The rich tone paired with the beautiful, yet subtle, vine inlay bode for a competent mid-range acoustic guitar. There was no cosmetic deficiencies upon arrival. The instrument champions di-cast tuners with a beautiful rosewood veneer on the face of the headstock. On the body a translucent (very thin) pick guard pasted on the body.
My initial impression of this instrument was that it sated my expectations. One element that I was apprehensive about prior to the purchase was regarding the action. My apprehension was not misplaced as the action was absurdly high off the fretboard, giving the appearance that the manufacturer did not shave the saddle at all. To be precise, the action at the 12th fret on the high e string was slightly less than a quarter inch above the fretboard. Needless to say, this was rather disappointing as I had to spend the next few hours grinding down the saddle until I could lower the action to the perfect height.
The fretwork done on this guitar is rather nice. I have not experienced fret buzz by virtue of unlevel frets (though some buzz from cutting the saddle too low initially).
Regarding the pre-installed pickup, the sound is about what you would expect. Tinny and sensitive, yet rich and balanced. Overall a decent pickup for a guitar of this price, though I much prefer the raw sound of the guitar through a microphone.
Worth the price, though Ibanez skipped out on an integral step. Be wary of this before you buy.
