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Ibanez AEL30SE Acoustic Electric Guitar
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The Ibanez AEL30SE Acoustic Electric Guitar is a big-bodied guitar with volume to match its size. Equipped with a Fishman Sonicore pickup coupled wit...Click To Read More About This Product
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A large guitar with excellent projection.
The Ibanez AEL30SE Acoustic Electric Guitar is a big-bodied guitar with volume to match its size. Equipped with a Fishman Sonicore pickup coupled with an Ibanez AEQ-SST Shape Shifter preamp, the AEL30SE is ready to perform in acoustic or electric environments. The built-in tuner offers easy and discrete mid-set tuning.The solid Engelmann spruce top produces a lot of projection with tight, articulate sound that is modulated and warmed by the big mahogany body and neck. Cosmetics include an intricate abalone rosette and fret block inlays.The Ivorex II nut is stronger and more durable than bone and even harder than the original Ivorex. It permits brilliant highs and more pronounced lows with less mid-range that makes Ivorex II-fitted guitars perfect for amplification.
- AEL Body
- Mahogany Neck, back and sides
- Solid Engelmann spruce top
- Abalone Rosette
- Ibanez die-cast tuners
- Fishman Sonicore Pickup
- Ibanez AEQ-SST Shape Shifter Preamp with Onboard Tuner
- Balanced 1/4" and XLR Outputs
- Rosewood Bridge and Fretboard
- Ivorex II Nut and Saddle
- Advantage Bridge Pins
- D'Addario EXP Strings
- Case sold separately
- Body dimensions
- AEL Body Style
- 16" width
- 5" depth
- 20" length
- Neck dimensions
- 25.5" scale
- 1.69" nut width
Review Snapshot
by PowerReviews(based on 10 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
100%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Most Liked Positive Review
Better Than the Price Tag
My 18 y/o son has a couple of acoustic guitars that had belonged to my Dad (Martin D-18, Ibanez Lonestar series - both from the mid 1980s) but he didn't have...Read complete review
My 18 y/o son has a couple of acoustic guitars that had belonged to my Dad (Martin D-18, Ibanez Lonestar series - both from the mid 1980s) but he didn't have an acoustic electric, so we picked this one up in black as a Christmas present.
Out of the box this guitar looked and sounded great, strung with D'Addario mediums. Even the setup was ok out of the box - strings might be a touch high, but not by much.
I think that for the money, it's tough to go wrong with this guitar. The electronics seem to be pretty good, but it does just fine even when it isn't plugged in. My title of this review, "Better Than the Price Tag" is exactly how we feel - we caught a holiday sale that knocked about 25% off the price tag, so it put this guitar in a very affordable price bracket that wasn't terribly hard on the wallet.
We just A/B'ed this guitar against the Martin D-18. Both were restrung just yesterday with D'Addario mediums that came out of the same 3-pack of strings, so it's a good A/B comparison. Let's not get carried away and say that this sounds better than the 1985 Martin - it doesn't. The Martin has a level of focus, projection, volume and balance to the sound that just isn't going to be touched by a guitar at this price point. Having said that, IMO it fared pretty well. The Martin is louder and is brighter, but this Ibanez AEL30SE definitely hangs in there. It's not quite as loud and the character of the sound is a bit more mellow, but given the difference in cost between this and the current street price of the D-18, it's more than holding its own. The guitar projects well and has a nice balanced clarity. It's a guitar my son can take out and jam with, not have to worry too much about, and unlike his other two acoustics, this one can be plugged in and easily amplified. As a side note (keeping in mind he's the player - I'm a musician to, but not on guitar) he likes the neck and how it feels when playing it, and for the stuff he's playing, he definitely likes the cutaway body which gives better access to the whole guitar neck.
The only "con" regarding this instrument is that it doesn't come with a case, and finding a case for a non-dreadnought style larger bodied guitar is a bit more of a challenge.
Bottom line: if you are looking for a solid acoustic/electric guitar but your budget doesn't allow for a big purchase, this guitar - the Ibanez AEL30SE - is definitely worth checking out.
VS
Most Liked Negative Review
Great amplified, not so great acoustic
Beautiful guitar (I got the dark violin finish) that sounds great plugged in, but I was hoping for a deeper, more resonant acoustic tone. I didn't expect it to sound as full...Read complete review
Beautiful guitar (I got the dark violin finish) that sounds great plugged in, but I was hoping for a deeper, more resonant acoustic tone. I didn't expect it to sound as full as my Taylor dreadnaught, but I was still disappointed after reading such glowing reviews. There are good reasons why other dreadnaughts don't have such a deep body as I suspect the resonance gets lost inside and doesn't get properly projected. I would recommend, but only if you intend to plug it in.
Reviewed by 10 customers
Displaying reviews 1-10
Comments about Ibanez AEL30SE Acoustic Electric Guitar:
Sounds great. Lots of projection and vlume. Has a bright sound, not a lot of midrange. This you may or may not like. I like it. Excellent design and looks.
Onboard tuner, gold colored tuning machines, abalone rosette, Fishman preamp, lots of features for an acoustic.
Pretty darn good. Made in China. I needed to shim the bridge and file the nut and tweak the truss rod but now I have low action, very little buzz and plays in tune quite well. This is a lot of guitar for the price, so the quality is not a ten, obvioulsy but maybe for the price it is.
I spent two hours playing all the acoustics in the local music store up to the this price range and this was the best.
