Introduction
The Ibanez AEWB50 is an eye-catching limited edition acoustic-electric bass guitar that stands out in Ibanez’s popular Artwood series. With its exotic tonewood construction and beautiful natural gloss finish, the AEWB50 offers a stunning bass that looks as good as it sounds.
This special model combines a spalted maple top with walnut and ovangkol back and sides to create a unique multi-wood mosaic appearance. The grand concert body shape provides balanced and articulate tones perfect for the stage. Ibanez has crafted this bass with high quality components like the mahogany/maple neck and rosewood fretboard. Overall, the AEWB50 delivers impressive design, build quality, and versatility for the price.
Body & Neck
The Ibanez AEWB50 features a grand concert body shape, which provides a balanced and articulate tone perfect for fingerstyle playing. Though not as deep sounding as a dreadnought, the grand concert excels at controlled bass response and great mid-range definition.
The back and sides are constructed from ovangkol and walnut, while the top is beautifully bookmatched spalted maple. This exotic multi-wood body generates excellent resonance and acoustic projection. The spalted figuring in the maple is eye-catching, especially under the gloss finish.
The neck is crafted from 5 pieces of maple and mahogany for strength and stability. It has a smooth satin finish for fast playability. The fingerboard is rosewood, known for its crisp note articulation.
A key feature of the AEWB50 is the Florentine cutaway. This gives easy access to the upper frets, enabling more complex chording and soloing on an acoustic bass. The cutaway does not inhibit the bass resonance or acoustic volume in any way.
Electronics & Hardware
The Ibanez AEWB50 is equipped with a quality preamp and pickup system to accurately translate its rich acoustic tone when amplified. It features an Ibanez AEQ-SP2 preamp with 2-band EQ and onboard tuner for dialing in your amplified tone.
The preamp works in tandem with the Ibanez Under Saddle piezo pickup placed right under the bridge to capture the guitar’s natural acoustic resonance and strings vibration. This allows it to produce the true warm, woody acoustic tone of the exotic tonewoods through an amp or PA.
For outputs, the AEWB50 offers the versatility of both a balanced XLR out for running to a mixing board as well as a standard 1/4" out. This allows you to plug into an acoustic guitar amp or go straight to the PA system.
It comes installed with quality chrome die-cast tuners to keep the AEWB50 in tune through any playing situation. The tuners are mounted into a rich rosewood headstock that matches the fingerboard.
Sound & Playability
The Ibanez AEWB50 produces a wonderfully warm and resonant acoustic tone thanks to its grand concert body and exotic tonewood construction. There’s a pleasing balance across the frequency spectrum, with articulate low end, pronounced midrange, and crisp treble response.
When plugged in, the onboard electronics accurately capture the AEWB50’s acoustic character. The tone remains balanced and organic through the Under Saddle pickup and preamp system. The bass cuts through a live mix nicely when amplified while retaining the woodiness of an all-acoustic instrument.
Playability is excellent, as expected on an Ibanez bass. The slim 5-piece maple and mahogany neck has a fast, smooth feel. Combined with the rosewood fingerboard and generous Florentine cutaway, the AEWB50 provides easy access to even the highest frets. The setup out of the box is very playable, with comfortable string action and fretwork.
This makes the AEWB50 a versatile instrument well-suited to various techniques and styles. From delicate fingerstyle playing to more aggressive strumming, it handles beautifully across the spectrum. The acoustic resonance allows for solo bass performance, while the onboard electronics provide stage-ready amplified tones.
Aesthetics & Craftsmanship
The Ibanez AEWB50 has stunning aesthetics thanks to its exotic wood mosaic design. The combination of spalted maple, walnut, ovangkol and other tonewoods creates a beautiful multi-wood look across the body, neck and fingerboard.
Ibanez applied a high gloss finish over the exotic woods that really makes the unique grain patterns pop. The attention to detail in the finishing work is evident, with seamless transitions between the various wood pieces.
While made in China, the overall craftsmanship and build quality is quite good for an import model in this price range. The wood pieces fit together tightly with no visible gaps, and the fretwork is clean and consistent across the fingerboard.
The AEWB50 definitely delivers in the looks department, making it an eye-catching option for the stage. The exotic woods and immaculate gloss finish give it a high-end appearance that belies its accessible price point.
Pricing & Value
The Ibanez AEWB50 has an MSRP of $999, though street prices are typically around $700-800. This positions it as a mid-priced exotic wood acoustic-electric bass, below premium handmade luthier models but priced higher than mass-produced imports.
