There comes a time in a guitarist’s life when one turns into hollowbody curious, and semi-hollow guitars are sometimes the gateway – and so they ain’t low-cost.

Ibanez affords an answer with its Artcore Expressionist sequence of semi- and full-hollowbody guitars with glorious building.

The Expressionist AM93QM Semi-Hole permits the curious to expertise the enduring overtones of Cream-era Clapton, the sinewy sophistication of Royal Rip-off-era Larry Carlton, and the mellifluous machinations of Grant Inexperienced, even after they’re on a price range.

The AM93QM has quilted-maple high, again, and sides, a 12″ radius, three-piece nyatoh/maple set neck, and a sure ebony fretboard with block inlays and 22 medium frets. Different particulars embrace Quik Change III tailpiece, Gibraltar Performer Bridge, and two Tremendous 58 pickups.

Plugged right into a well-stocked pedalboard and going by way of a blackface Fender and Marshall combo, the guitar emitted semi-hollow heat, gentle midrange, and woody resonance with all of the consolation of an ergonomic solidbody; if this guitar had been a film, it’d be titled The Easy, The Heat, & The Punchy, due partly to the legendary vintage-style Tremendous 58s, which work exceptionally properly independently or in unison, offering a clear edginess that enables the amp’s character and results to take heart stage.

The physique’s heart block pushes maintain to near-solidbody standing whereas staying light-weight. With no concern of suggestions, our AM93QM sculpted achieve from quite a lot of grime containers, including splashes of wooliness and jangle. Ambient and live-sounding, its tone interprets powerfully when plugged in – screaming, barking, and soothing. Extra importantly, it nails Leo Nocentelli’s Meters-style funk tone from the center pickup.

Performed straight right into a jazz rig and with a little bit of manipulation of its Tone knob, the AM93QM does properly enjoying bop.

Whereas Ibanez has fleets of higher-end semi-hollow fashions just like the John Scofield and George Benson signature guitars, attending to know the AM93QM is enjoyable whereas exploring shades of blues, jazz, rock, and fusion with out being hauled off to the poorhouse.

This text initially appeared in VG’s September 2023 difficulty. All copyrights are by the creator and Classic Guitar journal. Unauthorized replication or use is strictly prohibited.