Introduction to the Ibanez AWFS580CE
Ibanez has long been known for producing high-quality acoustic guitars catered to a wide variety of playing styles. Within their expansive catalog, two model lines stand out as favorites among fingerstyle players: the Artwood Series and the Fingerstyle Collection.
The Artwood line features all-solid tonewood construction with traditional body shapes and bracing patterns optimized for rich, balanced acoustic tone. Models like the AW54 and AW4000 have been go-to choices for fingerstyle guitarists for many years.
The Fingerstyle Collection represents Ibanez’s specialized line for advanced fingerstyle playing. These concert-shaped guitars have slightly smaller bodies, shorter 24.7" scale lengths, and design elements to enhance playability like wider string spacing and hand-rubbed finishes.
The Ibanez AWFS580CE combines the best of both worlds. This concert-shaped guitar belongs to the Artwood line yet incorporates many characteristics tailored for fingerstyle.
Key specifications include:
- Concert body shape with Florentine cutaway
- Solid Sitka spruce top with open pore finish
- Pau ferro back and sides
- Mahogany neck with rosewood fretboard
- Shorter 24.96” scale length
- 45mm nut width
- Ibanez AEQ-SP2 preamp with tuner
With these features, the AWFS580CE provides an ideal blend of traditional tonewoods, comfortable playability, and plugged-in versatility for advanced fingerstyle performance.
Build Quality & Construction
The Ibanez AWFS580CE features a solid Sitka spruce top paired with open pore semi-gloss finish. This gives the guitar a premium look and feel, with the solid spruce providing excellent resonance and volume. The back and sides are made from Pau Ferro, an alternative to rosewood known for its rich, warm tones.
The neck is crafted from mahogany and has a comfortable profile measuring 21mm at the nut and 24mm at the 12th fret. It’s not overly beefy but provides a solid feel during complex fingerstyle playing. The fretwork from the factory is immaculate with smooth, rounded fret ends and consistent fret height across the neck. It arrives with a very playable setup right out of the box.
The included hardshell case is well padded and protects the guitar during transport and storage. It’s sturdy and reliable, with quality latches and an interior accessory compartment. Overall, the materials and construction of the AWFS580CE are top-notch, built to last for years of fingerstyle playing.
Tonewoods & Acoustic Sound
The Ibanez AWFS580CE utilizes premium tonewoods that enable it to produce a rich, resonant, and highly responsive unplugged tone ideal for fingerstyle playing.
The solid Sitka spruce top is a popular choice among fingerstyle players for its ability to convey dynamics and articulation. Sitka spruce is lightweight and resonant across the frequency spectrum, with crystalline highs, balanced mids, and tight low end. It allows the guitar to respond sensitively to every nuance of the player’s right-hand technique.
The back and sides are made of Pau Ferro, an alternative to rosewood. Pau Ferro contributes deep lows, smooth mids, and clear but not overly bright highs. It has a complexity that enhances the spruce top, adding sustain and warmth while still retaining the guitar’s excellent projection.
Together these tonewoods create a guitar that is very dynamic and responsive unplugged. It has impressive volume and headroom, allowing the player to dig in without distorting or muddying the tone. The tonal balance is excellent for fingerstyle, with enough punch on the low end and shimmer up top to convey complex playing techniques.
Electronics & Plugged-In Performance
The Ibanez AWFS580CE comes equipped with Ibanez’s own electronics system designed specifically for acoustic guitars. It utilizes an Ibanez T-bar undersaddle piezo pickup that captures the guitar’s natural acoustic tones by sensing vibrations directly from the saddle. This pickup placement allows for a balanced and accurate representation of the guitar’s true unplugged sound.
The onboard preamp is Ibanez’s AEQ-SP2 model, which gives you quality acoustic amplification along with useful features like a built-in tuner. The preamp provides tone shaping control with a 3-band EQ, volume, and phase switch, allowing you to dial in your amplified tone. Overall, the electronics provide a very natural and transparent plugged-in performance.
Through an acoustic guitar amp or PA system, the AWFS580CE reproduces the guitar’s warm low end, balanced mids, and clear highs very well. You can push the volume for live performances without much feedback, even with the midrange and highs boosted. The combination of the undersaddle pickup and Ibanez preamp gives this guitar great amplified versatility for the stage while retaining the authentic acoustic tone.
Playability & Feel
The Ibanez AWFS580CE features a comfortable and highly playable neck profile that fingerstyle players will appreciate. The neck has a soft, rounded C shape that provides just the right amount of thickness. It measures 0.82" at the nut and 0.96" at the 12th fret, giving it a slim but not overly thin feel.
The string spacing is optimized for fingerstyle playing, with 1.69" spacing at the nut and 2.2" bridge string spacing. This allows for clean articulation when fingerpicking and prevents your fingers from feeling cramped. The fretboard radius measures 16", which creates a very playable curvature that makes chords, runs, and bends smooth and comfortable.
The fretboard itself is made of richlite, an eco-friendly and tonewood-like material that has a smooth, inviting feel. The medium jumbo frets are nicely finished for bendability without being abrasive on your fingers. The chrome die-cast tuning machines do an excellent job of holding the AWFS580CE in tune, even during vigorous playing. Overall, the neck profile and playing feel is fast and fluid, yet retains enough thickness for a solid grip.
Notable Fingerstyle Features
The Ibanez AWFS580CE incorporates several notable features tailored specifically for fingerstyle playing. This includes the scalloped X-bracing pattern under the top which allows the top more freedom to vibrate. This specialized bracing results in increased resonance and responsiveness when playing complex fingerstyle arrangements.
The bridge plate has also been customized on the AWFS580CE to provide improved articulation and note separation for fingerstyle techniques. The strings have a clear and defined response when plucked, with less muddiness in complex chord voicings.
