Introduction to the Ibanez PF28ECE
The Ibanez PF28ECE is an affordable, professional-quality acoustic-electric guitar with impressive features. Ibanez has built a reputation for offering great value by producing high-quality and versatile instruments across a range of prices.
This dreadnought guitar has a single-cutaway body shape that provides comfortable access to the upper frets while retaining the robust projection the dreadnought design is known for. It has a striking flamed maple top paired with mahogany back and sides.
Other features include a rosewood bridge and fretboard, chrome diecast tuners, and Ibanez’s AEQ2T preamp system with onboard tuner. This makes the PF28ECE well-suited for intermediate to advanced players who want a versatile acoustic-electric for practice, recording, and live performance. Its balanced tone and smooth playability allow it to handle a wide range of musical genres including folk, rock, country, blues, and more.
Body Style and Design
The Ibanez PF28ECE features the classic dreadnought body shape, providing a balanced and full tone with plenty of projection and volume. The inclusion of a single cutaway gives you easy access to the upper frets for more intricate soloing.
For the top, Ibanez chose a gorgeous flamed maple which not only looks beautiful with its distinctive wavy pattern, but also adds brightness, clarity, and articulation to the PF28ECE’s tone. The back and sides are made from mahogany, which provides warmth, sweetness, and good low-end response.
The PF28ECE has an elegant dark violin sunburst finish. The reddish-brown sunburst pattern radiates out from the center, providing lovely visual depth. Small touches like the cream binding and rosewood rosette complement the sunburst colors nicely. The overall aesthetic is refined and striking without being overstated.
Neck and Fretboard
The Ibanez PF28ECE features a slim, fast neck profile that makes playing across the fretboard feel effortless. The neck has a comfortable D shape that accommodates both chording and lead playing.
The fretboard is made of quality rosewood which contributes to the guitar’s warm, balanced tone. The rosewood feels smooth under the fingers while still providing enough grip for accurate playing. The fretwork from Ibanez is immaculate with evenly leveled frets along the length of the neck.
With its slim profile and low action setup from the factory, the PF28ECE has very fast and comfortable playability right out of the box. Both barre chords and intricate soloing across the higher frets can be executed with ease thanks to the slick rosewood fretboard and carefully crafted neck design. The cutaway body style also allows easy upper fret access.
Overall, the neck shape, slim profile, and smooth rosewood fretboard of the Ibanez PF28ECE make it a very playable acoustic-electric guitar suitable for all styles of playing. Both beginners and more advanced players will find the neck comfortable and enjoyable to play.
Hardware
The Ibanez PF28ECE features high-quality hardware that enhances its playability, tuning stability, and durability. The guitar has a rosewood bridge and saddle, which provides excellent resonance and sustain. The bridge is designed to effectively transfer string vibrations into the body.
The headstock is equipped with chrome enclosed die-cast tuners. These tuners do an excellent job of holding the strings in tune, even during vigorous playing. Users report very minimal tuning issues with the PF28ECE. The tuning machines have a high gear ratio for precise tuning adjustments.
There are two strap buttons – one located at the bottom of the lower bout, and the other at the neck heel. They are made of chromed metal and securely hold a strap in place. The strap buttons are positioned to help balance the guitar properly when standing. Overall, the hardware components on the PF28ECE are robust and allow for great tuning stability and playability.
Electronics and Controls
The Ibanez PF28ECE features an impressive onboard preamp and EQ system that provides excellent amplified tones. It utilizes an Ibanez AEQ-SP1 preamp with 3-band EQ and onboard tuner.
The preamp allows you to shape your amplified sound with bass, middle, and treble controls. This EQ gives you tonal flexibility when plugging into an amplifier or PA system. The guitar has nice balanced tones out of the box, but the EQ knobs allow you to easily tweak the lows, mids, and highs to your taste or for the room you are playing in.
The volume knob controls your overall output volume. It allows you to match levels with other musicians and prevent feedback when playing live.
Another handy feature is the guitar’s built-in tuner. Just press the tuner button to mute the output and activate the highly accurate chromatic tuner. This makes tuning on stage quick and easy. The tuner also has a bright display that is easy to see even on dark stages.
Overall, the electronics package on the Ibanez PF28ECE is robust and gives you the controls you need to craft your ideal acoustic tones in any live or studio setting. The preamp and EQ add a lot of versatility, while the tuner provides super convenient tuning capabilities.
