Ibanez AFS80T vs. AS73: Which Artcore Wins Your Tone? (2026)

Transparency Quote: After 40+ years of playing, I’ve learned that the air inside a guitar matters just as much as the pickups. Most “reviewers” just read spec sheets, but I’ve pushed the Ibanez Artcore AFS80T and AS73 through a Mesa Boogie stack to see which one actually holds its ground when the volume goes up. This is my unfiltered veteran take.)

You’re looking for that vintage “vibe”, the classic look that screams rock history.

But for a beginner or a player returning after a decade off, the choice between the AFS80T and the AS73 isn’t just about color, it’s about how much “fight” you want in your hands.

One is a “breathing” acoustic machine that needs to be tamed, while the other is a “stiff” rock workhorse that feels like a solid-body with a soul.

I’m going to help you choose the one that actually makes you want to practice. This is my HONEST AFS80T vs. AS73 review.

First, let’s breakdown the facts on the hollowbody and semi-hollowbody.

Hollowbody vs. Semi-Hollowbody

This is where beginners get tripped up.

A Full Hollowbody (AFS80T) is essentially an acoustic guitar with magnets. There is no solid wood inside.

This gives you a “living” vibration against your chest, but it also means that if you stand too close to your amp with high gain, the air inside starts to feedback uncontrollably. Read more about this in the AFS80T Review.

A Semi-Hollowbody (AS73) has a solid block of maple running down the center. The wings are hollow, but the bridge and pickups are mounted to a solid piece of wood.

This kills the “howling” feedback and gives you the sustain of a Les Paul, while keeping enough air in the “wings” to give you that classic thinline growl. Check out the full AS73 Review here.

Key Takeaways

• Construction is Everything: The AS73’s center block makes it a rock machine, while the AFS80T’s hollow build is a resonance king that hates high gain.

• Vibrato vs. Stability: Choose the AFS80T for “shimmer” and the AS73 for “set-it-and-forget-it” tuning.

• The Weight Factor: If you have a bad back, the AFS80T is one of the lightest thinline guitars you’ll ever strap on.

• Genre Fit: Rockabilly and Jazz players should lean toward the AFS80T, Alternative and Modern Rockers should grab the AS73.

• Access Matters: The AS73’s double-cutaway provides much easier access to the 17th fret and beyond compared to the AFS80T’s single-cut.

Build Your Total Rock Rig

This instrument is just one piece of the puzzle. See how I pair it with the right gear in my Ultimate Rock Guitar Starter Kit.

Read the Strategy Guide

Comparison Table: Head-to-Head: Tone, Tech, and True Potential

Feature	Ibanez Artcore AFS80T	Ibanez Artcore AS73
Internal Construction	Full Hollow (Max Resonance)	Semi-Hollow (Maple Center Block)
Tailpiece Style	Bigsby-style Vibrato (VBF70)	Quik Change III (Fixed)
Bridge Type	ART-2 Roller Bridge	Gibraltar Performer
Cutaway Style	Single Cutaway (Classic Jazz/Rock)	Double Cutaway (Better High Access)
Ideal Genre	Rockabilly, Blues, Jazz, Surf	Arena Rock, Alternative, Pop, Blues

The Spec Sheet: Beyond the Marketing Fluff

Feature	Ibanez Artcore AFS80T	Ibanez Artcore AS73
Body Construction	Full Hollowbody	Semi-Hollowbody (Center Block)
Body Material	Linden	Linden
Body Depth	2.625″	2.625″
Neck Type	AFS Nyatoh (Set-in)	AS Artcore Nyatoh (Set-in)
Scale Length	24.7″	24.7″
Pickups	Classic Elite (H)	Classic Elite (H)
Bridge	ART-2 Roller Bridge	Gibraltar Performer
Tailpiece	Bigsby-style Vibrato	Quik Change III
Fretboard	Bound Walnut	Bound Walnut
Fret Count	22 Medium	22 Medium

Should You Buy the Ibanez AFS80T or the Ibanez AS73?

Choosing between these two isn’t about which guitar is “better”, it’s about which one matches the vibe you’re chasing.

If you buy the wrong one, you’ll spend more time fighting feedback or wishing for more sustain than actually playing.

You should buy the Ibanez AFS80T if…

• You want that vintage “shake”: The Bigsby-style vibrato is the star here. If you want to add that classic shimmer to your chords, this is the one.
• You prioritize weight: Because it’s a full hollowbody with no center block, it’s incredibly light. It’s perfect for long sessions if you find solid bodies too heavy.
• You play clean or bluesy: It has a “blooming” resonance that sounds huge through a clean amp or a light overdrive.

You should buy the Ibanez AS73 if…

• You want to rock out with gain: The solid maple center block is your insurance policy against feedback. You can push this through a dirty amp and it will stay articulate and controlled.
• You need sustain: Since the bridge is anchored into that center block, notes ring out longer, giving you that legendary sustain you’d expect from an Epiphone Les Paul Classic, but with the lighter weight of a thinline.
• You want a “Low Maintenance” workhorse: The fixed bridge and Quik Change III tailpiece mean faster string changes and better tuning stability for players who don’t want to mess with a vibrato system.

AFS80T vs. AS73 (Price Comparison)

I know that your gear budget is just as important as your practice schedule. Both of these guitars sit in that high-value “Goldilocks” zone: professional enough for the stage but affordable enough for a beginner or comeback player.

