Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Artcore Club
- Thread starter elroyjetsn
- Start date
Saw this posted on another thread and thought it was applicable here, especially if anyone was looking to get their newer AGB200 to look like an older one.
Repro Guitar Parts
Repro Guitar Parts
Last edited:
Prospective AGB200 owner here. I have been learning bass recently. Have a G2220 (heavily modified) and a Sire U5. Looking for a semi-hollow to add to the collection since I have been playing a little with acoustic guitar and mandolin beginners. The solid basses seem out of place, and the Kala UBass, while sonically right, just seems a bit toyish. So here I am. thinking that a semi-hollow with flats might be a really good choice to play in groups like this.
Definitely short scale. Decades of hockey, baseball, and foundry work make a 34" too uncomfortable.
I love the symmetric double cut shape of the Starfires (or drool over a Drake Betty someday)
Thought about a viola bass, but just seems inadequate. So passing on that.
Would really like 2 pickups for some onboard sonic variation. So no Starfire I.
Thinking that $600ish is a good price target (but not hard requirement)
I really don't care for red, cherry, wine, or that family of colors.
It seems like the AGB200 would fit most of this bill. I think that flat black is pretty sharp. But the right natural could be nice as well.
It seems like the strap button on the neck heel is not an issue for folks? Boy, the one violin I played it was a really PITA. Does any particular strap design work better/worse for this heel button?
Seems like there could be plenty of string options since LS strings seem to work? I would certainly put flats on this, both for comfort and I think the right tonal quality.
Anyone think I am barking up the wrong tree? If not, I might be looking for a member number soon. Thanks in advance for any thoughts you experienced Artcorers would be willing to share.
Definitely short scale. Decades of hockey, baseball, and foundry work make a 34" too uncomfortable.
I love the symmetric double cut shape of the Starfires (or drool over a Drake Betty someday)
Thought about a viola bass, but just seems inadequate. So passing on that.
Would really like 2 pickups for some onboard sonic variation. So no Starfire I.
Thinking that $600ish is a good price target (but not hard requirement)
I really don't care for red, cherry, wine, or that family of colors.
It seems like the AGB200 would fit most of this bill. I think that flat black is pretty sharp. But the right natural could be nice as well.
It seems like the strap button on the neck heel is not an issue for folks? Boy, the one violin I played it was a really PITA. Does any particular strap design work better/worse for this heel button?
Seems like there could be plenty of string options since LS strings seem to work? I would certainly put flats on this, both for comfort and I think the right tonal quality.
Anyone think I am barking up the wrong tree? If not, I might be looking for a member number soon. Thanks in advance for any thoughts you experienced Artcorers would be willing to share.
Hey HoHum- no, it's the right tree.I don't think you'll get any dissenting votes in this thread..
AGB200s have a nice sound with flats. Roll off your tone a bit and the sound will work nicely for that little ensemble. I tend to lean to the neck pickup for a bassier, less bass guitarish sound.IMO, the natural finish one would probably fit in better with this ensemble, but if you like the flat black, go for it.
Thanks MV.Hey HoHum- no, it's the right tree.I don't think you'll get any dissenting votes in this thread..
IMO, the natural finish one would probably fit in better with this ensemble, but if you like the flat black, go for it.
I forgot to ask. gig bag? hard case? I have gig bags for my solid bodies. What is best for semi-hollows?
Have you looked at the AFB200? Hollow body rather than semi-hollow.
I love my "higher end" gig bags for their combination of storage space, protection, and relatively light weight. But for my AGB-205, I bought the matching hard case, thinking that it would protect a theoretically more fragile semi hollow bass. It was tough to find one, though.
We've talked about cases some in this thread. The Ibanez AGB-100C case is very nice, I have one. It is currently backordered at Sweetwater and several other online retailers, but they are out there. The AGB200 fits in the gig bags I have, including a Mono Classic. It might not fit in all gig bags, as the body is a bit deeper than a solid body bass. I don't think of my AGBs as particularly fragile, like an acoustic electric bass, or the AFB200, but I still wouldn't want mine to get a good sized knock in a gig bag.
B-Mac will weigh in on this, I'd bet.
I'm with John Stephen who posted that you might consider the AFB200. I have one, and it has a bigger, more woody sound than the AGB200s. It's also a lot deeper body and will not fit in any standard bass gig bag. You have to get the AFB100C hard case for it, which are also hard to find but are out there. I posted about that earlier this thread.
B-Mac will weigh in on this, I'd bet.
I'm with John Stephen who posted that you might consider the AFB200. I have one, and it has a bigger, more woody sound than the AGB200s. It's also a lot deeper body and will not fit in any standard bass gig bag. You have to get the AFB100C hard case for it, which are also hard to find but are out there. I posted about that earlier this thread.
I did look at the fully hollow. I have heard issues with feedback and the hollows. Not a deal breaker, but perhaps when my skills are much better I could reconsider.
I also tried a different fully hollow at a guitar store in NYC when I was there on vacation, and the body thickness was not very comfortable for me. I think the thinner semi-hollows sit better with me.
I’ve got the full hollow AFB and have not dealt with feedback so far. The AFB does not feel small - rather it feels like an acoustic guitar. It also takes longer strings so more choices.
but to be honest… if you’re looking for what that G2220 should have been then yeah snag the AGB200.
personally I’d do hard case for hollow or semi hollow simply because the damage can be a lot more catastrophic. Least in my mind. Research the case before buying as not all fit correctly. Lots of info on this thread
Yes, the AFB200 is deeper body and may be uncomfortable if you don't like playing an ABG, because the AFB200 is as deep as a normal acoustic bass.
