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Ibanez GA5TCE Thinline Electro Acoustic Classical Guitar

 

Review of the Ibanez GA5 TCE by The Man in the Jar 

Not often you see me with one of these...

Features of the Ibanez GA5 TCE  

Tuners - These are standard open-geared classical tuning heads, two sets of three set on decorated gold plates with rather attractive carved knobs. 

Headstock - The headstock has two slots in it. The tuning heads are mounted on the side edge of the headstock and turn rollers that span the space across the slots. Each roller has a small hole drilled through it through which the string is threaded. The nylon strings can then be tensioned to the correct pitch .

Nut - The Ivorex nut abuts the fretboard and is tidily finished.

Neck - The mahogany neck has the proportions required of this type of classical instrument but the high gloss lacquer finish makes it a smooth and fast player. 

Fretboard - The light rosewood fretboard is bound in black. The fretboard itself carries no fret markers but the binding on the top edge carries white dots for the player's reference.

Frets - The traditionally thin frets are well finished. 

Action - The action was quite low on the model I tried, but the nylon strings require less energy to fret so this feature is not as it would be on a fully steel strung guitar. 

Body - The thinline body has mahogany back and sides and a spruce top. The body is bound in black front and back and the top is finished off with a pinstripe binding. The single slight cutaway assists upper fret access.

Bridge - Simple rosewood bridge has an integral stop-tail through which the strings are tied off. The Ivorez saddle is slightly slanted but not compensated.

Pickup - The Ibanez under saddle pickup is installed, er, under the saddle.

Controls - The control panel sits on the top edge of the body and incorporates the battery compartment. As well as a battery test button there are three sliders and one rotary. The sliders control Treble, Middle and Bass, the rotary controls Volume. 

Strap-buttons - There are no strap buttons.

Output - In the lower edge of the body.

Finish - Very good throughout.

Accessories - An Ibanez gigbag.

 

Sound of the Ibanez GA5 TCE 

Unamplified the GA5 lacks volume as one would expect from a shallow-bodied thinline instrument. The tone of the guitar is basically very good, so the lack of volume might be a Godsend for rehearsing acoustically without disturbing the cat. Plugged in however the GA5 becomes a different prospect. The AEQ303 equalizer installed on this guitar was especially designed for nylon strung instruments. The tone is very natural and full and the EQ offers ample scope to tweak the voice to your own preference.

 

Overall Impressions of the Ibanez GA5 TCE

I was doubly impressed with the GA5 once I saw the price. Such a playable little instrument with such a gorgeous amplified voice for only a little over £100?  If you are a classical player with amplification issues or an electric player who feels like expanding into nylon, then the GA5 is a giveaway bargain.

Buy the Ibanez GA5 TCE

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