ART100 Review

ART100 features include a set-in mahogany neck, a mahogany body, tight-and-trebly Ibanez ACH humbuckers and chrome hardware.

Features:	9
Sound:	9
Action:	9.3
Reliability:	9.7
Impression:	9.7
Overall rating:	9.3
Users rating:	7.9
Comments:	28

overall: 9.6

Featured review by: hhr, on october 05, 2007

Price paid: $ 299.99

Purchased from: Musician's Friend

Features: Not sure of what year/where this model was made, but I bought it last week and I am the first owner. I set out to buy a decently-priced single cutaway guitar and this one fit the bill. It has 22 medium frets, with a tribal-like inlay at the 12th fret. The body is made out of mahogany and the fingerboard is made from rosewood. The bridge is a fixed Gibraltar III. The pickups are nothing to shout about, but sound very nice and versatile for a $300 guitar. // 9

Sound: I play mainly rock music and this guitar is perfect for both clean and dirty sounds. The 3-way toggle Switch lets you choose the pickup configuration that fits the style you are looking for, making this guitar rather versatile in the sound department. Right now I am using this guitar through a MG100HDFX. // 9

Action, Fit & Finish: My guitar was set up perfect when I played it at the store. The action was just right and needed no adjustment what'soever. Ibanez makes this guitar in two colors: black and silver. I chose the silver one because I have too many black guitars as it is. I really liked the inlay at the 12th fret, as well as the absence of dot inlays on the fretboard. It gives the guitar a very simple, clean look. There were no flaws in any aspect. The knobs are all static-free, the finish is perfect, and the toggle Switch is noise-free. // 10

Reliability & Durability: I would say this guitar is very reliable. I've owned Ibanez guitars in the past and have never had any problems with them. The hardware all seems very solid for a guitar in this price range. I installed a strap lock system on my guitar, but the strap buttons are solid from the factory. The finish is perfect (the black finish looks good too) and I would definitely use this guitar on a gig without a backup. // 10

Impression: Like I said above, I play rock music and this guitar is a perfect fit. I've been playing guitar for 2 years and have owned Ibanez basses in the past. It it were stolen, I would definitely buy another. I wanted a single cutaway guitar without breaking the bank. I looked at Agile Les Paul knockoffs on the web, and played an Epiphone Les Paul before buying this model. For the price, you cannot beat this single cutaway. The only thing I wish this guitar had was more finish options. Although the silver and black both look great. // 10

Reviewed by: unregistered, on november 24, 2008

Price paid: $ 299

Purchased from: Local music center

Features: Made in China, set neck in a nice mahogany body, silver in color. 3 way Switch, volume neck and bridge and tone dials, dual humbuckers. Overall I would give this a 9 as I intentionally bought this guitar for it's simplicity and looks. it's very clean and practical. // 9

Sound: Mostly play classic rock and B-movie show tunes. Using a Line Spider3 15w practice amp in the front room primarily. As for the sound, this is why I bought this particular guitar in the first place! it's all about the sound. I was absolutely blown away by it's rich tone. The neck humbucker carries a nice melodious sound while the bridge is more sharp. If you play heavy metal, this guitar can do that as well. // 10

Action, Fit & Finish: Set up was very good, just a little fine tuning needed. The pickups were good to go, while not the hottest thing I've played, for a $299 Brand New guitar, they're pretty damned good. Overall the fit and finish are excellent. I picked this guitar up thinking it was a much more expensive model, I was shocked at the finish and sound. Comes straight outta the box with D'addario strings. // 10

Reliability & Durability: I've only had it for a 3 months, but I have not discovered any serious gripes as of yet. The one area that could use a little more through would be the glass knobs, they're a little rough and not very smooth during the turn through. Due to the simplicity of the design I would not think there is much to go wrong. Reliability & durability would seem excellent. // 10

Impression: This guitar is very versatile. I'm more of a classic rock guy, but my buddy is an absolute shred monster, and he was suitably impressed with this guitar as well. As stated above, I initially thought this to be a much more expensive piece. I remember it like yesterday, a long time ago, there it was up on the wall about 10 ft up when I asked to see it. I was told, "dude, you're gonna love this thing." After a short 20 min work through, I said, "I'll take it, how much?" I was absolutely floored at the price. I was initially looking for something more rich than than my MIM Fender. I would highly recommend any one looking at an higher end Epi LP or lower end Gibson LP to take a look at this model. You will not be disapointed. // 10

overall: 8.6

Reviewed by: henkka_potku, on august 05, 2008

Price paid: € 350

Purchased from: Levytukku

Features: Ibanez ART120 black Les Paul with a mahogany body, maple top, set in mahogany "ART" neck, 22 medium frets, rosewood fretboard (and a tribal in the 12th), Gibraltar III bridge with quikchange III tailpiece, chrome hardware. Pickups: IBZ LZ1-N humbucker neck and IBZ LZ1-B humbucker bridge. There's a 3-way switch, 2 volume knobs and one tone knob. // 9

Sound: This guitar is great for a big variety of music styles. It suits for blues, rock, metal etc. and it fits them like it's made just for that style. I use it through Crate 15w amp and Line 6 PODXT and it has a rich sound. The guitar is great because it's not noisy at all. I can take it off my neck and get something to eat, and leave the volume to 10 and there comes absolutely no sound. This guitar has the sounds from blues to metal when you change the mics. // 8

Action, Fit & Finish: The guitar was set in the shop that you could jst plug and play. The bridge was pretty badly set because when bending 18th fret of the B string the sound fades. Besides that, it was pretty well adjusted. It can take damage since it has hit the wall for a couple times and it works just fine. // 8

