I am a firm believer in AC for bards. That being said:
Back: Cloak of the Icebear (Ac8, cold +20, something else) Around 150-200p
Neck: Collar of Undead Protection (ac5, disease/poison +7) 20p (if you go
to someone camping the squire in guk, he will porbably give it to you for
free)
Face: Buy 3 potions of invis to undead and head to Lower Guk. Find out who
is camping the Ass/Sup, and ask them if you can loot the Guise. (It is a no
drop rogue/bard only item, often rots). If they say yes, get an invis (use
a potion if you can't get one at the zone) and walk over there. (its close
to the zone, if you cant get a good map I could give you directions). Hang
out in the corner, out of their way. If the assasin pop, let them loot it
and tell you if it has a guise. (Ac4, magic resist and a LOT of cha, casts
Illusion Dark Elf)

I wear 2 jagged bands and 2 Oppaline Earrings at lvl 45 :-)

Another peice to look for is a Tattered Mantle. You can buy it for 300p,
its ac12 and some other stuff. Very good shoulder peice for a very
attainable amount of plat.