After playing this model in a pawn shop and enjoying it's action and sound, I ordered & just received this guitar last week. True to my first experience, this model did not let me down. The sound was crips and clean right out of the box. When I plugged it in and adjusted it's electronics, I continued to be impressed by it's range of sound.

I immediately plugged this in and worked the Fishman electronics. Not to disappoint the guitar displayed uncharacteristically good tone for a low-end model. It was warm, bright and all points in between. I laid down a few tracks with it on my Tascam system and played it back. I clearly had the quality of sound found on guitars 2 to 3 times it's price. I will continue to record additional songs with this guitar, as well as my more expensive Takamine and let you know how it goes. So far, well worth the value.

I played this at a pawn shop and immiately was drawn to the low action...something we all want in a nice acoustic. I was surprised at how well it played and was hoping the new model I ordered and received would have that consistency. No disappointment there--it plays very nicely.

The quality is also surprisingly good and the construction seems to lend itself to durablity, comfort and design. I ordered the gloss black finish and it's really sharp looking....again, as nice looking and playing as models 2-3 times it's price range. I don't see a problem with bringing this onto stage and plan to do so. So far I've found nothing to moan about.

In short, the value of this model is high and well worth the price I paid for it. I may order a second one just to have around.

Prior to buying this guitar I inquired with the phone operator about the consistency of the action on this model. He assured me the action was good and even went out of his way to get a second opinion. With two endorsements I ordered and played this guitar right out of the box. Yep, action was and is good.

Anyone who has played guitar awhile will appreciate the appeal of a nice sounding, better playing acoustic. You would be compelled to buy this model were you to pick it up in a store and play it. It makes for a practical and enjoyable addition to my current lineup of guitars.

Active musician, songwriter, recording artist

Wide style--acoustic, rock, blues, other

The best way to describe the sound of this guitar is, "clean and balanced". Across the board it doesn't favor any range. There are no muddy places, no shrill places, just solid acoustic tonality. The supplied "D'addario EXP Light strings", provide a solid, long lasting, tasty twang, which brings out the best of this instrument. When I'm not playing it acoustically, I amp it with a Peavey Vyper 15, on one of the clean amp models. (Pixie, or Fender Deluxe), adding some reverb. I play in my own home, at reasonably low levels, so I don't need a dedicated acoustic guitar amp, the Vyper provides plenty of clean reinforcement volume. Amped, I consider the sound spectacular, akin to something you might hear on the newest hit out of Nashville.

The on board electronics are particularly good in view of the overall price. The included tuner is convenient, well thought out, and spot on. The Fishman pickup provides a wonderful acoustic sound to your amp. and with an effective 3 band equalizer, the sound can be tailored to your liking. Also, the battery compartment is very easy to access. Preamp batteries, a spare bridge, and an allen wrench for the truss rod are included.

It's easy to get great sound from this guitar, just tune it up, plug it in, (or not), and it produces what has come to be expected from a quality acoustic instrument. I purchased an Ibanez ART100 left handed electric a month or so prior to this, but I find myself reaching for this first. I guess that the six string acoustic sound was what I was looking for, wasn't quite aware of that, and this guitar accidentally found me. The "AEL" body style is easy to strum and comfortable to hold, in spite of its size. The pinched waist of the jumbo body permits freedom of motion and situates it firmly on your leg.

Overall, the workmanship in this guitar inspires confidence. You pick it up for this first time, and it gives you the impression that it will be with you for a long time. The tuning machines are smooth, with no lash, and will hold this thing in tune for literally hours of playing, with only a very infrequent need to touch up. The only small niggle I have is with the rosewood bridge. This piece of wood is not quite in keeping with the overall quality of the build. On the other hand, the abalone inlay around the sound hole is exquisitely done, and the rest of the fit and finish is perfect. Out of the box the action is exactly what is specified for a guitar of this type, and the truss rod is set up perfectly. I've considered dropping the action a hair, but I'm not sure what effect that might have on the string control or sound. So, I'm probably going to leave plenty well enough alone.

This guitar is easily worth the price I paid and then some. Being left handed, over the years it has been so difficult to even find something decent, let alone this guitar, which I'm completely thrilled with. I really couldn't find anything comparable in price without resorting to shopping lesser known manufacturers, with unknown reputations. Ibanez has carved quite a niche for itself, providing quality, price and performance, from moderately priced instruments. One has to assume that a Taylor is a better instrument, but when you consider that the price of this guitar is a tenth of some Taylors, I truly doubt that price versus performance issue could be made as a linear comparison. And don't get me started about what Martin is offering in the $1000.00 price range.

I haven't had the need to contact Ibanez for any reason. I don't expect that need to arise. It has been my experience that if an instrument is well made, the likely hood of needing factory support borders on nil. I'm going to go out on a limb and say, with the reputation in the marketplace Ibanez enjoys, I wouldn't expect that a problem would arise if service became necessary. Well, I may dash off an email, begging them to produce their "Exotic Wood" series 12 string in a left handed version.

Over the years, the three things that have turned me off most about acoustic guitars have been, what I consider the truly ugly yellowish color that a natural finish spruce sound board presents, the lack of sufficient upper fret access, and the difficulty of getting good acoustic sound to the amp. This instrument eliminates all those objections in one fell swoop. Problem solved. Sexy gloss black finish, deep cutaway, great sound plugged or unplugged, and a gorgeous jumbo body shape to boot. So yeah, I guess you might say this thing has a fair amount of sex appeal.

Hobbyist

Country, Rock, Folk

Let me start by saying that I have only been playing a year and this was an upgrade from an old Ibanez Performance Acoustic that I picked up at a flea market. The sound is sharp and clean, with no residual vibrations. I haven't plugged it in yet as I am waiting to get my first amp, but the purity of sound when playing open is a definite upgrade over my previous guitar which I had thought was pretty good as well.

The built in tuner is a bit over sensitive (this may be a good thing for more experienced players), but I am slowly getting accustomed to it. I haven't tested the pickup yet, obviously, so I will reserve comment on it at this time. My previous guitar did not have a cutaway and this one makes it worth having every time I attempt my RHCP "Breaking the girl" imitation.

Right out of the box, I checked the action on this guitar and it is perfect. The strings are set perfectly to play easily and give no vibration noise, a true "ready to play" instrument.

The guitar is of a solid construction, cosmetically beautiful, with only two very minor defects; there is a line of excess black paint on the side of the lower neck of the guitar and a spot with no paint near the rim of the sound hole. Both of these defects are covered by the finish so it is not something that happened at the retailer. Again, these are minor defects and are only noticable if you are looking for them.

For the money spent, this guitar is of great value. The sound is equivalent to some guitars I have played "in-store" that I was not ready to shell out on. This is the best guitar you can get within this price range.

I have not as yet needed any support for this instrument so I will give Ibanez the benefit of the doubt with an eight. The guitar comes with a "limited lifetime warranty" and zzounds offers their 30 day play to your satisfaction guarantee.

I don't know if I would deem any inanimate object "sexy", except for maybe Jessica Simpson, but the guitar is nice to look at and even nicer to hear.

Hobbyist

Acoustic rock, early -mid nineties, classic rock