Ibanez SGE 130-VS

Year: 2009, made in China
Body style: jumbo
Top: Spruce (not sure if it is solid)
Back & sides: Mahogany
Neck: Mahogany / Rosewood
Pickup: Ibanez AP3 Magnetic Pickup
Preamp: Ibanez AEQ200MT Preamp (incl.a tuner)
Tuners: Chrome Ibanez Smooth Tuner AS
Nut & saddle: Ibanez Ivorex II
Accessories: Ibanez Gigbag, Ibanez strap, cable, tools

Playing the SGE 130 without amp, you get a nice full sound with much bass and good treble tones. Played amplified there is a perfect sound which is just what I needed, very powerful bass, a full and thick bass sound but not muddy and nice clear tones.

I compared it directly to my Martin DM which is wonderful, but as I needed an amplified tone for an acoustic guitar, this Ibanez is perfect. Obviously there is no better guitar than a Martin, regarding first-class materials and workmanship, supersmooth playability and perfect full sound with clear tones, but with regard to the features (tuner included, excellent pickup), there is nothing you can do wrong with this Ibanez SGE 130!

Regarding the action, this guitar was delivered with an excellent set-up and feel. No complaints here at all. The playability is very good, not as perfect as my Martin DM, but really nice, no complaints.

The bridge, strings and all mechanical stuff is very good. The tuning machines also are wonderful, I got this guitar delivered on a very cold winters day and 1 minute after taking it out of the box, I played it and it almost was perfectly tuned! Impressive!

Also the wood and lacquer smelled almost like perfume, just super wonderful, I adore this smell of freshly worked wood and it really seems to be first quality, although the price is cheap and it was produced in China?! The wood felt like a Spanisch guitar maker product or something like this. Just incredible for the price!

Apart from the mechanical side, the finish is mindblowingly wonderful! I really adore it! It is so nice, that I fell in love with it immediately! And this nice vintage sunburst is not only beautiful, the lacquer finish is perfect, the very warm colours are matching in full harmony and also the feel of the neck lacquer when playing is fantastic.

The built-in tuner is also excellent, which saves me a lot of stress and enables me to retune anytime easily, perfect! Although the tuning machines are so stable, I hardly have to tune this guitar!!

The included Ibanez gigbag is very good, excellent quality, I really love this gigbag and will not buy a case because it is so stable and will protect the guitar very well.

I did not have the chance to play it live, but I basically bought it for this purpose and I am fully convinced it is very stable and will withstand harsh treatments!

The hardware is really superstable and absolutely built to last, as well as the whole construction of this guitar, it is absolutely well made and no doubt it will satisfy not only beginners!

The strap buttons are solid, but I do not use the simple included plastic strap, I prefer smoother leather straps!

This guitar will stay in tune, has a wonder feel and playability and I would easily use it for a gig without a backup. 100% good quality.

I had no issues so far and I am sure there would be no problem in case there was any repair necessary.

This is the perfect guitar for live performers or non-professionals enjoying the nice vintage look and feel, looking for a possibility to get an amplified acoustic guitar sound. I just received it and own a Martin DM which is my first love, but with regard to amplified acoustic sound, this Ibanez SGE 130 is just what I was looking for. I also play a Di Giorgio Autor 3 guitar from Brazil with Jacaranda wood and a Spanish classical guitar by Manuel Rodrigues with cutaway and pu.

My main guitars for blues, rock and jazz are Fender Strats (79 all original, Relic 65 Custom Shop, Japan 90s Squier Series, SRV Strat with mexican neck, all with rosewood neck and a custom-made maple neck 50s style with Kent Armstrong pu's, I own many jazzguitars by Framus (2 real vintage ones), Epiphone and D'Aquisto, Gibson Les Paul, Gibson SG, Jolana Iris (70 Czech Vintage Thinline Telecaster), Squier Custom Telecaster, and a wonderful 90s Fender Japan Jaguar which I bought from Calexico's Martin Wenk trumpet, accordion and guitar player.

I love this guitar for the nice amplified sound, the wonderful feel and vintage look. There is nothing negative I could tell about it.

I compared this guitar to an Epiphone AJ 100 and to my Martin DM. What I can say is that the Epiphone had no good feel at all, and the Martin DM is the best acoustic guitar with steel strings I owned so far with regard to sound, playability, feel and workmanship quality. But when comparing the price, I can easily recommend Ibanez especially when looking for a stage guitar or just wanting an amplified sound for recording or playing at home.

I would immediately replace this guitar if it was stolen or lost, no doubt.