Ibanez is hard to pigeon hole because they make various types of guitars from electrics, to archtops to acoustics. What’s impressive is how well they are able to produce these various instruments at virtually all price points, from entry level to custom limited edition instruments. So it’s not surprising to see that they’ve got some parlor guitars in their line up as well, and the AVN1 in particular will surely catch the attention of many players, particularly now that we’ve included it in our Best Parlor Guitar List.
The Ibanez AVN1 showcases the company’s ability to mass produce instruments cost effectively, while retaining a premium appeal. The guitar’s vintage style sunburst finish and aesthetic embellishments give it a convincing classic look that can easily compete with more expensive counterparts.
Underneath the AVN1’s traditional look is Ibanez modern guitar building technology, giving players the chance to enjoy an instrument that feels “old”, without sacrificing reliability and sound projection.
This guitar’s body follows the familiar combination of a solid spruce top and mahogany for the back and sides. Mahogany is a very popular tonewood choice because it tends to add warmth to the tone, and this is particularly good for singers that play guitar because it does not fight the middle vocal frequencies.
Check out the official video demo:
The neck is crafted from mahogany and topped by an 18-fret rosewood fretboard. The specifications mention that the nutwidth is 1.693″, while the scale length is just under 25″ – this means that this parlor guitar will require minimal fretting hand adjustments to play. Both the body and the fingerboard feature vintage style white binding.
Ibanez opted for a traditional 12-fret assembly for the AVN1, and according to the company, this adds punch and natural acoustic projection. By joining the body at the twelfth fret rather than the fourteenth, the soundboard is better centered, allowing the top to vibrate more which translates to a louder volume. Because of this design, the AVN1 is said to be one of the loudest parlor guitars in the market.
Ibanez equipped the AVN1 with real bone nut and utilized modern compensated bone saddle for better intonation. They work in conjunction with the chrome open-gear tuners with butterbean knobs that allow for more precise tuning while retaining a classic look. Other aesthetic features of the guitar include real abalone rosette, wooden mosaic back stripe, completing the AVN1’s vintage appeal.
The Ibanez AVN1 parlor guitar is currently retailing for just under $350.
