Pricing and availability

Average Price: $1,845

High-end/Boutique

$400

$1001+

Price Tier

Budget

Standard

High-end

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Description

The Ibanez AR-350 is a testament to the brand's commitment to crafting high-quality electric guitars that cater to both seasoned musicians and aspiring players. This solid body electric guitar is designed to deliver a robust sound with impressive versatility, making it a reliable choice for various musical styles. Featuring a classic double-cutaway design, the AR-350 boasts a sleek and comfortable body that enhances playability and stage presence.

One of the standout features of the AR-350 is its Super 58 pickups, known for their warm, articulate tones that range effortlessly from clean to crunchy. This model's attention to detail extends to its Tri-sound switching system, allowing players to further customize their tonal palette with ease. Whether you're looking to replicate the silky smoothness of jazz or the gritty edge of rock, this guitar provides the tools necessary for sonic exploration.

Crafted with a sturdy mahogany body and a maple top, the AR-350 ensures durability while contributing to its rich sound profile. The smooth neck and well-polished frets facilitate easy bending and rapid fretwork, catering to fast-fingered solos and intricate riffs. The hardware, including the high-quality tuners and bridge, is designed to maintain tuning stability and sustain, even during the most energetic performances.

Key Features:

  • Solid body with a double-cutaway design
  • Super 58 pickups for versatile sound
  • Tri-sound switching system for tonal variety
  • Mahogany body with a maple top
  • Smooth neck for enhanced playability
  • High-quality tuners and bridge for tuning stability

Product specs

Brand Ibanez
Model AR350-FR Artist, AR350-MS Artist, AR350-PW Artist
Finish Fire Red, Marine Sunburst, Polar White
Year 1985
Made In Japan
Categories Solid Body Electric Guitars
Body Material Mahogany
Body Shape Double Cutaway
Body Type Solid Body
Bridge/Tailpiece Type Locking Tremolo Bridge
Color Family Blue, Red, White
Finish Pattern Sunburst
Finish Style Gloss
Fretboard Material Ebony
Model Family Ibanez Artist
Neck Construction Set-Neck
Neck Material Maple
Number of Frets 22
Number of Strings 6-String
Offset Body Non-Offset Body
Pickup Configuration HH
Right / Left Handed Right Handed
Scale Length 24.75"
Top Material Maple
Wood Top Style Flamed

FAQs

What kind of tones can I expect from the Ibanez AR-350's pickups?

The Ibanez AR-350 features a dual humbucker (HH) configuration, offering rich, warm tones ideal for rock and blues. The pickups provide a balanced sound with a strong midrange, making it versatile for various music styles.

Is the Ibanez AR-350 suitable for beginners or advanced players?

The Ibanez AR-350 is better suited for intermediate to advanced players due to its high-quality construction and versatile sound. Its set-neck construction and locking tremolo bridge offer stability and performance features that more experienced players will appreciate.

What is the neck profile like on the Ibanez AR-350?

The Ibanez AR-350 features a set-neck construction with a maple neck and an ebony fretboard, providing a smooth, fast-playing experience. The neck is designed for comfort and ease of play, making it suitable for both rhythm and lead playing.

Does the Ibanez AR-350 come with a locking tremolo bridge?

Yes, the Ibanez AR-350 is equipped with a locking tremolo bridge, which enhances tuning stability and allows for expressive pitch modulation without detuning issues.

What are the finish options available for the Ibanez AR-350?

The Ibanez AR-350 is available in three finish options: Fire Red, Marine Sunburst, and Polar White, each offering a distinct aesthetic appeal with a gloss finish.

Reviews

PROS

  • Limited production, making it a rare and collectible guitar

  • Extremely versatile, suitable for various music styles and settings

  • Durable build, withstands heavy use over decades

  • Holds tune exceptionally well, even with aggressive tremolo use

  • Highly customizable, supports various modifications and upgrades

  • Rich and powerful tone, often described as a "tone monster"

  • Comfortable playability, praised as the best-playing guitar by many

CONS

  • Initial color choice may be limited or incorrect when purchasing

  • Requires professional maintenance and upgrades over time for optimal performance

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Ibanez AR-350.

Features and functionality

  • The Ibanez AR-350 is praised for its ergonomic improvements over a Les Paul, including better upper fret access, a thinner body with a tummy cut, and a seamless neck joint.

    Source
  • The bridge of the AR-350 is mounted onto a massive block of solid brass, offering more saddle travel, which contributes to its robust tonal characteristics.

    Source
  • The AR-350 uses 'Flying Fingers' Super 80 pickups, known for their bright and articulate sound, despite a relatively low impedance of 8 ohms.

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User experience

  • Owners appreciate the guitar's patina and vintage aesthetics, considering the wear and tear as adding character without affecting playability or tone.

    Source

Comparisons

  • The AR-350 is likened to the "Cowboy Fancy" model, sharing a similar silhouette but with fewer knobs, highlighting its simpler yet effective design.

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Build quality

  • The neck heel of the AR-350 is notably well-crafted, often admired as being even more attractive than the guitar's top.

    Source
Add

5.0 out of 5

Based on 2 Reviews and 3 Ratings

5 star
4 star
3 star
2 star
1 star
K

Best Guitar Ever, period.

Bought new in 1986. Ordered a marine sunburst, but the music store in Fredericton, screwed me over and gave me a white one. Though semi bitter on the color, turned out to be an epic guitar. Played thousands of gigs with this extremely versatile guitar, so much so, wore the frets entirely out, and 4 Floyd Rose bridges, nearly 30 years. It sat in the case for the last 10 years, but earlier this year, I had it re-fretted by a legendary luthier using Evo Gold frets, replaced the trem with a GOTOH gold bridge, and nut, electronics re-soldered. After taking a 10 year break from this puppy, I can now honestly say, its simply the best sounding, best playing and best guitar I have ever played. I may never play another guitar. I set the trem up so perfectly, I can literally flop the guitar around with the tremolo bar, stays in perfect tune. Only a few of these built (Super Edition), and worth a lot of money now - but I will NEVER EVER SELL IT. It is my main guitar now.

Preferred Settings + Usage:

all pickups/splitters set to middle position - sounds like the gods.

peace_sand_rest

Angry Lady

Put two Seymor 59s in her, repainted a natural mat black. Installed B5 Bigsby, and new Grover kidney tuners. This semi-hollow body can take a beating, never had any issues. A true tone Monster.

Artist usage

Add artist
See how John Scofield uses Ibanez AR-350

John Scofield

Guitarist, Composer

Medeski Martin & Wood

...
Verified via AllMusic

John is hold a late 80's Ibanez Artist AR-350 (PLT) Pearl Tremelo on the cover of his Still Warm release.

See how Dez Cadena uses Ibanez AR-350

Dez Cadena

Singer, Guitarist

Misfits

...
Verified via Photo

According to pictures from shows, wikipedia and the misfits website, Dez Cadena used “A black Ibanez AR Artist called "Black Betty" (used after Damaged and on many recordings afterwards)“.

Album Usage

The Ibanez AR-350 has been featured on the following albums:

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

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