios and I like them even though I am more of a Seymour Duncan guy..They have a very good range and I am a blues, classic rock, type player and they run the course of tones for these styles..

I have been playing it for the last five hours.. I just got rid of a Samick Greg Bennett SG flame top with duncan designed pickups. It was a very good guitar too, but this one is miles above it in every way..I can't beleive I've spent over $6000 through the years on Gibsons..they never played as good or even felt as good as this AR 300 does. The neck is smooth and the action is already set up great. I can stretch and sustain all day long all the way up the neck..what a great deal on a sweet guitar. The finish is beautiful, the inlays awesome and the tuners have stayed in tune so far..love the pearloid tips on them..I always liked the double cut design, SG's and LP's..and of course Carlos Santana's various guitars over the years. I had a PRS SE last year and this one blows it away.. sorry Paul..

I don't care if you spend twice as much as I did, it will still be worth every penny. This one is definitely a keeper, will be in my arsenal for a long, long time.. // 10

Sound: It is great for classic rock ZZ Top, Clapton, Zepplin, Allman Bros, Skynyrd, Santana, Doors... I don't use any pedals, straight tube amp. Carvin Belair 2X12 clean and distortion, reverb.

The distortion has an incredible range, from super crunch to power growl and sustain. The clean side gives me a Creedence tone and sweetness, Tom Petty like too. I can squeak like Billy Gibbons or crunch like him too. LP tone boosted about ten notches. that's with the dimarzios though.

The neck pickup is a little bright but the bridge really has a good range and both sound very full and sustain very good. // 10

Action, Fit & Finish: i don't know who set it up but it is near perfect, the pickups are adjusted correctly, maybe just a hair lower in the neck one.

The finish is excellent, although the bookmatch isn't exact, it still looks great. All the hardware is top quality for an import as is on most Ibanez's I've played. They really did a good job on detail, you can't even see the neck joint and the laquer is mirror deep, smooth as silk and only a very, very light belt mark on the back. I haven't checked the pots yet, but they are smooth and the switch is noiseless and solid, and according to the wiring diagram I found online it is an enclosed box Switch which I will probably change to an open ball end LP type someday. // 10

Reliability & Durability: IYes, It is definitely a workhorse and probably will stay the same for years. The hardware is very good quality for an import. The strap buttons are locking ones. I will probably use this one as much as my two fenders to alter tones for different styles. The finish is excellent, deep laquer, perfectly smooth inlays, straight and even frets are rounded at the edges and not too wide, the fretboard is smooth and slightly arched for a really good feel. // 10

Impression: Classic Rock Rockabilly, blues, oldies.. I've been playing for over 40 years. If somebody stole this guitar I'd offer a generous reward and go find another one as close to it as possible..

I love the neck, the tone and the sunburst and laquer finish, flame top. Compared to all of my guitars, including my special edition flame top Strat with texas specials, my 62 reissue Telecaster Custom with humbucker at the neck and texas special bridge pickup, which are my main guitars, I would definitely say this one will be used as much or more than these. I always keep an HH style guitar on hand, just sold a Peavey Generation EXP, didn't like the satin neck or the piezo bridge pickups that much, and before that the Samick SG flametop Greg Bennett which had similar features and was lighter, but the hardware and pots were cheaper imported ones had the pots changed to cts and the switch to a Gibson before I sold it and the neck joint was actually starting to get a crack in the paint, my guitar tech said SG styles had this problem due to the closeness of the neck pickup and short neck insert.

I can't think of anything that would improve this guitar. I'd like to try different pickups, maybe duncans but for now the dimarzios sound good enough. // 10

Comments

[hywelgreg]

I have been playing for 2 years now and it is easily 1 of the best i have played. I also raised the pick ups but apart from that it is a dream easily one of my favourite guitars and i only paided £400 for it so its a bargain.

[Xeus]

hywelgreg wrote:

I have been playing for 2 years now and it is easily 1 of the best i have played. I also raised the pick ups but apart from that it is a dream easily one of my favourite guitars and i only paided £400 for it so its a bargain.

wow, good one mate

[Nedir Kire]

I have 4 guitars, 2 of which are Ibanez. Ibanez, when put together with the right amp, will sound awesome.

Listen to: Staind, The Autumn Offering, S.O.A.D. (Toxicity), to name a few.

This guiatr sounds like it'd be great; I'd buy it.

[m0$H]

thats horible

[anguswalk14]

i have an ar300 and i can say that it is no doubt worth buying, it has an awsome sound and is good for playing all sourts of music

[Pr0az]

I like Ibanez, but i dont care for this guitar much, just from its appearance.

[hepzibahbaptist]

sounds like a good guitar
i usually can count on ibanez

[ohmerrymayhem]

Get an SZ, they're better quality and playability.

[Gorilla Fingers]

Awesome axe, great tone and the cut-away design is great for playing fast songs up the fret board

[Edde]

Pr0az :
I like Ibanez, but i dont care for this guitar much, just from its appearance.

Nice one, you just reinforced the old saying: "Don't judge a book by its cover"

I have one, they are very easy to play, have a great tone and sustain very well too. Please dont judge a guitar on its looks, i didnt really like the design but the sound and playability of it is too good to pass up.

[Shredmaster42]

I think there is one called an AR200 thats a flat black and has cream colored body binding and it just looks freakin sweet. $639.99 CAN. Hellyeah.

[Blompcube]

Hows the quality control for these guitars? i've played one of these in a store and i love it, but £500 is too much of a stretch, and i've seen it on GAK for £350. Would it be a good idea to buy from GAK?

[chyst]

Hi i have a question, what do you mean with "I also raised the pick ups.." my english is not very good and I just started to play guitar and want to buy a good one. How i can raise the pick ups, and what is that?
plz help

[fordman30]

I just bought one on E-bay with Gibson 490,500 PU's and Sperzels. I have played several LP's and This by far sounds better than any of them, The intonation is perfect and It's way more comfortable to play. I truly believe this is the best guitar you can buy for under $1,000.00. I got mine from online auction for $240.00 w/ $60.00 shipping. Bargain of the century. Pickup's and sperzels alone are worth more than that.

[OtherGuy]

this looks great and the review sold it for me, i have a little ibanez gio, and this seems like a few steps up from that

[guidothepimmp]

i have had this guitar for about 5 years... the quality is excellent on it and it is easily the fattest bluesiest tone machine in my arsenal. Great guitar.