Sound Profile
The Ibanez PF28ECE produces rich, balanced acoustic tones when played unplugged. The solid mahogany back and sides paired with the flamed maple top generate a full-bodied dreadnought sound with excellent projection and sustain. While mahogany lends warmth and sweetness to the unplugged tones, the maple provides crispness and clarity in the high end. The guitar has impressive dynamic range, allowing for everything from strummed open chords to intricate fingerpicking.
When plugged in, the Ibanez PF28ECE’s preamp system produces excellent amplified tones. The onboard EQ with bass, middle, and treble controls allows for shaping the amplified sound to suit any musical setting. The preamp has plenty of volume on tap without distorting or getting too boomy. The guitar maintains its balanced tonal character when plugged in, with nice definition on the lows and clear, shimmery highs. Whether playing live on stage or recording in the studio, the Ibanez PF28ECE can handle anything from rock and pop to folk and country genres with its versatile amplified tones. The guitar’s tight low end and crisp highs make it especially suitable for singer-songwriters who need their guitar to cut through a full band mix.
Included Accessories
The Ibanez PF28ECE comes with several useful accessories right out of the box. This includes:
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Gig bag – A padded gig bag is included to protect and transport the guitar. The bag features backpack straps, exterior pockets, and interior cushioning. While not a hardshell case, it provides ample protection during travel and storage.
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Truss rod wrench – Ibanez includes a truss rod adjustment tool for setting up and maintaining proper neck relief. This allows players to fine-tune the action to their preferences.
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Documentation – The guitar ships with documentation covering the warranty, setup/maintenance, electronics guide, and other reference material. This ensures you have instructions for getting the most out of the instrument.
Overall, Ibanez provides the essential accessories you need to start playing right away. The included gig bag, truss rod wrench, and documentation add value, especially considering the PF28ECE’s reasonable price point. While a hardshell case would be ideal for maximum protection, the included padded bag is sufficient for most needs.
Pricing and Availability
The Ibanez PF28ECE has an MSRP of $599.99, though it can readily be found from most major retailers for $399-$449. This positions it as a very competitively priced acoustic-electric in the sub-$500 range.
Some of the most popular places to purchase the PF28ECE online include:
- Musician’s Friend – $399
- Guitar Center – $449
- Sweetwater – $449
- Amazon – $415
The guitar typically comes with a 1-year limited warranty from Ibanez, so be sure to register your instrument upon purchase. Many retailers also offer additional warranty options.
Reviews from Owners
The Ibanez PF28ECE has received very positive reviews from owners across various forums and retailers. Many praise the guitar for its quality construction, rich acoustic tone, and versatile plugged-in sound at an affordable price point.
On online guitar forums like The Gear Page and Ultimate Guitar, the PF28ECE is frequently recommended as a great entry-level acoustic-electric. Owners describe the guitar as having impressive resonance and sustain unplugged, with one user stating "it absolutely sings acoustically." The smooth neck, low action, and comfortable body size also receive positive feedback for playability.
When amplified, the onboard preamp and built-in tuner get high marks for versatility. Owners report the EQ controls provide a wide range of tones from bright and crisp to warm and bassy. The digital tuner works accurately and aids in quick tuning on stage. One user said it’s "the best acoustic preamp I’ve used in this price range."
Some owners did report minor quality control issues, including high action from the factory requiring a setup and electronics needing tweaked. The gig bag quality also received some complaints of being thin and flimsy. However, most agreed these were small flaws for the price, and Ibanez’s warranty service resolved any major problems.
Overall, reviews of the Ibanez PF28ECE highlight it as an impressive affordable acoustic-electric with pro-level features, great playability and tone, and only minimal compromises for the price point. Most owners agree it punches well above its weight class.
Alternatives and Conclusion
The Ibanez PF28ECE competes well with other acoustic-electric guitars in its price range like the Yamaha FGX800C and the Fender FA-125CE. The Yamaha offers a similar build with a solid spruce top and nato back and sides, plus built-in electronics. However, it lacks the attractive flamed maple top of the Ibanez. The Fender has a laminate mahogany top, back, and sides rather than solid tonewoods, but does include a built-in tuner.
Overall, the Ibanez PF28ECE stands out for its high-quality construction and beautiful looks at an affordable price point. The solid tonewoods help produce full, balanced acoustic tones, while the preamp provides quality amplified sounds. For intermediate players looking for their first serious acoustic-electric, or gigging musicians in need of an affordable and reliable workhorse guitar, the Ibanez PF28ECE is easy to recommend. It provides professional features, great playability and versatile tones at a price that outperforms most competitors.