The AFS80T is currently harder to find(only offered 2011-2012), often making it a “treasure hunt” on the used market, while the AS73 remains a staple that you can grab any day of the week.

Platform	Ibanez Artcore AFS80T	Ibanez Artcore AS73
Amazon (New)	Currently Unavailable	View on Amazon
Reverb (Used/Mint)	View Deals on Reverb	View Deals on Reverb

Note: AFS80T not available new

Tone Comparison

Ibanez AFS80T

Playing the AFS80T is an immersive experience. Because it’s a full hollowbody, you feel every note vibrate against your ribs. It has an airy, three-dimensional quality that makes simple chords sound like a cathedral.

Sounds “woody” and expensive, but when you crank up the gain, the guitar starts to breathe and howl. It’s perfect for the player who wants to hear the guitar’s “acoustic” personality even when it’s plugged into a small tube amp.

Ibanez AS73

The AS73 sounds like a finished record. Because of that maple center block, the tone is compressed, punchy, and incredibly focused. It doesn’t have the “bloom” of the AFS80T, but it has a percussive “snap” that cuts right through a mix.

If you’re playing along to your favorite rock tracks, the AS73 will feel more familiar. It handles overdrive like a champ, giving you that creamy sustain you’d expect from a solid-body.

It gives you just enough thinline “honk” to let people know you aren’t playing a standard Les Paul.

It provides a punchier alternative for those who find the single-coil snap of a Squier Classic Vibe 50s Stratocaster a bit too thin for arena rock.

⚡️As always, I love to hear what electric guitars sound like unplugged. Both of these sound full and robust without a ton of wattage added. I can play either one for hours and pay no attention that I’m not plugged in. -Steve

Pros & Cons: Ibanez AFS80T vs. Ibanez AS73

Final Verdict: Which One Should You Buy?

At the end of the day, your choice between the Ibanez AFS80T and the AS73 comes down to your Identity as a player.

If you are the “Vibe Master”, the player who loves the nuances of jazz, blues, and that 60s rockabilly shimmer, the AFS80T is your time machine. It’s light, it breathes, and it has that vintage vibrato that makes chords “shake” just right.

However, if you are a “Modern Rocker” who needs a guitar that can handle a thick overdrive pedal without howling like a wounded animal, the AS73 is the winning formula.

It’s the more predictable, stable, and versatile machine for the beginner or comeback player who wants to cover everything from The Beatles to Foo Fighters.

I’ve played hundreds of instruments over the last 40 years, and while both of these made my list of the best electric guitars for beginners, they serve two very different masters.

The String Shock Recommendation:

• If you only own one guitar and want to play in a loud band, get the AS73.
• If you play mostly at home or through a clean tube amp and want maximum “mojo,” hunt down an AFS80T.

Comparison Review Scores

Category	Ibanez Artcore AFS80T	Ibanez Artcore AS73
Comfort & Playability	4.8/5	4.5/5
Tone Versatility	4.0/5	4.9/5
Tuning Stability	3.8/5	4.7/5
Build Quality	4.5/5	4.6/5
Overall String Shock Rating	4.3/5	4.7/5

How We Tested: The String Shock Comparison Methodology

I don’t believe in “desktop reviews.” To give you the straight talk on these two Artcores, I put them through the String Shock Stress Test:

1. The “Live Rig” Punch: I ran both guitars through my Mesa Boogie 50/100 watt head. I specifically tested the feedback threshold of the full-hollow AFS80T versus the semi-hollow AS73 at gig volumes.
2. The Playability Friction: I spent hours switching between the single-cutaway of the AFS80T and the double-cutaway of the AS73 to see which one actually lets you reach those high blues bends without your hand getting in its own way. (Just 2 frets higher than the AFS80T-these guitars are not made for full on shredding way up high on the neck…js)
3. Tuning Stability Torture: I worked that VBF70 vibrato on the AFS80T hard to see if the roller bridge actually does its job, and compared it to the “locked-in” feel of the AS73’s fixed bridge.
4. The “In the Room” Resonance: I played both unplugged in a quiet room to hear the natural “wood” tone, ensuring that the semi-hollow center block didn’t completely kill the soul of the instrument.

Platform	Ibanez Artcore AFS80T	Ibanez Artcore AS73
Amazon (New)	Currently Unavailable	View on Amazon
Reverb (Used/Mint)	View Deals on Reverb	View Deals on Reverb

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Does the Ibanez AFS80T come with a case?

Most Artcore models do not include a hardshell case from the factory. You’ll usually need to purchase an Ibanez AS100C or a high-quality gig bag separately.

2. Can you play metal on the Ibanez AS73?

While it’s a semi-hollow, the center block allows it to handle more gain than a typical hollowbody. It’s great for hard rock (think Foo Fighters), but for extreme high-gain metal, a solid body is still a better bet to avoid microphonic squeal.

3. Is the Bigsby on the AFS80T hard to restringe?

It takes a little practice. Because the strings wrap under a tension bar, using a small foam wedge or a capo to hold the string in place while you wind the tuner will save you a lot of frustration.

4. Is the Ibanez AS73 good for beginners?

Absolutely. It’s one of the most recommended “intermediate” guitars for beginners because it feels like a professional instrument but is priced like a starter kit.

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I’ve been playing guitar 40 years now; writing, recording, and rocking in bands. Randy Rhoads, Warren DiMartini, and of course, Jimi Hendrix all lit the fire for me, and I’ve been chasing that passion ever since.