Reliability & Durability: This is a pretty good guitar, but it is not a gig guitar. I find myself tuning the G-string awfully often when playing Live. The hardware is good, but the 3-way switch knob likes to fall of because it's broken. The strap buttons are solid. The black finish seems to be everlasting, because it has been used for a 1, 5 years and it looks like it just came from the factory. // 9

Impression: I play a lot of metal, and this guitar is good for playing stuff like In Flames which requires low tuning and a smooth sound of the les paul. It isn't good for playing stuff like Children Of Bodom because it has only 22 frets. I've been playing it for 1, 5 years and I use Line 6 PODXT and some random Crate 15w with it, and it feels fine. If this guitar got stolen, I would buy some else guitar, because I would like to have a change from Les Pauls. I love the way the guitar looks, sounds and plays. It is easy to play and tapping sounds really well in this guitar. I just don't like the fact that the G string gets too easily out of tune. It isn't all the time out of tune, but if you bend it really much it will drop. Overall a good practice guitar which still doesn't suit well for gigs. This is a great guitar for its price. // 9

Comments

[MetalGore]

It should have the EMG`s.

[USAPeavey]

The silver ones look sooo badass. I'm worried bout the quality though cause of the price and past experiences with my Ibanez...

[Jastul]

Is it just me or does anyone else think this is just a les paul gone metal? (I think the les paul is too bluesy and twangy to do real metal)

Anyway, great guitar, looks like ****ing WMD and sounds like a damn beast... like most ibanez

[lauren1]

How much does the guitar weigh?

[TheFreeBird]

$300? i can hit that

[qotsa1998]

With the right equipment a Les Paul can do Metal. they have a thick sound, but i dont see how a Les Paul would be twangy.

This does seem like a metal Les Paul. some EMGs would be awesome in it.

[blaze2thekings]

i disagree about the Agile copies. The 3000s are incredible if you drop in some new pickups. a les paul twangy? i doubt it

[jessejames1414]

Les Paul Twangy? No way! XD I think LPs Do Metal extremely well with a pickup change.

[Blademaster270]

Ya, les pauls are not twangy

[hhr]

I wrote this review...and I agree: this guitar does need a pickup swap.

[kfong03]

EMG's and floyd roses FTW!!!

[the.spine.surfs]

Another prime example of Ibanez making a competivly priced copy of something. Keep it up, mates.

[convictionless]

i was gonna get this guitar and its a full mahogany body and then i got a arx300 with a maple cap which seriously this guitar really needs it sounded too fuzzy and fat if you know what i mean

[forwhomthebells]

nice

[desolatehighway]

I just got this guitar a few days ago. Spurr of the moment type thing. I went to the guitar shop looking to pick up the Cort EVL series (Washburn has a better model, but for a HELL of alot more) But when I got there, Chris (the owner) said that I was a week late, and that someone already picked it up. So, randomly, I pick a guitar up (the Silver one) mainly because it was shiny. But when I plugged into a Marshal cab (with a marshall head), the sound I got was just beautifull. It had twice as much punch as the EVL, (and being that the EVL had EMG's, its saying something for Ibanez) I didnt want to put it down. All in all, great guitar. ~10~

[IAMREALLYCOOL]

What is the difference between the Art100 and the Art120?

[tpbethke]

the art120 has the loz hot humbuckers that you can find in the art 300 320 400 and 500 the 120 has the same available finishes as the 100's the 300's have the caiman finish the 320's have the grey maple finish the 400 have the koa finish and the 500 have the violin finish in the us we can only get the 100, 300 and 400 I just ordered a 300 in the caiman brown today but if the dollar was stronger I would have ordered the 320 or the 500 they are both incredible looking. From the 120 up I believe all hardware is the same. And doing some ebay research i have found that the weight is just under 7.5 lbs

[Eddie's'Waitor]

I have this guitar and it is awesome. For Metal it sounds better than my friend's Gibson Black Beauty, and that is saying something

[Twebbz]

Does it sound like a Les Paul or would it with a pickup replacement...maybe PAFs?

[brazen]

i wanna get the white art 100 off of musicians friend. looks sweet thanks for the review

[askingforit176]

i have a white art100 i bought yesterday

[GunLeatherGuy]

You can't just change the pickups....the lz s are active with 2 aa batteries. My emg's take a 9 volt...thus you would have to change everything in the guitar.

I would put them up against 81/85's in most tonal situations....most.

They are hotter than sd 59/jb, emg hz's, gfs and tie with my mother buckers for absolute low end balls and tight crunch.

I think they are great pups and the art 300 is about as nice as you'll find at twice the price! LOOK INTO IT!!!!!

[axeslinginghero]

I have a white art100.. it plays metal wickedly without emg's... and no buddy lespauls are not twangy unless your on acid or somethin...but its totally the metal lp

[gofaster1000]

i have a black art100 with a seymour duncan dimebucker in the bridge. Its lethal. My buddy likes my guitar better than his $900 Schecter Hellraiser with EMGs so much, he decided to ditch the emgs and get a dimebucker, but since its active, he had to get Blackouts. anyway, after his swap, HE STILL WANTS MY GUITAR! pure metal, awesome bite, sweet harmonics.

[slomojoe]

Great guitar for $300, a good friend of mine bought one and i liked everything about it (for the price) except (and for me it is a big thing) there is a plastic black and white strip at both the top and bottom of the neck (along the low and high e strings) that makes taping and pulling off on high e a little messy as it wasn't totally smooth on the art100 i played and i found the string would catch or buzz a little on the plastic edges, good guitar for beginners but if this major flaw was not overlooked it would play better than some guitars worth over $1000.

[guitarman120]

i've seen a finish with this cherry color

[GuitarDude698]

I can't decide on what colour i should get

[Spendegraph]

the transparent cherry or white?they both are awsome!