Ibanez GA5TCE Classical Cutaway Acoustic-Electric Guitar

Feature:
Combining spruce for the top and mohogany for the back and sides for a thinline guitar is a good combination. Exceptional tone when eq'd and amplified.

Quality:
It's made well. Clean finish, good color, nice design. The mohogany wood grain on the back and sides look as good as higher priced classicals. Don't believe I need a backup for it. Lightweight and easy to pack for the road. The only problem I had was on the rosette. It bubbled slightly the first year I had it, but has since flattened (shrank) down to the face of the guitar. It's perfect now. Has not bubbled since.

Value:
Absolutly worth the price paid!

Desirability:
Many people I played for enjoyed the looks, sounds, and wanted to know what make it was.

Sound:
Good, rich sound for a thinline classical! Louder than I expected unplugged. Great response. Works with any style I choose. Sounds best when eq'd with a lot of bass. Currently I plug it into a Digitech GNX4 processor, then main out in stereo to two Canadian made Yorkville 50 watt powered amps. Bass up a bit and add a little reverb and your in business! Sounds as good or better then the high-end big boys. Can you tell I love this guitar?

Support:
No repairs or adjustments needed since I bought it 4 years ago. The rosette bubble problem solved itself. The Ibanez web site doesn't do justice to this guitar (not enough pictures).

Overall:
Great Sound, Great Value- I own some high-end classicals, and have found some good ones, but the GA5TCE is the one I most enjoy. Why? Because the neck is just right for intricate passages and all types of strumming. From folk to light rock, country to flamenco, it works! My chord hand doesn't get as tired when I play it. I play it hours at a time. It produces very good acoustic tones. A fun guitar to play.

Feature:
I wish it came with strap holders, but they were easy enough to install.

Quality:
Seems very solidly built, and everything works well.

Value:
For the price, this is a terrific buy. I tried out several nylon-electrics at a music store, most much higher priced than this, and regardless of price, this was the one I liked the feel and sound of the most. Well, there were a couple guitars in the $1,000+ range that were really sweet, but still, this was comparable for me.

Desirability:
I play a lot of coffeeshop gigs, which can go three or four hours, and I wanted an electric-nylon which would be easier on my fingers after a few hours, and also because I like to fingerpick and like the feel of nylon strings. The thinner neck on this model is a particularly good feature, and the sound is really nice.

Sound:
This sounds great through a PA, but is quieter than a typical nylon without the pickup.

Support:
n/a so far

Overall:
I love this guitar and wish I'd have picked it up a couple years ago when I first saw it available. The only thing I didn't like about it was that there were no strap holders, but that was easily remedied.