Ibanez EW50CBE

Guitar made in China which is located halfway between the size and format Jumbo with cutaway folk body cocobolo sides and back (rare wood from Central America ... extremely dense to the point that does not float ) - but in this case the guitar is not made of rolled wood cocobolo solid.
The neck is mahogany with an ebony fingerboard, the bridge is also ebony fittings and mechanical (Ibanez) is gilded with keys to a pearly color matched to the whole.
The rose (and the overlay of the pattern into the handle) is abalone.
Bridge head and nut are like for the entire series "exotic wood" of Ibanez Ivorex II.
Preamp Ibanez SRTn is licensed under the B-band, equipped with a built-in tuner.
As with all models of this superb series, the EW50 has a very clever little "resonance" under the bridge that fills the absence of massive table.

Violin making absolutely perfect (binding timber) does not detract from the aesthetics of the guitar, quite the contrary. It's very cleverly conceived and beautifully done!
For me it is a real 10/10

UTILIZATION

The neck is very flat and particularly fine (both in width and thickness at nut) will delight the power addicts when he asked a little time to adapt to guitarists accustomed to the classic ... The ebony fingerboard everyone will agree is very nice!
Access to acute course is facilitated by the cutaway, but it is obviously not a model heavy metal anyway.
RAS on ergonomics: the general template of the guitar is barely larger than a dreadnought model, it is very comfortable both sitting and standing with a strap. Maybe a little heavier than average, but this model the weight is perfectly distributed.
Unplugged (acoustic pure) immediately gives a great sound ... connected is less convincing.
Because I play 95% of the time unplugged again I do not hesitate to October 1

SOUNDS

The sounds are "hot" but the sound is brighter than in EW20 fresnes could blame a little lack of media but I find my account perfectly: it's a very clean, very sharp and clear.
The projection is modest despite the size slightly larger than a dreadnought, but the sustain is huge yet largely offset what could be a default ... to accompany a voice this guitar is perfect rhythmic or arpeggios, notes "flow" like water, it's very melodious. Given the close spacing of the strings, the finger picking, however, is not easy.

Only when connected to amp it is a little complicated!
The preamp is not bad in itself, but the settings are unclear ... the knobs "serious" "medium" and sharp "in particular (it was the same on all models in the series that I tried - and ditto on the other 2 Ibanez EW I own).
In short, a good amp is better ... on my old Roland chorus, reverb, a nice touch but not hot really major difference with my EW20, which is a bit disappointing though.

Brief 8 / 10: unplugged is excellent but when connected to amp it still comes down to earth and the constraints of the electro-acoustic mid-range.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for 3 weeks.
Most are unplugged sound, shape and materials of the guitar, its concept, its price
The - are the knobs of the amp, the tuner also lacks precision, varnish and hardware a little too "bling-bling"
Playing for almost 25 years I tried and bought many models before buying this guitar, I did not really "compared" to another brand but different models of the same range before buying, my goal is to think outside the box and old standards.
I judge the quality / price excellent, but I bring a downside: for use primarily as electronic investing in EW20 (100 euros less and not much difference to the output of the amp).
With the experience I would do exactly the same choice ... no other guitar in 2000 or 500 euros more apparent to me that there's so special.
My overall rating is a 9 / 10: Equipped with a true b-band (Tanglewood does it well after all) I certainly would not hesitate to put a 10 but the preamp Ibanez is disappointing in my opinion.

A guitar at this price point can not be manufactured in China, I am not a fan of products made in China because the quality is often not the RDV!


UTILIZATION

But let's talk about the beautiful, the finish is excelente: a beautiful varnish, a body well finished, the veneer is beautiful, a very easy race to play, the mechanics are clear, although it retains the agreement, the assembly is good bill, in short she has a mouth! and potential.

SOUNDS

Sound on Sound: new guitar + strings = new metallic sound / aggressive, so you have a little patience to make the strings, and the pleasant surprise! the sound is good, balanced, clear and precise, good sustain, it lacks a bit of fishing (with respect to gauge the BB), but it comes out anyway, just to qualify the attack and find its footing.

electronica: the sound is good, but! it's normal I've always had trouble with the electro ... and I rarely play in this config

Important, there is a tuner which is handy (thank you Ibanez!)

OVERALL OPINION

It's been a month since I've been the proud owner of this beauty, I do not regret my purchase because the price for this quality is by appointment, it sounds and do not lose sight that this is essential.

Clarification, the gig bag, strap and were provided with