I bought the 240OPN solid mahogany 3-4 yrs ago when it first came out and am still blown away by it today. I have 2 Martins, a nice Guild, Yamaha, and a Dove, and okay that Ibanez more than the rest. It’s so damn playable…has great Grovers on it, bone nut/saddle, great fat neck which I prefer, and most importantly it sounds incredible
Jeez. Great playing to show off this guitar. Finally a review with someone that can actually bring out the range of sounds available from this guitar. Well done!
Don't let the price fool you!!! This is a very good playing guitar and sounds wonderful!!!!!! I've been playing for 30yrs and own a lot of high end guitars. This guitar is very good for the price!!! I bout it for a travel guitar to take to friends houses!!! Don't want to take the expensive stuff!!!!!
I have this guitar and love it. If your looking for something to start learning finger-style with it’s perfect. It has a wider spread out strings than most dreadnoughts, and resonates extremely well. I can’t really recommend it enough.
I have the left handed version of this guitar and i love it , maybe more than my road series martin dreadnought. It is fun to play using only my fingers. Something about playing an acoustic with your fingers really has a beautiful warm and mellow tone. I tried using picks of various types, and find it all too harsh for my taste.
I've had this guitar for about 6 months. I put a Journeytek passive pickup, same as K&K mini, in it and did a basic set up. It is a joy to play and sounds WAY above its price. I keep trying to find another guitar to play in the under $750 range and just can't find one better than this. Great, great guitar.
I want to buy an Alvarez AF66SHB, too. I'm wondering if Alvarez is better than Ibanez ( AC340opn). Is Alvarez made in China? What kind of setup do they need? Thanks!
I changed the nut which increased string spacing, filed grooves in the bridge from bridge pin hole up to the saddle to increase the pressure of the strings on the saddle. It is wonderful except that a brace had a split in it. It is no harm
I have a 240 which was the earlier version. They came w Grover tuners and are Grand Concert size. I have a Martin and a Hummingbird but the little Ibanez is my favorite.
❤hey gents, hope you're well; your content is great. i live in the uk, and unfortunately could not buy from you cost effectively, but the recommendation is commendable. i bought one of these looking for something to play in the house, to compliment a couple other acoustics (Larrivee OM) and 000m-18, and both are sitka / mahogany, so the all mahog-ish is different, in a great way. to be honest it's the only guitar I've played since (new guitar syndrome, and it's actually really good, incredible for the money really). mine came set up at 2.5mm at the 12th fret (you can do the conversion to imperial ;-0 ). I've been playing for 50 years, not the best player ny a long shot, but this is so amazing for the money it's hard to comprehend. how can such a nice guitar be sold for about 250 bucks. It's subjective, but for a 1.75" nut, 25" scale, OM it's a complete and utter bargain. still shaking my head how it's possible. well done Ibanez. I have put on some Martin Lifespan 12-54, and that has made it even better. agreed, the ommision of a gig bag seems ridiculous, but cheap to rectify. keep up the good work .😊
I have a used Ibanez aw54lopn (was set up before I bought it) and as a left handed play i can say these opn guitars are great! A small amount of money gets you a great sounding guitar!
I was traveling a couple of months ago and stopped into a shop on the east coast and tried one of these, and almost purchased so I could play on my trip. The sound was pretty good but the build fit wasn’t so good. Maybe just this particular guitar. In the end I grabbed a similar priced small body Yamaha but this Ibanez did sound good.
He makes an even better guitar just by his skills and sounds he makes with it. The neck looks wider than the 44 mm nut it has. I'm going to do a nice setup for myself and put D'addario 11 gauge XS on it. Polish up the frets get rid of the pick guard those should just come with out and loose in the package. Can't wait
Ibanez makes a great line of acoustics. In regards to a low cost mahogany instrument I recently bought a $200 Orangewood Oliver (which is set up and comes with a nice gig bag) and after 2 days on my Tone Right is exceptional.
@@colesheperd1165 still loving it. Really nice tone and still plays like butter. Great value. Also recently got the Brooklyn spruce top and, still very nicely made, but I think the finish is a little thick. Still really great bang for the buck, but not as sweet in tone as the Oliver.
@@colesheperd1165 that would be my preference. I've had the Ibanez, very good but the Oliver had more depth and better fretboard and finish on the frets.Set up was also spot on out of the box.
I have listened to this about 40 times in the last 2 weeks. Oh and bought this guitar and love it! The action was high but after a few twist of the truss rod it is very easy to play. It’s like Cooper it’s a bad man!
I love your videos and i hope i am not out of line, but i am over 70 now and been playing over sixty years. I wish you guys would start selling Merida guitars. I like Taylor etc... but After owning hundreds of mostly high end guitars, i bought a Merida Extrema Poison acoustic electric and it is as good as any i have owned or played and better than most guitars costing triple or more. Yes it is made in China, but that doesn't define this brand. These are high quality guitars made by excellent craftsmen and luthiers with the best materials in the world. The only problem would be all your customers might switch!
great video thanks for the review guys. regarding the setup... yes it can be set up to play beautifully. the exact model i picked up off the shelf was set up beautifully... so i bought it :)
I've heard a lot of good things about this model, it certainly sounds good on this clip, and I personally love all-mahogany guitars. That said, I recently sat down with a used ac340 at GC, and tbh I was a little disappointed; the action and the tuners were good but it just didn't have the volume I hoped for and the neck wasn't as smooth. I'm comparing this to my Fender CC60 grand concert, which has great sustain and volume. The ac340 is ok I guess, but it satisfied my curiosity.
