- For a list of Artfield models, see Portal:Artfield series.
The Artfield series (or AFD series) is a line of solid body electric guitars produced by Iida Gakki and sold under the Ibanez brand. The Artfield models were introduced in 1988 and a total of ten models were produced before the series was sunset after 1989. They were offered for sale only in Europe.
Unlike most other series offered by Ibanez, the Artfield models do not share a single body style. Instead they're unified by a design aesthetic, choice woods and common components such as Ultrasonic or IBZ/USA pickups, the HQ tremolo bridge and locking Gotoh tuning machines. One of the catalogs states: "the concept was to incorporate the finest hand-picked woods — bubinga, wenge, maple and mahogany — and design a series of guitars that would use these fine materials to their best advantage. We didn't stop there. Combining the most advanced technology in the guitar industry with meticulous craftsmanship, the ARTFIELD line offers the player an unusually fine series of instruments to satisfy the most discriminating guitarist."[1]
Artfield designs[]
There are three basic body shapes in the Artfield series, the AFD25 and AFD40/45 were introduced in 1988 and the AFD5 (with a couple of variants) followed in 1989. The AFD25 and AFD5 (along with it's variants) feature thick, exotic wood tops on mahogany backs bolted to 24-fret necks, while the AFD40/45 have a solid bubinga body and a 30-fret neck. All of them share the same 25" (635mm) scale length and the same HQ two-point synchronized tremolo bridge.
The AFD25 was designed by Hoshino's in-house design chief, Mr. Fritz Katoh. Its shape bears a resemblance to the guitars produced by Paul Reed Smith starting in the mid-1980s in a style that has since become known as the PRS Custom. It has an arched top and back with a somewhat bulbous rear bout and asymmetric horns, the lower of which is carved away to allow upper fret access. It has a 24-fret neck which is a bit thicker than the famous "Wizard" neck from the RG series, but is thinner than those of many other manufacturers. In terms of electronics, it has a pair of humbucking pickups along with a master volume and tone, a 3-way toggle pickup selector and a series/ parallel toggle for the bridge pickup.
The AFD40/45 was designed primarily by Iida Gakki's in-house designer, a Mr. Suzuki, in collaboration with Mr. Katoh. It is somewhat visually similar to the shape of the Soundgear series basses with a highly asymmetric sculpted body with a pronounced upper horn and a much smaller lower horn to allow access all the way up to the 30th fret.
The AFD40 has a humbucker at the bridge and a single-coil placed closer to the tradition middle pickup position due to the extended fingerboard and a simple control setup with a master volume and tone and a 3-way toggle pickup selector.
The AFD45 features a novel electronics setup with a pair of single-coil pickups mounted adjacent to each other in place of the standard bridge humbucker and a complex control layout including a 6-way rotary control for series and parallel pickup combinations and a mid-boost toggle.
The AFD5 shape appears to have taken inspiration from the Artist series with an arched top and a bulbous rear bout along with smaller, symmetrical horns which are carved to ease access to the upper frets. Like the AFD25, the AFD5 was designed by Fritz Katoh and the two models share a similar electronics setup.
Variations on the AFD5 included the AFD5SP, with a top made of a strip of quilted maple between two strips of bubinga and the AFD5CT which has intricate vine fretboard inlays.
The Artfield series was discontinued in 1989 after two years in production. Total production numbers are unknown, but it's believed that no more than 400 units total between all of the various models were built.
Artfield registry[]
This list includes every Artfield guitar we have seen. John Muijen began compiling this list on his Artfield website[2], which is sadly defunct. Only first names are provided for those owners who weren't on John's initial list or whose identity I haven't received permission to share.
