Guitar Scale Acoustic Basses

[B-Mac]

Oh boy just finished skimming through this entire thread! Lots of helpful info here, thanks to all those who contributed. I got an Ibanez PNB14E about a week ago for quiet indoor practice, and it's been a lot of fun to play. Really digging the unamplified tone, and I can't overstate how handy it is to have around for practicing on the couch.
View attachment 4409901
It has the phosphor bronzes in standard tuning right now, but I want to try tuning it in fifths at cello pitch. I asked around a bit on another thread for some recommendations for strings. I'll go back and study what others have mentioned here.

As to why I want to change the tuning, that's a long story for another day.

-Cal.

This is the thread you want to go to for some additional information that may be helpful, though it isn’t specifically for guitar scale size basses.
Acoustic bass fetish club Part 2

 

[steve_rolfeca]

Hello everyone, I apologize in advance if this question has already been answered, but this is such a huge thread that it is easy to miss the information that I need.

I want to buy a mini acoustic bass primarily for practicing and learning new songs. I've narrowed my choices to:
1. Ibanez AVNB1EBV (€500) - solid top
2. Invalid Link Removed (€500)- solid top
3. Invalid Link Removed (€230) - laminated top
4. Invalid Link Removed (€200) - solid top

I'm very tempted to buy Harley Benton because it is the cheapest one and it has a solid top, but I am willing to go up to €500 if it is really going to get me the following:
1. Good tone unplugged - this is subjective, but also he most important thing to me
2. Loud enough to hear myself when playing the music from stereo or Bluetooth speaker, just above normal conversation level
3. Nice feel and setup - I'd like to avoid any flaw that will require a visit to the shop (sharp fret edges, uneven slots etc)

I don't care a lot about plugged-in tone.

Again, the cheapest bass is the most tempting, but I'm reading a lot of positive things about cheaper Ibanez, but it doesn't have a solid top.

Any input is appreciated, thank you!

I've owned the Guild and the AVN, and played the PNB14E.

All three will achieve your goal of unplugged play at just above conversation level, although the PNB won't sound quite as good when pushed that hard.

If you want to play with friends, you'll inevitably end up looking for amplification. They don't respond as well as regular ABG's to aggressive plucking or picking, and they're all too quiet to keep up with someone singing while aggressively strumming an unamplified acoustic guitar.

It's pretty close, though, and a small lift from any small full-range powered speaker will deliver the headroom you need for acoustic jams.

I've tried all of these, and been pleased with the results- they serve the acoustic nature of these instruments much better than small bass combos from Ampeg, Fender and Orange. I ended up keeping the Bose for unplugged busking and camping, and the Headrush for everything else:

• Behringer PK108A
• Bose S1 Pro
• Headrush FRFR 108

The Behringer is the least expensive, the Bose is the only one with internal battery power, and the Headrush has the best price/performance ratio:

• it's much louder than the 60-watt Bose, which costs more than twice as much.
• It's loud enough to serve as a small bass amp with a larger acoustic group.
• It's cheap enough to make it hard to settle for the Bose.

The chief advantages to these basses over regular short (30") and long (34") scale acoustic basses are mostly due to the soft, nylon-core strings:

• Soft, easy action, especially for the plucking hand- heavy-handed players have to learn to play more gently, to avoid fretting out.
• Rounder, more musical tones, especially with the inexpensive electronics that come in affordable AGB's.
• Plugged in, they sound better than most regular ABG's. The low end is fuller, there's less finger noise, and the treble lacks that piezo-electric "quack".
• Extremely comfortable and portable form factor. Great couch instruments, but also perfectly stage-ready with the right amplification.

The AVN and Guild are proper stage-ready instruments, despite their toylike appearance.

They are also extremely close in performance. I couldn't justify keeping both, but had one heck of a time deciding which one to keep.

Pros and cons for the AVN:

• Feels expensive, very nice playability.
• Woodier tone unplugged.
• Tuner built into the preamp.
• More flexible two-band EQ that can sound acoustic, but also mimic a short-scale electric bass.
  • The treble control is touchy, and can sound harsh if you're not careful.
  • The bass control can get away from you, but offers great Reggae/Dub tones without external EQ.
• Built-in XLR output that eliminates the need for a regular direct box.
• Intonation is slightly better with the less expensive La Bella strings, which feel a little more beefy and roll less under the fingers.
• No instrument with a solid spruce top should be without binding.
• Even if you're not going to bind the back, at least bind the top to prevent cracks from minor bumps- especially at this price.
• 12th fret body joint is a bit limiting if you like playing the odd upper-register fill.

