Ibanez John Scofield Signature JSM20 - Black Low Gloss

I spent several weeks playing the Ibanez AS93FM-VLS in rehearsal and small-club settings, looking for a versatile semi-hollow that could sit comfortably between jazz warmth and rock bite. My background is in session and gig work where I need a guitar that feels premium, cleans up nicely, and responds well to both single-note lines and rhythm comping - and that is exactly the chair I put myself in when testing this one.

First Impressions

Right away the AS93FM-VLS impressed visually - the flamed maple top has a deep, layered look under the Violin Sunburst finish and the gold hardware pops against the binding and Macassar ebony fingerboard. Neck feel was comfortable from the first few runs, and the pair of Super 58 humbuckers produced a rich, well-focused tone even before I tweaked amp settings.

Build Quality & Design

The AS93FM-VLS is built as an Artcore Expressionist-class instrument - a set neck with laminated flamed maple top, back, and sides, bound Macassar ebony fretboard, and multi-ply ivory binding that gives it a very refined appearance. My sample had crisp binding joins and a glossy finish that felt uniform across the top and back; frets were dressed well enough that I didn’t find any buzzing or sharp edges during my setup sessions. The hardware is gold-plated and includes a Quik Change III tailpiece and Gibraltar Performer bridge - both of which felt solid and stable for tuning and intonation adjustments.

Playability & Comfort

The neck profile is in the Artcore AS family - a comfortable, slightly chunky set-neck that gave me confidence for both chord work and single-note runs; the 628mm (24.7") scale and 43mm nut width are friendly to hybrid players who move between guitars. The bound Macassar ebony fretboard is smooth and responsive, with medium frets that make bending and vibrato feel natural. Onstage the instrument balances well - not top-heavy - and at gig volumes it remains forgiving, though you do notice the semi-hollow body resonance when digging into higher gain settings.

Electronics & Tone

The Super 58 humbuckers are the star of the tone package for me - warm, articulate, and full-bodied with a woody midrange that flatters clean and lightly overdriven tones. Neck pickup is rounded and sax-like for comping and smooth leads, while the bridge pickup has enough top-end clarity to cut when needed without becoming brittle. The two-volume/two-tone layout with a three-way toggle gives intuitive control and the pickups respond very musically to pickup blending and player attack - rolling back the guitar’s volume cleans things up nicely without losing body.

Real-World Experience

I used the AS93FM-VLS in rehearsals, a couple of small club gigs, and in the studio for rhythm tracks. In clean and crunch settings it shone - chord voicings were full, and single-note lines sat well in the mix. When I pushed it into high-gain territory it could sound raw and exciting, but you have to manage feedback and be mindful of amp proximity - the semi-hollow design will sing back if you let it. Recording DI and miking the amp captured both the warmth of the body and the clarity of the Super 58s very well.

The Trade-Offs

There are a few compromises to be aware of. The glossy finish and gold hardware make the guitar look and feel premium, but the finish can attract fingerprints and is slightly sticky under hot stage lights - I didn’t have a problem personally, but it’s worth noting. If you play very high-gain styles regularly you’ll need to manage stage volume and feedback. Finally, a hard case is not standard in the box, so if you gig a lot you should budget for a quality case or gig bag.

Final Verdict

The Ibanez AS93FM-VLS feels like a premium semi-hollow at a competitive price point - it blends traditional archtop aesthetics with modern playability, and the Super 58 pickups give it tonal versatility that suits jazz, fusion, funk, and many flavors of rock. I’d recommend it to players who want a stage-ready semi-hollow that looks the part and delivers characterful tones without demanding a boutique budget.