Ibanez AE325 Review

I offer my Ibanez AE325 review for connoisseurs of modern classics, combining the elements of traditional luthiery and modern design. It is a great value-for-money acoustic-electric guitar from the AE series, offering a classic look and pleasant sound. The instrument was released in China in 2020, and in 2021 its body was slightly enlarged. This model is capable of winning many hearts. Let’s take a closer look at the Ibanez AE325 specs!

Body

So, let’s start with the Venetian resonator-shaped guitar body with a Solid Sitka Spruce top in Natural Low Gloss color, which gives the instrument a warm sound. The shape is worth paying attention to, as it was designed for projection, balance, and comfort, thanks to the narrow waist and neckline. The balanced sound and stability are also helped by the unconventional, years-proven Ibanez X-M Bracing system. You’ll feel the benefits of the vibrations as soon as you start playing. The sides and back are made of Flamed Okoume with a glossy finish. As a result, the guitar feels really good in your hands. The satin polyurethane finish makes the wood grain of the AE325 stand out in the stage light and also protects the surface from minor damage.

Neck, fingerboard, headstock

The 5-piece Comfort Grip fingerboard with rounded edges and Ebony and Pau Ferro overlays is dovetailed to the body. It is sturdy and comfortable in hand, allowing you to perform complex dynamic compositions effortlessly. The Macassar Ebony fingerboard has 20 frets, and the Specially designed Wooden Vine inlay and Luminlay side dots look impressive and will be remembered by the audience. Rounding out the components include a compensated Macassar Ebony scalloped bridge saddle with Ibanez Advantage stakes, a bone nut, and chrome molded tuning knobs. The tuners 18:1 are soft, easy to tune, and hold the tone well.

Pickup system

The guitar’s electronics are very good quality and hybrid (two-way). The Magnetic Ibanez AP11 pickup is small, lightweight, mounted on the fingerboard, connected to an Ibanez Custom Electronics preamp, and captures the sound clearly at any frequency, giving the guitar a natural clean sound. Handles chorus and reverb perfectly. The sound is also sent to the T-bar pickup, which has a separate control. That means this system will allow you to play any genre of music. There are Dual Outputs (Mono Out / Stereo Out), so you can use two pickups, or just one, according to your taste. What also distinguishes this model from others in its class is the natural bone nut and the compensated bone saddle, which affect the frequency balance and stability.

Sound quality

In fact, I’ve already explained above what factors affect the sound of the Ibanez AE325, and I assure you it sounds great. You can really play all genres, from blues to rock. The bass is clean, the treble and midrange sound clear, and the sound is spacious and quite loud. I even tried a combo on it, and it worked! This model will not disappoint you. Of course, there are more expensive versions, but in its category, the instrument can surprise even the experienced musician.