New $180 Ibanez Tenor

[Verne Andru]

Looks like Ibanez has come out with another tenor guitar, this one on the very cost-effective side.



http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/PFT2NT

Ibanez PFT2 Tenor Acoustic Guitar Features:

- A traditional tenor acoustic guitar that anyone can afford
- C, G, D, A fifths tuning provides movable chords and unique voicings that complement other instruments
- Mini dreadnought body offers plenty of natural acoustic projection
- A perfect instrument for rhythm, lead, and solo playing across a wide range of musical styles
- Mahogany body topped with solid Sitka spruce provides a delightfully warm and complex voice
- Classy touches include white binding, an elegant 2-ring rosette, and real bone nut/compensated saddle

String Type: Steel
Number of Strings: 6
Body Style/Shape: Mini Dreadnought
Left-/Right-handed: Right-handed
Color: Natural
Finish: High Gloss
Top Wood: Spruce
Back & Sides Wood: Mahogany
Body Bracing: X
Neck Wood: Mahogany
Fingerboard Material: Rosewood
Fingerboard Inlay: White Dots
Binding: Black
Number of Frets: 20
Scale Length: 22.83"
Tuning Machines Open-Gear Tuners
Bridge Material: Rosewood
Nut/Saddle Material: Bone
Nut Width: 1.181"
Body Length: 16"
Body Width: 13.5"
Body Depth: 3.75"
Strings: D'Addario J-66 Tenor Guitar 80/20 Bronze (.010-.032)

[zedmando]

Cool, I like Ibanez overall (I own two guitars and a bass that are Ibanez)

This one tempts me...
Especially due to the price.

[fox]

That is really cheap for a solid top guitar although I very much doubt it will be that price in the UK.

[Chip Stewart]

That is really cheap for a solid top guitar although I very much doubt it will be that price in the UK.

The PFT is a laminated top. The AVT series has the solid tops.

[fox]

Ah yes, I guess just because they quote "Top Wood: Spruce" does not mean solid!
On a slightly different note ... I notice some very top end guitars now have laminated tops though be it the centre laminate is some sort of high tech honeycomb material!

[tkdboyd]

Just had a Octave mando ebay purchase go south, so I just used this purchase as therapy; I'll have it in a few days. I'll post a review once I know what I am to do with a tenor guitar.

[StuartE]

That's a very attractive price for the Ibanez Performance Tenor Guitar.

There's also an AVT tenor with a solid spruce top and pickup from Ibanez which MF has for $399.

Ibanez somewhat oxymoronically calls these mini-Dreadnought; they also apparently continue to produce PFT and AVT versions of the parlor tenor guitar.

[Verne Andru]

That's a very attractive price for the Ibanez Performance Tenor Guitar.

There's also an AVT tenor with a solid spruce top and pickup from Ibanez which MF has for $399.

Ibanez somewhat oxymoronically calls these mini-Dreadnought; they also apparently continue to produce PFT and AVT versions of the parlor tenor guitar.

I can't find anything on a PFT parlor - any links?

The Sweetwater page I linked to shows the PFT mini-dread to have Mahogany body topped with solid Sitka spruce - is that a typo then? [It's also showing 6 strings instead of 4, so maybe they were doing some creative cut and paste]

[StuartE]

Ibanez Parlor Tenor Guitar MF

[Verne Andru]

Ibanez Parlor Tenor Guitar MF

While that page say's it's a tenor, the pic is for a 6-string and the copy says it has 6 strings. I cannot find anything on Ibanez site about it either, so it's a mystery.

But, a 12-fret to the body parlor - even a laminate - will probably sound fuller than the 14-fret Artwood I'm thinking.

[MikeEdgerton]

MF has this one at 299.00 with a solid top.

[fox]

Just had a Octave mando ebay purchase go south, so I just used this purchase as therapy; I'll have it in a few days. I'll post a review once I know what I am to do with a tenor guitar.

Please let us know how it performs, i have played a few laminated top classical guitars just recently, they all looked sounded great.

[MdJ]

I believe this was posted by a NAMM attendee

IBANEZ TENORS ON MF

Ibanez is producing both body styles (mini-dread and parlour) in laminate top and solid top versions - at budget & mid level price points.

