Ibanez AS 153 review

[@thatguitarguyBillyPezzack]

Thanks for all the nice comments posted here - If you did enjoy the guitar playing in the video & want to hear a few of my creations - check out this FREE ALBUM giveaway - www.patreon.com/posts/hipbop-10-tracks-115985104?Link&

[@alexolague5965]

I got one used a few weeks ago and absolutely love it! I've notice a lot of people didn't like the pickguard, but for a reason I really like it. Maybe it's just a matter of personal taste

[@thatguitarguyBillyPezzack]

Hi Alex - Funny you say this as the last comment (I deleted) before yours was a big blab about how 'puke the colour is' & how cold and lifeless 'the feel' was (past tense as he sold it apparently).So yeah opinion is really a bit up & down on this guitar. Should have left his rant on it here for people to debate really - but I just thought it was so negative. So many people blame the 'gear' they are using for things not sounding great - when it really is so much to do with the player. In terms of 'the feel' - Its just a case of what you are used to playing - coming from a wider nut / chunky feel acoustic / or double bass would make it feel sleek - & it could seem a bit of a leap to 'chunky land' jumping from a skinny necked strat or single stringed fuzz pole maybe. The pic guard is a bit puke though ha ha. Happy playing!

[@gasperdrev]

Love your phrasing. Great video!

[@08ruben69]

Nice demo and review! I've got the AS153B (black) myself. Love it!!

[@thatguitarguyBillyPezzack]

Thanks for posting - glad you enjoyed it

[@michaeloberly6129]

Been eyeing one of these. Really like your jazz playing, brother.

[@thatguitarguyBillyPezzack]

Definitely worth checking out this guitar if you are looking for a good quality 335 - Its certainly a great guitar for the price - & thanks for posting a nice comment Michael - Checkout my promo video @ kzbin.info/www/bejne/gJjIdJhqotOceJosi=EZT_oP_SiwbjNqCG

[@wildebassman]

I played one last month, nice stable neck too, fantastic fretwork. I will buy the one I tested some time this week.

[@charlie-obrien]

On an Ibanez the stamped "S" stands for Second, meaning some flaw (usually in the finish), or joining, or worse. It is a warning to dealers and wholesalers that the warranty will not be honored by the company. However, as in most things there will be a percentage that have flaws so small as to be undetectable. I own an Ibanez acoustic that has a very detectable flaw in the finish that was oversprayed, but it makes no difference to the sound or playability and not even so much to the look because it is a Koa wood guitar. I also have 2 other Ibanez, AG95 and an AS93, that are beautiful players and are immaculate in their finishing. When I compare those to any "second", I understand why Ibanez does it. They don't want shoddy work to be out there representing the company, when overall they have a sterling reputation for well made instruments. BTW, this was a great video and I loved your riffs. After I fell in love with Bossa Nova some years ago, Jazz and it's many iterations naturally followed and especially the fusion sound.

[@thatguitarguyBillyPezzack]

Thanks for posting & I'm glad you enjoyed watching the video Charlie - Funny with the amount of 'relic' ing' now going on with most companies- they really don't need the 'S' so much ! Link to my comments in the video on the 'S' @ kzbin.info/www/bejne/aaWqmZ6Ja6t5q6M

[@dowaliby1]

Beautiful guitar, great diverse playing, and award-winning guitar faces.

[@thatguitarguyBillyPezzack]

Thanks - Ive tried not pulling faces and it just gives me a headache ...and I sound like a computer. I also didn't really see much of an improvement in terms of the overall glamour of the presentation if I'm honest : ) ha

[@dowaliby1]

@@thatguitarguyBillyPezzack Thanks for your reply. I think you may be underestimating yourself. The faces are great - they reflect feeling and passion.

[@thatguitarguyBillyPezzack]

@@dowaliby1 Thanks : ) I'll ring for an estimate first thing in the morning ha ha!