Compared to other exotic basses in this price range like the Martin Custom X Series or Fender Kingman, the AEWB50 offers great value. The quality of materials and workmanship is excellent considering it’s made in China. You’re getting a beautiful multi-wood mosaic build with solid woods and high gloss finish.
For the money, the AEWB50 delivers professional grade tone and stage-worthy aesthetics. While not cheap, it’s priced competitively among exotic wood acoustic-electrics. Players get an inspiring instrument that looks, sounds, and feels like a more expensive boutique bass.
Who Is It Best For?
The Ibanez AEWB50 is best suited for certain types of bassists who will appreciate its blend of exotic visual flair and versatile acoustic-electric tones.
Specifically, the AEWB50 is a great fit for:
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Gigging bassists who want an eye-catching stage bass. The exotic wood mosaic body and natural gloss finish make the AEWB50 a true stunner under stage lighting. It will capture audience attention while providing clear acoustic projection.
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Acoustic acts and worship bands needing both acoustic and plugged-in tones. With both an under-saddle piezo pickup and balanced XLR output, the AEWB50 works well for coffee shop gigs but can also be plugged into a PA system. The preamp and tuner aid quick amplified setup.
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Collectors wanting a rare and unique Ibanez bass. As a limited edition model, the AEWB50 likely won’t stick around forever. The exotic tonewoods also give each bass a one-of-a-kind look. This makes the AEWB50 appealing to collectors, especially of Ibanez’s Artwood series.
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Fingerstyle players wanting an acoustic bass for practice and recording. The AEWB50’s acoustic resonance works well for genres like jazz and folk that utilize more fingerstyle techniques. The electronics also make it easy to record quality acoustic bass tracks at home.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Stunning exotic wood visuals that really stand out on stage
- Quality construction and attention to detail for an import model
- Versatile acoustic-electric design works well plugged in or unplugged
- The preamp and under-saddle pickup accurately capture the acoustic tone
- Grand concert body provides balanced resonance and projection
Cons:
- As a limited edition model, quantities are restricted
- Craftsmanship is good but not on par with American or Japanese models
- The smaller body lacks the deep low end of a dreadnought acoustic bass
- Electronics could be prone to feedback at higher volumes
- The high gloss finish may be prone to scratches and dings
Similar Options
When it comes to other exotic wood acoustic basses in the same price range as the Ibanez AEWB50, here are some comparable models to consider:
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Taylor AB2 – This acoustic-electric bass from Taylor features a solid spruce top with layered rosewood back and sides. The AB2 has a similar grand concert body shape to the Ibanez and comes equipped with an ES-B pickup and preamp system. The tone is very balanced and clear.
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Fender Kingman V2 – The updated Fender Kingman V2 has a solid mahogany top with laminated mahogany back and sides. It comes in a gloss polyurethane finish to show off the woods. The Fishman Presys Blend pickup and preamp provides plugged-in tones.
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Epiphone Jack Casady Signature Bass – Designed with input from Jefferson Airplane bassist Jack Casady, this Epiphone acoustic bass has a solid spruce top and mahogany back/sides. The semi-hollow body resonates well acoustically. The Shadow ePerformer pickup captures a nice amplified tone.
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Lakland 44-02 – This premium acoustic-electric from Lakland has a solid figured maple top with chambered mahogany body and mahogany neck. The dual-source pickup blends piezo and magnetic sounds. The tone is clear yet full-bodied.
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Martin Custom D-16 Aura – The Custom D-16 Aura uses Martin’s Aura pickup imaging technology with a solid Sitka spruce top and mahogany back and sides. It has impressive acoustic presence and projection. The electronics accurately capture the acoustic character.
The Ibanez AEWB50 compares well among these other exotic wood acoustic basses in terms of build quality, playability, and versatile acoustic-electric tones. The stunning looks and more budget-friendly price make it stand out as an appealing option.
Conclusion & Rating
Overall, the Ibanez AEWB50 is a beautiful and versatile acoustic-electric bass that punches above its price point. The exotic wood construction not only looks stunning, but also helps produce warm, balanced acoustic tones. While made in China, the build quality and attention to detail are quite good.
The versatile electronics allow you to easily amplify the acoustic voice or run direct, making this a great choice for both studio work and live gigs. It’s also a joy to play thanks to the smooth 5-piece neck and comfortable body size. The only downsides are the limited production numbers and lack of deep bass response compared to a full size acoustic bass.
For collectors and gigging bassists needing an eye-catching acoustic-electric bass, the Ibanez AEWB50 absolutely delivers. While not cheap, it provides solid value given the exotic wood build, quality electronics, and versatile acoustic-electric tones. I give it a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars and highly recommend it to players looking for a unique acoustic bass that also excels when plugged in.