Ibanez TCM50 Talman Cutaway Acoustic-Electric Guitar

No longer available at zZounds
Get the look and feel of an electric with the sound of an acoustic. This Ibanez features a double-cutaway design, giving you easy access to the higher frets.

Talmans are for the electric guitarist who likes being on stage with an instrument that has the bright resonance of an acoustic and the streamlined look and feel of an electric. In 2003, players can choose the clarity of the bridge pickups in Ibanez's standard spruce top models or the warmer sound of a magnetic sound-hole pickup in the ash-topped Talman TCM50.

Series Features:

- Double Cutaway Body
- Purpleheart Bridge and Fretboard
- Die-Cast Tuners
- Mahogany Neck
- High Gloss Finish

- Body Shape: Talman Double Cutaway body
- Bracing: X Bracing
- Top: Figured Ash
- Back & Sides: Sapele
- Neck: Mahogany
- Fretboard: Purpleheart
- Bridge: Purpleheart
- Body Binding: Ivory
- Soundhole Rosette: Maple wooden marquetry
- Tuning Machine: Chrome Die-cast Tuner
- Number of Frets: 20
- Bridge Pins: Ibanez Advantage Bridge pin
- Strings: D'Addario EXP11 Coated 80/20 Bronze, Light (.012-.053 Gauge)
- Pickup: Ibanez AP2 Magnetic pickup
- Preamp: Ibanez AEQ200M preamp w/2-band EQ
- Output Jack: 1/4" output
- Battery: 9V Battery
- Finish Top: Gloss
- Finish Back and Sides: Gloss
- Finish Neck Back: Gloss

For support or warranty questions, please contact the manufacturer:
Phone: 800-669-8262
Web: https://www.ibanez.com/usa/support/

Reviewers gave this product an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars. (60 ratings)
Submitted May 1, 2015 by Ron Powers in El Cajon, CA

"Big Bang For The Bucks"

Overall: 4 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
This review has been selected by our experts as particularly helpful.
The Talman is a thin-bodied guitar, and as such doesn't have a lot of projection; however, once plugged in it has a very pleasant tone that's somewhere between an acoustic and electric. It has a lot of sustain and the complex overtones necessary to musical expression.

Sound
The Talman is a thin-bodied guitar, and as such doesn't have a lot of projection; however, once plugged in it has a very pleasant tone that's somewhere between an acoustic and electric. It has a lot of sustain and the complex overtones necessary to musical expression.

Features
The ability to change the sound of this guitar from acoustic to electric with a stomp is what attracted me to it. What I like is that I can connect to my pedal board add some delay/reverb and get a nice electric sound at a stomp, or switch back to an acoustic sound with another stomp. Very convenient for my gigs, which have a mix of electric-guitar leads and acoustic strumming. Sometimes there is insufficient time to switch back and forth from acoustic to electric, or the lead part is so minor that it doesn't justify bringing both types of guitars. I especially enjoy just bringing one guitar to practice that can give the rest of the band an idea of what the lead part will sound like, well enough to decide which songs we will include in the set. If we will be electric-guitar "heavy" on the next gig then I just simulate that during practice and bring whichever guitars will needed read more for the actual gig.This guitar serves a particular purpose, and I suppose there are few all-purpose guitars, but if you usually play plugged-in you will have a great little dual-purpose guitar. Even unplugged, it's nearly as loud as many full-sized guitars and great for practicing to recordings of our gigs while at home alone. Pop it into a well-padded gig-bag and its light weight won't burden you from van to venue and back.

Ease of Use
Once properly setup it's very easy to get a variety of sounds, especially because the magnetic pickup provides a strong, full-spectrum signal that is easily modified. the thin neck makes playing very easy.

Quality
It must be acknowledged that this guitar, out of the box, requires a good set up to reach its potential. However, almost every guitar, regardless of pedigree will need some setup. Even my Taylor 714-CE had to have it's saddle lowered and truss-rod adjusted. It is very well finished, has no surface flaws and like many Ibanez guitars goes beyond functionality by being beautiful to look at and touch. Our drummer was impressed with its looks and estimated its cost at $600=$700.The red undertones of the mahogany body is a joy to behold, and the figuring of the ash top (I have the natural finish, not the red-burst pictured) is likewise very pretty. The cream-colored edging of the body and neck is also nicely done. The tuners are decent and feel about 14:1 ratio. The strap-buttons needed to be tightened as did the screws on the electronics panel and battery box, but those are minor assembly issues. The only other change I made was to replace the provided bridge-pins with brass ones (which I do with all my guitars anyway - the brass (being denser) transmits vibrations more easily to the bridge. Speaking of the bridge, Ibanez provided an extra saddle and two under-saddle shims in case you go a bit too far while filing the saddle down. That's more thoughtful than most guitar manufacturers to be sure. In addition, you get two allen-wrenches; one for the truss-rod and another to adjust the pickup.

Value
Great value for the money and a joy to play and own. If Ibanez provided a version with a sound board transducer (like a B-Band) or even an under-saddle pickup with a "mix" control to vary the tone between the magnetic and other type of pickup they would have a best-seller.

The Wow Factor
Wow: the beauty of the woods. Wow: the adaptability of the guitar from acoustic to electric. Wow: the great thin-profile neck. Wow: the zZounds "Pay As You Play Plan" and their excellent returns policy.

Musical Background:
I've been playing guitars over 40 years. Currently play on a worship team at our church.

Musical Style:
Progressive Christian and Christian, Fusion Rock-Jazz
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