Ibanez AS73 vs ESP LTD PHX-200DX

Body, Neck and Playability

The Ibanez AS73 is listed as a semi-hollow electric guitar with a body wood that is not stated consistently. The feature bullets describe a linden body, while the listing title says maple body. The neck is nyatoh with a rosewood fingerboard. The scale length and fret count are not published in the listing.

The ESP LTD PHX-200DX has a poplar body with a flamed maple top. The neck is a U-shaped roasted maple with a rosewood fingerboard. The scale length is published as 25.5 inches. The fret count and fret material are not published.

Both models include rosewood fingerboards and dual humbucking pickups, but the playability comparison relies on different published data. The Ibanez AS73 receives a playability score of 24 out of 30, while the ESP LTD PHX-200DX receives 23. The ESP has a known scale length, which makes its feel easier to assess on paper, while the Ibanez scale length remains unknown.

Pickups and Tone

The Ibanez AS73 uses two humbucking pickups, but the listing does not publish the pickup model. The product description states that dual humbuckers suit blues, jazz, and rock. The tone and pickups score for this model is 19 out of 25.

The ESP LTD PHX-200DX uses ESP LH-150 passive humbucking pickups. The listing says these pickups suit rock and heavier styles. The tone and pickups score is also 19 out of 25.

Both guitars earn the same tone score, but the ESP listing is more specific by naming the LH-150 pickups. The Ibanez listing leaves the humbucker model unknown, which makes a direct tone comparison difficult. Buyers who want a known pickup model may prefer the ESP, while those who trust the Ibanez Artcore series may be comfortable with the unspecified humbuckers.

Hardware and Electronics

The Ibanez AS73 listing does not publish the bridge, tuners, or control layout. The hardware and electronics score is 7 out of 10. There is no mention of included accessories such as a case or gig bag.

The ESP LTD PHX-200DX listing specifies a TOM-style bridge and tailpiece. It does not publish the tuners or the control layout. The hardware and electronics score is also 7 out of 10.

Both models receive the same hardware score. The ESP has a published bridge type, which is a real advantage for buyers who want to know what they are getting. The Ibanez leaves all major hardware details unpublished, requiring more trust in the brand.

Build Quality and Finish

The Ibanez AS73 has a Tobacco Brown finish and a classic semi-hollow look. The build materials include a nyatoh neck and rosewood fingerboard, but the body wood is inconsistent in the listing. The build and materials score is 12 out of 15.

The ESP LTD PHX-200DX has a Black Burst finish, a poplar body, a flamed maple top, and a roasted maple neck. The build and materials score is also 12 out of 15. The listing does not state the fret size or material.

Both models score the same on build quality and finish. The ESP offers more specific and consistent body wood information, while the Ibanez has a known finish but a confusing body wood note. Neither listing describes the quality of the finish application or any visible flaws.

Setup Out of the Box

Neither listing publishes setup details such as string action, neck relief, or factory string gauge. The Ibanez AS73 cons note that setup quality out of the box is unknown. The ESP LTD PHX-200DX listing also does not mention setup quality.

Without in-person inspection, the setup out of the box cannot be compared beyond the published materials. A roasted maple neck may be used for added stability, but the ESP listing does not claim a specific setup benefit. The Ibanez semi-hollow design may need different adjustment than a solid body, but the listing does not state this.

Buyers should expect to perform a personal setup or have a technician do one on either model. The listings do not include setup tools or measurement specifications. No included accessories are mentioned for either guitar.

Daily Use and Practice

For daily use and practice, both guitars are dual humbucker instruments with rosewood fingerboards. The Ibanez AS73 has a nyatoh neck and an undisclosed scale length. The ESP LTD PHX-200DX has a roasted maple neck and a 25.5 inch scale length.

The Ibanez semi-hollow body may appeal to players who want a lighter acoustic resonance during unplugged practice, but the listing does not publish the weight. The ESP poplar body with flamed maple top is described as lightweight in the pros, but no weight in pounds or kilograms is given.

Neither listing mentions included accessories such as a strap, cable, picks, or case. Players will need to supply their own accessories for daily practice because no accessories are listed. The ESP has a known bridge type, which can simplify string changes and intonation adjustments compared to the Ibanez whose bridge is not published.

Versatility and Styles

The Ibanez AS73 receives a versatility score of 8 out of 10. The listing says it is best for blues, jazz, and classic rock. The avoid_if note says it is not for players who need high gain metal tones.

The ESP LTD PHX-200DX receives a versatility score of 7 out of 10. The listing says it is best for rock, hard rock, and gain heavy practice. The avoid_if note focuses on missing specs rather than any style limitation.

The one point difference in versatility comes partly from the Ibanez semi-hollow nature, which is listed for lower gain genres. The ESP is aimed at heavier styles, but it can still cover other genres due to its passive humbuckers. Buyers who want a wider range of traditional clean and crunch tones may lean toward the Ibanez.

The Deciding Question

The deciding question is whether you need published hardware and pickup specifications. The ESP LTD PHX-200DX provides a 25.5 inch scale length, a TOM-style bridge, and ESP LH-150 pickup model. The Ibanez AS73 leaves scale length, bridge, tuners, controls, and pickup model unpublished.

If you trust the Ibanez Artcore name and want a classic semi-hollow look in Tobacco Brown, the AS73 is the more direct choice. If you want the offset single cut shape, roasted maple neck, specific passive pickups, and Black Burst finish, the PHX-200DX offers more published detail.

The total scores are very close: 78 for the AS73 and 77 for the PHX-200DX. The Ibanez has a one point advantage in playability and versatility, while the ESP has a known scale length but no published playability edge. Your decision should rest on which unknown specs you can tolerate.

Who Should Buy Which

Buy the Ibanez AS73 if you want an affordable semi-hollow electric guitar for blues, jazz, and classic rock. You should be comfortable with missing specifications for scale length, frets, bridge, tuners, controls, and pickup models. The Tobacco Brown finish and Artcore series reputation are the main reasons to choose it.

Buy the ESP LTD PHX-200DX if you want a lower mid-range offset style dual humbucker guitar with a roasted maple neck. You should prefer a published 25.5 inch scale, TOM-style bridge, and ESP LH-150 passive pickups. The Black Burst finish and flamed maple top suit rock and gain-heavy practice.