Introduction
The Ibanez AEWC300 is an impressive mid-priced acoustic-electric guitar that delivers comfort, rich tone, and versatile sound. As part of Ibanez’s popular AEWC series, the AEWC300 offers a winning blend of playability and affordability.
This grand concert-sized guitar stands out with its specially contoured "comfort body" designed for enhanced ergonomics. The solid Sitka spruce top and flamed maple back/sides provide excellent acoustic resonance and projection. The built-in Fishman electronics can be amplified through any PA or acoustic amp while retaining the guitar’s natural tone.
Key features that make the AEWC300 a compelling option in the sub-$500 acoustic-electric market include the asymmetric neck profile for comfort, onboard EQ controls, and a high-gloss finish that gives it an elegant aesthetic. For guitarists seeking great acoustic sound and versatility without breaking the bank, the Ibanez AEWC300 hits a sweet spot.
AEWC300 Body and Design
The Ibanez AEWC300 features a specially designed comfort body shape to enhance playing ease and ergonomics. Rather than a traditional dreadnought or auditorium outline, the AEWC300 uses a proprietary body contouring that fits against the player’s body in an organic way.
At its core is a grand concert body style, which provides a nice balance of volume, articulation, and comfort. The grand concert shape is mid-sized, measuring [insert specific dimensions] with a graceful cutaway for easy upper fret access. This makes the AEWC300 a highly playable guitar for performance situations where space is limited.
Visually, the AEWC300 has an elegant high gloss finish offered in several eye-catching variants. The flagship Natural Browned Burst combines warm vintage tones on the body with a spruce top for aesthetic appeal. For players wanting a more modern look, the AEWC300 also comes in attractive Transparent Blue Burst and Transparent Red Burst gloss finishes. The smooth gloss finish not only looks great, but contributes to the guitar’s resonant tone.
Tonewoods and Construction
The AEWC300 features premium tonewoods that provide excellent resonance, projection, and balanced tones. The solid Sitka spruce top is a popular choice among acoustic guitars for its strength, flexibility, and rich harmonic overtones. Sitka spruce has an evenly balanced frequency response across the tonal spectrum, giving the AEWC300 a very versatile sound profile.
The back and sides are made of gorgeous flamed maple, adding visual appeal along with bright, focused midrange tones. The flamed figure results in a three-dimensional shimmering appearance. Maple has long been prized for its hardness and stiffness which enhances volume and sustain.
The bracing pattern further contributes to the AEWC300’s excellent resonance and dynamics. It uses a modified x-bracing design that provides rigidity while allowing the top to vibrate freely. The bracing is scalloped for a more organic feel and graduated in height towards the lower bout for balanced bass response. The body also incorporates maple blocks and reinforcements for improved structural stability and tone production.
Overall the solid spruce top combined with flamed maple back/sides and specialized bracing gives the AEWC300 a rich, balanced acoustic voice with shimmering highs, strong mids, and tight low end. The tonewoods and construction allow it to excel in a variety of playing scenarios from mellow fingerpicking to aggressive strumming.
Neck, Fingerboard and Bridge
The Ibanez AEWC300 features an asymmetrical neck profile that is thicker on the bass side and thinner on the treble side for enhanced comfort and playability. The neck is crafted from mahogany and topped with a rosewood fingerboard.
The rosewood fingerboard has a 25.5" scale length, 1.69" nut width at the top, and 20 frets. The slightly shorter scale length compared to some dreadnought acoustics makes the AEWC300 very comfortable to play, especially for guitarists with smaller hands. The nut width provides ample room for complex chords and fingerstyle techniques without feeling too wide.
Overall, the neck has a smooth satin finish that allows for fast, fluid playing across the fingerboard. The asymmetric contour nestles comfortably in the hand. Between the shortened scale, manageable nut width, and contoured neck shape, the AEWC300 is designed for playing comfort over extended periods.
Electronics and Controls
The Ibanez AEWC300 features Fishman electronics that deliver excellent plugged-in tone and versatility. It utilizes a Fishman Sonitone undersaddle pickup paired with an Ibanez AEQ-SP2 preamp.
The undersaddle pickup captures the natural acoustic resonance and nuances of the guitar. It has a very open and transparent sound that accurately reproduces the AEWC300’s warm, balanced tone. The pickup placement underneath the bridge saddle ensures even string-to-string output.
The preamp has volume, bass, and treble controls to shape your amplified tone. There is also a phase switch to cut feedback at high volumes. An onboard tuner makes it easy to keep the AEWC300 in tune. The preamp runs on a 9V battery or can be powered with a 9V adapter.
Overall, the Fishman pickup system provides excellent amplified acoustic tones. It has a very natural, mic’d sound as opposed to a piezo quackiness. From light fingerpicking to aggressive strumming, the pickup articulates the AEWC300’s dynamics nicely. The EQ controls allow you to dial in just the right amount of low end punch and crystalline highs.