I have the AC-240 OPN for about 4 years now. I really like it. I love the slightly wider 1.77" nut width for my XL hands. I like the warmth of the mahogany top. I appreciate the size and sturdy construction. I just put a K&K in it a week ago, but only messed around with it a bit though. I think it sounds fine, and I'll have to play with the settings on my amp (THX30ii) to find some sweet tones for it. I do not have the K&K preamp, or any preamp. The AC-240 is basically the same as the AC-340 but without the white binding or thermo-aged bridge, and it had an abalone rosette. Looks-wise, I really prefer it to the 340, it was also $100 less. I've tried it with regular phosphor bronze strings, and also with the D'addario Nickel Bronze guitar strings. Different sound from both, I like both, going to have to do a few more back and forth comparisons to see which I prefer. I recently got an OM-28 and to my surprise, the 240 holds up to it pretty well. I'll usually leave one in a different tuning, so I can switch tunings quickly for different songs I'm playing. I also added Tusq bridge pins, but hard to tell if it made a big difference or not, especially since I necessarily changed the strings at the same time. They look pretty with the little abalone dots to match the rosette though... Anyway, great guitar.
I have been playing this Ibanez for a month now and I can tell you they priced the guitar wrong, but to the benefit of consumer knowingly or not. I haven't played or listened to any other acoustic guitar with a better value, and I have gone through many. It makes you question why we even have to pay over 500$ to own a great sounding guitar. Their complaint about the sharp bone nut may be an issue on some, the one I have has no issues.
Wow that has a nice warm tone and looks great. I put a bid of $200 free shipping on a open box. I have 3 days to buy it. This review is great thanks. I'm going to make the purchase transaction now. I'm sure I will have to do a setup but that's norm
I had an Ibanez AE245JR and it was nice and solid, very good guitar. I have looked at the AE325 but never been able to try one in person. May make a good next video for you??
Great review overall guys. I was hoping to get your opinion of the tuners, nut width and the profile/ feel of the neck...which you usually talk about. Beautiful song Cooper. As I was listening to you play I thought of James Taylor so it's cool that you mentioned the him. I think very highly of that guitar. I remember playing the 240 version years ago and being surprised how much I liked it for 300 bucks. My favorite guitar I own is a Martin OOO15M. Imo this Ibanez fits a similar niche and is a budget, take anywhere alternative. The only thing I've seen that comes close at this price point is the Eastman PCH OM mahogany model.
Guitar manufacturers should make guitars out of hemp. They would provide a nice resinous tone. Seriously though, any wood product in existence can be made from hemp. Hemp plants also mature at a much greater rate than do trees and are thereby much more renewable.
You always relay great information. Thank you from McKinney, Texas. I am going to be in your area this Fall and plan on stopping by. I’m in the market for another guitar. I own currently a Rainsong Jumbo, Tacoma C1C Chief (have had it for 20 years), a no name Gibson from 1950 or so, an Enya Nova Go electric acoustic, my favorite guitar is my Lowden S-23J. Been playing guitar since I was 5 years old. I want to see what’s on your walls. I use to be a session player in the U.K. When I was much younger but I’m not a professional musician now. See you guys this Fall.
Would love to know the name of the song Cooper is playing. Great job nice review you guys are top notch. From upstate SC, keep up the good work. Oh yea Coop I was checking out your music. Nice stuff for sure!
My favorite all mahagony guitar in the prize range $ 300-700 is the Guild OM 120. This guitar is damn close maybe equal to the Guild. And there is the prize. A lot of fun to watch the video like always. You' re very competent nice guys and if I would live in the US I would be a customer.
@@Lowell Calavera do these guitars have a truss rod and are they using the same word as when you bought yours? I have heard that the wood has changed over the years.
I've seen this guitar in articles claiming it has wide nut-neck string spacing. I have a bunch of guitars but need a wide string spacing. No matter how I practice with my large fingers there are a number of chord shapes that defy being fretted cleanly (the pinky of B7 is a prime example). So, is this a wide guitar?
It does…I have a very similar model, same $, got it 4 yrs ago when the art wood series first came out, AWESOME guitar…nice fat neck too…I’m 6ft4 and I love it…will not be disappointed if you buy one…they sound so damn good and the open pore look is straight out of the 1940s
What would you recommend between this and Yamaha FS800 series? They're in the same price range and have quite similar specs (in terms of body size, scale, etc.), but what about quality and playability?
Great review! Thanks. How does this guitar compare with yamaha’s apx600 and the fsx800 with regard to sound and playability for a beginner (with smallish hands)?
Probably not the best choice for smaller hands. It has a 1.77" nut width, which is larger than the norm. I like it for that reason because of my XL hands, but I'd check out Yamahas you mention in the same price range, that have the narrower 1 11/16" (1.6875") nut width, same as an electric guitar.
For YAMAHA, I think the line-up model FG (red label) and size 000 → FS model would be better.FS3 "3 is made in China", FS5 "5 is made in Japan", cheaper in China.Both are all solid body.YAMAHA also uses its own aging-processed ARE spruce at the top.There is also model with a newly developed and wonderful pickup from YAMAHA.It's a little expensive, but awesome 🙇🏻🇯🇵
HI! I want to buy a solid top mohogony acoustic guitar but I can't make my mind. I'm torn between this guitar and Alvarez AF66SHB. In your opinion, which one is better? Thanks!
The Alvarez model you mentioned is a spruce top. The alvarez's are all built beautifully. I went looking at them last week after seeing the ibanez aw54opn 2 weeks prior. I thought I'd like the mahogany alvarez parlor but ended up liking their delta00 tobacco shadowburst. Spruce top/ mahogany back and sides/ bone nut and saddle. I'm going to take another look at the ibanez and also a yamaha, but the ibanez initially had more of the sound I was looking for in a mahogany.
Please take some time to explain exactly what an "open pore" finish is. I've only seen it on Lakewoods (not a cheap guitar) and find it feels awful, like you're playing an unfinished guitar. And for what? More resonance? If there is any difference, it's inaudible. Plenty of great resonant guitars out there where the builder took the time to fill the pores in the traditional way.