[@kevina3780]

Sorry should have read the comments 1st. Thanks for the help with the pickguard from a new subscriber!

[@canyondanhandyman1784]

Was hoping you would talk/show about the "extra" toggle switch and what exactly it does/how it works. But Thanks!

[@thatguitarguyBillyPezzack]

Hi - There is a section at the end of the video that covers this - (this link will hit the exact play time) kzbin.info/www/bejne/aaWqmZ6Ja6t5q6M - 'Tri sound' toggle switch gives 3 positions - Humbucker / Single coil / Out of phase sound (the switch works only on the neck pickup) - I don't really use it much ... & leave it in Humbucker mode mostly.

[@davidshim9120]

I love your playing. You are good.

[@thatguitarguyBillyPezzack]

Thanks David - Can you please remove one of those 'o's from the word 'good' - Doesn't matter which one ha ha : )

[@elirumba]

Hו , Great Review and excellent play Actually I bought mine following your review One Question though I plane to play Jazz most of the time : It seems you went back and forth between .11 and .10 What does it involve beside set up? did you modified the nut or any thing else?

[@thatguitarguyBillyPezzack]

Thanks for posting - glad you enjoyed the video. No modification (nut filing etc) was needed to swap from 10's to 11's on this guitar. I have gone as high as gauge 13's , Flats for jazz playing but not with this guitar. Having guitars strung with different gauge strings is real justification to own a few extra guitars! ha ha - In my experience going up or down a gauge is usually fine with no filing - But filing the nut (because of heaver strings not dropping into the nut slots well) & truss rod adjustment will be needed for the extra tension put on the neck at pitch - if jumping up a few string gauges - or if going down a few you will need a new nut because of buzzing caused by strings flopping around in the larger nut slots. A pro set up is not much if its not sitting right for you.

[@researchtrials3394]

Great playing, nice one, thanks.

[@RedSchnitzel]

Nice review

[@thatguitarguyBillyPezzack]

Thanks!

[@markinwhite19]

Wow I love your playing it reminds me of John Schofield with some added flavor

[@thatguitarguyBillyPezzack]

Wow, thank you! Sco is a jazz giant! Thanks for posting a nice comment Martin- Check out my albums / [e-mail]

[@JeeWeeDonkers]

The S mark could also mean that the guitar has been used as a showcase at a trade show, and therefore could not be sold as New anymore.

[@thatguitarguyBillyPezzack]

Hi , maybe - Could be 's' for 'Sample' - I've not ever heard of the 'S' in the varnish being used like that though - they are really just called / & sold on as 'ex demo' if they have been used or 'demoed' a fair bit! The 'S' is much more likely to mean 'Second' or as I 'insist' (ha ha) 'Special'

[@waynehicks1969]

Sco is that you! You look different. Nice playing. I have one of these guitars with quite a few mods, nut it was still a good guitar even without them.

[@thatguitarguyBillyPezzack]

John Scofield is awesome - thanks Wayne! I have many musical 'influences'- If you enjoyed that - Check out some of the other video's from links on my website when you have a mo - 'Styles /categories' links on the home page @ www.billypezzack.co.uk/

[@henkkruidenier1238]

Great Guitar and Great Playin Billy ~#~ We Love it Very Cool ~#~ He Bigger Than a Gibson 339 ~#~ Cheeerzzz Greetzzz Henk.

[@wadecottingham]

man, your playing is enjoyable!!!!!

[@thatguitarguyBillyPezzack]

What a lovely comment - thanks for posting!

[@lucienhermans5379]

I have the same guitar, use the same strings but have an other amp (Roland jc120) so there’s a different sound. You are using a Boss amp with a very nice sound… 😍 what version of Boss amp did you use?

