Introduction
The Ibanez AEWB32 is a unique short-scale acoustic-electric bass guitar that offers big tone in a compact and travel-friendly package. This model features exotic tonewoods, innovative electronics, and easy playability that make it a versatile option for working musicians.
Key features of the AEWB32 include its Grand Concert body shape with a narrow 32" scale length. The top is solid Engelmann spruce, known for its crisp, articulate tone while the back and sides utilize laminated sapele, a warm and balanced wood. The onboard Fishman Sonicore pickup and Ibanez preamp provide plug-and-play flexibility.
This lightweight bass is ideal for performers who prioritize portability and comfort on the gig. The short scale length reduces string tension, making it great for players with smaller hands who want to minimize fatigue. Traveling troubadours will love the AEWB32 for its compact size and acoustic resonance. Overall, it strikes a unique balance of rich acoustic tone, amplified versatility, exotic beauty, and easy playability.
Construction and Design
The Ibanez AEWB32 features a body constructed from exotic tonewoods that provide excellent acoustic resonance and sustain. The back and sides are made from sapele, which is known for its warm, rich tones with good midrange presence. Sapele exhibits clear note articulation with a balanced EQ across the frequency spectrum.
The top is solid spruce, which provides the AEWB32 with enhanced clarity, definition, and note separation. Spruce is a popular choice for acoustic instruments thanks to its balanced EQ and impressive dynamic range. It allows the bass to be expressive and responsive.
This short-scale bass has a 32" scale length, which is 4" shorter than a standard long-scale bass. The benefits of the shorter scale length include reduced string tension, making the AEWB32 more comfortable to play for extended periods. It also allows for easy access to the lower frets.
The Grand Concert body shape strikes a balance between being compact and portable, while still providing enough internal air volume for good projection and acoustic output. It’s an ideal size for playing seated or standing.
The natural high gloss finish highlights the beautiful wood grain patterns in the sapele and spruce. It gives the AEWB32 an organic, refined aesthetic well-suited for acoustic instruments.
Electronics and Controls
The Ibanez AEWB32 features a Fishman Sonicore pickup and Ibanez’s own AEQ-SP2 preamp system. This combination provides excellent plugged-in tone and flexibility for acoustic-electric performance.
The Sonicore is a quality undersaddle piezo pickup that accurately captures the natural resonance and warmth of the bass. It has a very transparent and balanced sound, without excessive midrange quack or high-end harshness that can plague some piezo pickups. The signal is clear and noise-free.
The AEQ-SP2 preamp packs a robust set of tone-shaping controls. First up is a chromatic tuner, conveniently accessible with a dedicated button when on stage. There is a standard volume knob, along with a 3-band EQ for shaping bass, midrange, and treble frequencies.
A phase switch helps reduce feedback at higher volumes, always an important consideration for amplified acoustic instruments. There is also a gain control to match the preamp level with the output level of the pickup.
Overall the electronics allow excellent flexibility for crafting your ideal plugged-in tone, while retaining the natural acoustic sound of the exotic wood construction. Controls are intuitive and noise levels are impressively low.
Playability and Feel
The Ibanez AEWB32’s short 32" scale length and compact Grand Concert body shape make it an exceptionally comfortable and playable acoustic-electric bass, especially for long practice or gigging sessions. The reduced scale length results in less string tension compared to a full 34" scale acoustic bass, making it easier on the hands during extended playing.
The neck profile on the AEWB32 is a slim and fast modern C shape that most players will find comfortable. The nut width of 1.5" provides adequate string spacing while not being too wide for smaller hands. The action, string heights, and intonation on the AEWB32 right out of the box are very good, requiring minimal setup adjustments. The low action allows easy fretting across the fretboard without buzzing or choking out notes. Overall, the Ibanez AEWB32’s construction and factory setup provide a very playable instrument immediately ready for acoustic bassists.
Unplugged Tone and Projection
The Ibanez AEWB32 produces a rich, warm unplugged acoustic tone thanks to its all-mahogany construction. The sapele back and sides have a focused midrange punch that projects well, while the solid spruce top adds shimmer and clarity to the highs.
Despite its compact Grand Concert body size, the AEWB32 has impressive volume and projection for an acoustic bass. The sapele wood produces a pleasing low-end thump that can keep up with acoustic guitars. The bass resonance allows the notes to sing out with sustain when played unplugged.
Compared to other acoustic basses, the AEWB32 holds its own in terms of unplugged volume. While it may not have the sheer projection of a jumbo-sized acoustic bass, the AEWB32’s focused mids and tight lows allow it to cut through a mix. The compact body size makes it comfortable for extended playing sessions. Overall, the unplugged tone is versatile for different playing techniques and musical styles.
Amplified Tone and Performance
The AEWB32’s amplified tone takes the natural acoustic resonance of the exotic tonewoods and blends it seamlessly with the Fishman Sonicore pickup, allowing for great flexibility when shaping your amplified bass sound. The onboard Ibanez AEQ-SP2 preamp gives you a 3-band EQ and Gain control to dial in anything from a deep, warm, rounded tone to a bright, punchy, modern bass sound.
