Is Ibanez gunning for Yamaha's FG trophy spot ?

[kurth]

....of the best cheapest acoustic guitar. Just discovered these.....

https://www.ibanez.com/usa/products/model/aad/

.....they're releasing one of their 'grand dreadnoughts' for 250us. These Ibanez dreads are bigger, by about 5%, and have a new bracing.

The sweetwater demo video sounds pretty nice for a 250dollar guitar. Could they throw the FG off the throne ? Check out the video below....

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/det...guitar-natural

[Blackmore Fan]

I can't vouch for the particular Ibanez acoustic model, but I've played other solid-top acoustics from them that sounded nice for an affordable price. There's certainly a market for that type of acoustic.

[ribsareyummy]

Wow, that "Grand Dreadnought" shape is 16 1/4" lower bout and 5" deep. I'd definitely check one out given the opportunity.

[Andromeda]

Originally Posted by kurth

....of the best cheapest acoustic guitar. Just discovered these.....

https://www.ibanez.com/usa/products/model/aad/

.....they're releasing one of their 'grand dreadnoughts' for 250us. These Ibanez dreads are bigger, by about 5%, and have a new bracing.

The sweetwater demo video sounds pretty nice for a 250dollar guitar. Could they throw the FG off the throne ? Check out the video below....

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/det...guitar-natural

I'm pretty sure these have been out for a couple of years. I own the all mahogany Ibanez AW54 OPN and I love it and it sounds fantastic!

[sinistral]

Originally Posted by Andromeda

I'm pretty sure these have been out for a couple of years. I own the all mahogany Ibanez AW54 OPN and I love it and it sounds fantastic!

Last summer I was looking for an inexpensive, right-handed guitar to have around in case a guitar-playing friend or relative stayed over and wanted to play. I didn’t do an exhaustive search, but the AW54 OPN sounded really good and was a great price, so I bought it.

[personatech]

Sounds pretty good for what it is. They borrowed a bit from Seagull (headstock, albeit not quite as unconventional) and maybe Alvarez (scalloped bridge looks two-level).

I particularly like the all-okoume version!



While this line was introduced over a year ago, it doesn't surprise me that they are only now hitting the shops - plus Ibanez has historically neglected promoting their acoustic offerings. I do remember trying an AC240 a few years ago when I was shopping for my first acoustic and was impressed, so Ibanez does have some tasty models in this price range.

[kurth]

Originally Posted by Andromeda

I'm pretty sure these have been out for a couple of years. I own the all mahogany Ibanez AW54 OPN and I love it and it sounds fantastic!

yes...but they're just releasing the two bottom end models.

[Andromeda]

Originally Posted by kurth

yes...but they're just releasing the two bottom end models.

Thanks, I didn't know that. I thought they'd all been released.

[emtsteve]

From the ad copy: "In what amounts to a fully reimagined acoustic experience..." So they've been Martinized?

I do like some of the Artwoods I've played - they sounded great and were set up nicely.

[Rogerblair]

The pickguard would stop me in my tracks. I think it is poorly designed.

Rb

[tsmith28]

I haven't tried these models but every cheap Ibanez acoustic guitar that I have tried in recent years has been a pleasant surprise, right up there in quality & tone with Yamaha FG models. They are underrated

[cyclistbrian]

Had a chance to try the basic dread today and compare it to a wide variety of Yamaha, Recording King, Epiphone, Alvarez, and other Ibanez. Sample set of one but not terribly impressed. New out of box with fresh strings. Decent setup, well made but thin tone and not especially loud. Any of the Yamaha were better (entire FG-8xx line in stock at this shop). The Alvarez impressed as they seem to do recently. The mahogany topped Ibanezs they had sounded better as well.

[SpruceTop]

Originally Posted by kurth

....of the best cheapest acoustic guitar. Just discovered these.....

https://www.ibanez.com/usa/products/model/aad/

.....they're releasing one of their 'grand dreadnoughts' for 250us. These Ibanez dreads are bigger, by about 5%, and have a new bracing.

The sweetwater demo video sounds pretty nice for a 250dollar guitar. Could they throw the FG off the throne ? Check out the video below....

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/det...guitar-natural

Oh My Goodness! What a timely posting! Please see my thread of my recently-acquired (last week) Ibanez AAD300CE (top of that line for USD $799) by going here: Ibanez AAD300CE Review With Demos

[Retired1]

I thought the AAD50 looked pretty interesting till I saw the neck was made out of Okoume - it has a hardness of about 400 whereas Mahogany has a hardness close to 1000. the luthier comments I've read have complained that it's too soft. If so I fail to understand why Ibenez would use a softer wood, especially for the neck.

[kurth]

Originally Posted by cyclistbrian

Had a chance to try the basic dread today and compare it to a wide variety of Yamaha, Recording King, Epiphone, Alvarez, and other Ibanez. Sample set of one but not terribly impressed. New out of box with fresh strings. Decent setup, well made but thin tone and not especially loud. Any of the Yamaha were better (entire FG-8xx line in stock at this shop). The Alvarez impressed as they seem to do recently. The mahogany topped Ibanezs they had sounded better as well.

thanks for your feedback....this is an obvious comparison and interesting that the fg's win. Which Alvarez's ?