Ibanez AEF30MS

Korean made, 22 Frets
? Flamed Maple Top
? Pearl Block Abalone Inlay
? Gold Hardware
? Arched Maple Back
? Maple Sides
? Balanced XLR and 1/4O Outputs
? Marine Sunburst High Gloss Finish
Die-Cast Tuning Machines
Mahogan Neck
Rosewood Bridge & Fretboard
Fisherman Sonicore Pickup
Ibanez AEQ-SS Shape Shifter EQ
Ivorex Saddle

I'm running it out of a little Peavy amp and the sound is amazing. I play a lot of rhythm with a little picking and it sounds just as good as a $2,000 guitar(plugged in). On the other hand, unplugged sounds weak, similar to most thinlines, probably a little better because of the arched back. If it didn't soun so good plugged in I would rate it a 6 or 7.

I ended up bringing the first one back and they swapped it for a new one. The first one that I had was warped near the 12th and 13th fret. I sent the first one to the shop 3 times, then finnaly recieved a new one. The new one that I recieved was pretty much flawless. The action was low, and easy to play. The finsh on both looked great. If I didn't have any problems with the first one I'd rate it a 9

Without a doubt this guitar is capable of being played live. As far as reliability I'm not sure because I've only owned it for a couple months.

Customer support was pretty good. Each time I brought my first one in they took it right in with no hassle. But, my problem was back each time I got it back, except when I recieved a new one. I'm not sure how long the warranty is though.

I've been playing for 7 years. I own a Fender acoustic/eletric and it doesn't compare to the Ibanez plugged in. I would buy this guitar again if it was stolen or lost. I like the sound plugged in, the finish on it, the action on it, and the pearl block inlays. I also wass checking out the Yamaha APX-30, basically the same guitar, but the Ibanez is about $200 cheaper.

2001 Ibanez AEF30MS acoustic/electric guitar. Medium-thin body with single cutaway. Arched maple back, maple sides, flamed maple top, mahogany neck. Gold hardware. Abalone/mother of pearl block inlays in rosewood fretboard. Bound neck and body. High-gloss marine blue transparent finish. Fishman Sonicore pickup, controls include bass, mid, treble, presence, and volume. 9V battery, truss wrench, and alternate saddle included. No case.

This guitar sounds fantastic! The arched back gives it a sound that's somewhere between an Ovation roundback and a traditional flat-back acoustic. In fact, I originally went into the store to buy an Ovation, money in hand. When I saw the AEF30, it was so beautiful I had to play it...20 minutes later I was walking out of the store with it. Plugged in it has a nice, full sound slightly warmer than the unplugged tone. Unplugged, it's bright and clean. Not as warm as a full-size acoustic, but not as thin as other slimlines.

I've talked to several other people who own these, and there's a lot of discrepancies...I got lucky. This guitar is absolutely beautiful, but it also plays really well. The action is low for an acoustic...1/16th at the 12th fret, and not a hint of buzzing anywhere on the neck. The frets are perfect, better than many of my electric guitars. String bending is smooth, and it's just a hoot to play it...hard to believe it's an acoustic sometimes. The finish is flawless, and it's a very solid guitar. The tuners are sealed, and they work really well. The neck seems to hold up to changes in humidity fairly well (I'm in Florida), I've had to adjust it a couple of times, but hey...it's wood.

I haven't played out with this one, but it's solid enough. The finish seems to be durable, the one strap buttom is pretty beefy (the jack goes through it), and it stays in tune no matter what you play.

Never had to deal with them. If you request literature, they get it out in a hurry, but what company doesn't.

I've been playing for about 23 years. I own several electrics, including 2 Kramers, 3 Ibanez, a Carvin DC400, a G&L ASAT Special, and an Ibanez bass. I've never thought much of the Ibanez acoustics I played in the past, and as I said I was heading into the store to buy an Ovation and walked out with this one. If you're in the market, try to play a few of them, because it seems they're not all put together as well as mine. Then again, that's true of a lot of guitars...