Pros and cons for the Guild:

• It comes with a very nice branded gig bag.
• It looks more expensive than either Ibanez, thanks to the figured maple veneer on the back and sides and attractive binding.
• Brighter tone unlugged, very even all across the fingerboard.
• No tuner.
• One-knob tone control is easier to set for realistic acoustic bass tones, but can't get electric tones without external EQ.
• Proper, fully-bound construction protects the instrument from minor bumps and dings.
• Long-term durability might be better due to the arched top and back, although string tension is so low that neck resets, top problems, etc., are highly unlikely on any of these basses.
• 14th-fret body joint allows a little more leeway for fills up in the dusty zone.
• Intonation is better with the stock (and more expensive) D'Addario strings.
• The D'Addarios are easier on the fingers, but take some getting used to- they roll under the fingers, just like the bass strings on a classical guitar.

The PNB is a good ten-footer: At a distance you enjoy the colour of the finish, but can't see the cheap construction:

• It's not terrible to play, but the sharp fingboard edges, dry-looking fingerboard etc., constantly remind you of the lower price.
• The unplugged tone is reasonably good, but isn't as loud as the AVN or the Guild.
• The pickup is OK, but the preamp doesn't sound as good as the others, and lacks the XLR output of the AVN.
• Intonation on the one I tried wasn't as good as the others- this was the only one that was already out of tune at the 12th fret with the stock D'Addario strings.
• The laminated top and low price make for a guilt-free travel instrument. I wouldn't worry about camping with it the way I would with the others.

 

[B-Mac]

I've owned the Guild and the AVN, and played the PNB14E.

All three will achieve your goal of unplugged play at just above conversation level, although the PNB won't sound quite as good when pushed that hard.

If you want to play with friends, you'll inevitably end up looking for amplification. They don't respond as well as regular ABG's to aggressive plucking or picking, and they're all too quiet to keep up with someone singing while aggressively strumming an unamplified acoustic guitar.

It's pretty close, though, and a small lift from any small full-range powered speaker will deliver the headroom you need for acoustic jams.

I've tried all of these, and been pleased with the results- they serve the acoustic nature of these instruments much better than small bass combos from Ampeg, Fender and Orange. I ended up keeping the Bose for unplugged busking and camping, and the Headrush for everything else:

• Behringer PK108A
• Bose S1 Pro
• Headrush FRFR 108

The Behringer is the least expensive, the Bose is the only one with internal battery power, and the Headrush has the best price/performance ratio:

• it's much louder than the 60-watt Bose, which costs more than twice as much.
• It's loud enough to serve as a small bass amp with a larger acoustic group.
• It's cheap enough to make it hard to settle for the Bose.

The chief advantages to these basses over regular short (30") and long (34") scale acoustic basses are mostly due to the soft, nylon-core strings:

• Soft, easy action, especially for the plucking hand- heavy-handed players have to learn to play more gently, to avoid fretting out.
• Rounder, more musical tones, especially with the inexpensive electronics that come in affordable AGB's.
• Plugged in, they sound better than most regular ABG's. The low end is fuller, there's less finger noise, and the treble lacks that piezo-electric "quack".
• Extremely comfortable and portable form factor. Great couch instruments, but also perfectly stage-ready with the right amplification.

The AVN and Guild are proper stage-ready instruments, despite their toylike appearance.

They are also extremely close in performance. I couldn't justify keeping both, but had one heck of a time deciding which one to keep.

Pros and cons for the AVN:

• Feels expensive, very nice playability.
• Woodier tone unplugged.
• Tuner built into the preamp.
• More flexible two-band EQ that can sound acoustic, but also mimic a short-scale electric bass.
  • The treble control is touchy, and can sound harsh if you're not careful.
  • The bass control can get away from you, but offers great Reggae/Dub tones without external EQ.
• Built-in XLR output that eliminates the need for a regular direct box.
• Intonation is slightly better with the less expensive La Bella strings, which feel a little more beefy and roll less under the fingers.
• No instrument with a solid spruce top should be without binding.
• Even if you're not going to bind the back, at least bind the top to prevent cracks from minor bumps- especially at this price.
• 12th fret body joint is a bit limiting if you like playing the odd upper-register fill.

