Introduction
Ibanez has a long history of crafting high quality acoustic guitars dating back to the late 1800s. The company began producing guitars in Japan in the 1930s and eventually expanded their catalog to include a wide variety of acoustic and electric models.
The Artwood series represents Ibanez’s premium all-solid acoustic guitar line, showcasing exotic tonewoods and appointments. The AEWC32FM model introduced in 2022 is part of the Artwood series, featuring a thinline cutaway body ideal for players seeking comfort and easy playability.
This AEWC32FM model packs several notable features into its compact frame. It has a stunning flamed maple top paired with sapele back and sides for balanced warmth and articulation. The thinline body depth improves playing comfort, while the cutaway design grants easy access to upper frets.
An Ibanez AEQ210TF preamp comes built-in, with controls for tuning, EQ, and feedback reduction. Together, these attributes make the AEWC32FM an enticing option for fingerstyle players and gigging guitarists needing amplified acoustic tone in a portable form factor.
Design and Construction
The Ibanez AEWC32FM features a thinline body design that provides comfort and lightweight portability. It has a depth of just 2.75" making it easy to play for extended periods without fatigue.
The top is made of stunning flamed maple which gives the guitar a beautiful and distinctive look. Flamed maple is known for its eye-catching grain patterns that almost seem to dance across the surface. This top wood not only looks great, but also lends brightness and clarity to the guitar’s tone.
The back and sides are constructed from sapele, which imparts a balanced and articulate sound. Sapele is a relatively lightweight tonewood that provides a nice contrast to the flamed maple top.
The AEWC32FM is available in two gorgeous finish options – Amber Sunset Fade or Indigo Sunset Fade. Both feature a stained back and sides with a transparent finish that allows the wood’s natural beauty to shine through.
Overall, the thinline body along with the wood choices makes this an exceptionally lightweight acoustic-electric. It tips the scales at just under 6 lbs, making it easy to sling over your shoulder and carry around all night long.
Tonewoods and Sound
The AEWC32FM utilizes high quality tonewoods that produce a balanced, articulate tone perfect for fingerstyle playing and light strumming.
The flamed maple top adds brightness and crisp articulation to the guitar’s voice. Maple is known for its clear, projecting tone that cuts through a mix well. The flame figuring not only looks beautiful, but it produces an instrument with a more complex harmonic profile.
The sapele back and sides offer a warm, balanced foundation to complement the maple’s shimmer. Sapele is a very musical mahogany relative with excellent tonal properties. It has the midrange punch to make strummed chords come alive, while still allowing the intricacies of fingerstyle playing to shine through.
Together, these tonewoods create an acoustic tone that is well-balanced across the frequency spectrum. Notes ring out with a clear, sustained voice. The projection allows the AEWC32FM to hold its own in an ensemble situation. However, the guitar truly excels for more intricate solo playing. The crisp maple articulation allows every subtle nuance and finger movement to come through beautifully.
Players looking for an acoustic with enough punch for rhythmic strumming, but the delicate touch for fingerpicking will find an ideal partner in the AEWC32FM. The flamed maple and sapele body produce a versatile tone that sounds fantastic played softly or aggressively.
Electronics and Controls
The Ibanez AEWC32FM is equipped with Ibanez’s AEQ210TF preamp system, providing versatile tone shaping and feedback control for amplified performances.
The preamp features:
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Onboard chromatic tuner – Accurately tunes each string via an LED display, ideal for quick tuning before gigs or recording sessions. The tuner is easily accessible with a dedicated button.
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3-Band EQ – Allows boosting or cutting bass, midrange, and treble frequencies up to +/-15dB. Sculpt your ideal tone whether playing live or in the studio.
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Notch Filter – Cuts specific frequencies that are prone to feedback, reducing unwanted squeals and noise. Makes it easy to find the guitar’s sweet spot on stage.
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Phase Switch – Flips the phase 180 degrees to minimize feedback at higher volumes. Especially useful when using multiple mics or monitors.
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Volume Control – Adjusts the overall output level of the preamp. Prevents overloading the front end of amplifiers or mixers.
The AEQ210TF preamp requires a 9V battery or optional AC power adapter. For connecting to an external amp or PA system, the guitar has a high-quality balanced 1/4" output to handle long cable runs without signal degradation. Overall, the preamp provides comprehensive tone-shaping tools for amplified performances while retaining the AEWC32FM’s natural acoustic voice.
Playability
The Ibanez AEWC32FM features a thinline body depth that makes it very comfortable to play for extended periods. The smooth neck profile is designed for speed and effortless movement up and down the fretboard.
The factory setup provides low action and stable tuning right out of the box. Lower action makes the strings easier to fret and facilitates more intricate chording and lead playing. The guitar stays in tune through changes in temperature and humidity, even during long practice or gigging sessions.
The cutaway design gives easy access to the upper frets, enabling guitarists to play solos and reach challenging chords higher up the neck. The thin body depth brings the frets closer to the player, reducing hand stretch and strain.
Overall, the Ibanez AEWC32FM is built for playing comfort. The light body weight and smooth neck allow guitarists to play for hours on end without fatigue. Whether practicing at home or performing live shows, this thinline acoustic-electric is a pleasure to play all night long.
Accessories and Setup
The Ibanez AEWC32FM comes with either a padded gig bag or an optional hardshell case for safe transport and storage. The included gig bag provides basic protection while keeping the weight down, while the hardshell case offers more robust protection for frequent travelers.
The guitar comes professionally set up and intonated at the Ibanez factory in Indonesia. The action is lowered for comfortable playing, and the neck relief and string heights are set to optimal measurements. This precision factory setup results in great playability right out of the box.
