The Ibanez Artcore Series AS53 is a hollow-body electric guitar made with sapele for the top, back, and sides in a flat transparent black flat finish. The body is fitted with a mahogany set-in neck, which has a bound 22-fret rosewood fingerboard and white dot inlay. The double-cutaway hollow body delivers a warm sound that is well suited for a wide variety of musical styles including jazz, blues, rock, and country.

For electronics, the AS53 is equipped with a pair of Infinity R humbucking pickups in the neck and bridge positions, along with a 3-way pickup selector switch, and master volume and tone controls. The pickups offer a smooth tone with plenty of sustain, which is enhanced by the ART-ST tune-o-matic style bridge and stop tailpiece. This affordably priced instrument is highly respected for its tone, sustain, and ability to hold its tuning, making it an ideal choice for players of all levels.