Pros and cons for the Guild:

• It comes with a very nice branded gig bag.
• It looks more expensive than either Ibanez, thanks to the figured maple veneer on the back and sides and attractive binding.
• Brighter tone unlugged, very even all across the fingerboard.
• No tuner.
• One-knob tone control is easier to set for realistic acoustic bass tones, but can't get electric tones without external EQ.
• Proper, fully-bound construction protects the instrument from minor bumps and dings.
• Long-term durability might be better due to the arched top and back, although string tension is so low that neck resets, top problems, etc., are highly unlikely on any of these basses.
• 14th-fret body joint allows a little more leeway for fills up in the dusty zone.
• Intonation is better with the stock (and more expensive) D'Addario strings.
• The D'Addarios are easier on the fingers, but take some getting used to- they roll under the fingers, just like the bass strings on a classical guitar.

The PNB is a good ten-footer: At a distance you enjoy the colour of the finish, but can't see the cheap construction:

• It's not terrible to play, but the sharp fingboard edges, dry-looking fingerboard etc., constantly remind you of the lower price.
• The unplugged tone is reasonably good, but isn't as loud as the AVN or the Guild.
• The pickup is OK, but the preamp doesn't sound as good as the others, and lacks the XLR output of the AVN.
• Intonation on the one I tried wasn't as good as the others- this was the only one that was already out of tune at the 12th fret with the stock D'Addario strings.
• The laminated top and low price make for a guilt-free travel instrument. I wouldn't worry about camping with it the way I would with the others.

Great review!

 

[goran]

I've owned the Guild and the AVN, and played the PNB14E.

All three will achieve your goal of unplugged play at just above conversation level, although the PNB won't sound quite as good when pushed that hard.

If you want to play with friends, you'll inevitably end up looking for amplification. They don't respond as well as regular ABG's to aggressive plucking or picking, and they're all too quiet to keep up with someone singing while aggressively strumming an unamplified acoustic guitar.

It's pretty close, though, and a small lift from any small full-range powered speaker will deliver the headroom you need for acoustic jams.

I've tried all of these, and been pleased with the results- they serve the acoustic nature of these instruments much better than small bass combos from Ampeg, Fender and Orange. I ended up keeping the Bose for unplugged busking and camping, and the Headrush for everything else:

• Behringer PK108A
• Bose S1 Pro
• Headrush FRFR 108

The Behringer is the least expensive, the Bose is the only one with internal battery power, and the Headrush has the best price/performance ratio:

• it's much louder than the 60-watt Bose, which costs more than twice as much.
• It's loud enough to serve as a small bass amp with a larger acoustic group.
• It's cheap enough to make it hard to settle for the Bose.

The chief advantages to these basses over regular short (30") and long (34") scale acoustic basses are mostly due to the soft, nylon-core strings:

• Soft, easy action, especially for the plucking hand- heavy-handed players have to learn to play more gently, to avoid fretting out.
• Rounder, more musical tones, especially with the inexpensive electronics that come in affordable AGB's.
• Plugged in, they sound better than most regular ABG's. The low end is fuller, there's less finger noise, and the treble lacks that piezo-electric "quack".
• Extremely comfortable and portable form factor. Great couch instruments, but also perfectly stage-ready with the right amplification.

The AVN and Guild are proper stage-ready instruments, despite their toylike appearance.

They are also extremely close in performance. I couldn't justify keeping both, but had one heck of a time deciding which one to keep.

Pros and cons for the AVN:

• Feels expensive, very nice playability.
• Woodier tone unplugged.
• Tuner built into the preamp.
• More flexible two-band EQ that can sound acoustic, but also mimic a short-scale electric bass.
  • The treble control is touchy, and can sound harsh if you're not careful.
  • The bass control can get away from you, but offers great Reggae/Dub tones without external EQ.
• Built-in XLR output that eliminates the need for a regular direct box.
• Intonation is slightly better with the less expensive La Bella strings, which feel a little more beefy and roll less under the fingers.
• No instrument with a solid spruce top should be without binding.
• Even if you're not going to bind the back, at least bind the top to prevent cracks from minor bumps- especially at this price.
• 12th fret body joint is a bit limiting if you like playing the odd upper-register fill.

