Artcores... yea or ney?

[jeng3000]

I got a line on an AK85 for $200 including case and upgraded P90 Kent Armstrong pickups. I've been told in the past to stay away from these guitars when there are better ones by Washburn or the older Ibanez Artstars. This Artcore AK85 is made in Korea. Not sure if that is good or bad. Blue Book says they were manufactured for only a year or two... 2004-2005.

Yes I've tried the Washburn J5 (or might have been a J6) and was very impressed. However, those guys are still up in the $550+ range.

What appeals to me about this guitar is that I see from photos that it's a bit thicker than the other thinline Artcores. I'm looking for something right between an ES-175 and and ES-135/137. Was thinking about getting an Epiphone ES-175 until a friend of mine told me he went crazy trying to find the right pickups for it.

Now $200 might be a deal, but to me if the guitar is junk then I'd rather not waste my time.

Any thoughts?

[mrblanche]

Check the Ibanez collectors web site forum. They can fill you in.

$200 sounds like a decent price, especially with the upgrades and case.



I did a quick search on "AK85," and they said a lot of nice things about it.