Imo an acoustic guitar should be just the wood grain, no finish, or a very thin finish, sold top…these and Martins look so damn good…spruce top guitars never did anything at all for me
Okoume is not even close to Mahogany, and it is rarely called "Gaboon mahogany" according to The Wood Database. Ibanez started calling Okoume in their 2019 catalog. So, do anyone know if Artwood guitars purchased prior to 2019 are made with actual mahogany (Swietenia or Khaya species)? Though I think this guitar shown in the video looks like made of plywood.
They're ok for a budget guitar, but they are only a retailer brand, not a guitar manufacturing company. But they do have pretty good quality control, which is key. Harley Benton guitars are manufactured in around 20 factories in the Far East in China, Indonesia and Vietnam.
"It needs a setup (because it's a value guitar". It's interesting someone who sells guitars for a living would make this comment... It tells the expectation is that high-end guitars shouldn't need a setup, which is complete BS... The only builder who's found a way to deliver a great factory setup out of the box is Taylor, and for whatever reason their guitars tonally are lacking, at least on the high-end... Taylor sells lifestyle product anyway. If Taylor were a watch, they would be a Fossil or CITIZEN brand. Not a bad product, popular with the masses who don't know what a real luxury watch is. If you buy a new $90,000 Steinway Concept Piano, you're going to need to pay to have it tuned after delivery... If you buy a Martin or Gibson, you're going to need a professional setup done right away. You paying $2000+ for a high end professional musicians tool, you better expect and be able to afford another $80-$120 for a proper setup so that professional grade instrument can be tailored to your specific playing needs... If you buy a Ferrari or Lamborghini, your maintenance bills start right away, etc... It's ignorant to think out of the box the guitar should just be ready to go. The problem is most of the guitars sold today are sold to hobbyist and beginner players who don't really understand the product they are buying and are looking for more a lifestyle product than a professionals tool (This is also Taylor's success story in a sentence). I don't have a problem with it, let the free markets dictate what products should be allowed to exist. But I think it's important to understand the difference and educate the customer crying about their Gibson needing a setup or worse, that customer who players a Martin or Gibson with high-action and passes judgement on it then takes stabs at the brand in on-line reviews because their ignorant expectations weren't met. I hold the opinion that a player who's not played enough to even know what kind of setup they would want has no business spending that kind of money on a guitar... On cheaper guitars usually there's what I call the common denominator setup you'll get on a Yamaha or Alvarez, the guitar is setup for general playability. It's interesting Ibanez missed that opportunity, but I don't judge Ibanez for not doing a proper setup on it at the factory
Ibanez makes a great line of acoustics. In regards to a low cost mahogany instrument I recently bought a $200 Orangewood Oliver (which is set up and comes with a nice gig bag) and after 2 days on my Tone Right is exceptional.
I just bought the Oliver Jr. on Black Friday, and I can't wait for it to arrive. After a dreadnought, I wanted a parlor size that I can pick up and practice on throughout the day.
@@le_th_ that’s awesome. I have al spruce tops and really want a mahogany. I was thinking of the jr myself but just picked up a Yamaha jr1 travel size . Not sure what I should do Oliver jr or Oliver. Let me know how the jr is for u!
@@ashleyrossney7089 I'd love to let you know about that mahogany top, however after placing the order on Nov. 29, it still hasn't shipped yet. When I ordered it, the website said it would ship on Dec. 21st (today). When I failed to receive any tracking notification from them today (they've usually very responsive with e-communications & tracking info), I sent an email to Orangewood a couple of hours ago. They just responded with this... "Because this item is currently only available for pre-order, it will likely ship out within the next 2 - 3 weeks. Once it ships, we will send you an email with your tracking information." Now, ordinarily, that is no big deal. However, it's been 23 days and seems as though it might not ship now until Jan 11th...and even that sounds iffy (i.e. will likely???), but most especially since it said 2-3 week shipping 23 days ago when I originally pre-ordered it. I should have been receiving the guitar tomorrow. So, if you decide you'd like to order any OW, you might want to plan on doubling the shipping date they state on their website, keeping in mind that when I ordered on Nov. 29, it was pre-order then, stating a 2-3 week shipping date...and they never bothered to notify me of any delay. Note: OW did send a free box of accessories on December 10th (12 days after I placed the pre-order). Worse, the text notification they sent me read, "CONGRATULATIONS! All the items in your order have been delivered. Start strumming!" I wasn't expecting the delivery that day, and was working from home. So I now had to make a round trip drive, in rush hour traffic in San Francisco, to my office, because although it is a secure, card-access building, thieves will just break the glass after 5 PM to get in, even with cameras. Before I jumped in the car to make the mad dash hoping to get there before it was stolen, I opened the email notification, and there was...what looked like...a photo of the OW guitar box they had left at my office next to the stairs. I jumped into the car and drove like a mad woman trying to get there before someone stole the box. Got to my office building...no guitar...opened my locked mail box, there's the tiny accessory box from OW. I went upstairs to my actual suite to see if the driver had left it there. No box. Went inside the office to look at the email and photo again....and that is when I realized the "photo" of the guitar box was a stock OW photo they use to mimic the photos Amazon sends you when they've delivered a package, AND while the walls and bloor were the exact color of my office building (what are the chances?), the actual surface of the stairs where you place your foot were a few shades lighter in the OW stock photo. I almost couldn't believe it. Now I had to make another drive back home, still in rush hour traffic the other way (which was worse than drive TO the office). So, you might wonder, like I did, wtf? lol Apparently, OW decided to split the orders under 2 different order numbers, even though I only ordered the ONE item (mahogany top Oliver Jr). I remember wondering, in that moment, why they would spend the extra shipping to send a "free" item in a separate