Introduction
Ibanez is a Japanese guitar company with a long history of crafting high quality instruments across a range of styles and price points. Founded in 1957, they first gained recognition for their expert copies of classic American guitars. Over the decades, Ibanez has established themselves as a leading guitar brand with signature models played by legends like Steve Vai, Joe Satriani and Paul Gilbert.
The Ibanez Artwood series represents their line of affordable, all-solid acoustic guitars. Handcrafted in their Indonesian factory, Artwood models offer impressive build quality and appointments not typically found on entry-level acoustics.
The AC240OPN is an excellent choice for beginner to intermediate level players looking to upgrade from a cheap "box store" guitar. It provides warm, balanced tone thanks to its all-mahogany body. The grand concert size is comfortable for both practice and live playing. Open gear tuners, Advantage bridge pins and fretwork from Ibanez’s acclaimed Premium factory make this a very playable instrument right out of the box. At this price point, it’s hard to find another acoustic with solid wood top, back and sides.
Key specs include a solid mahogany top, back and sides, mahogany neck with rosewood fretboard, chrome open gear tuners, and Ibanez Advantage bridge pins. The AC240OPN delivers impressive value in an affordable all-solid acoustic.
Unboxing & First Impressions
The Ibanez AC240OPN comes packaged in a high quality padded gig bag, which is a nice bonus at this price point. Inside the gig bag, you’ll find the guitar along with a polishing cloth, some documentation, and an Allen wrench for truss rod adjustments.
Upon first taking the guitar out of the included gig bag, you immediately notice the beautiful open pore natural finish. It has a very thin satin feel to it that lets the wood grain shine through in an understated way. The finish is flawless, with no blemishes or issues on my review model.
At around 23 inches wide, the grand concert body size is perfect for playing seated or standing. The guitar feels very lightweight and comfortable in your hands. The neck has a nice modern C profile that should accommodate most hand sizes. And the action is set up well right out of the box, with no sharp fret ends or dead spots on the rosewood fretboard.
Overall, the Ibanez AC240OPN makes a great first impression. The craftsmanship punches above its price class, and the guitar looks, feels, and plays very nicely right out of the box.
Construction & Hardware
The Ibanez AC240OPN features a grand concert body shape made from all solid mahogany. This gives the guitar a rich, warm, balanced tone with nice overtones and good note separation.
The mahogany neck has a smooth modern C profile that is very playable and comfortable. It has a rosewood fretboard and 20 frets.
For hardware, there is a rosewood bridge and nut, and AdvantageTM renown saddles that are known for their quality and precision intonation.
The tuning machines are open-gear chrome that keep the guitar in tune well and have a classic look.
Overall the hardware and construction materials are very good quality for this price range. Everything is put together precisely with no visible flaws in craftsmanship. The all-mahogany body and quality hardware deliver an impressive resonant and balanced acoustic tone.
Sound & Tonal Characteristics
The Ibanez AC240OPN produces a warm, balanced tone with nice articulation and clarity across the tonal spectrum. The all-mahogany construction gives it a pleasing mid-range focus that flatters strummed chords and fingerpicking alike.
The solid mahogany top has a big impact on the overall voice of the guitar. Mahogany lacks the shimmery high-end sparkle of spruce, but makes up for it with rich, throaty mids and tight low-end response. The result is a very playable, vintage-inspired acoustic tone.
Tonal balance is excellent on the AC240OPN. There’s no boominess on the low end or harshness in the highs. Each string rings out with equal presence. Notes up and down the neck are nicely defined. The mahogany body projects sound confidently while avoiding muddiness.
Volume and projection are impressive for a grand concert body style. It has no trouble keeping up with larger dreadnoughts when jamming or performing. The AC240OPN is also very responsive to your attack and playing dynamics. It rewards a light touch with sweet, singing tones and opens up with bark and cut when you dig in.
Playability & Feel
The Ibanez AC240OPN Artwood has a very playable modern C neck profile that should suit most players. The neck has a comfortable slim taper that makes it easy to grip and facilitates faster lead playing up and down the neck.
The action out of the box is set medium-low, which makes chords and individual notes ring out cleanly without excessive finger pressure needed. This guitar comes with a very nice setup right from the factory.
The rosewood fretboard is smooth and inviting to the touch. Bends, slides, and vibrato feel effortless, aided by the slim neck profile that allows your thumb to wrap around easily. The fret ends are smoothly finished with no sharp edges to irritate your hands during long practice sessions.
Whether playing seated or standing, the grand concert body size and slim neck profile make this an exceptionally comfortable guitar to play. The smaller body nestles nicely against your torso when playing seated, with unfettered access to the higher frets. The light weight also prevents neck dive when standing, allowing you to play for hours on end without fatigue.
Overall the Ibanez Artwood AC240OPN offers fantastic playability right out of the box, with a fast modern neck profile, low action, and smooth fretboard that beg you to keep playing. Both beginners and experienced players will find this a very inviting and enjoyable guitar to pick up and play.