Pros and cons for the Guild:

• It comes with a very nice branded gig bag.
• It looks more expensive than either Ibanez, thanks to the figured maple veneer on the back and sides and attractive binding.
• Brighter tone unlugged, very even all across the fingerboard.
• No tuner.
• One-knob tone control is easier to set for realistic acoustic bass tones, but can't get electric tones without external EQ.
• Proper, fully-bound construction protects the instrument from minor bumps and dings.
• Long-term durability might be better due to the arched top and back, although string tension is so low that neck resets, top problems, etc., are highly unlikely on any of these basses.
• 14th-fret body joint allows a little more leeway for fills up in the dusty zone.
• Intonation is better with the stock (and more expensive) D'Addario strings.
• The D'Addarios are easier on the fingers, but take some getting used to- they roll under the fingers, just like the bass strings on a classical guitar.

The PNB is a good ten-footer: At a distance you enjoy the colour of the finish, but can't see the cheap construction:

• It's not terrible to play, but the sharp fingboard edges, dry-looking fingerboard etc., constantly remind you of the lower price.
• The unplugged tone is reasonably good, but isn't as loud as the AVN or the Guild.
• The pickup is OK, but the preamp doesn't sound as good as the others, and lacks the XLR output of the AVN.
• Intonation on the one I tried wasn't as good as the others- this was the only one that was already out of tune at the 12th fret with the stock D'Addario strings.
• The laminated top and low price make for a guilt-free travel instrument. I wouldn't worry about camping with it the way I would with the others.

Thank you for the thorough reply, you gave me a lot of valuable info.
Between AVN and Guild, I am leaning towards the AVN. Now it's just a matter of deciding whether taking a gamble with a cheap, but solid-top, Harley Benton is worth the risk.

 

[goran]

I got a nice offer for the last Ibanez AVN available in EU. I found a display model for €80 less than the new Guild. I think that's it, I'll give myself time to decide by the end of the day.


EDIT
If I ever have to use the portable system, I have Roland Micro Cube RX. It runs on 6 AA batteries that last a long time. I bought it 14 years ago and I still love it like the first day, a fantastic small amp.

 

[SBassman]

I had the Ibanez and thought it was a great value.

If economy matters, I believe the lowest cost entry in this is now the Cordoba Mini II.
Was selling for 229 at one point, now selling from some at 149. An Extremely nice build for 149.

I have it, and I love it.

[None of these basses are going to conjure loud unplugged tone. Gotta eventually plug them in.]

 

[steve_rolfeca]

I got a nice offer for the last Ibanez AVN available in EU. I found a display model for €80 less than the new Guild. I think that's it, I'll give myself time to decide by the end of the day.


EDIT
If I ever have to use the portable system, I have Roland Micro Cube RX. It runs on 6 AA batteries that last a long time. I bought it 14 years ago and I still love it like the first day, a fantastic small amp.

You can't go wrong with the Ibby. It's a lovely little bass.

Interesting amp choice- I checked out the Micro Cube, and it farted out way too early for me.

Traynor sells a battery-powered amp for buskers in two sizes- a 10" and a 12". Not a nice tone without external EQ, but much louder, better dynamic range, and more solid in the bottom octave.

It was actually the "between a rock and a hard place" choice of the Roland vs the Traynor that finally convinced me to spend the extra $$$ on the Bose.

 

[KPJ]

Great write up. @steve_rolfeca , only edit is that the Guild no longer comes with the bag.

 

[goran]

Interesting amp choice- I checked out the Micro Cube, and it farted out way too early for me.

Yes, I noticed you mentioned it somewhere in the thread (I took some time over the weekend and read through all the pages).
I don't know, you may have tried a faulty specimen because the little guy that I have at home is really loud (considering it is only 5W). I even had it on a quiet rehearsal with a drummer (playing with brushes) and I could hear myself.

 

[Cal03]

I got the PNB used from GC and it has been a great value for me for the low cost. If its acoustic tone sounded good to my plebeian ears, then Guild must sound amazing unplugged!

 

[goran]

I got my AVN a week ago and unfortunately, I am sending it back.

I love how it looks, plays and sounds, both plugged and unplugged, but I can't stand uneven string volume when plugged in. I know I am not going to use it that way very often, if at all. But if I am, it would be completely unusable. G and D strings are waaay too loud compared to A and E strings. I tried removing the saddle, and jiggle it so it settles in. I got more even E string, but even more quiet A string.

I tried a few combinations, but nothing worked. I even carefully sanded the bridge until it was completely flat, but that didn't help. This is unacceptable for this price.

So I am back to the beginning now

 

[steve_rolfeca]

I got my AVN a week ago and unfortunately, I am sending it back.