shipment? At the time, I thought maybe it was coming from a different warehouse. Well, now I know. I'm guessing that was premeditated from the start, and the "free" accessories they shipped were meant to be a placeholder: an OW box people could wrap and put under their tree for their loved one. However, NONE OF THIS was communicated. It also seems as though they went to some considerable trouble to make it appear as though they had delivered a guitar...and that "all" the items that I ordered (1) had been delivered...and better yet, to text me a congratulations email that goes on further to tell me to "start strumming"? No mention of any delay, much less another month delay in shipping from the date it was supposed to be delivered, etc. I can't imagine how people who ordered these as a gift must feel. Imagine that kid/teen on Christmas, opening a small box of OW picks and a canvas strap that they can't even use until the end of January, and that's IF there isn't another delay. smh That's so duplicitous and self-interested NOT to be honest and leave people "hanging" with no real gift for their loved one. Just wow... I'm guessing I'm probably one of many hundreds of people, and I'm also guessing they were hoping we wouldn't notice? This was not a Christmas gift for me, but I'm sure those who ordered the Oliver Jr. as Christmas gifts are less than happy that no one from OW bothered to let them know there was a delay, not today, and not when they sent the free box of accessories back on Dec 10th. I can only assume they didn't notify people in hopes that people wouldn't figure it out until it was too close to Christmas...like this week...when they'd be unlikely to be able to cancel and go out and purchase a new gift for their loved ones, so they'd be stuck having a "small box" of accessories to put under the tree. I hope if you decide to order from OW that you have a better experience! Looking back on how all this went down, I feel fairly certain that OW knew long before any of us ordered that there was no way they were going to deliver those guitars in 3 weeks, or even before the end of the year, and that is why they shipped the "free" (placeholder box) accessories hoping people ordering them as holiday gifts wouldn't get fed up, cancel, and head over to their local Guitar Center and buy a Fender for the same price. Although I don't mind waiting another month, I'm not sure I want to support a company who has been so premeditated in going out of their way to be so incredibly duplicitous, while at the same time never making an effort to send a courtesy email...not even today when I should've been receiving it...and had I not initiated contact with them this afternoon, who knows how much longer they would've remained silent. Worse still, as a former retail executive, I'm guessing this mid-January date has everything to do with their year end numbers, and now wanting to have to inventory product in their warehouse right before the end of their fourth quarter. It's just such a self-interested, and duplicitous way to do business with customers, and it shows a glaring lack of empathy for parents/grandparents and the children/teens for whom they're often buying these holiday gifts. I'll be looking more into this to see if my suspicions are correct, and then determine if I want to continue to do business with Orangewood. For me, it's a matter of principle and business ethics. Sorry for the long email, but since you mentioned you were considering ordering, I thought you might want to know some of their tactics BEFORE you let them have your money for an indeterminate amount of time before they may/may not ship your guitar. If you made it this far, Happy Holidays to you and fingers crossed for a 2022 with much, much weaker CoV2 mutations! Happy Strumming! ; )
![I.N "HALLUCINATION" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5B5q1Hwt_U/mqdefault.jpg)
![[Eng Sub] Ibanez AC340-OPN acoustic guitar](/img/1.gif)
Sold mine a couple of years ago and bought a Taylor Gs mini Rosewood. Couldn’t live without it and bought it back 😂 such a nice guitar
I bought the 240OPN solid mahogany 3-4 yrs ago when it first came out and am still blown away by it today. I have 2 Martins, a nice Guild, Yamaha, and a Dove, and okay that Ibanez more than the rest. It’s so damn playable…has great Grovers on it, bone nut/saddle, great fat neck which I prefer, and most importantly it sounds incredible
Jeez. Great playing to show off this guitar. Finally a review with someone that can actually bring out the range of sounds available from this guitar. Well done!
I have the AC340CE-OPN, which is the same guitar with a preamp and a cutaway. I am thoroughly pleased with it.
I have that model too. Fantastic guitar for the price.
I’m doubting to buy it can you play good fingerstyle on it?
Don't let the price fool you!!! This is a very good playing guitar and sounds wonderful!!!!!! I've been playing for 30yrs and own a lot of high end guitars. This guitar is very good for the price!!! I bout it for a travel guitar to take to friends houses!!! Don't want to take the expensive stuff!!!!!
I have the AC 240, the previous and near identical iteration of this guitar. Such a rich, warm tone.
Me too. I love it.
"Why You Should Buy This Guitar" is a great title and one of my favorite songs. Thanks to Cooper for playing, and Chris for the title.
I have this guitar and love it. If your looking for something to start learning finger-style with it’s perfect. It has a wider spread out strings than most dreadnoughts, and resonates extremely well. I can’t really recommend it enough.
How much did you get yours for?
I have the left handed version of this guitar and i love it , maybe more than my road series martin dreadnought.
It is fun to play using only my fingers. Something about playing an acoustic with your fingers really has a beautiful warm and mellow tone. I tried using picks of various types, and find it all too harsh for my taste.
Bone nuts and saddle, good quality wood, and great price. Great for beginner or intermediate who wants to take it to travel.
Update your under $500, $500-1000, $1000-2000 picks
I've had this guitar for about 6 months. I put a Journeytek passive pickup, same as K&K mini, in it and did a basic set up. It is a joy to play and sounds WAY above its price. I keep trying to find another guitar to play in the under $750 range and just can't find one better than this. Great, great guitar.
I did the same. It really is phenomenal.
I have an Alvarez AD66SHB which has a solid mahogany top and that natural sound is great. Most guitars need a set up out of the gate.
Alvarez guitars are good for the price. I wish Alamo would do some reviews on them :)
@@deividasprunskas6689 I don't think they carry them
I want to buy an Alvarez AF66SHB, too. I'm wondering if Alvarez is better than Ibanez ( AC340opn). Is Alvarez made in China? What kind of setup do they need? Thanks!
