Ibanez AW5412CE Acoustic Guitar: Full Review

to the Ibanez AW5412CE

The Ibanez AW5412CE is an acoustic-electric guitar that offers solid build quality and impressive sound at an accessible price point. Part of Ibanez's Artwood series, the AW5412CE features a classic dreadnought body shape made from solid mahogany back and sides with a solid spruce top. This tonewood combination produces a balanced, nuanced acoustic tone that works well for all styles of music. Fitted with Ibanez's AEQ-SP2 preamp and Fishman Sonicore pickup, the AW5412CE also functions as a plugged-in acoustic for amplified performances or recording. With its hand-rubbed open pore natural finish, distinctive fretboard inlays, and smooth neck profile, the Ibanez AW5412CE combines visual flair with rich acoustic resonance. This makes it an attractive option for intermediate players and working musicians seeking an affordable, stage-ready acoustic-electric.

Construction

The Ibanez AW5412CE features a traditional dreadnought body for projecting full bodied tones. It has a solid Sitka spruce top, which is prized for its strength, lightness and responsiveness. Spruce is known for its clear, bright tone that enhances articulation and dynamic range.

The back and sides are made of solid mahogany, which provides warmth, depth and balanced tone. Mahogany adds richness to the fundamental notes and overtones. The combination of spruce and mahogany produces a guitar with crisp highs, pronounced mids and full low end.

The neck is also constructed from mahogany for stability and sustain. It has a dual-action truss rod for adjusting neck relief as needed. The fingerboard is rosewood, which is durable and provides a smooth playing feel. Overall the materials and construction of the AW5412CE are designed for reliability, comfort and rich acoustic resonance.

The AW5412CE is an acoustic-electric guitar, meaning it has built-in electronics that allow you to plug into an amplifier or PA system. It has an Ibanez AEQ-SP2 preamp and Fishman Sonicore pickup for amplifying the natural acoustic tone. The guitar stays feedback-resistant at high volumes so you can play live gigs without audio issues.

If you're looking for a great full-sized acoustic-electric guitar, also check out the Fender AUS-0370121532-COMBO-PRO. This is another high quality dreadnought with solid wood construction and Fishman electronics. The top is solid Sitka spruce for bright, detailed tone. The back and sides are ovangkol, which provides a balanced frequency response similar to rosewood.

The Fender AUS-0370121532-COMBO-PRO comes equipped with a Fishman Presys pickup system that accurately conveys the natural acoustic tone. It has volume and tone controls mounted discretely inside the soundhole for easy adjustments on the fly. The Fender dreadnought produces full, rich sound and has the versatility to perform well both acoustically and plugged in.

Both the Ibanez AW5412CE and Fender AUS-0370121532-COMBO-PRO are excellent choices for gigging musicians who need amplified acoustic tone and reliability. The all-solid wood construction provides vibrant, nuanced tone with great resonance and sustain. While the Ibanez has an edge in price, the Fender offers alternative aesthetics and electronics options. Trying them out in person is recommended to determine which dreadnought acoustic-electric best suits your needs and playing style.

Sound

The Ibanez AW5412CE produces a rich and balanced tone that projects well, making it a great choice for both studio recording and live performance situations. The solid Sitka spruce top contributes to the guitar's bright, clear sound while the mahogany back and sides add warmth and depth.

While many acoustic-electrics tend to sound thin when not plugged in, the AW5412CE maintains impressive volume and resonance unplugged. The midrange frequencies are emphasized, resulting in excellent note definition and clarity. The bass response is also quite robust, providing a solid low-end that doesn't get too boomy. The highs have sparkle but aren't overly bright or harsh.

Overall, the guitar has an open, well-rounded sound with the nice balanced EQ curve you'd expect from a quality acoustic-electric in this price range. It handles different playing styles well, from delicate fingerpicking to aggressive strumming, and works nicely for various genres from folk to rock. The tone projects well enough for performing live without feedback issues.

If you're looking for an affordable acoustic-electric with great sound quality, be sure to check out the Monoprice 625904. This guitar punches above its weight class when it comes to tone, with a solid spruce top and mahogany back and sides that produce a balanced, nuanced sound. The midrange is clear and articulate, while the bass and treble are smooth and even. It works well for fingerstyle playing and strumming chords. While it doesn't have the projection of a high-end acoustic, it's impressive for the price. The onboard preamp and pickup allow you to plug in for live gigs or recording. Overall, the Monoprice 625904 is an excellent value acoustic-electric with quality construction and great sound.

Playability

The Ibanez AW5412CE acoustic guitar features a slim, fast neck profile that plays very smoothly. The neck has a thin shape that should be comfortable for most hands, allowing for quick runs up and down the fretboard.

Many reviewers mention how effortless and natural this Ibanez feels to play, partly thanks to the low string action. The action refers to the height of the strings from the fretboard, and on this model it is set quite low from the factory. This makes pressing down the strings to fret notes easier without buzzing. Players with a light touch should appreciate the very playable low action.

Some additional playability factors that contribute to the AW5412CE's accessibility include its shorter 24.9" scale length, 1.69" nut width, and 14:1 ratio nickel alloy tuners. Overall the Ibanez AW5412CE offers a fast, fluid playing experience perfect for musicians who want high playability.

