Product: Mann AJ-306
Price Paid: UNKNOWN
Submitted
01/17/2009
at
11:02pm
by
MJB
Email: guitarsniper1<at>hotmail dot com
Features
:
7
Not sure of the year. Heard they were made in Japan by Ibanez in the 70's and 80's. Dreadnaught Acoustic. 20 Frets, 'rosewood colored' fretboard. Looks like solid top, but it's painted black. White pearloid trim. Nut width 1 11/16". Bridge has screws to adjust height, nice touch. Tuners are cast. Martin style headstock. Twin white pickguards, one on each side of sound hole, possibly left hand version was available (. Frets are medium-jumbo, action is set medium high, neck is fat. I'll give it a 7 for the bridge and twin pickguards (possible lefty conversion feature)
Sound
:
8
Suprisingly good sound highs, mids and lows! Maybe the wood has aged nicely. Strings stay in tune even with cheap tuners. There was a buzz on the low E when I got it, but I just raised the bridge a touch and it's been gone since, even with string changes and in open tunings. Action is high enough to play decent slide on it and barks nicely in open G or open D. Intonation above 14th fret out a bit.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
6
See above for adjustments on buzzing E. Trim is cheap, paint is holding up well though, but flaws here and there. Action satisfactory
Reliability/Durability
:
7
Ok for buskering maybe, it's held up for 20+years. It was given to me by a friend 3 years ago who played bass in a 80's-90's Hair Metal band that toured for 9 years with it on the road. They used it for writing their songs. It obviously was durable enough to last through their excesses! I doubt they used it live though! I beat the S#*t out of it when I play it, and other than the pickguard being worse for wear, it's hanging in there.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Ha-ha, I doubt they're going to offer support on this relic.
Overall Rating
:
No Opinion
If it were stolen or lost, I'd be p*ssed, cuz of the sentimental value.
Been playing about 5 years now. Have an Epiphone Les Paul that I have set-up and tuned always to open G for slide playing, Yamaha AEX-500 tuned standard for everything else, Crate tube head only use clean channel (it's really loud) and Crate 2x12 Cabinet, a Marshall 15w practice amp and one pedal, an Ibanez TS-9. The rest is up to me.