I love how it looks, plays and sounds, both plugged and unplugged, but I can't stand uneven string volume when plugged in. I know I am not going to use it that way very often, if at all. But if I am, it would be completely unusable. G and D strings are waaay too loud compared to A and E strings. I tried removing the saddle, and jiggle it so it settles in. I got more even E string, but even more quiet A string.

I tried a few combinations, but nothing worked. I even carefully sanded the bridge until it was completely flat, but that didn't help. This is unacceptable for this price.

So I am back to the beginning now

Bummer. My AVN was dead-even across all 4.

However it was the only one I've played, so not very relevant as a sample for comparison...

A store with a competent tech should have been able to fix that for you.

Although I've been a guitar and bass tech for over 50 years, I make a point of having the shop fix any issues I find in new instruments. Partly to keep them on their toes, but mostly to retain clarity about who is responsible for warranty work, etc.

 

[goran]

I even asked them beforehand - I sad, "please check if the strings have even volume" and pointed them to this thread. They never said there was a problem. The bass came with the empty battery, I guess they didn't even bother to plug it in and try it.

So at this point I don't want to deal with this instrument anymore, and I for sure don't want to pay even more money to make it work.

 

[renegiust]

Phew...81 pages that I've (mostly) read trying to figure these new (to me) GSAB (<- using abbreviation, slick huh?).

Strings that should work for Guild Jumbo Jr.:

• stock D'Addario
• LaBella CB40-BE (maybe, but not really that well)
• Pretty much nothing else...unless maybe some custom concoction that have a nylon core.

Strings that should work on Ibanez AVNB1:

• stock D'Addario
• LaBella CB40-BE (~10% more tension than stock)
• Ernie Ball Extra Slinky 2835 .040-.95 (maybe, but probably not, dunno for sure)
• EB Earthwood .045-.95 (dunno?)

I get the above summary right?

I've had these two basses for a couple days. Slowly getting used to them, but being a pick player I wouldn't mind more tension. I don't expect the same experience as my short scale electric, but >10% more would be nice. Lucky for me, I don't need flats, and not concerned with alloy, or even texture too much.

81 pages! Phew! (I know, a short thread by TB standards.)

 

[goran]

There is also a Pyramid 23,5" Acoustic Bass GS MiniSet

 

[Cal03]

One thing I've been meaning to try on my PNB is to string it up in a higher tuning, to get an improved body response acoustically. I know that doing so defeats the purpose of having a GSAB in the first place (credit to @renegiust for the handy shorthand!), and it might draw the unfavorable comparison to a regular acoustic guitar, which will probably still be louder acoustically.

But I still wanna try it, dagnabbit! I'll have to peruse the thread again for general string advice...

 

[HaphAsSard]

There is also a Pyramid 23,5" Acoustic Bass GS MiniSet

Hey! Thanks, I didn't know about these! These new Pyramid nylon-core supershort-scale flats are priced very competively vs. the Galli UXB910C/Kala KA-BASS-4FW set, and their having lower gauges than the latter (041-054-075-100 vs. 060-080-100-130) points to lower tension but, perhaps, a livelier tone and slightly better intonation.

@renegiust:
The Galli/Kala flats, in their 23" version, are reportedly 26" long ballend to silk, which means they may not fit on the Ibanez but should be fine on the Guild:
Ibanez 25" Scale Acoustic Basses - PNB14E, AVNB1E, AVNB1FE
Same for the black nylon (round filament) wound, nylon core Galli UXB810, 23" version:
Ibanez 25" Scale Acoustic Basses - PNB14E, AVNB1E, AVNB1FE
Both sets are likely to require, beside a widening of the nut slots, some carving of the bridge pins.

One thing I've been meaning to try on my PNB is to string it up in a higher tuning, to get an improved body response acoustically. I know that doing so defeats the purpose of having a GSAB in the first place (credit to @renegiust for the handy shorthand!), and it might draw the unfavorable comparison to a regular acoustic guitar, which will probably still be louder acoustically.

But I still wanna try it, dagnabbit! I'll have to peruse the thread again for general string advice...

This was my revised suggestion for/enabling of that plan of yours (specifically, the fifths-tuning one):
Invalid Link Removed

 

[goran]

I returned the Ibanez AVN, bought a Guild and I am not completely happy.
There is a lot of fret buzz on the G string between 3rd and 10th fret, and G string is 5-6dB quieter than the rest of the strings.
Second, compared to the AVN, it's noticeably quieter unplugged, and the sound (and this is subjective) is not as pleasant as the Ibanez AVN, especially when amplified. But ok, this I could live with, but the problems with the fret buzz and uneven string volume makes me want to send it back to the shop on Monday. I just don't have energy or time to, again, try to fix something that should have worked from the factory.