Comments about Ibanez AEL30SE Acoustic Electric Guitar:
I was looking for a reasonably priced quality guitar that I could take out and not worry too much about it getting banged up. My gig guitars are too expensive to knock around with. I had a local luthier adjust the neck, nut, saddle, and frets. All guitars need to be set up, and most music stores, though they will say otherwise, don't do it, or do it properly. This guitar is beautiful in looks and sound. It also plays smooth. I especially like the Fishman tuner. I found the auto tuner really handy. Great bang for your buck!
Pros
- Quality Vs Price
Cons
- No Case
Best Uses
Comments about Ibanez AEL30SE Acoustic Electric Guitar:
My 18 y/o son has a couple of acoustic guitars that had belonged to my Dad (Martin D-18, Ibanez Lonestar series - both from the mid 1980s) but he didn't have an acoustic electric, so we picked this one up in black as a Christmas present.
Out of the box this guitar looked and sounded great, strung with D'Addario mediums. Even the setup was ok out of the box - strings might be a touch high, but not by much.
I think that for the money, it's tough to go wrong with this guitar. The electronics seem to be pretty good, but it does just fine even when it isn't plugged in. My title of this review, "Better Than the Price Tag" is exactly how we feel - we caught a holiday sale that knocked about 25% off the price tag, so it put this guitar in a very affordable price bracket that wasn't terribly hard on the wallet.
We just A/B'ed this guitar against the Martin D-18. Both were restrung just yesterday with D'Addario mediums that came out of the same 3-pack of strings, so it's a good A/B comparison. Let's not get carried away and say that this sounds better than the 1985 Martin - it doesn't. The Martin has a level of focus, projection, volume and balance to the sound that just isn't going to be touched by a guitar at this price point. Having said that, IMO it fared pretty well. The Martin is louder and is brighter, but this Ibanez AEL30SE definitely hangs in there. It's not quite as loud and the character of the sound is a bit more mellow, but given the difference in cost between this and the current street price of the D-18, it's more than holding its own. The guitar projects well and has a nice balanced clarity. It's a guitar my son can take out and jam with, not have to worry too much about, and unlike his other two acoustics, this one can be plugged in and easily amplified. As a side note (keeping in mind he's the player - I'm a musician to, but not on guitar) he likes the neck and how it feels when playing it, and for the stuff he's playing, he definitely likes the cutaway body which gives better access to the whole guitar neck.
The only "con" regarding this instrument is that it doesn't come with a case, and finding a case for a non-dreadnought style larger bodied guitar is a bit more of a challenge.
Bottom line: if you are looking for a solid acoustic/electric guitar but your budget doesn't allow for a big purchase, this guitar - the Ibanez AEL30SE - is definitely worth checking out.
Comments about Ibanez AEL30SE Acoustic Electric Guitar:
This is a great guitar even if ot cost twice as much. The inlays are beautiful, the action is easy as well as the playablity. You'd expect a price tag much higher. I own a Taylor, and american ovation and it holds it's own against them. Want a true comparison...? A seagull, ( non electrified, no frills or inlays cost me nearly as much, and the Ibanez plays better, looks better, and has a built in tuner.
Comments about Ibanez AEL30SE Acoustic Electric Guitar:
this is the best guitar i have ever played in this price range. the sound unplugged is phenomenal and when its plugged in it has a clear, crisp sound. i highly recommend this guitar!
Comments about Ibanez AEL30SE Acoustic Electric Guitar:
I bought this guitar in the Dark Violin sunburst color, and it is absolutely gorgeous. Not only does this guitar look good, it plays and sounds like a dream. When the guitar arrived at my house it did need a little setting up, but most guitars you order online do anyway, right? Great guitar for the money. Very good product from Ibanez.
Comments about Ibanez AEL30SE Acoustic Electric Guitar:
This is a great instrument for someone, like myself, that enjoys unwinding from a long day by playing a few tunes and drinking a cold brew. Best gift to myself!!! Haha
Love the look and it sounds great. The built in tuner is pretty handy too. Now if only finding a guitar case was as easy
I lucked out and got this item when it was on sale - but it is worth every penny!
Pros
- Easy to play
- Great sound
- The action is unrivaled
Cons
- Onboard tuner
Best Uses
Comments about Ibanez AEL30SE Acoustic Electric Guitar:
for the price this guitar is simply amazing,a true ibanez
Pros
- Built-in tuner
- Great Pickup
Cons
- Thin Tone
Best Uses
- Beautiful Dark Finish
Comments about Ibanez AEL30SE Acoustic Electric Guitar:
Beautiful guitar (I got the dark violin finish) that sounds great plugged in, but I was hoping for a deeper, more resonant acoustic tone. I didn't expect it to sound as full as my Taylor dreadnaught, but I was still disappointed after reading such glowing reviews. There are good reasons why other dreadnaughts don't have such a deep body as I suspect the resonance gets lost inside and doesn't get properly projected. I would recommend, but only if you intend to plug it in.
Pros
- Fishman Electronics
- Fit Finish Is Flawless
- great set up
- Low action
- Nice Fretboard Inlay
- Nice Soundhole Inlay
Cons
- none
Best Uses
- Fingerstyle Heaven
Comments about Ibanez AEL30SE Acoustic Electric Guitar:
Not sure how Ibanez does it, but I hope they keep it up. The Vintage Violin finish is gorgeous, it may be soon discontinued for some reason, got this on sale for a steal of a price; right out of the box to playing; already perfectly set up and even in tune after being in the hands of UPS. To appreciate this guitar you have to plug it in..it comes alive. Very playable, great tone. Press the PHASE switch when you pick it up and you will see that good things come in inexpensive packages.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Displaying reviews 1-10