Acoustic guitars without electronics are fine. Very fine.
I started with a dred and man, it was cumbersome.000 is 👌.
Thanks guys for the review. 🎶🎶🎶
I changed the nut which increased string spacing, filed grooves in the bridge from bridge pin hole up to the saddle to increase the pressure of the strings on the saddle. It is wonderful except that a brace had a split in it. It is no harm
I have a 240 which was the earlier version. They came w Grover tuners and are Grand Concert size. I have a Martin and a Hummingbird but the little Ibanez is my favorite.
Come on how cool he played ma'an,just the licks uff
Really great review. So honest and trustworthy!!
❤hey gents, hope you're well; your content is great. i live in the uk, and unfortunately could not buy from you cost effectively, but the recommendation is commendable. i bought one of these looking for something to play in the house, to compliment a couple other acoustics (Larrivee OM) and 000m-18, and both are sitka / mahogany, so the all mahog-ish is different, in a great way. to be honest it's the only guitar I've played since (new guitar syndrome, and it's actually really good, incredible for the money really). mine came set up at 2.5mm at the 12th fret (you can do the conversion to imperial ;-0 ). I've been playing for 50 years, not the best player ny a long shot, but this is so amazing for the money it's hard to comprehend. how can such a nice guitar be sold for about 250 bucks. It's subjective, but for a 1.75" nut, 25" scale, OM it's a complete and utter bargain. still shaking my head how it's possible. well done Ibanez. I have put on some Martin Lifespan 12-54, and that has made it even better. agreed, the ommision of a gig bag seems ridiculous, but cheap to rectify. keep up the good work .😊
I have a used Ibanez aw54lopn (was set up before I bought it) and as a left handed play i can say these opn guitars are great! A small amount of money gets you a great sounding guitar!
What's the difference between Ac and aw series ?. Thanks 😊
I was traveling a couple of months ago and stopped into a shop on the east coast and tried one of these, and almost purchased so I could play on my trip. The sound was pretty good but the build fit wasn’t so good. Maybe just this particular guitar. In the end I grabbed a similar priced small body Yamaha but this Ibanez did sound good.
Best guitarrista and best mic position ever !
He makes an even better guitar just by his skills and sounds he makes with it. The neck looks wider than the 44 mm nut it has. I'm going to do a nice setup for myself and put D'addario 11 gauge XS on it. Polish up the frets get rid of the pick guard those should just come with out and loose in the package. Can't wait
Did you get the Ibanez? If so how was it?
Ibanez makes a great line of acoustics. In regards to a low cost mahogany instrument I recently bought a $200 Orangewood Oliver (which is set up and comes with a nice gig bag) and after 2 days on my Tone Right is exceptional.
How do u like the orangewood
@@colesheperd1165 still loving it. Really nice tone and still plays like butter. Great value. Also recently got the Brooklyn spruce top and, still very nicely made, but I think the finish is a little thick. Still really great bang for the buck, but not as sweet in tone as the Oliver.
So you would say the oliver over the ibanez?
@@colesheperd1165 that would be my preference. I've had the Ibanez, very good but the Oliver had more depth and better fretboard and finish on the frets.Set up was also spot on out of the box.
Cooper is the man!! I love your style 👍
I have listened to this about 40 times in the last 2 weeks. Oh and bought this guitar and love it! The action was high but after a few twist of the truss rod it is very easy to play. It’s like Cooper it’s a bad man!
I love your videos and i hope i am not out of line, but i am over 70 now and been playing over sixty years. I wish you guys would start selling Merida guitars. I like Taylor etc... but After owning hundreds of mostly high end guitars, i bought a Merida Extrema Poison acoustic electric and it is as good as any i have owned or played and better than most guitars costing triple or more. Yes it is made in China, but that doesn't define this brand. These are high quality guitars made by excellent craftsmen and luthiers with the best materials in the world. The only problem would be all your customers might switch!
Nice review. I love mine. It’s an amazing value.
Thank you for the video. Very useful and give me more insights. 🙂
great video thanks for the review guys. regarding the setup... yes it can be set up to play beautifully. the exact model i picked up off the shelf was set up beautifully... so i bought it :)
I've heard a lot of good things about this model, it certainly sounds good on this clip, and I personally love all-mahogany guitars. That said, I recently sat down with a used ac340 at GC, and tbh I was a little disappointed; the action and the tuners were good but it just didn't have the volume I hoped for and the neck wasn't as smooth. I'm comparing this to my Fender CC60 grand concert, which has great sustain and volume. The ac340 is ok I guess, but it satisfied my curiosity.
I have the AC-240 OPN for about 4 years now. I really like it. I love the slightly wider 1.77" nut width for my XL hands. I like the warmth of the mahogany top. I appreciate the size and sturdy construction. I just put a K&K in it a week ago, but only messed around with it a bit though. I think it sounds fine, and I'll have to play with the settings on my amp (THX30ii) to find some sweet tones for it. I do not have the K&K preamp, or any preamp. The AC-240 is basically the same as the AC-340 but without the white binding or thermo-aged bridge, and it had an abalone rosette. Looks-wise, I really prefer it to the 340, it was also $100 less. I've tried it with regular phosphor bronze strings, and also with the D'addario Nickel Bronze guitar strings. Different sound from both, I like both, going to have to do a few more back and forth comparisons to see which I prefer. I recently got an OM-28 and to my surprise, the 240 holds up to it pretty well. I'll usually leave one in a different tuning, so I can switch tunings quickly for different songs I'm playing. I also added Tusq bridge pins, but hard to tell if it made a big difference or not, especially since I necessarily changed the strings at the same time. They look pretty with the little abalone dots to match the rosette though... Anyway, great guitar.