The beauty of the AEQ-SP2 preamp is how it retains the inherent woody acoustic qualities even when amplified. You can blend in just the right amount of the pickup’s signal, while still maintaining the rich organic bass response the AEWB32 is known for. There’s enough tonal control to suit any genre or playing style.
When playing live on stage, the AEWB32 holds up well at high volumes thanks to the preamp’s feedback-fighting phase switch and notch filter control. The ability to cut problematic midrange frequencies helps tame feedback, allowing you to confidently use the AEWB32 with large guitar amps, PA systems, and monitor wedges. It’s impressive just how loud and clear this compact acoustic-electric bass can get when amplified while still resisting problematic feedback.
Overall, the amplified performance takes this short-scale bass from a nice living room practice instrument to a highly capable live and recording bass that can hang with full size acoustic basses. The AEWB32 punches above its weight class thanks to the clever blend of world-class acoustic tonewoods and Fishman’s excellent amplification.
Accessories
The Ibanez AEWB32 comes with a few useful accessories included. It has strap buttons for attaching a strap, which is essential for standing while playing bass. A padded gig bag is also included, which provides basic protection while transporting the bass.
The included gig bag is lightly padded and made of a durable nylon material. It has a shoulder strap and carrying handle for easy transport. The bag features a front pocket for small accessories and a zippered main compartment that fits the bass snugly. While it gives some padding during travel, the gig bag doesn’t provide much protection from bumps or drops.
For musicians planning to travel frequently with the AEWB32, investing in a hardshell case could be worth considering. A rigid fiberglass case will protect the bass from dings, cracks, and other damage while on the road. Brands like Gator and SKB make hardshell cases specially fitted for short-scale bass guitars that would be a perfect fit. While more expensive than a gig bag, a hardshell case is a smart choice for musicians who gig or travel often.
Comparison to Other Models
The Ibanez AEWB32 stands out when compared to other short-scale acoustic basses on the market. Its exotic wood construction gives it a unique warm and resonant acoustic voice not found on many competing short-scale models like the Fender CB-60SCE and Epiphone Les Paul SL. The AEWB32’s sapele back and sides and spruce top provide a balanced and clear acoustic tone, while other short-scales often use less resonant tonewoods.
When compared to standard 34" or 35" scale acoustic basses, the AEWB32’s shorter 32" scale provides big advantages for playability and comfort. The reduced string tension and smaller neck profile make it much easier to play for long periods of time. The AEWB32’s compact body size is also more portable and comfortable when playing seated. However, standard scale acoustic basses may offer louder and deeper acoustic projection for certain genres. Overall, the exotic wood AEWB32 provides an unmatched combination of warm acoustic tone, easy playability from its short scale, and a lightweight compact travel-ready design.
Ideal Musical Styles and Uses
The Ibanez AEWB32 is well suited for certain musical genres and playing situations thanks to its warm, balanced acoustic tone and smooth playability. The compact size and portability also make it a great choice for some uses over a full size acoustic bass.
Ideal Genres
The AEWB32 really shines for mellow music styles that benefit from its warm low end and crisp yet rounded highs. Genres like folk, country, singer-songwriter, indie, and soft rock are enhanced by the AEWB32’s acoustic voice. The bass blends nicely into an ensemble with guitars and vocals without overpowering.
Fingerstyle playing helps bring out the resonance and nuances. The focused midrange thump cuts through well in small coffee shop settings without needing heavy amplification. The smooth playability also suits complex fingerstyle lines.
Limitations
While versatile, the AEWB32 does have some limitations in extremely loud rock settings or large venues where more projection is needed. The compact body doesn’t move as much air as a full size acoustic bass, so it may struggle to keep up with a loud rock drummer.
The short 32" scale also reduces the low end thump compared to a full 34" or 35" scale acoustic bass. So genres that rely on deep bass punch are not the AEWB32’s forte. Loud bluegrass or slap style funk may overdrive the acoustic voice.
Overall the AEWB32 works for a wide variety of mellow to medium volume ensemble playing where a balanced acoustic tone is desired. The exotic woods and Fishman pickup provide versatility across genres. But for pure acoustic power, a larger bodied acoustic bass may be required.
Conclusion
The Ibanez AEWB32 is a unique short-scale acoustic-electric bass that offers a lot of versatility for various playing situations. Its compact body size and 32” scale length make it very comfortable and easy to play, especially for smaller hands. The exotic tonewood construction of spruce and sapele produces a balanced acoustic tone with nice warmth and resonance. While projection is decent, it may not be loud enough to compete with drums and guitars in some band settings.
The onboard Fishman electronics do a good job of reproducing the natural acoustic sound when plugged in. The preamp provides a useful 3-band EQ for shaping your tone. The AEWB32 is flexible enough to use for practice, songwriting, coffee house gigs, and studio recording. While the acoustic tone is best suited for mellower genres, the plugged-in sound can also work for pop, rock, or praise settings.
Overall, the Ibanez AEWB32 is an excellent short-scale acoustic bass for anyone looking for easy playability along with exotic wood construction. The warm unplugged tone and Fishman electronics make it very versatile. While it may not have the projection for extremely loud gigs, it’s a great option for smaller venues, practice, and recording. For acoustic bassists or those with smaller hands, the AEWB32 is definitely worth checking out.