Electronics

The Ibanez AW5412CE features the Fishman Sonicore pickup and preamp system, which is known for providing excellent amplification and sound reproduction. The undersaddle pickup accurately captures the guitar's natural acoustic tone, while the preamp gives you control over volume and tone shaping.

Some key features of the Fishman electronics include:

• Onboard tuner - Makes tuning fast and convenient without needing a separate tuner
• Volume control - Lets you adjust the output level for ideal amplification
• 3-band EQ - Provides tone shaping in the lows, mids, and highs
• Phase switch - Helps eliminate feedback at high volumes
• Blend knob - Mixes the pickup and mic together for more tonal options
• Notch filter - Cuts out narrow frequency bands that cause feedback

The controls are mounted in an easy-to-access soundhole preamp, allowing you to make quick adjustments on the fly. Overall, the Fishman system reproduces the AW5412CE's warm, balanced sound very accurately. It's flexible and easy to work with, whether playing live or in the studio.

Appearance

The Ibanez AW5412CE has a simple but elegant aesthetic that lets the gorgeous tonewoods take center stage.

The top is solid sitka spruce, with an open pore natural finish that enhances the wood's visual beauty. There's minimal abalone purfling around the top, rosette and fretboard for a touch of elegance without being too flashy.

The back and sides are ovangkol, a tonewood similar to rosewood that provides warmth and resonance. It has an attractive grain pattern that stands out under the open pore finish.

The mahogany neck has a smooth satin finish, making it very playable and comfortable. The headstock has the Ibanez logo inlaid in pearl for a touch of class.

Overall, the visual design allows the stellar tonewoods to shine through without too much ornamentation. It's a guitar that looks as good as it sounds.

Comfort

The Ibanez AW5412CE features a comfortable, lightweight body that's easy to play for hours on end. Weighing just under 4 lbs, it won't fatigue your shoulders and back even during lengthy practice or gigging sessions.

The Grand Concert body style provides a nice balance between playability and projection. The curves contour nicely to your body, unlike some "boxier" dreadnought designs. Whether you're seated or standing, the AW5412CE feels natural in playing position.

The smooth, open-pore finish on the mahogany top and back/sides makes this an inviting acoustic to hold. Your hands will enjoy the satin feel of the neck as well. Overall, the AW5412CE offers a lightweight, ergonomic body shape built for playing comfort.

Value

The Ibanez AW5412CE provides excellent value for the money. Though not the cheapest acoustic-electric guitar on the market, it is very fairly priced considering the quality of materials, construction, electronics, and overall playability.

The solid mahogany top produces a full, balanced tone that punches above its price range. While not as rich sounding as more expensive rosewood or cedar tops, the mahogany has a focused voice that projects well unplugged or amplified. The chrome die-cast tuners hold tune reliably, so the guitar stays in tune song after song.

The onboard electronics feature Ibanez's own AEQ2T preamp and SST pickup, delivering natural amplified tones comparable to systems found on guitars costing twice as much. The flexible EQ lets you shape your amplified sound, while the built-in tuner makes on-the-fly tuning adjustments easy.

For gigging musicians on a budget or hobbyists who want great bang for their buck, the Ibanez AW5412CE is tough to beat. You simply won't find many other acoustic-electrics with this level of quality control, hardware, electronics, playability, and appealing looks at this price point. It's a lot of guitar for the money.

Alternatives

While the Ibanez AW5412CE is an excellent mid-range acoustic-electric guitar, there are certainly comparable models from other major brands like Taylor and Martin that are worth considering.

The Taylor 314ce is likely the closest competitor to the Ibanez. It offers a solid Sitka spruce top with layered rosewood back and sides. The tone is very balanced across the frequency range with crisp highs and warm low bass. It has a nice mid-range focused voice perfect for fingerstyle playing. The playability is very comfortable thanks to the slim neck profile and lower action.

Another alternative is the Martin D-18 dreadnought. This all solid wood guitar produces a loud and deep tone with the spruce and mahogany combination. The sound projects with authority thanks to the larger dreadnought body shape. It's an excellent choice for bluegrass and country players who need to cut through an ensemble mix. The playability is also top notch with a polished and fast neck.

While these models do cost more than the Ibanez, they illustrate the types of premium features found on high end acoustic guitars. The Ibanez offers excellent value by delivering great tone and playability at a more affordable price point. But for those with bigger budgets, the Taylor and Martin models are worth checking out.

Summary

The Ibanez AW5412CE acoustic-electric guitar provides great value in a mid-range price acoustic guitar. With its solid mahogany top, back, and sides, this guitar produces a full, rich sound perfect for playing anything from country to rock. The guitar's slim neck and comfortable body size make it an ideal choice for players of all levels looking for an affordable, quality acoustic-electric.

Overall, the pros of this guitar are its warm, balanced tone and easy playability. The electronics allow it to be plugged in for live performances or recording. Potential drawbacks are the lack of cutaway for upper fret access and the unavailability of a left-handed model. However, for right-handed players seeking a handsome, great sounding acoustic-electric guitar that won't break the bank, the Ibanez AW5412CE is an excellent option worth checking out.