[@thatguitarguyBillyPezzack]

Hi Lucien - all guitar sounds in this video are from the same Line 6 'Pod farm amp sim' (a computer modelled amp recorded in Cubase) - The amp simulation used is of a small retro 'Gibson' style combo - The Boss Katana 2 x12 you see is not being used at all in this video - There are a few video's on my channel of me using the amp though / high gain rock & Jazz trio stuff where the Katana does a good job for both - There's also a review of my 'Roland blues cube artist' 1 x12 combo - which I am sort of favouring at the moment - it doesn't do the very high gain sounds as well as the Katana - but has a great clean channel - its also not programable - but I prefer less buttons these days!

[@theblytonian3906]

I agree about that American kitsch pickguard. No, just no. Although there was limited extant stock in stores, the AS153 in AYS was superseded in 2021 by the Spruce top AS113 in a BS colour scheme very similar to Ibanez's MIJ AS2000 with minor cosmetic differences (black vs cream pickup surrounds, switch cap, mounting position of output jack). 153 & 113 are essentially the same guitars but for the different wood material tops and AYS vs BS colour schemes. Fortunately the AS113 comes OOTB with the ubiquitous tasteful faux Tortoise Shell printed pickguard. Concurrently Ibanez released FM AYS as a third colour scheme for their AS93. Although itself a nice guitar, having owned and played both, there's no comparison with the AS113 or AS153 in terms of build quality and finish which are on another level altogether to te AS93 besides their additional features and upgrades. If one factors out the price of the included ABS case, the modest premium for the AS153 as was or AS113 as is is absolutely worth it. But of course you can't buy the 1x3 series NEW without their included case, so if the budget doesn't extend to it, a NEW AS93 is a still a solid choice.

[@thatguitarguyBillyPezzack]

I didn't do much thinking about buying my 153 as I got it second hand from ebay - but yeah shopping around for a guitar you will keep is definitely a good plan!

[@theblytonian3906]

@@thatguitarguyBillyPezzack In my country we don't have the sheer volume in the second hand market the US has, or even that of the UK. So items like the 113/153 would be a real rarity used, and sellers expect silly prices. That's why I buy new but shop for/wait for a good price.

[@bokai77]

@theblytonian3906 I am thinking of getting an AS153 without ever playing one myself -which is a gamble and I am not very comfortable doing so- but I have tried a couple of AS113 and I found them a bit thin/trebly sounding. Maybe it's the spruce top, i don't know; are you saying that it's essentially the same guitar? because if it's so then I should reconsider my options...

[@theblytonian3906]

@@bokai77 If you don't like the AS113 tonally, then you don't like it. Nothing is going to alter that. Ibanez also choose to use Spruce for their Japanese made AS2000, so they are aiming for the same mellower tone and overall aesthetic from the AS113 but at a the lower cost Indonesian production price point. I can't say I find mine trebly, but then, I also love Gretsch Hollow Bodies with FilterTrons which are completely different from the Ibanez Super 58s... so it might be a subjective ear interpretation from our respective prerspectives. When I said in the previous post essentially the same, as I pointed out, notwithstanding that the body woods (tops) are different. The 153s had just been superseded when I bought my 113. I had a choice of either NEW. The 153s are NLA new TMK. Production quality wise, the Indonesian made AS113 is outstanding. I can't fault mine in any respect. Not sure who, but I suspect their OEM constructor is Samick Indonesia given the BQ & finish.

[@RicardoPunnjo]

Interesting i just bought the as113 ! Im kinda curious how it sound.. but also want the LGB30 hollow (george benson) really love that norman brown/george benson sound... so i need to choose which one im gonne keep.. 😂🎸 the as113 will arrive this week😮‍💨🙏🏽🔥

[@markinwhite19]

Because of your endorsement I am going to get one of these guitars in a matter of days, I don't know if I can afford it but do you give lessons? I am an old blues guitarist but I dabble in jazz but I don't know what I'm doing I'm just dabbling

[@thatguitarguyBillyPezzack]

Thanks Martin - The Ibanez AS153 is a good choice! Its certainly worth checking out even if you can stretch to affording a Gibson 335 or one of the other expensive options out there - For lessons , get in touch via my website @ - www.billypezzack.co.uk/ - Happy playing !