Also Grovers on the 240!
Great job guys, as always
Mr G, love ur playing! 👍
I have been playing this Ibanez for a month now and I can tell you they priced the guitar wrong, but to the benefit of consumer knowingly or not. I haven't played or listened to any other acoustic guitar with a better value, and I have gone through many. It makes you question why we even have to pay over 500$ to own a great sounding guitar. Their complaint about the sharp bone nut may be an issue on some, the one I have has no issues.
once again awesome playin cooper!! also I wish I had your lush locks 😔
Wow that has a nice warm tone and looks great. I put a bid of $200 free shipping on a open box. I have 3 days to buy it. This review is great thanks. I'm going to make the purchase transaction now. I'm sure I will have to do a setup but that's norm
good guitar analysis, however also really nice play 👍🏻👍🏻
Good as usual🍀✌️
I had an Ibanez AE245JR and it was nice and solid, very good guitar. I have looked at the AE325 but never been able to try one in person. May make a good next video for you??
Great review overall guys. I was hoping to get your opinion of the tuners, nut width and the profile/ feel of the neck...which you usually talk about. Beautiful song Cooper. As I was listening to you play I thought of James Taylor so it's cool that you mentioned the him. I think very highly of that guitar. I remember playing the 240 version years ago and being surprised how much I liked it for 300 bucks. My favorite guitar I own is a Martin OOO15M. Imo this Ibanez fits a similar niche and is a budget, take anywhere alternative. The only thing I've seen that comes close at this price point is the Eastman PCH OM mahogany model.
Guitar manufacturers should make guitars out of hemp. They would provide a nice resinous tone. Seriously though, any wood product in existence can be made from hemp. Hemp plants also mature at a much greater rate than do trees and are thereby much more renewable.
@cannaguitars5493 does this.
I have my action super low and it’s great
You always relay great information. Thank you from McKinney, Texas. I am going to be in your area this Fall and plan on stopping by. I’m in the market for another guitar. I own currently a Rainsong Jumbo, Tacoma C1C Chief (have had it for 20 years), a no name Gibson from 1950 or so, an Enya Nova Go electric acoustic, my favorite guitar is my Lowden S-23J. Been playing guitar since I was 5 years old. I want to see what’s on your walls. I use to be a session player in the U.K. When I was much younger but I’m not a professional musician now. See you guys this Fall.
Nice video, nice Guitar, I have an Ibanez AVD10 that is All-Solid and has all sides torified, but it's about double the price...
Would love to know the name of the song Cooper is playing. Great job nice review you guys are top notch. From upstate SC, keep up the good work. Oh yea Coop I was checking out your music. Nice stuff for sure!
My favorite all mahagony guitar in the prize range $ 300-700 is the Guild OM 120.
This guitar is damn close maybe equal to the Guild.
And there is the prize.
A lot of fun to watch the video like always.
You' re very competent nice guys and if I would live in the US I would be a customer.
Nice....I've had the 340 for about 4 years. Sounds better every year.
@@Lowell Calavera do these guitars have a truss rod and are they using the same word as when you bought yours? I have heard that the wood has changed over the years.
Nice review of a nice guitar. Is the headstock black? Looks good. And, of course, Cooper makes anything sound good.
Hey Barry,do u know if this skilled guy has got his youtube channel or not 😅
Ibanez makes a good product
Man. I need to practice more. 😀
Sweet. Cooper is rather good, as this demonstrates. Guitar sounds good for the money.
Shoutout to Jim!
I've seen this guitar in articles claiming it has wide nut-neck string spacing. I have a bunch of guitars but need a wide string spacing. No matter how I practice with my large fingers there are a number of chord shapes that defy being fretted cleanly (the pinky of B7 is a prime example). So, is this a wide guitar?
It does…I have a very similar model, same $, got it 4 yrs ago when the art wood series first came out, AWESOME guitar…nice fat neck too…I’m 6ft4 and I love it…will not be disappointed if you buy one…they sound so damn good and the open pore look is straight out of the 1940s
Which is better the Ibanez Ac3400pn or The Ibanez AW54 open please let me know 😊
This says mahogany but the one I just bought was made with Okoume?
It’s an African type of mahogany
What is the song name please? :)
Is this a small body guitar? I have a Taylor 214. Looking for something smaller than that.
I just pre ordered the new Ibanez V series acoustic. I think it's a v49 or v48c. Can't remember
Is there anyone who can tell me the distance from E to E on the bridge? Thanks
What would you recommend between this and Yamaha FS800 series? They're in the same price range and have quite similar specs (in terms of body size, scale, etc.), but what about quality and playability?
IBANEZ AC340OPN or SIGMA 000M-15???
I need a hardcase for it, can you recommend a model that fits this guitar?
Anybody knows which song Cooper is playing? Sounds great!
what strings do you recommend for this guitar
Great review! Thanks. How does this guitar compare with yamaha’s apx600 and the fsx800 with regard to sound and playability for a beginner (with smallish hands)?
Probably not the best choice for smaller hands. It has a 1.77" nut width, which is larger than the norm. I like it for that reason because of my XL hands, but I'd check out Yamahas you mention in the same price range, that have the narrower 1 11/16" (1.6875") nut width, same as an electric guitar.
For YAMAHA, I think the line-up model FG (red label) and size 000 → FS model would be better.FS3 "3 is made in China", FS5 "5 is made in Japan", cheaper in China.Both are all solid body.YAMAHA also uses its own aging-processed ARE spruce at the top.There is also model with a newly developed and wonderful pickup from YAMAHA.It's a little expensive, but awesome 🙇🏻🇯🇵
What size case would fit this guitar body style?
Go to Guitar Center and pick up a Mitchell and do a review. I have one, all mahagony C e model. Love it 😂
Not bad but if you compare in to an Orangewood guitar for roughly the same price then I would buy the Orangewood, gig bag as standard too.