For string gauges, medium lights around .012-.053 are recommended for the AEWC32FM. The lighter gauge enhances playability and allows the sapele top to resonate freely. Heavier strings can overdrive the top and compress the sound. Lighter gauges also exert less tension on the neck for reduced bowing over time.
If you want to customize the setup further, the truss rod can be adjusted to alter the neck relief, and the saddle height can be lowered or raised to change the string action. Turning the truss rod counter-clockwise decreases relief while turning it clockwise increases relief. Adjusting the truss rod by small increments of a quarter or half turn is advised until the desired relief is achieved. Lowering the saddle lowers the action and raising it increases action. A starting action of approximately 2/32" (1.6mm) on the bass side to 3/32" (2.4mm) on the treble side is ideal.
Value for Money
The Ibanez AEWC32FM offers excellent value for money given its quality materials and versatile performance capabilities.
The typical street price for this model ranges from $500 to $700, putting it in the mid-range bracket for thinline acoustic-electrics. While not the cheapest option, the AEWC32FM delivers premium tonewoods, electronics, and thoughtful appointments that justify the investment.
When comparing cost to overall quality, the AEWC32FM stands up well against competitors like the Taylor 114ce and Martin DX1AE. Though priced similarly, the Ibanez offers comparable high-end aesthetics and playability. This makes it an attractive option for players seeking pro features on a budget.
The use of solid sapele back and sides paired with a flamed maple top gives the AEWC32FM a rich, balanced acoustic voice. The onboard Ibanez AEQ-SP2 preamp provides studio-quality plugged-in tones perfect for live gigs or recording. These are appointments more often found on guitars $200 to $300 higher.
Finally, the thinline body and smooth neck profile make the AEWC32FM ideal for extended practice at home, while still packing nicely for travel. Players looking for one great-sounding, versatile acoustic-electric can rely on the AEWC32FM to cover all their needs while retaining value over years of ownership.
Pros and Cons
Pros
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Rich and balanced tone: The flamed maple top and sapele back/sides produce a warm, well-rounded acoustic tone with clarity and articulation. It excels at fingerstyle playing.
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Easy playability: The thin, lightweight body and slim neck profile make this guitar comfortable to play for extended periods. Low action allows smooth, fast fingering.
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Stunning visuals: The flamed maple top and sunset fade finish options give this guitar a beautiful, eye-catching aesthetic that stands out.
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Quality electronics: The Ibanez AEQ-SP2 preamp captures the natural acoustic tone accurately and lets you plug into an amp or PA system.
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Versatile: Works great for fingerstyle, light strumming, recording, and live gigs. The cutaway expands the fret access.
Cons
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Not ideal for heavy strumming or aggressive playing styles. The thinline body can be prone to feedback at higher volumes.
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Only available in a limited color selection – Amber Sunset Fade and Indigo Sunset Fade.
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The preamp doesn’t have a built-in tuner, though it does have a phase switch and EQ controls.
Best Suited For
The Ibanez AEWC32FM works best for fingerstyle players, recording artists, and gigging musicians who play softer genres. The comfortable feel, rich acoustic tone, and quality electronics make this a versatile choice for players looking for a great thinline acoustic-electric guitar option.
Demo Videos
Seeing and hearing the Ibanez AEWC32FM in action is the best way to understand its impressive looks, feel, and tone. Here are some great video demos to check out:
Construction and Design
This video from Uncle Louie Music gives you a close-up look at the details of the AEWC32FM’s construction and design:
You can clearly see the beautiful flamed maple top, abalone rosette, and thinline body shape that makes this guitar so visually striking and comfortable to play.
Acoustic Tone
Here’s an example of the AEWC32FM’s warm, balanced acoustic tone, played fingerstyle:
The sapele back and sides provide a rich low end, while the maple top adds shimmer and articulation. Overall it’s a very versatile acoustic voice.
Plugged-in Sound
When plugged in through the Ibanez AEQ210TF preamp, the AEWC32FM maintains its balanced tone while gaining volume and projection.
The onboard EQ controls allow you to shape the amplified tone to your liking. It performs well across various genres.
Additional Clips
Here’s a playlist with even more AEWC32FM sound samples, including fingerstyle, strumming, blues, rock, and more:
Be sure to check out these videos to get a great sense of the stellar looks, feel, and versatility of the Ibanez AEWC32FM acoustic-electric guitar. It’s easy to see and hear why it’s such a highly recommended model.
Conclusion
The Ibanez AEWC32FM thinline acoustic-electric guitar offers a fantastic combination of stunning looks, rich acoustic tone, and buttery smooth playability. Its thinline body provides hours of playing comfort, while the flamed maple top and sapele back/sides produce balanced articulation and good projection.
The onboard Ibanez AEQ-SP1 preamp gives you enhanced plugged-in tones, thanks to the 3-band EQ and built-in tuner. Controls are intuitive and easy to use. Whether playing live on stage or recording in the studio, the AEWC32FM delivers versatility across many musical genres.
For the price, this guitar provides exceptional value, with high-end appointments like the abalone rosette and premium tonewoods. The quality of materials and craftsmanship is difficult to beat in this price range.
Overall, the Ibanez AEWC32FM gets top marks for its inspiring acoustic voice, sleek thinline design, and flexible electronics. It’s ideal for fingerstyle players, singer-songwriters, and working musicians looking for comfort and reliability. The AEWC32FM is highly recommended for those seeking an acoustic-electric that plays like a dream straight out of the box.