Introduction
The Ibanez PF18WDB is an affordable, entry-level dreadnought acoustic guitar ideal for beginners and casual players. With its classic dreadnought body shape made from quality tonewoods, this full-size acoustic combines playability, solid construction and an attractive price point.
Key features of the PF18WDB include a spruce top and mahogany back and sides, delivering balanced tone and good projection. The guitar’s neck is made from sapele, with a rosewood fingerboard for smooth playability. Chrome die-cast tuners provide tuning stability, while the Ibanez Advantage bridge pins enhance sustain.
This Ibanez dreadnought is designed with the beginning acoustic guitar player in mind. The combination of traditional body style, quality materials and approachable price make the PF18WDB a great choice for students, aspiring players and hobbyists looking for their first real instrument. While not a professional-grade acoustic, it provides beginners with a playable, good sounding guitar to learn on and develop their skills.
Body Style and Dimensions
The Ibanez PF18WDB features the classic dreadnought body style, which is known for its versatility and comfortable playing feel. With its wider waist and shoulders, the dreadnought body provides an ergonomic fit for most beginners.
Specifically, the PF18WDB has the following dreadnought body dimensions:
- Body length: 20"
- Lower bout width: 15"
- Depth at neck joint: 4.3"
- Depth at endpin: 4.9"
The 25.6" scale length and 1.69" nut width also contribute to the comfortable feel of this guitar for players with smaller hands or shorter arms. Many entry-level acoustics utilize a full dreadnought size, which can be too large for some younger students or petite players.
The slightly reduced depth and width of the PF18WDB dreadnought body helps improve playability and accessibility for beginners while still retaining the balanced, projecting tone the shape is known for. Overall, the size feels natural and unintimidating to most new players while providing room to grow.
Tonewoods
The Ibanez PF18WDB features a laminate spruce top paired with laminate mahogany back and sides. While not solid wood, these tonewoods still provide good tonal characteristics for a beginner’s instrument in this price range.
The spruce top gives the PF18WDB a bright, airy quality with good articulation and responsiveness. Spruce is a common choice on acoustic guitars for its ability to reflect the strings’ vibration. Though laminate doesn’t resonate as fully as solid spruce, it provides good volume and projection.
The mahogany back and sides offer a balanced midrange, adding warmth and body to the tone. Mahogany is appreciated for its mellow but clear voice. Together with the spruce top, the mahogany produces a well-rounded acoustic guitar sound.
Overall, the combination of laminate spruce and mahogany supplies the Ibanez PF18WDB with a pleasing, musical tone. While not as complex as a high-end solid wood instrument, it provides beginners with a balanced, easy-to-play sound. The tonewoods help make this an approachable and enjoyable entry-level acoustic.
Neck and Fingerboard
The PF18WDB features a sapele neck and rosewood fingerboard that provide a smooth and comfortable playing experience. Sapele is known for its sturdiness and stability, making it an ideal choice for the neck which has to withstand the tension of the strings. It has a medium profile that fits nicely in the hand.
The rosewood fingerboard further enhances playability with its smooth finish. Rosewood is a dense, oily wood that has excellent fretwear resistance. It also helps produce clear, articulate tones. The fretwork on the PF18WDB is very good for its class, with neatly finished medium jumbo frets. Overall the neck feels great to play, with an excellent setup right out of the box. The slim taper neck and lower action make it effortless to fret notes and chords for beginners.
Hardware
The Ibanez PF18WDB is equipped with reliable hardware that makes it easy to keep the guitar in tune. It has chrome die-cast tuners that provide precise and smooth tuning. The tuners are sealed to prevent corrosion and have a quality feel when turning the tuning keys.
Many budget acoustics skimp on the bridge pins, but the PF18WDB comes with Ibanez Advantage bridge pins. These are made of high-quality ABS resin plastic and feature grooved tops for enhanced sustain and better string vibration transfer. The pins help improve the guitar’s tone and resonance. They are also long-lasting and durable.
Overall, the hardware on the Ibanez PF18WDB is a cut above other guitars in its price range. The tuners and bridge pins give it better functionality for staying in tune and producing quality acoustic tone.
Finish Options
The Ibanez PF18WDB comes in several attractive finish options to suit different tastes. The most popular and traditional finish is the Natural High Gloss which showcases the guitar’s spruce top and mahogany back and sides beautifully. The gloss polyurethane finish gives it an elegant, polished look.
For those wanting something more eye-catching, Ibanez offers the PF18WDB in a striking Black Sunburst finish. The sunburst pattern transitions from black around the edges to a warm brown in the center, creating nice visual depth and contrast on the top. The back and sides remain black for a bold, modern aesthetic.
Other available finishes include Black, which gives the entire guitar a sophisticated, understated look, and Vintage Sunburst with a lighter brown center that highlights the spruce top. There’s also a fun Blue Sunburst finish with electric blue edges that will appeal to players who want something brighter and bolder.
