Ibanez Art300 Review

Sound: 4/5
Playability: 4/5
Construction Quality: 4/5
Finish: 4/5
Overall Value: 4.5/5

The Ibanez ART300 has an interesting take on the Les Paul shape. It's not easy to keep innovating a design that has been around for half a century, but leave it to the company who got officially sued for cloning them back in the 70's.

One of the main specs that Gibson has fought to claim that it's a trademark is their 4 knobs configuration. But the truth is that not all players need that many, having 3 and the toggle switch close to them might even feel more comfortable to some.

This Ibanez guitar has a thinner body and a slimmer neck than both the Epiphone Les Paul Standard Plain Top or the Schecter Tempest. Also a bridge with a more polished design than usual hard tail pieces, avoiding the rough edges that normally comes with them.

I had never seen active pickups with AA batteries before this guitar, for those unknown: active pickups have their own pre amps, give you a lot of definition with distortion and require batteries to operate. You'll be sacrificing subtlety, but that's not what this guitar was built for.

The cool scalloped maple top reminds me of the Gibson BFG. It's very hard to describe it with words, think of a flexed arm full of veins, that's the best I can do! In all the colors that it's offered this guitar looks very unique.

For more info about this guitar,
-->Ibanez ART300 Artist Electric Guitar Black Caiman

Sound: 4/5
Playability: 4/5
Construction Quality: 4/5
Finish: 4/5
Overall Value: 5/5

The sound, look and performance of the Epiphone Les Paul Standard Plain Top is as familiar as it's reliable. It's difficult to compete with the construction quality of the Epiphone Les Paul since they started to come from their own Chinese factory in 2003.

One of the things that make this guitar a good deal is the fact that it's basically the same as the Standard Plus, yet it retails for $120.00 less. It doesn't have the flamed maple top, but all those cute lines on the finish don't add anything to the sound.

The pickups are replicas of the Gibson 490R and 498T, these are designed to have more upper midrange and provide a more modern sound. Very hot and versatile, provided the right amp setting they can handle any style.

The neck is modeled after the Gibson 60's slim tapered, much thinner than the regular 50's featured on most Les Paul guitars.The fretwork is very clean with no sharp edges around the neck and stays in tune very well thanks to original Grover tuners.

For more info about this guitar,
-->Epiphone Les Paul Standard Plain Top Electric Guitar Ebony

Sound: 3.5/5
Playability: 4/5
Construction Quality: 4/5
Finish: 4/5
Overall Value: 4/5

Even though it looks different, the Schecter Tempest Custom has all the Les Paul necessities: 24.75 inches scale length, mahogany body, set mahogany neck, maple top and humbucking pickups.

The sound is very good although somewhat generic. I'm a big fan of Schecter necks. The dimensions are on the modern side being very speedy and solo friendly. The tuning pegs are original Grover.

The only thing I don't like about this guitar is that I find it a little uncomfortable when playing standing up. But this is personal and might
not be the case with you. Other than that I find this guitar very good.

For more info about this guitar,
-->Schecter Tempest Custom Electric Guitar See Thru Black

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I recommend checking,
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