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When I think about Ibanez GA5TCE, the first word that comes to mind is “little package of everything!” And this guitar justifies the word perfectly. Ibanez classical guitars always sound great and are easy to fret and play.
The Ibanez GA5TCE is one of the finest classical guitars available out there. Its features and construction elements are top notches that a guitarist will fall in love with in a moment. Let’s explore the features of this guitar.
| Made In | China |
| Model: | Ibanez GA5TCE |
| Body: | Classical Body |
| Top: | Spruce |
| Neck: | Okoume |
| Scale: | 25.5” |
| Nut Width: | 46 mm |
| Weight: | N/A |
| Fretboard: | Purpleheart |
| Frets: | 21 |
| Electronics: | Ibanez AEQ-2T w/ onboard tuner |
| Bridge: | Purpleheart |
| Design: | Thinline Cutaway |
The Thin Body of Ibanez GA5TCE
This Ibanez GA5TCE classical guitar has a thin line cutaway classical body. A cutaway is a guitar body design element that relates to the upper bout indentation on the treble side. They are design elements that can be found on both acoustic and electric guitars.
The idea is that this will allow for more straightforward access to greater frets and more convenient performance. A hollow or semi-hollow thin-line guitar has a thinner body than a conventional guitar, in addition to becoming hollow or semi-hollow. These guitars are well-known for their reliability and durability.
But, there is a question. Is there any variation in sound between a cutaway and a non-cutaway guitar?
So, yes, there is a variation in sound between a cutaway guitar and a non-cutaway guitar, according to simple scientific laws. Without a cutaway, the guitar’s sound may be a little fuller in the lower register.
Finest Top Wood
The guitar’s top is made of Spruce, a lighter wood with a slight grain pattern. This wood tends to give our guitars a more “classic” appearance, as spruce has become the most highly rated wood for acoustic guitars. Spruce contrasts best with the dark wood back and sides, adding another aspect of artistic charm.
What makes it playable?
What I find most comforting about this guitar is the neck. The Okoume neck enhances playing pleasure. It is just right for all types of finger styles and strumming. And let’s not forget about the neckwood.
Okoume is a type of wood that perfectly reproduces sound. It’s well-balanced, light, very solid, strong, but easy to shape. This wood will also surprise you because it feels great to touch and has a unique look with a satin finish.
Fingerboard:
The Ibanez GA5TCE guitar fingerboard opens in a new window. As it’s a Thinline guitar, you may think the guitar’s fretboard is smaller than other classical guitars. But trust me, this is the wow factor of this guitar.
GA5TCE has a 21-fret purpleheart fingerboard. The purpleheart fretboard highlights the guitar’s beauty and rich tonal character.
The fretboard is 46mm wide at the nut and 58mm wide at the 14th fret. The fretboard radius is 350mm, a bit flatter than most classical guitars.
The frets are medium-sized and well-crowned, making them comfortable to play. The fretboard also has a slight bit of fanning, which helps improve intonation.
Unique Inlays
The fretboard is inlaid with abalone dot inlays, which are a bit larger than the typical dot inlays on a classical guitar. This makes it easier to see the fretboard markers, especially when playing in the upper registers.
Pickup:
This classical guitar has an Ibanez under saddle pickup. Undersaddle pickups are one of the most common types in acoustic guitars, and you can often find them in the newest guitars. It’s because the pickup is right under the end of the strings. Most of the time, these sound better than magnetic mics because they are cleaner, have more bass, and are sharper.
With the Ibanez Undersaddle Pickup, you can change the bass’s sound. It also cuts down on noise and makes various natural piezo-style sounds. It can also pick up palm hits and sound like a bass drum.
Learn more about classical guitar pickups just by clicking here!
Electronics:
The Ibanez GA5TCE classical guitar has the Ibanez AEQ-2T w/ onboard tuner. The preamp is small and straightforward. And it has only two control knobs: volume and shape.
This tone control gives you a natural acoustic sound in the middle spot. The tone can be changed quickly, and players can go from low, fat, and powerful sounds to bright, clear ones by turning just one button.
Weight:
Ibanez GA5TCE is a thin-looking guitar, but it’s not that light. This Classical guitar weighs about 6.6 lbs.
The average weight of classical guitars is around 4 lbs, but the range starts at 3 lbs and goes up to 5 lbs. So, a lighter classical guitar weighs around 3 lbs, and heavies weigh about 5 lbs.
So, we can consider it a heavier classical guitar. Though classical guitars are generally considered lighter and smaller than others, there can be exceptions like this one.
Bridge:
The guitar’s bridge is made of purpleheart wood. Purpleheart wood rose to prominence after luthiers began using it in guitars. The Purpleheart bridge directs string vibration to the body, producing a natural and warm tone.
Purpleheart’s unique purple color can be incredibly appealing and make a guitar stand out. It is also known for its distinct, profound tone, which lends itself well to fingerstyle guitar playing.
It is worth noting that Purpleheart is not a common building material choice for bridges, and it is inexpensive. It is typically used by luthiers or those who create custom-made guitars.
However, because of its popularity, it can be costly, though purpleheart wood is considerably less expensive. Like purpleheart wood, Mahogany wood is inexpensive and popular for its comforting, refined tone and good sustain.
Final word
Whether you’re in the market for a classically sized instrument or a beginning guitar that won’t break the bank, this one will impress you with its construction, tone, and playability quality.
Pros & Cons of Ibanez GA5TCE
Pros
Sound Quality: The Ibanez GA5TCE has a smooth, full sound that projects well, which makes it an excellent choice for classical and fingerstyle guitarists.
Comfortable Playability: Ibanez guitars are known for their comfortable neck profiles and low action, which makes playing the GA5TCE a breeze. This primarily benefits players new to classical guitars or those who prefer a more modern feel.
Cutaway Design: The GA5TCE features a cutaway body design, allowing easier access to the higher frets.
Cons
Neck: Some players may find the neck to be a bit too thick.
FAQs
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