The variety of finishes mean you can find a PF18WDB to match your personal style, whether you prefer traditional natural wood looks or something more adventurous. And they all feature the same smooth gloss polyurethane finish for beauty and protection. Ibanez’s eye-catching colors make this budget-friendly dreadnought really stand out.
Playability
The Ibanez PF18WDB has fast, comfortable playability right out of the box, making it a great choice for beginner guitarists. The action height is set low and even across the fretboard from the factory, allowing easy fretting and smooth chord changes without buzzing.
Many budget acoustics can come with high action that causes fatigue, but that’s not an issue on the PF18WDB. The action can always be adjusted lower if needed, but it’s playable for most people straight away.
The guitar’s intonation is decent considering the price point. The saddle and nut are cut accurately to allow notes to ring true up and down the neck. There may be some slight tuning discrepancies on the lowest frets, but nothing that can’t be resolved with a proper setup.
Overall the PF18WDB feels great to play once tuned and ready to go. The neck has a comfortable C-shape that fits nicely in the hand. Bending strings and soloing is easier than on many entry-level dreadnoughts.
If the action does need adjustment, here are some tips:
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Use a capo on the 1st fret and press down the string at the 14th fret. There should be a small gap between the top of the fret and bottom of the string.
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If the action is too high, the saddle can be sanded down gradually. If it’s too low, a saddle shim may be required.
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The truss rod inside the neck can also help adjust up-bows or back-bows to alter string height. Turn it 1/8th of a turn at a time.
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A qualified guitar tech can help with more complex setup procedures if needed. But the PF18WDB should play well right out of the box for most users.
Sound Profile
The Ibanez PF18WDB produces a nicely balanced tone for an entry-level acoustic guitar. The combination of laminate spruce top and mahogany back and sides provides a warm, rich sound with decent resonance and sustain.
While it doesn’t have the complex overtones of a solid wood instrument, the PF18WDB has a pleasant warmth and fullness to its tone. The mahogany body adds some mid-range punch, while the spruce top provides enough brightness on the high end. It’s a versatile sound that works for strumming chords or fingerpicking melodies.
The guitar projects well for its price point, with enough volume to play along in a jam session or sing with. The dreadnought body shape helps the PF18WDB deliver a balanced and focused tone. While not extremely loud, it has enough acoustic power for practicing and informal playing.
The sustain is also respectable, with the Ibanez Advantage bridge pins allowing each note to ring out. Chords have a nice ringing quality when strummed, rather than dying out too quickly. Overall, the PF18WDB has a musical, easy-on-the-ears sound quality.
Pricing & Value
The Ibanez PF18WDB has a retail price of $199, though it can easily be found online and in stores for $150 or less. At this street price point, the PF18WDB provides excellent value for the money as a beginner acoustic guitar.
For under $200, you’re getting a solid top, laminate back and sides dreadnought with quality hardware from a reputable brand. The all-mahogany body and neck deliver rich tone, while the spruce top offers good projection and volume. The chrome tuners and Ibanez Advantage bridge pins enhance the guitar’s resonance and intonation.
Compared to other entry-level acoustics, the PF18WDB punches above its weight class in terms of materials, construction and accessories. Many competitors in this price range cut more corners, using cheaper tonewoods and hardware. The included gig bag, picks, and other extras also add value.
While the PF18WDB may lack the refinement and nuance of a more expensive instrument, it provides an impressive value for beginners. For a bit over $100, you get a playable, good-sounding dreadnought from Ibanez’s Performance Series line. Overall, the PF18WDB gives you a lot of acoustic guitar for the money.
Alternatives
The Ibanez PF18WDB faces stiff competition from other popular entry-level dreadnought acoustic guitars. Here are some alternatives worth considering in the same price range:
Fender FA-115 – Fender’s take on an affordable dreadnought, the FA-115 features a laminated spruce top with mahogany back and sides. It has a slimmer "C"-shaped neck profile compared to the Ibanez. The tone is balanced and clear. The Fender is a comparable option for those looking for that iconic styling.
Yamaha FG800 – Yamaha’s FG800 dreadnought is known for its quality construction and playability at this price point. It has a solid sitka spruce top and nato back and sides. The neck is slim and comfortable. It produces a very resonant and full-bodied tone. The FG800 is an excellent alternative for those wanting better woods.
Epiphone DR-100 – From Gibson’s budget brand, the DR-100 has an all-mahogany body resulting in a balanced and warm tone. The slim taper neck and shorter 24.75" scale length make it very playable. The Epiphone is a great choice if you prefer a mahogany sound.
Jasmine S35 – With its laminated spruce top and mahogany back/sides, the Jasmine S35 has a bright and focused voice. It features a slim satin neck for smooth playability. The Jasmine often punches above its weight in sound quality and is an option if you want to spend a bit less.