[@001USA001]

Excellent

[@kevina3780]

Nice review. I have one and am trying to get a new pick guard, hate the original! Where did you find yours, thx in advance!

[@703BAM]

Great video! How much does this guitar weigh? I can't seem to find this information anywhere. Thanks

[@thatguitarguyBillyPezzack]

Hi , thanks for commenting - I've never really thought about the guitar being heavy if that helps you - & I've owned a few '335' style guitars for comparison - Epiphone dot / Aria TA70 /Another Aria I cant remember the model name of /Ibanez js 100 - Quick google reveals 'A Gibson 335' (is very similar :) weighs in at just under 8lb - sounds about right to me. Happy playing : )

[@703BAM]

@@thatguitarguyBillyPezzack I saw somewhere where the Epiphone Sheraton-ii Pro is 14.5 lbs. I don't know the real differences of why the weights are so far apart. Thanks

[@thatguitarguyBillyPezzack]

@@703BAM Sounds like that one was weighed with a mini blues dude still attached!... ha ha

[@703BAM]

It may have been the shipping weight.

[@robertritchie2860]

Ebony timber (trees) have a mixture of black and brown colouring. The global ebony tree population has been decimated, because when a tree was chopped down and sawn and they saw the brown blemishes the trees were left to rot because market wanted black... things have become more sensible now and brown colouring is now acceptable... just think of how many trees were left to rot because of the colour of wood... there is an excellent video about this posted by Paul Reed Smith (of PRS fame).

[@thatguitarguyBillyPezzack]

Yeah its sad - I got this guitar second hand (paid £450 not the new price of £850) - As I mention in the video , it has an 'S' in the varnish on the back of the headstock, & I was thinking that maybe the 'imperfection' (wtf? ) mentioned could have been the reason it was deemed a 'second' - utter nonsense. If you are preoccupied with the look / starring in the mirror & not coping too well, there's always wood dye anyway ha - Not gonna make you sound any better though!

[@wildebassman]

Nice guitar, want one too, where did you buy the pickguard?

[@thatguitarguyBillyPezzack]

Thanks Dennis - see above comment for link

[@wmg1958]

Thorough! And great playing.

[@superrantam]

Nice playing. Thanks for the video. May I ask what specific pickguard is that? I have been trying to find that one on eBay but I haven't been able to find it :( if you could provide a link that would be great. Cheers

[@thatguitarguyBillyPezzack]

Thanks Rantam : ) Link copied from my ebay history - www.ebay.co.uk/itm/132110726036

[@wildebassman]

@@thatguitarguyBillyPezzack thanks, is it the one with the 59 or 61mm gap?

[@thatguitarguyBillyPezzack]

@@wildebassman 59mm gap

[@thatguitarguyBillyPezzack]

Seems I'm not alone in my thinking that the original 'camouflage' pickguard looks a bit shite : ) !

[@wildebassman]

Thank you very much!

[@georyans]

Can you tell me where you got your pickguard I’m having a hard time finding a black one to fit my as153

[@thatguitarguyBillyPezzack]

No probs Georyans - This link is copied from my ebay history - you need the one with 59mm gap - www.ebay.co.uk/itm/132110726036

[@TropicalLatitude]

Nice!

[@mrj335]

nice

[@ReinholdBinder-d9n]

The black pickguard looks crap. Brillant playing though.

[@thatguitarguyBillyPezzack]

Thanks! Yeah it does look a bit crap - but kind of a more 'normal crap' than the much more crappy one it originally had fitted : ) Most pickguards look a bit crap as they are often really just bits of genuine 'cheap plastic 'crap'. I mostly try not to look at them very much or it could bother me & distract me from my music making crap. I found it a real challenge with the original crappy pickguard if I'm being honest & not crappy about it : ) Ha ha happy guitar playing to you & thanks for posting.