In addition, the AWFS580CE has a shorter 24.96" scale length compared to many dreadnought acoustics. This shorter scale allows for smoother and more comfortable fretting when stretching complex chords and playing intricate melodic lines. The reduced string tension is easier on the hands during long practice or gigging sessions.
Finally, the nut width on the AWFS580CE is 45mm which is wider than standard acoustic guitars. The additional string spread enhances the ergonomics for fingerstyle playing, allowing more space for the thumb to cradle bass notes and fingers to pluck treble strings cleanly. This wider nut greatly facilitates the alternating bass techniques common in fingerstyle arrangements.
Overall the specialized bracing, bridge plate, scale length, and nut width make the Ibanez AWFS580CE an excellent choice for players who focus on fingerstyle techniques and want an acoustic optimized for this expressive playing style.
Sound Demo & Performance
The Ibanez AWFS580CE shines in video demos and live performances, showcasing its versatile acoustic tone and dynamic range.
Here’s an official demo from Ibanez, where fingerstyle virtuoso Mike Dawes puts the guitar through its paces in a percussive, energetic style. The crisp and balanced tone cuts through clearly even during complex tapping sections.
For a softer side, this video demonstrates the guitar’s warm, resonant voice on an intimate folk ballad. The player coaxes out sweet overtones with delicate fingerpicking, and the guitar blooms with sustain.
The AWFS580CE also excels at nimble Celtic-inspired runs, as shown in this clip of an Irish jig. The solid spruce top responds quickly to capture intricate reels and dance tunes. Through it all, individual notes ring out with clarity.
No matter the style, the Ibanez impresses with its dynamic range. From hushed harmonics to aggressive strumming, the guitar handles playing dynamics exceptionally well. The player’s articulation and touch translates directly into the AWFS580CE’s musical response.
Overall, the demo videos exhibit the guitar’s versatility, resonance, and sensitive response – ideal qualities for fingerstyle players. The Ibanez AWFS580CE comes alive in the hands of talented musicians across genres.
Pros & Cons of the AWFS580CE
Pros
-
Excellent build quality and craftsmanship: The AWFS580CE features a solid Sitka spruce top and high-quality tonewoods like Pau Ferro, resulting in superb construction that produces rich, balanced tone. Attention to detail is evident throughout.
-
Ideal for fingerstyle playing: From the scalloped X-bracing to the shorter scale length and wider nut width, this guitar is purpose-built for fingerstyle techniques. The bridge plate is also customized for fingerstyle articulation.
-
Great plugged-in sound: The Ibanez undersaddle pickup and AEQ-SP2 preamp provide excellent amplified tone comparable to high-end acoustic-electric guitars. It handles stage volumes without excessive feedback.
-
Premium included case: The guitar ships with Ibanez’s Artwood Thermally Aged hardshell case, providing professional-grade protection and storage out of the box.
Cons
-
Higher price point: The AWFS580CE sits at the upper end of Ibanez’s lineup, so the price tag is quite steep. However, it’s justified by the top-notch specs and quality.
-
Limited finish options: Currently only available in a Natural finish, which looks great but doesn’t offer much choice. More finish varieties would be welcome.
-
Not ideal for aggressive strumming: While excellent for fingerstyle, the lightweight build may not handle very aggressive rhythmic strumming as well as some guitars focused on that style.
-
Electronics could be improved: While good overall, the electronics are basic compared to some higher-end preamp systems. An upgraded preamp could take it to the next level.
Verdict & Conclusion
The Ibanez AWFS580CE is an ideal guitar for fingerstyle players looking for a responsive, rich-sounding acoustic-electric. Its solid Sitka spruce top and Pau Ferro back and sides produce a balanced, nuanced tone perfect for intricate fingerpicking. The scalloped bracing and custom bridge plate make the guitar come alive under the fingers, with excellent dynamics and articulation.
Overall, the AWFS580CE delivers exceptional quality and value. While the price may seem high, it’s justified by the use of solid tonewoods, excellent electronics, and attention to detail in the design and construction. For fingerstyle players who can afford it, the AWFS580CE is easily a top recommendation. It’s tailored specifically for fingerpicking, with the perfect blend of warm, resonant tone and articulate response.
The shorter scale, wider nut, and neck profile offer an extremely comfortable and fluid playing feel. And the onboard preamp ensures this guitar will sound fantastic whether playing solo gigs or recording in the studio. For any style of fingerpicking, from folk to jazz to percussive, the Ibanez AWFS580CE is a dream guitar that will inspire creativity and musicianship. It receives top marks across all criteria and is sure to satisfy even the most discerning fingerstyle guitarist.
Pricing & Availability
The Ibanez AWFS580CE has an MSRP of $1,999, though the real-world street price is typically lower. At the time of writing, popular retailers like Sweetwater and Guitar Center have it listed for $1,699. This puts it in the upper tier of premium acoustic guitars, but the exceptional build quality and specialized fingerstyle features justify the price for serious players.
Ibanez authorized dealers frequently run sales on the AWFS580CE and offer additional discounts when purchased as part of a bundle. For example, Guitar Center often includes a free hardshell case on top of the guitar’s sale price. Sweetwater provides 24-month financing options to make this instrument more accessible.
The AWFS580CE can be purchased new from all major music equipment retailers that carry Ibanez guitars, including:
- Sweetwater
- Guitar Center
- Musician’s Friend
- Sam Ash
- American Musical Supply
- Thomann Music
- Reverb (new and used listings)
While not always in stock due to demand, the Ibanez AWFS580CE can generally be readily found either online or in physical guitar stores. Being part of Ibanez’s core lineup, it’s produced on a regular basis.