Some of these guitars have likely changed hands since this information was unearthed. If you have any corrections or additions to this page, please feel free to login and make the change, or reach out to me at IbanezWiki@gmail.com.
| S/N | Model | Finish | Pickups | Owner | Located | Source | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| none | AFD5CT | AM | Ultrasonic | Charlie Cash | UK/ Greece | [3][4] | previously owned by John Shanley (USA) & "Robert" (Singapore) |
| none | AFD5CT | TB | Ultrasonic | Olaf Windgassen | Germany | [5] | PRS pickups currently installed, but owner has original pickups (with metal covers) |
| none | AFD5CT | TB | Ultrasonic | Japan | [6] | Apparently sold in 2021 | |
| none | AFD5SP-Z | Natural | IBZ/USA | Oliver Pfänder | Germany | ||
| I700083 | AFD40/ AFD40-Z | BG | ??? | Piotr | |||
| I800003 | AFD25-Z | TB | IBZ/USA | Sander Kvernevik | Norway | Grover tuners, replaced Evo frets, kill switch; sold by Morten Ottesen in 2018 | |
| I800004 | AFD25 | AM | Ultrasonic | Fred Dons | Netherlands | sold by John Muijen in June 2020 | |
| I800007 | AFD25 | AM | Ultrasonic | Dario Retegno | Italy | ||
| I800010 | AFD25 | Purple* | Ultrasonic | Patrick Sedoc | France | *Refinished, formerly TB; previously owned by John Muijen | |
| I800013 | AFD25 | AM | Ultrasonic | Keith Harrison | USA | previously owned by Marcus Reichert | |
| I800020 | AFD25-Z | AM | IBZ/USA | Jan Fredrik | Norway | [7] | |
| I800037 | AFD25-Z | AM | IBZ/USA | Achtouk | U.A.E. | [8] | for sale |
| I800058 | AFD25-Z | TB | IBZ/USA | France | [9] | sold by Thierry Huort in 2021 | |
| I800060 | AFD25-Z | TB | IBZ/USA | Korea | [10] | sold in 2022 | |
| I800061 | AFD5/ AFD5-Z | AM | ?? | Miguel | Spain | Pickups & tuners replaced | |
| I800088 | AFD40/ AFD40-Z | BG | ?? | Christiano | Italy | ||
| I800090 | AFD40-Z | BG | IBZ/USA | Bob Rosenbloom | USA | [11] | |
| I800103 | AFD40-Z | BG | IBZ/USA | RedMusik Igualada (store) | Spain | [12] | currently for sale |
| I800111 | AFD40 | BG | Ultrasonic | Denny Haggren | Sweden | [4] | |
| I800116 | AFD40-Z | BG | IBZ/USA | Hungary | sold around 2004 by Marcus Reichert to a buyer in Hungary | ||
| I800117 | AFD40/ AFD40-Z | BG | ?? | Switzerland | seen on eBay in March 2012 | ||
| I800129 | AFD40-Z | BG | IBZ/USA | Australia | Previously owned by Brian Aret | ||
| I800133 | AFD40-Z | BG | IBZ/USA | Sweden | [13] | Sold Henrik Ryegard in 2020 | |
| I800137 | AFD40/ AFD40-Z | BG | IBZ/USA | Gert | Germany or Italy | ||
| I800143 | AFD40/ AFD40-Z | BG | ?? | Carlo | Italy | ||
| I800156 | AFD45 | BG | Ultrasonic | Morten Ottesen | Norway | ||
| I800161 | AFD45 | BG | Ultrasonic | John Klein Gebbinck | Netherlands | ||
| I800166 | AFD45 | BG | Ultrasonic | signed by Tony Iommi; sold by eBay user blackthetrio26 | |||
| I800169 | AFD25/ AFD25-Z | AM | ?? | Tom Frankson | France | ||
| I800179 | AFD25/ AFD25-Z | AM | ?? | Bob Rosenbloom | USA | [11] | Non-stock pickups (?) |
| I800201 | AFD25/ AFD25-Z | TB | ?? | Fredi | Germany | featured in Gitarre & Bass Magazine 2003 under "Reader's Questions" | |
| I800208 | AFD25-Z | TB | IBZ/USA | Paulo Vinagre | Portugal | original owner; pickups replaced, owner has originals | |
