Ibanez EP9

[tunaboy777]

Dear All

I'm tempted by the Ibanez EP9 (the Steve Vai model). Have read some highly complimentary reviews and some frankly brutal ones. I get the feeling that some reviews are purposefully negative - maybe a bit of Vai-hating going on..?

Anyway, any of you got one or played one? Objectively, what did you think? And if you genuinely think it's not a good buy, what else in the £600-700 range would you recommend? I definitely want a cutaway, a pickup and I prefer a flatter wider neck profile.

Cheers

tunaboy777

[evilmags]

It is, in my view, complete shit. Everything about its construction, and design says it is simply a stage guitar used to play electroaccoustically, and not a proper accoustic. Now the onboard Fishman Aura is certianly a good thing for plugged in playing, but lots of heavy hardware inside the body of an accoustic instrument will always compromise tone. If you look at the cost of an onboard Aura and a vai endorsement, then there is not really much money left for actually building the accoustic guitar.

£700 will get you an all solid wood seagul, Norman or Simon & Patrick, a solid wood middle of the range Maton, and in these difficult economic times the second hand market really is your friend. Lowdens which used to go for a grand an a half can be acquired for under a grand if you can find a forced seller.

The things to look for are

1) Solid top
2) Hand bracing, and shaved braces.
3) Solid back and sides
4) Accoustic projection. Get someone to play the guitar to you, so you can listen and compare.

A simple pickups is all you need. Leave big preamps and accoustic imagers off board.

Edit:- This has to do with having played one, not because of any view I may hold on vai. There are just much better accoustics in that price range.

[mattbanshee]

+1

[evilmags]

http://www.musicradar.com/forum/showthread.php?t=29260

When you can buy a Lowden at the price that dude is selling at, buying an Ibanez accoustic is insane. (I have owned a Lowden for 17 years, it remains a fabulous guitar). Easy to play, amazing tone and at that price, you will never lose money on it.

[Gojirosan]

I've never played one, but the one I saw in a shop did not look like £700 worth of acoustic. Not by a long way. There were £400 Yamaha acoustics alongside that were clearly much better made with better materials.

I agree with Mags' overview.

[tunaboy777]

Dear All

Thanks for the input. Seems like the EP9 may not be all that some reviews have cracked it up to be. Anyway, I think I shall embark on a lengthy but enjoyable trawl through the multitude of second hand acoustics about and make a decision thereafter.

Cheers

tunaboy777