What is the nut width on this guitar?
HI! I want to buy a solid top mohogony acoustic guitar but I can't make my mind. I'm torn between this guitar and Alvarez AF66SHB. In your opinion, which one is better? Thanks!
The Alvarez model you mentioned is a spruce top. The alvarez's are all built beautifully. I went looking at them last week after seeing the ibanez aw54opn 2 weeks prior. I thought I'd like the mahogany alvarez parlor but ended up liking their delta00 tobacco shadowburst. Spruce top/ mahogany back and sides/ bone nut and saddle. I'm going to take another look at the ibanez and also a yamaha, but the ibanez initially had more of the sound I was looking for in a mahogany.
@@ellesnyder942 Thanks!
How do you guys feel about the AC340CE? It’s way more in price.
I can't imagine a GOOD dealer letting a guitar leave their shop without a proper set-up... this is why I am extremely hesitant with buying online!
Right. Alamo is the dealer. They should set up the guitar before making to buyers.
Would this be a good size for a 9 year old? I wanted the mini but it's out of production.
Hard to say as 9 yr olds can vary in size too but they will grow also. The 000 or OM would be good tho.
Nice guitar Ibanez.
I need a lefty version...it's sold if you guys have one!
I got the lefty version and I LOVE ❤️ IT!!
Hold on hold on... When is tax time again! Come on! It sounds sooo good 👍
Please take some time to explain exactly what an "open pore" finish is. I've only seen it on Lakewoods (not a cheap guitar) and find it feels awful, like you're playing an unfinished guitar. And for what? More resonance? If there is any difference, it's inaudible. Plenty of great resonant guitars out there where the builder took the time to fill the pores in the traditional way.
Imo an acoustic guitar should be just the wood grain, no finish, or a very thin finish, sold top…these and Martins look so damn good…spruce top guitars never did anything at all for me
Between the ibanez and cheap yamaha, I would go for the yamaha
This guitar sounded like its action was a bit too high?
FG850? Or FS? That'd be my choice....
Okoume is not even close to Mahogany, and it is rarely called "Gaboon mahogany" according to The Wood Database. Ibanez started calling Okoume in their 2019 catalog. So, do anyone know if Artwood guitars purchased prior to 2019 are made with actual mahogany (Swietenia or Khaya species)? Though I think this guitar shown in the video looks like made of plywood.
I have AC 240 OPN from 2014. Mahagonny.
That is not mahogany. That is ocume wood
thanks - for letting us know the bad points - too many of these reviews sweet'n the review too much
Yo, it's mountain girl, LOL!
Harley Benton is where is at!
They're ok for a budget guitar, but they are only a retailer brand, not a guitar manufacturing company. But they do have pretty good quality control, which is key. Harley Benton guitars are manufactured in around 20 factories in the Far East in China, Indonesia and Vietnam.
The Taylor A10 sounds much richer and full to me.
It’s also nearly double the price
I'm disappointed. I really wanted to know of a budget Mahogany guitar. And I guess from the video, this is not mahogany.
Hey everyone griping about not it being actual “mahogany.”
You are not getting any guitar at this price point with real Centro Americano mahogany.
Sounds like Led Zep Rain Song.
DiD Coop say "BTS" treated?!!! "HOt like butter!"
Too bad it's not Mahogony..Why do they still refer to this guitar as BEING Mahogony?
Cooper can play
Was this guitar played by Jesus? I want a guitar played by Jesus.
Why all the numbers and letters. Damn. Lol
"It needs a setup (because it's a value guitar". It's interesting someone who sells guitars for a living would make this comment... It tells the expectation is that high-end guitars shouldn't need a setup, which is complete BS... The only builder who's found a way to deliver a great factory setup out of the box is Taylor, and for whatever reason their guitars tonally are lacking, at least on the high-end... Taylor sells lifestyle product anyway. If Taylor were a watch, they would be a Fossil or CITIZEN brand. Not a bad product, popular with the masses who don't know what a real luxury watch is. If you buy a new $90,000 Steinway Concept Piano, you're going to need to pay to have it tuned after delivery... If you buy a Martin or Gibson, you're going to need a professional setup done right away. You paying $2000+ for a high end professional musicians tool, you better expect and be able to afford another $80-$120 for a proper setup so that professional grade instrument can be tailored to your specific playing needs... If you buy a Ferrari or Lamborghini, your maintenance bills start right away, etc...
It's ignorant to think out of the box the guitar should just be ready to go.
The problem is most of the guitars sold today are sold to hobbyist and beginner players who don't really understand the product they are buying and are looking for more a lifestyle product than a professionals tool (This is also Taylor's success story in a sentence). I don't have a problem with it, let the free markets dictate what products should be allowed to exist. But I think it's important to understand the difference and educate the customer crying about their Gibson needing a setup or worse, that customer who players a Martin or Gibson with high-action and passes judgement on it then takes stabs at the brand in on-line reviews because their ignorant expectations weren't met.
I hold the opinion that a player who's not played enough to even know what kind of setup they would want has no business spending that kind of money on a guitar... On cheaper guitars usually there's what I call the common denominator setup you'll get on a Yamaha or Alvarez, the guitar is setup for general playability. It's interesting Ibanez missed that opportunity, but I don't judge Ibanez for not doing a proper setup on it at the factory
Ibanez makes a great line of acoustics. In regards to a low cost mahogany instrument I recently bought a $200 Orangewood Oliver (which is set up and comes with a nice gig bag) and after 2 days on my Tone Right is exceptional.
The Oliver is on my list of next buys
I just bought the Oliver Jr. on Black Friday, and I can't wait for it to arrive. After a dreadnought, I wanted a parlor size that I can pick up and practice on throughout the day.