| I800214 | AFD25/ AFD25-Z | TB | Ultrasonics | Shawn Ackerman | B.C., Canada | acquired from a seller in Toronto in late 2022 | |
| I800214 | AFD25 | ?? | ?? | Franz | Austria | featured in Gitarre & Bass Magazine 2003 under "Reader's Questions" | |
| I800218 | AFD45 | BG | Ultrasonic | Ron Vader | Canada | ||
| I800224 | AFD45 | BG | Ultrasonic | bassNguitar (store) | France | [14] | |
| I800233 | AFD45 | BG | Ultrasonic | ?? | Italy (?) | sold on eBay Italy in 2004 by Bob Cillo for a friend; later seen on eBay in 2014 | |
| I800235 | AFD45 | BG | Ultrasonic | Guillaume | Netherlands | ||
| I800236 | AFD45 | BG | Ultrasonic | Marco | France | sold in 2021 | |
| I800237 | AFD45 | BG | Ultrasonic | Pasquale | Italy | sold in 2021 | |
| I800238 | AFD45 | BG | Ultrasonic | Henri Martin | France | original owner | |
| I800241 | AFD40 | BG | Ultrasonic | Chris Delwel | Netherlands | [15][16] | |
| I800243 | AFD40 | BG | Ultrasonic | Giada/ Gianguido | Italy | [17] | for sale in Italy |
| I800253 | AFD40 | BG | Ultrasonic | Sweden | [18] | for sale in Sweden at US$2,500 (August 2024) | |
| I800269 | AFD45 | BG | Ultrasonic | Rudolf | Germany | ||
| I800274 | AFD45 | BG | Ultrasonic | anonymous | Netherlands | ||
| I800275 | AFD45 | BG | Ultrasonic | seen on eBay July 2007 user "friwiki" | |||
| I800278 | AFD45 | BG | Ultrasonic | Dave | Norway | [19] | |
| I800285 | AFD45 | BG | Ultrasonic | Nigel | Canada | ||
| I900003 | AFD5SP-Z | ?? | IBZ/USA | Patrick Sedoc | France | ||
| I900014 | AFD5 | AM | Ultrasonic | Paul | USA | ||
| I900016 | AFD5/ AFD5-Z | AM | ?? | previously owned by John Muijen | |||
| I900019 | AFD5/ AFD5-Z | AM | ?? | Benjamin Brueck | Germany | ||
| I900037 | AFD5CT | AM | Ultrasonic | Morten Ottesen | Norway | ||
| I900038 | AFD5CT-Z | AM | ?? | Jeapson | France | [20] | Pickups replaced & wiring changed?; current owner??; previously owned by Patrick Sedoc |
| I900041 | AFD5]/ AFD5-Z] | AM | ?? | Patrick Sedoc | France | ||
| I900045 | AFD5-Z (?) | TB | IBZ/USA (?) | Patrick Sedoc | France | modified with a Strat-style three single coil arrangement | |
| I900046 | AFD5CT | AM | Ultrasonic | Olaf Windgassen | Germany | Pickups replaced | |
| I900051 | AFD5CT | AM | Ultrasonic | J-P van Haestregt | Netherlands | [21] | Bridge pickup replaced |
| I900055 | AFD5CT/ AFD5CT-Z | AM | ?? | Patrick Sedoc | France | ||
| I900056 | AFD5CT-Z | TB | IBZ/USA | seen by Morten Ottesen | |||
| I900063 | AFD25-Z | AM | IBZ/USA | Mariano | Spain | [22] | Neck pickup replaced; sold in 2020 |
| I900073 | AFD25-Z | TB | IBZ/USA | anonymous | Netherlands | ||
| I900076 | AFD25-Z | TB | IBZ/USA | Denny Haggren | Sweden | [4] | |
| I900083 | AFD25-Z | TB | IBZ/USA | Hugh | UK | [23] | |
| I900087 | AFD25/ AFD25-Z | TB | IBZ/USA | Poland (?) | sold on eBay in August 2004 | ||
| I900097 | AFD40-Z | BG | IBZ/USA | Denny Haggren | Sweden | [4] | |
| I900106 | AFD45 | BG | IBZ/USA | Michael | USA | ||
| I900112 | AFD25 | AM | Ultrasonic | dustfall ( ICW username) | Sweden (?) | [24] | |
| I900115 | AFD25-Z | AM | IBZ/USA | Denny Haggren | Sweden | [4] | |
| I900122 | AFD25-Z | TB | IBZ/USA | Denny Haggren | Sweden | [4] | Bridge pickup replaced by a Tom Anderson |