The cases for the AFB200 and AGB200 are not interchangeable and neither is the case for the ASB180. I have my AFB200, AGB200 and AGB205 all in the Ibanez HS case made for these basses. If you can wait for the back order it is worth the wait. However, Sweetwater is not the only show in town. Sometimes FULL COMPASS has plenty of these and sometimes they don't.
Just be careful when ordering as the HSC for the Guitar version has a similar model number.
Last edited:
Came across this gorgeous 1988 Ibanez AB200 Artstar Vintage Semi-Hollow Bass Wine Red.
Ibanez bass was crafted at the Terada factory in Japan during the first year of Artstar production.
Comprised of maple semi-hollow body construction, with a mahogany neck capped by a rosewood fretboard.
Just had to share it here. Too salty for my blood.
1988 Ibanez AB200 Artstar Vintage Semi-Hollow Bass Wine Red | Reverb
Not in any way, shape or form connected to the sale of this item.
Ibanez bass was crafted at the Terada factory in Japan during the first year of Artstar production.
Comprised of maple semi-hollow body construction, with a mahogany neck capped by a rosewood fretboard.
Just had to share it here. Too salty for my blood.
1988 Ibanez AB200 Artstar Vintage Semi-Hollow Bass Wine Red | Reverb
Not in any way, shape or form connected to the sale of this item.
NBD!!!
Ibanez AGB200
As I posted previously, I was looking at the AGB200, but got distracted by the Guild SF1 and the Hofner Verythin. I had decided that I was going to wait until the holidays when I would be in bigger cities where I had a chance to try some of these out.
But then today I stopped into Music-Go-Round to look for a couple other things, and there on the bass rack it was. A flat black AGB200 for 1/2 the new price. I had one of those movie moments, time slows, spotlight shines, dramatic background music (at least all in my head).
I played it for a bit. There is a little fret buzz on the E-string around the G and A frets. There was another customer there, with far better skills than me, looking at higher end basses. I asked him what he thought of this particular one. He liked it a lot. Said the action was very low which is likely the cause of the fret buzz. He said he would buy this one if he were looking for a semi-hollow. So I bought it (and a $20 gig bag to survive the trip home). WooHoo! Unexpected, but pretty exciting.
Pretty sharp looking. Not as light as a Hofner Verythin would be, but about the same as my G2220 solid-body.
Weight: 3.44kg (in useful units), 7lb 9.4 oz (in Imperial units)
Now time to get a set of flat wounds (I like the LaBella DTFs on my G2220. Likely go with that unless someone has other suggestions). And also take a look at some minor adjustments to get rid of some of the fret buzz.
There is also a bit of adjustment that might need to be made to the bridge pickup (bridge is to the right in the photo). You can see that there is a tilt to the surface. I will look at that when I do the string swap. Not sure if that makes much difference or not. There does not appear to be a huge difference in output between the two pickups as it sits currently.
Ibanez AGB200
As I posted previously, I was looking at the AGB200, but got distracted by the Guild SF1 and the Hofner Verythin. I had decided that I was going to wait until the holidays when I would be in bigger cities where I had a chance to try some of these out.
But then today I stopped into Music-Go-Round to look for a couple other things, and there on the bass rack it was. A flat black AGB200 for 1/2 the new price. I had one of those movie moments, time slows, spotlight shines, dramatic background music (at least all in my head).
I played it for a bit. There is a little fret buzz on the E-string around the G and A frets. There was another customer there, with far better skills than me, looking at higher end basses. I asked him what he thought of this particular one. He liked it a lot. Said the action was very low which is likely the cause of the fret buzz. He said he would buy this one if he were looking for a semi-hollow. So I bought it (and a $20 gig bag to survive the trip home). WooHoo! Unexpected, but pretty exciting.
Pretty sharp looking. Not as light as a Hofner Verythin would be, but about the same as my G2220 solid-body.
Weight: 3.44kg (in useful units), 7lb 9.4 oz (in Imperial units)
Now time to get a set of flat wounds (I like the LaBella DTFs on my G2220. Likely go with that unless someone has other suggestions). And also take a look at some minor adjustments to get rid of some of the fret buzz.
There is also a bit of adjustment that might need to be made to the bridge pickup (bridge is to the right in the photo). You can see that there is a tilt to the surface. I will look at that when I do the string swap. Not sure if that makes much difference or not. There does not appear to be a huge difference in output between the two pickups as it sits currently.
Sweet looking bass! And half of new price? Wow!!!! I bet someone bought it and then heard the buzz and didn’t know what to do.
A tweak of the truss rod or a slight raising of the saddle and it should be good to go! I think you may be the only one here that has the matte black AGB200.
Also, on the pup; if the output matches the other pup I wouldn’t worry about it. Remember that the body top is arched. If the angle of the pup interferes with your fingers when digging in then perhaps you should try to level it out with the strings by bringing the part of the pup closest to the bridge down a tad.
Very nice score!!!
Thanks for the advice.
Yeah, I was pretty surprised to see it hanging there. Didn't look like it had been played much at all. I'll take half-price for a low mileage model. I think the flat black with the cream binding is really sharp now that I have it back at the house. I raised the bridge just a bit to get to the Ibanez 2.5/2.0mm 12th fret spec called out in their online manuals. That seems to have helped but not totally eliminated the buzzing. Some of it could also be my ham-handed technique. I guess that is just an excuse to sit down and get used to the neck and body while playing.
Welcome!
That's a fine looking AGB200 in flat black!
@HoHumbucker
You have been issued member #32 in the Ibanez Artcore Bass Club
.
Just a few days left in November. How’s the wall hanging project working out?