@@le_th_ that’s awesome. I have al spruce tops and really want a mahogany. I was thinking of the jr myself but just picked up a Yamaha jr1 travel size . Not sure what I should do Oliver jr or Oliver. Let me know how the jr is for u!
@@ashleyrossney7089 I'd love to let you know about that mahogany top, however after placing the order on Nov. 29, it still hasn't shipped yet. When I ordered it, the website said it would ship on Dec. 21st (today). When I failed to receive any tracking notification from them today (they've usually very responsive with e-communications & tracking info), I sent an email to Orangewood a couple of hours ago. They just responded with this...
"Because this item is currently only available for pre-order, it will likely ship out within the next 2 - 3 weeks. Once it ships, we will send you an email with your tracking information."
Now, ordinarily, that is no big deal. However, it's been 23 days and seems as though it might not ship now until Jan 11th...and even that sounds iffy (i.e. will likely???), but most especially since it said 2-3 week shipping 23 days ago when I originally pre-ordered it. I should have been receiving the guitar tomorrow. So, if you decide you'd like to order any OW, you might want to plan on doubling the shipping date they state on their website, keeping in mind that when I ordered on Nov. 29, it was pre-order then, stating a 2-3 week shipping date...and they never bothered to notify me of any delay.
Note: OW did send a free box of accessories on December 10th (12 days after I placed the pre-order). Worse, the text notification they sent me read, "CONGRATULATIONS! All the items in your order have been delivered. Start strumming!" I wasn't expecting the delivery that day, and was working from home. So I now had to make a round trip drive, in rush hour traffic in San Francisco, to my office, because although it is a secure, card-access building, thieves will just break the glass after 5 PM to get in, even with cameras. Before I jumped in the car to make the mad dash hoping to get there before it was stolen, I opened the email notification, and there was...what looked like...a photo of the OW guitar box they had left at my office next to the stairs. I jumped into the car and drove like a mad woman trying to get there before someone stole the box. Got to my office building...no guitar...opened my locked mail box, there's the tiny accessory box from OW. I went upstairs to my actual suite to see if the driver had left it there. No box. Went inside the office to look at the email and photo again....and that is when I realized the "photo" of the guitar box was a stock OW photo they use to mimic the photos Amazon sends you when they've delivered a package, AND while the walls and bloor were the exact color of my office building (what are the chances?), the actual surface of the stairs where you place your foot were a few shades lighter in the OW stock photo. I almost couldn't believe it. Now I had to make another drive back home, still in rush hour traffic the other way (which was worse than drive TO the office). So, you might wonder, like I did, wtf? lol
Apparently, OW decided to split the orders under 2 different order numbers, even though I only ordered the ONE item (mahogany top Oliver Jr). I remember wondering, in that moment, why they would spend the extra shipping to send a "free" item in a separate shipment? At the time, I thought maybe it was coming from a different warehouse. Well, now I know. I'm guessing that was premeditated from the start, and the "free" accessories they shipped were meant to be a placeholder: an OW box people could wrap and put under their tree for their loved one. However, NONE OF THIS was communicated. It also seems as though they went to some considerable trouble to make it appear as though they had delivered a guitar...and that "all" the items that I ordered (1) had been delivered...and better yet, to text me a congratulations email that goes on further to tell me to "start strumming"? No mention of any delay, much less another month delay in shipping from the date it was supposed to be delivered, etc. I can't imagine how people who ordered these as a gift must feel. Imagine that kid/teen on Christmas, opening a small box of OW picks and a canvas strap that they can't even use until the end of January, and that's IF there isn't another delay. smh That's so duplicitous and self-interested NOT to be honest and leave people "hanging" with no real gift for their loved one. Just wow...
I'm guessing I'm probably one of many hundreds of people, and I'm also guessing they were hoping we wouldn't notice? This was not a Christmas gift for me, but I'm sure those who ordered the Oliver Jr. as Christmas gifts are less than happy that no one from OW bothered to let them know there was a delay, not today, and not when they sent the free box of accessories back on Dec 10th. I can only assume they didn't notify people in hopes that people wouldn't figure it out until it was too close to Christmas...like this week...when they'd be unlikely to be able to cancel and go out and purchase a new gift for their loved ones, so they'd be stuck having a "small box" of accessories to put under the tree.
I hope if you decide to order from OW that you have a better experience! Looking back on how all this went down, I feel fairly certain that OW knew long before any of us ordered that there was no way they were going to deliver those guitars in 3 weeks, or even before the end of the year, and that is why they shipped the "free" (placeholder box) accessories hoping people ordering them as holiday gifts wouldn't get fed up, cancel, and head over to their local Guitar Center and buy a Fender for the same price. Although I don't mind waiting another month, I'm not sure I want to support a company who has been so premeditated in going out of their way to be so incredibly duplicitous, while at the same time never making an effort to send a courtesy email...not even today when I should've been receiving it...and had I not initiated contact with them this afternoon, who knows how much longer they would've remained silent. Worse still, as a former retail executive, I'm guessing this mid-January date has everything to do with their year end numbers, and now wanting to have to inventory product in their warehouse right before the end of their fourth quarter. It's just such a self-interested, and duplicitous way to do business with customers, and it shows a glaring lack of empathy for parents/grandparents and the children/teens for whom they're often buying these holiday gifts. I'll be looking more into this to see if my suspicions are correct, and then determine if I want to continue to do business with Orangewood. For me, it's a matter of principle and business ethics.
Sorry for the long email, but since you mentioned you were considering ordering, I thought you might want to know some of their tactics BEFORE you let them have your money for an indeterminate amount of time before they may/may not ship your guitar.
If you made it this far, Happy Holidays to you and fingers crossed for a 2022 with much, much weaker CoV2 mutations!
Happy Strumming! ; )
Orangewood really is hard to beat for value