| I900139 | AFD45 | BG | Ultrasonic | France | [25] | ||
| I900140 | AFD40-Z | BG | IBZ/USA | Lanzelot | Sweden | [26] | Potentially since sold |
| I900141 | AFD40/ AFD40-Z | BG | ?? | Marcus Reichert | |||
| I900147 | AFD40 | BG | Ultrasonic | Laurent | Potentially since sold | ||
| I900163 | AFD45 | BG | Ultrasonic | previously owned by John Muijen | |||
| I900164 | AFD40/ AFD40-Z | BG | ?? | Stephane | France | ||
| I900174 | AFD45 | BG | Ultrasonic | Oliver Pfänder | Germany | ||
| I900179 | AFD45 | BG | Ultrasonic | Olivier | France | ||
| P900982 | AFD25/ AFD25-Z | AM | ?? | Vittorio Melon | Italy | ||
| P900984 | AFD25-Z | AM | IBZ/USA | ?? | U.K. | [27] | info is from a listing on eBay UK |
Sources[]
- ↑ 1989 Artist Spirit mini catalog (page 28)
- ↑ Artfield registry, IbanezArtfield.com (defunct enthusiast site), archived December 2007
- ↑ Gallery, Vintage gear no idea? (personal website), archived July 2022
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Hello. I've just sneaked into my partners toy room...; Charles Cash in Ibanez Vintage Guitars group on Facebook; April 22, 2020
- ↑ Ibanez Artfield AFD 5 CTTB-Z Prototype, Backyard Music (collector/dealer website), archived June 2020
- ↑ Ibanez ArtField AFD5 Transparent Blue, Sonix (Japanese dealer), archived July 2022
- ↑ Artfield (discussion thread); Ibanez Collectors World (enthusiast forum); June, 6, 2017
- ↑ Artfield (discussion thread); Ibanez Collectors World (enthusiast forum); June, 6, 2017
- ↑ Latest catch!!...; Thierry Huort in Ibanez Vintage Guitars group on Facebook; June 25, 2018
- ↑ Ibanez Artfield AFD25TB Ibanez Artfield, Mule.co.kr, archived July 2022
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Bob's Guitars, DigitalVideo.com (personal site), archived December 2004
- ↑ Ibanez AFD40 Natural 1988 Nat, listed on Reverb, archived June 2022
- ↑ Sold · Ibanez Artfield AFD40-Z (1988); sale posting in "Ibanez: Buy, Sell, Trade" Facebook group; October 20, 2020
- ↑ Ibanez Artfield AFD-45 1988 Natural RARE, sale listing on Reverb, 2014, archived March 2014
- ↑ AFD40BG Artfield, Ibanez Register, archived December 2007
- ↑ ibanez artfield AFD bubinga; sale listing on Marktplaats; November 10, 2020
- ↑ AFD40BG Artfield, Subito (sale site), archived July 2022
- ↑ AFD40BG Artfield, Reverb (sale site), archived August 2024
- ↑ Ibanez Artfield AFD-45BG (discussion thread); Ibanez Collector World (enthusiast forum); May 5, 2010
- ↑ IBANEZ Artfield AFD5 Vine Inlay - Utmost Rare !!!!!!!!!!!, sale listing on Reverb, 2015, archived July 2022
- ↑ 1989 AFD AM5FP? Tree of Life Design, European Issue?; Ibanez Collectors World (enthusiast forum); March, 12, 2013
- ↑ Ibanez Artfield afd25 am-z for sale now photos; Ibanez Collectors World (enthusiast forum); August 30, 2009
- ↑ Just found my old guitar...; post in "Ibanez Vintage Guitar" Facebook group; February 23, 2021
- ↑ Ibanez Artfield (AFD25); Ibanez Collectors World (enthusiast forum); September 10, 2010
- ↑ Ibanez Artfield AFD45, Zikinf (French sale site), archived July 2022
- ↑ FT: Ibanez Artfield AFD40BG-Z; Lanzelot on Jemsite (enthusiast forum); July 30, 2012; archived June 2021
- ↑ IBANEZ ANNIVERSAY ARTFIELD, Worthpoint, archived July 2022