Amplified Sound
The Ibanez AC240OPN Artwood does not come with any built-in pickups or preamp, so you’ll need to add an external pickup if you want to amplify its acoustic tone. This guitar has a 1/4" output jack, so it’s easy to add a soundhole pickup like the Fishman Rare Earth Blend. With a good external pickup, you can get nice amplified tones that capture the natural acoustic sound of the mahogany top. However, without a preamp you may need to tweak EQ settings on your acoustic amp or PA system to dial in the ideal tone. Overall, the AC240OPN can sound quite good plugged in, especially for singer/songwriter gigs or recording scenarios. Just be prepared to invest in a quality external pickup. Some feedback issues can occur at higher volumes, but proper placement of the pickup and strategic EQ cuts can help tame unwanted noise.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Great value for the price – delivers impressive quality under $300
- All solid mahogany construction results in warm, balanced tone
- Slim neck profile and low action facilitate comfortable playability
- Attractive open pore natural finish gives it a unique aesthetic
- Grand concert size is comfortable for smaller players
- Quality tuners and hardware hold tuning well
- Comes with a padded gig bag for protection
Cons:
- Lack of electronics limits amplified use
- Only comes in natural finish, no color options
- Grand concert body may feel too small for some players
- Not as loud as larger dreadnought acoustics
- No cutaway for upper fret access
- Some may prefer more sparkle and brightness in the tone
The section summarizes the key strengths and drawbacks of the Ibanez AC240OPN based on the review. Let me know if you would like me to expand on any of the pros or cons in more detail.
Vs. Similar Guitars
The Ibanez AC240OPN stands up well when compared to other acoustic guitars in the $200-300 price range, such as the popular Takamine GD51. Both guitars have solid mahogany tops and similar body shapes, but there are some key differences.
The Takamine GD51 has a slightly larger dreadnought body, which produces more volume and bass response. However, the Ibanez’s grand concert body is more comfortable for smaller players and ideal for fingerstyle playing.
In terms of craftsmanship, the Ibanez AC240OPN appears to have better overall build quality and attention to detail at this price point. The fretwork is immaculate right out of the box, whereas the Takamine may need some minor setup adjustments.
Tone-wise, the Ibanez produces a balanced, warm sound with nice overtones. The Takamine GD51 sounds brighter and louder when strummed, thanks to its larger dreadnought body. For fingerstyle playing, the Ibanez has better note definition.
When it comes to value, the Ibanez AC240OPN gets the edge. It provides comparable build quality and tone to the Takamine GD51 for a significantly lower price. Beginners and intermediate players who want great bang-for-buck will appreciate the Ibanez AC240OPN.
Ideal For…
The Ibanez AC240OPN Artwood is best suited for beginner and intermediate level players looking for their first serious acoustic guitar. While it’s affordably priced under $300, it doesn’t feel or play like a cheap "starter" acoustic.
The smooth mahogany neck, slim profile, and comfortable string action make this a very playable instrument right out of the box. You won’t be fighting the guitar or struggling with painfully high action like on many budget acoustics. This makes the AC240OPN a great choice for newer players still developing finger strength and dexterity.
The mellow, balanced tone of the all-mahogany body works well for a variety of mellow acoustic genres. Fingerstyle, country, folk, pop, and classic rock are all great fits for the AC240OPN. It’s a particularly good match for singer-songwriters focused on chord strumming behind the vocals. The mahogany warmth enhances the midrange without covering the vocals.
The smaller grand concert body size is also ideal for younger players and smaller-framed musicians. Unlike a full-size dreadnought, the AC240OPN doesn’t feel overly large or cumbersome when played seated. This makes longer practice sessions more comfortable, especially for beginners.
While not the loudest acoustic guitar, the AC240OPN projects sufficiently for small coffee shop performances or jam sessions. The focused mahogany tone cuts through a mix better than a boomy, muddy acoustic. Serious gigging musicians may want a guitar with more volume and projection, but the AC240OPN hits the sweet spot for casual playing and practice.
Conclusion
After reviewing the Ibanez AC240OPN Artwood, our final verdict is that this is an excellent acoustic guitar for the price point. We give it a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.
The combination of solid mahogany top construction and grand concert body style results in a warm, balanced tone that’s perfect for fingerpicking and chordal playing. While it lacks onboard electronics, the guitar’s excellent playability and comfortable feel make it a joy to play. The open pore natural finish gives it a unique aesthetic that looks far more expensive than the price tag suggests.
Overall, we highly recommend the AC240OPN for beginners, students, and intermediate players looking for their first serious acoustic guitar. It provides a noticeable step up in quality from basic entry-level models, with the solid wood top and quality hardware setting it apart. The grand concert body size makes it accessible for smaller players too.
In conclusion, Ibanez has delivered an impressive instrument with the Artwood series AC240OPN. It punches well above its weight class in terms of tone, playability and aesthetics. For those seeking an affordable workhorse acoustic with pro-level appointments, the AC240OPN is easy to recommend.