I have not had the pleasure to inspect or play any of them.

Best

MdJ

[Verne Andru]

I believe this was posted by a NAMM attendee

IBANEZ TENORS ON MF

Ibanez is producing both body styles (mini-dread and parlour) in laminate top and solid top versions - at budget & mid level price points.

That link also shows the laminate parlor to be called a tenor but the picture and copy are for a 6 string. While the others appear on the Ibanez site, there is no laminate parlor tenor showing in their current lineup.

[MdJ]

Not replacing. Adding to last year's parlor body.

Confusing i admit but -

Here are pics of the two mini dred models with model # & MSRP tags from NAMM - my uncomfirmed understanding is that the higher priced versions would have solid tops and PUPs ( or options for PUPs) - as well as slightly different bridge designs.

Perfectly possible that ibanez has changed their plans tho....

Moistly,

MdJ

[Verne Andru]

The PN1-NT plot thickens.

All the listings for what's billed as the Ibanez Performance PN1-NT Acoustic Tenor - that's on eBay, and the online resellers - show this 6-string parlor:



The listing says:

Body type: Parlor
Scale length: 620mm (24.4)
Number of strings: 6

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ibanez-Perfo...item3cf46aa424

When I sent them an email asking why they are calling a 6-string, Les Paul scale parlor guitar a tenor - which has 4 strings - they responded by sending me a copy of the same specs they've listed on their page.

This leads me to believe all resellers are using an erroneous image and a bad features cut-and-paste supplied by Ibanez.

If any of you are in communication with an Ibanez rep, could you seek clarification, please? I like the idea of a $150 tenor, but won't consider buying as long as the picture and specs are out of sync.

[tkdboyd]

Please let us know how it performs, i have played a few laminated top classical guitars just recently, they all looked sounded great.

This is my first experience with a tenor guitar.

First fit and finish: some scuff marks here and there, weird scuff on the side of the neck by the 5th fret. Overall, it looks nice enough, especially since it cost a total of $193.00, since I live in Indiana and Sweetwater is based in Indiana, I had to pay tax.

Set up: Has a truss rod, adjustable via the sound hole. I need to loosen the strings, add some graphite to nut and saddle, the A string broke when tuning, I have plenty of strings around the house so put a new one on, tuned it up. Either the factory or Sweetwater did a fine enough job setting it up. The instrument is easy to play.

Sound: Played "Banks of the Ohio" with double stops up the neck in the key of C, did the same with "You are My Sunshine" in F, I think it sounds good. I need to record it so I can hear it from a different perspective. Tried playing some solo Bach pieces, it will take time to reconfigure my mind around Guitar styled fingering/longer scale with an instrument tuned in 5ths. Played mostly open and three finger "Jethro style" chords. I need to really do a study in Texas Style fiddle tune/Jazz chord progressions to truly utilize this little beast.

I didn't waste any money. Perfectly usable instrument, looks are good enough, especially given the price point. I am sure the Collings Tenor doesn't have any of the blemishes and sounds ($)3000.00 times better.

If you want to dip your toes without getting soaked, this should be just fine.

[fox]

Cool... now you will soon have the bug & start looking at Spruce tops, mahogany tops & maybe even a cedar top....

[tkdboyd]

Been playing this thing all morning. It is a blast, and sounds really good. Sounds unbelievably good for the money!

[Mike Barber]

tkdboyd - I'm interested in your thoughts since you've had it in hand for a week or so. I'm seriously thinking about picking one up!

[Themis Paraskevas]

What is its tuning?

[fox]

If you look at the first post you can see all the specifications including the tuning, CGDA.

[Themis Paraskevas]

doesnt it have 6 strings?

[Mike Barber]

4 strings:
Ibanez site

I took the plunge and just ordered one.

[tkdboyd]

tkdboyd - I'm interested in your thoughts since you've had it in hand for a week or so. I'm seriously thinking about picking one up!

The only way that you would go wrong is if you have plenty of funds to get a really good one or not enough so that purchasing this would cause you fiscal difficulties.

Was playing it earlier this morning. Still loving it. Hope you enjoy yours!