Artist AS50 Review
Locking tuners, noiseless Alnico V single coils and a road-ready finish: the checklist usually reserved for working musicians' guitars, at $749.
Every so often a spec sheet reads like someone at the factory forgot what the price was supposed to be. The AS50 is that guitar: AntiHum Alnico V pickups, locking tuners, and a finish and hardware package aimed squarely at players who record and tour.
I have not played the AS50 yet, so this is a spec spotlight rather than a hands-on review. I have played the AS series extensively, and the reason these specs matter is simple: each one removes a real-world frustration that usually costs real money to fix.
Hum is the classic single-coil complaint, and it is why many players give up on them entirely. AntiHum pickups attack that problem at the source. Locking tuners attack the tuning and restringing problem. Both included at $749 is the part that surprises me.
Specifications
| Body | Black finish, player-grade build |
|---|---|
| Pickups | AntiHum Alnico V single coils with humbucker |
| Tuners | Locking tuners |
| Included | Padded gig bag |
| Positioning | Built for recording and touring players |
| Price | $749 AUD |
What we like
- AntiHum single coils. Noise-free single-coil tone is the feature every noisy practice room and cheap PA will thank you for.
- Locking tuners mean restringing takes minutes and tuning survives long gigs. On most guitars this is your first $100 upgrade. Here it is standard.
- Alnico V magnets across the set: the pickup material behind most of the classic electric guitar tones people are actually chasing.
- It ships with a padded gig bag, so the price is the price.
Honest limitations
- No hands-on verdict from me yet. The specification list is excellent; my full playing impressions will follow once I have one in the studio.
- At $749 this is an investment. Brilliant for a committed player, premature for a first guitar.
- Purists who want raw vintage single-coil hum should know that AntiHum designs trade a little of that character for silence. Most players will call that a fair trade.
Buy it if
- Gigging and recording players who want noise-free single coils
- Students who have played for a couple of years and want one guitar for the long haul
- Anyone tired of budgetting for upgrades: the good parts are already on it
Skip it if
- Absolute beginners (the AS30 covers that job for less than half the price)
- Players who want a humbucker-heavy metal voice
AS50: $749
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AS50 FAQ
What are AntiHum pickups on the Artist AS50?
They are Alnico V single-coil pickups designed to reject the mains hum that traditional single coils pick up. You keep the bright, articulate single-coil sound without the background buzz, which matters in rehearsal rooms and on stage.
Are locking tuners worth it?
For anyone who plays regularly, yes. They lock the string at the post so tuning is more stable and restringing is dramatically faster. Upgrading a guitar to locking tuners afterwards typically costs $100 or more plus fitting, so having them factory-fitted at $749 is seriously good value.
Is the AS50 suitable as a first guitar?
It is more guitar than a first-time player needs, which is why we usually point beginners to the AS30. If you already have a guitar that is working for you, stick with that. It'll be fine. If you are buying once and properly, definitely check out the AS50. Heck, you have up to 100 days to change your mind.
Still deciding?
See the full shortlist across all price tiers, or ask us at a lesson and we will match a guitar to your hands, height and taste in music.