Brand/Model: Ibanez AVC10MH
Number of Strings: 6
Hand Orientation: Right
Body Material: Mahogany/Mahogany top
Neck Material: Mahogany
Fretboard Material: Maple
Price Range: Under $1000
Our Rating: 9.4/10
Ibanez AVC10MH Artwood Thermo Aged Acoustic Guitar Review
Ibanez takes things up another notch in the guitar industry by introducing torrefied tonewoods. Don’t be afraid of the big words since we’ll explain it all right here.
The AVC10MH guitar is part of the Artwood Vintage Thermo Aged guitar series, and its price is incredibly low for what we’re seeing.
Is there some sort of catch we need to uncover here? Let’s examine the AVC10 guitar and figure out if it’s got value or if it’s priced just right. I’ll give you a clue, it makes our post on the best acoustic guitars selling for less than $1000.
The guitar has a grand concert body that’s smaller than a dreadnought, and we’re seeing a solid wood top that should be expected in this price range. Surprisingly, Ibanez has also slapped on solid back and sides on this guitar. Furthermore, this is an all-mahogany guitar.
Not only is it solid tonewood, it’s been through a Thermo Aged process to accentuate sound projection and enhance the entire frequency range.
Even the spruce X bracing has been Thermo Aged to assist in rich tone and resonance. The neck joins the body at the 14th fret and is made of mahogany with a soft-V shape for comfortable playing and holding.
The fretboard and bridge are made with engineered maple and compressed epoxy to create a harder and more stable material. Mother of Pearl inlays adorn the fretboard in a specially-designed pattern that speaks vintage style.
A grained Ivoroid binding looks sharp against the dark mahogany wood, and the herringbone purfling adds a customized touch of class. But, the lack of a finish is what really makes the guitar ‘shine’ and sing.
It has an open pore finish that allows maximum sound to project with accurate intonation and acoustic authenticity. The more we investigate this popular acoustic guitar, the better it’s getting. We like – a lot!
Pros
- Price
- Open pore finish
- Solid tonewoods
- Thermo Aged wood
- Vintage appeal
Cons
- May require setup
Ibanez AVC10MH Reviews
This is a new guitar on the market, so there’s not much hoo-haa about it yet. But, with its luxury features and specially-aged tonewoods, we’re sure it’s going to see some buzz any time now. It doesn’t get much better than this.
Just to land a solid all-wood guitar in this price range is crazy enough, but to have wood that’s been “seasoned to its optimal condition” is something money couldn’t buy, until now. Time used to be the priceless factor, but Ibanez has found a way to speed it up and put a low price-tag on it!
- Thermo Aged Solid Mahogany top
- Thermo Aged Solid Mahogany back & Mahogany sides
- Cultured Maple fretboard/bridge
Alternative Acoustic Guitars to Consider
The Thermo Aged tonewood is an excellent feature, but it may be a disappointment that it’s on a grand concert body instead of a full-size dreadnought. If you’re dead set on buying a dread, don’t give up on Ibanez just yet. The Artwood AW4000-BS is full-size and full of personality.
It’s also an all-wood guitar with a solid spruce top and solid mahogany back and sides. The spruce adds a clean and bright pitch while the mahogany adds warmth.
Another completely solid wood acoustic is the Simon & Patrick Woodland Pro Spruce SG guitar. It has a spruce top and mahogany back and sides. It’s in the same budget range as this Ibanez git, but this one is made in North America.
It has a beautiful hand custom polish, exquisite touches of detail, and it sounds incredible. There’s more word on the street about this S&P guitar, so be sure to check out the latest goss’ on it right here!
Ibanez AVC10MH Artwood Vintage Thermo Aged Q&A
What is Thermo Aged tonewood?
Ibanez has coined their process of torrefaction as “Thermo Aged.” The tonewoods undergo a drying/baking process that extracts all the natural moisture and volatiles within the wood that diminishes sound and intonation.
Typically, solid tonewoods sound better over time as they age, mature, and are played because it takes time for this moisture to be “played” out of the wood.
Ibanez skips the waiting game and ages the wood for you to achieve the seasoned tone, sustain, and resonance of vintage and well-used guitars.
Who is the Grand Concert Body Shape for?
The grand concert body is often preferred by fingerstyle pickers, but it can be suited to various players that want more comfort while playing with easier reach.
Is the Fingerboard made of Laminate?
Ibanez mentions a process of mixing maple with an epoxy resin and then compressing it to create a stronger than ever fingerboard.
This tells us their term of engineered tonewood is most suited to mean a composite fretboard versus a laminate one.
Does this Guitar have Ibanez Advantage Bridge Pins?
Yes! This guitar does feature the Advantage bridge pins. It’s a specially-designed bridge pin that has a slot under the ball-end of the pin to prevent pushing the pins too far into the hole.
It also has a tapered end that prevents the ball end of the string from pulling up on the pin.
What kind of Tuners does the Artwood Vintage Guitar have?
The AVC10MH guitar has Grover chrome open gear tuners with butterbean knobs with an 18:1 gear ratio. It definitely lends to the vintage appeal, and they’re known to do the job of keeping a guitar accurate and in tune.
Where are Ibanez Thermo Aged Guitars Made?
Ibanez guitars are made in various Asian countries. This can include Japan, Korea, China, and Indonesia.
Hardware/Electronics You’ll Need
This guitar is a solo deal. No case is included, and no extra accessories will be thrown in. For most experienced players, this is no problem as they’ve already got all the necessities they’d need, save for a case. A case is going to be the next biggest purchase if you really want to look after your solid wood guitar.
For a beginner or amateur, you’ll have to pick up a few extra things mentioned in our “Complete Guide to Must-Have Accessories” if you want to be sure not to miss anything. But, here’s a starter list for your convenience.
Standout Features on the AVC10MH Guitar
- Ibanez Advantage Bridge Pins
- Thermo Aged tonewoods
- Solid wood acoustic guitar
Our Verdict on the Ibanez AVC10MH
To strum it up, this guitar has the “it” factor. The Ibanez AVC10MH Artwood Vintage Thermo Aged guitar has a lot going on, but it’s been executed in a way that no other brand could duplicate. Every feature has been well thought-out to complement each other, and we still can’t believe it’s priced this low!
Further Reading:
- 6 Best Cheap Acoustic Guitars (That Aren’t Junk)
- 6 Best Acoustic Guitars Under $1500 (Chosen By Musician)
- Laminate VS Solid Wood Acoustic Guitar: Which Will Be The Right Choice For You?
- Best Acoustic Guitar Under $200 – Our 6 Top Guitars in2025
- 6 Best Acoustic Guitars Under $500 In2025
Trent is a music lover, musical instrument player and passionate audio afficionado.