This Artstar would be a fabulous instrument for any guitarist! I have loved owning this guitar these past few years. I've only played it a dozen times. Sadly, it has sat quietly in the case for most of its life. It plays so smooth like butter for its value. Although most may view this as a Jazz guitar with its semi-hollow body, its versatility is phenomenal, particularly because of its variability in sound from the humbucker pickups. This guitar will come in the case.

Some additional facts:

*I am the first owner of this guitar. It was purchased brand new in 2015 at Guitar Center.

*Ibanez has discontinued manufacturing this model after 2016. It's impossible to find the AS253BM on the Ibanez website as well.

*This guitar has been taken care of very well. It went through a "Guitar Center Platinum Setup" in 2023. A platinum setup includes the following:

"The Platinum Setup combines our Signature Setup with a full detailing spa treatment, resulting in the ultimate cleaning and maintenance service for stringed instruments. We have partnered with Music Nomad, a well adored equipment care company, to offer a full hardware cleaning, clay bar, and waxing suite to our customers. The result of this system is an instrument with a finish that is much cleaner, shinier, and more protected from future wear. The difference is especially noticeable on the neck's finish, making it as smooth and fast-playing as a brand new instrument."

Here the official specs of the Artstar AS253BM:

AS253BM Year(s) offered: 2015–2016

Sold in: USA

Made in: China

Finish(es): Transparent Cherry Red (TCR)

-------BODY--------

Body type: Hollow body

Dimensions:
  Length: 489mm / 19¼"
  Width: 400mm / 15¾"
  Depth: 67mm / 2⅝"

Top:
  Material: Burl maple
  Binding: 3-ply cream

Back/sides:
  Material: Burl maple

Neck joint: Set-in

Bridge: ART-1 (10.5mm string spacing)

Tailpiece: Quik Change III

Pickguard: Rosewood veneer on bakelite

Knob style: Rosewood bell

Hardware color: Gold

--------Neck--------

Neck type: AS Artstar

Neck material:3-piece mahogany/ maple

Scale length: 628mm/ 24¾"

Fingerboard material: Ebony w/ 3-ply cream binding

Fingerboard inlays: Acrylic/ abalone split block

Frets: 22 / medium (Artstar edge treatment)

Nut: Bone (43mm)

Machine heads: Ibanez die-cast w/ half moon buttons

-------Electronics/ Strings-------

Pickup configuration: HH

Bridge pickup: Ibanez Super 58 (H) passive/alnico

Neck pickup: Ibanez Super 58 (H) passive/alnico

Controls:Two volumes / two tones / 3-way toggle pickup selector / Tri-sound switch for neck pickup

Output jack: ¼" mono (side mounted)

String gauge (factory): .010/.013/.017/.030/.042/.052

Factory tuning: 1E,2B,3G,4D,5A,6E (E Std.)