The Ibanez Artwood line of acoustic guitars are designed to deliver the goods, and to look good while doing it. Available in a variety of body styles, including Grand Concert, Jumbo, and, of course, the ever-popular Dreadnought, the guitars in the Artwood line all feature solid wood tops, rather than the laminated plywood construction often found on lesser guitars, with eye-catching finishes like Cherry Sunburst or Dark Violin Sunburst; or Natural finishes to highlight some of the more figured or exotic tonewoods available, like flamed or quilted maple, walnut, and bubinga. Of course, tone, playability and build quality are of utmost importance, and Ibanez delivers on all counts, and at incredibly affordable prices. Other features and options available, depending on model, include cutaway body style; body, neck and headstock binding; left-handed versions; and acoustic-electrics equipped with goodies like a Fishman pickup with Ibanez preamp and onboard tuner, and balanced XLR and 1/4” outputs. There’s an incredible array of models available, from the elegant simplicity of the AW50 Dreadnought to the elegantly appointed AW3000CEWC, with LR Baggs electronics and gold Grover tuners. The eminently affordable AW50 packs a lot more punch than most guitars in its price range, with a mahogany neck and solid Sitka spruce top, which sounds great right out of the box, and even better as it ages. Most guitars priced this low are built with laminated plywood tops, or soundboards, usually derived from cheaper, thinner cuts of wood glued together to provide the necessary strength to support the stress of the strings. A solid wood top, on the other hand, requires a thicker piece of higher-quality wood, which tends to sound better, with more resonance and sustain, and actually tends to improve tonally with age, as the wood, finish, glue and other elements of the guitar settle in. The AW50ACE kicks it up a notch, with a cutaway body style for excellent access to the upper frets, and Fishman/Ibanez electronics for stellar tone, whether you’re playing plugged in or acoustic. If you’re a fingerpicker, check out the AC240, AC300 and AC350ECENT Grand Concert models. The Grand Concert body style is a bit smaller than a Dreadnought, with a slightly shorter scale length and slightly wider neck, ideal for wringing intricate melodies and arpeggios from your fingers, while delivering a clear, well-balanced tone. The AC240 is crafted with a solid mahogany top and mahogany neck, back and sides for rich, pure tone whether picking or strumming, nicely appointed with an abalone rosette, while the AC300 Grand Concert features a solid spruce top with body and neck binding; and the stage-ready AC350ECENT boasts a cutaway and Fishman/Ibanez electronics. Lefties will want to try the AW300LECENT on for size, a finely appointed, left-handed Dreadnought with cutaway. For something a little different, check out the AJS1180ECENT Semi-Jumbo with distinctive cutaway design and killer electronics, for plenty of full, deep-bodied sound with reduced tendency to feedback, even at higher gain settings. Whatever your acoustic style or budget, the Ibanez Artwood Series has you covered, with finely crafted, solid-top guitars at unbelievably low prices. Order your Artwood today!