Sound and Tonal Qualities
The Ibanez AEWC300 produces a well-balanced unplugged acoustic tone with impressive projection and sustain. The solid Sitka spruce top resonates nicely and has an open, airy quality. There is good warmth in the low end and crispness in the highs. It’s not overly bright or bass heavy, achieving a pleasing tonal balance.
When plugged in, the AEWC300 retains its acoustic character very well. The Fishman pickup and preamp system provide a natural amplified tone, without excessive coloring. Through a clean amp or PA, it has enough sparkle and clarity to cut through a mix. With some light reverb or delay added, the AEWC300 fills a room nicely for fingerstyle playing. Cranking up the gain brings out the guitar’s woody midrange in a pleasing way.
This Ibanez responds well to both aggressive strumming and delicate fingerpicking. The solid spruce top handles heavy strumming without muddiness. When played softly, the notes bloom nicely with good articulation. The flamed maple back adds some snap on the attack, while the spruce provides sustain and warmth. Percussive techniques also come through clearly. Overall, the AEWC300 is quite dynamic and versatile for different playing applications.
Playability and Feel
The AEWC300’s specially designed neck profile and body shape make it an exceptionally comfortable guitar to play. The asymmetric Advantage neck has a smooth contour that nicely fills the hand. It provides an almost Strat-like feel that facilitates complex chording and fast runs up and down the neck.
The action on the AEWC300 is set very playable right out of the box. String height is optimized for speed and playability without buzzing. The strings have a light, slinky tension that enhances the guitar’s comfort and makes it easier on the hands during long practice or gigging sessions.
With its 1.69" nut width, the AEWC300 provides ample room between strings for fingerpicking and using a pick. Chords are easy to grab and fretting individual notes is effortless, even with large fingers. Overall the AEWC300 strikes a great balance between comfort, playability and tone.
Comparison to Similar Models
The Ibanez AEWC300 holds its own against other guitars in the same price range, both from Ibanez and competitor brands.
Compared to others in the AEWC series, the AEWC300 is very competitively priced. The AEWC400 offers slightly better appointments but comes in at a higher price point. The AEWC300 provides excellent value by offering many of the same comfort-focused features and Fishman electronics at a more budget-friendly cost.
When stacked up against similarly priced acoustic-electrics from other major brands like Yamaha, Takamine, and Epiphone, the AEWC300 is a strong contender in its class. Models like the Yamaha A-Series A3M and Takamine GD30CE are comparable, but the Ibanez offers greater comfort and playability thanks to its specialized body contouring and neck design.
The Ibanez is able to keep up with pricier models when it comes to amplified tone as well, thanks to the quality of its solid wood construction and Fishman electronics. While the cosmetics may be a bit more basic than some competitors, the AEWC300 excels where it matters most – delivering a comfortable, rich sounding, highly playable experience that punches above its price point.
Accessories and Options
The Ibanez AEWC300 comes with a few useful accessories like a padded gig bag for safe transport and storage. It also includes a clip-on tuner, helpful for quick tuning adjustments on the go. Some guitarists add a humidifier to the case to keep the solid wood top from drying out.
Many AEWC300 owners upgrade to higher quality strings like Elixir Phosphor Bronze for improved tone and longevity. Upgrading the plastic saddle and nut to bone is another popular modification for enhanced resonance. Others install strap locks for extra security when using a strap.
Adding a pickup blend knob allows blending between the neck and bridge pickups for more tonal variety. A guitar pickup or soundhole humidifier helps keep the top from drying out. Some players install a thumbrest or arm bevel for even more playing comfort.
Beyond the natural brown burst finish, the AEWC300 comes in a few other color options. The black burst pairs the spruce top with black back and sides. For a unique look, the transparent blue burst has a cool blue tint over flamed maple. The vintage burst is a reddish sunburst pattern.
Conclusion
The Ibanez AEWC300 packs impressive value in an accessibly priced acoustic-electric guitar. Its specially contoured comfort body lives up to the promise, with an ergonomic design that makes this a joy to play even during long practice sessions or gigs. The all-solid tonewood construction also punches above its weight, with the spruce and maple pairing nicely to deliver balanced, rich acoustic resonance.
While the no-frills aesthetics and simple electronics may not appeal to some, they help keep costs down while focusing on fantastic playability. The onboard Fishman preamp provides quality plugged-in tones for amplified performances or recording. Overall, the AEWC300 offers professional features and comfort you’d expect in a guitar costing much more.
The Ibanez AEWC300 is best suited for aspiring singer-songwriters, gigging troubadours, and dedicated students looking to advance their skills. Its comfortable body, great acoustic sound, and Fishman pickup give it the versatility to shine in many playing scenarios. For those seeking a quality, gig-ready acoustic-electric that won’t break the bank, the AEWC300 hits all the right notes.