If I had to choose between a fully functional Ibanez AVN and the Guild, I would choose the Ibanez, simply because it is louder and sounds better. The Guild, on the other hand, looks better, and has an easier access to the upper frets.

I am seriously considering Invalid Link Removed and Invalid Link Removed. They both cost less than half of the Guild and at this point I don't think they can be much worse.

 

[steve_rolfeca]

I returned the Ibanez AVN, bought a Guild and I am not completely happy.
There is a lot of fret buzz on the G string between 3rd and 10th fret, and G string is 5-6dB quieter than the rest of the strings.
Second, compared to the AVN, it's noticeably quieter unplugged, and the sound (and this is subjective) is not as pleasant as the Ibanez AVN, especially when amplified. But ok, this I could live with, but the problems with the fret buzz and uneven string volume makes me want to send it back to the shop on Monday. I just don't have energy or time to, again, try to fix something that should have worked from the factory.

If I had to choose between a fully functional Ibanez AVN and the Guild, I would choose the Ibanez, simply because it is louder and sounds better. The Guild, on the other hand, looks better, and has an easier access to the upper frets.

I am seriously considering Invalid Link Removed and Invalid Link Removed. They both cost less than half of the Guild and at this point I don't think they can be much worse.

Dude…

If you go back through this thread, you’ll see similar reports of uneven volume when plugged in, fret buzz, etc., on pretty much every model of these things. The higher-priced AVN is usually better set up than the PNB, but it’s not built to white-glove standards either.

These instruments (with the possible exception of the Taylor) are all made overseas, and built to meet a fairly low price point. When it comes to acoustic guitars, wood moves, and these things are lightly built and shipped across oceans and continents after assembly. As a result, a perfect setup is never guaranteed out of the box.

If you buy from a really good shop, they will do a thorough inspection before sale, and fix obvious issues like needing a slight truss rod adjustment, a saddle shim, or needing to flatten the bottom of the saddle or the saddle slot to get even string-to-string pickup response.

Sadly, in this age of online shopping, big-box stores, and shoppers who think the lowest price is always the best deal, good shops are rarely rewarded for their excellence. Most have either gone over to the Dark Side or gone out of business, and there are precious few left.

If you keep buying instruments untried and shipping them back, you’ll be continue to be at the mercy of blind luck. If you want to break out of this vicious cycle, you’ve got two choices: Either develop a relationship with a good brick-and-mortar store and never buy without trying the instrument first, or find a good local tech and throw him a few bones to do a pro checkup on everything you buy.

FYI, many of the same factors can and do affect custom shop Martins. The only difference there, is that the dealership network is trained to look after the product at point of sale, and there’s enough money in the process to keep everyone on their toes.

 

[steve_rolfeca]

PS: I have owned the AVN and the Guild, and spent a lot of time with multiple examples of the Taylor.

The Taylor shows nicely, with crisper workmanship and nicer woods (particularly the ebony fingerboard). However, it has the shortest scale, and I found the lower string tension a little off-putting. More importantly, I was disappointed by the low output and boxy tone when plugged in. I was so surprised by this, that I travelled to a couple of other dealers, expecting to find that the first one was defective or a fluke.

I lucked out on both the Guild and the AVN, in that the first ones I tried were in good shape, with no major setup issues. Both still responded well to a little bit of extra fettling, though.

Plugged in, the AVN had a much wider tonal range, because of the 2-band preamp. On the other hand, the Guild had a little more harmonic detail and clarity- ironically, that’s probably because it wasn’t held back by the Ibanez’s $35 2-band preamp. You win a few, you lose a few…

With fresh strings and unplugged, or plugged into a separate preamp or mixer and properly EQ’d, they sounded so close to each other that I had a hell of a time deciding which one to keep, and which one to move on.

It was literally almost a coin toss in the end, although I did finally keep the Guild. Mostly because of the extra frets and the durable plastic binding- a good whack against the edge of a table would almost certainly loosen a glue joint and require a repair on the Ibanez.

However, there was also a bit of vanity involved. After gently rubbing out the finish on the Guild, the flame maple veneer on the back and sides is very pretty, and the included gig bag was much nicer than the crappy one that I eventually found for the Ibanez.