Ibanez IJV50 Review: Great Acoustic Guitar With Awesome Accessories

Brand/Model: Ibanez IJV50

Number of Strings: 6

Hand Orientation: Ambidextrous

Body Material: Agathis/Spruce top

Neck Material: Mahogany

Fretboard Material: Rosewood

Price Range: Under $200

Our Rating: 8.4/10

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Ibanez IJV50 Acoustic Guitar Review

Rear view of Ibanez IJV50 acoustic guitar

Right from the get-go, you can tell the IJV50 is a traditional classic – not a classical guitar, but a classic guitar. Ibanez is the brand, the price is on point, and the guitar comes with some much-needed gear for a beginner player.

The IJV50 sports the traditional dreadnought body style that’s always a welcome favorite to many players. Sheer size alone can guarantee sound projection that just can’t be compared by smaller acoustic guitars. Laminate agathis and spruce woods make up the body and top of the guitar.

A mahogany neck, rosewood fretboard, and rosewood bridge complete the wood makings of this guitar.

The IJV50 has an Ivorex II nut and saddle, white Advantage bridge pins with black dots, and chrome tuners. The black pickguard is unique on its own providing a quirky, and yet, stylish accent to the overall traditional look of the guitar.

Combine all elements together and you have the makings of any song genre you can express through your fingers.

It’s a well-built acoustic guitar, but it’s not going to pretend it’s worthy of hundreds of dollars more. It’s a very basic and entry-level acoustic guitar that would be great to have around the house or for impromptu jams with the pals.

Beginners will quickly pick up guitar skills if they can get around the dreadnought body.

The instant punch of sound is a bright and forceful one. Classic rock, classic country, and classic blues can easily be done on this Ibanez, really, anything that comes out of it is going to be a classic!

Pros

Price
Dreadnought
Ivorex II
Advantage pins
Quick Start bundle

Cons

May require setup

Ibanez IJV50 Reviews

It should come as no surprise that this Ibanez guitar does very well in the rankings. It’s cheap, well-built, and it has some premium components that make it a valued guitar. The gripes would come from being a mass-produced guitar.

You’re definitely going to need to do a few personal touches on this guitar to perhaps lower the action, replace the strings, and probably dress the frets for a smooth and even fingerboard across the neck.

However, it seems to be able to do the simple things right. It stays in tune, it’s durable, and it has a shiny gloss that buyers like. As a take-everywhere, knock-around guitar or a prized beginner git for a student, the IJV50 has to a lot to offer!

Ibanez 6 String Acoustic Guitar Pack, Ambidextrous, Natural Gloss (IJV50)

Spruce Top
Natural Finish
Includes Gig Bag and Accessories

Alternative Acoustic Guitars to Consider

In this price range of under $200, there’s a dime-a-dozen cheap guitars with tons of accessories thrown into the buy. However, a lot of them aren’t worth your time or money. We did some filtering and have decided the Donner DAG-1C is a worthy alternative to the Ibanez. It’s a full-size dreadnought guitar with a sexy cutaway.

It, too, comes with a boatload of accessories. You’ll have to check it out here to believe it.

However, if you’re less concerned about the included accessories and more concerned about the quality of the guitar, you might be better off with an Ibanez Artwood guitar.

Yep, it comes with the same Ivorex II nut and saddle, Advantage bridge pins, and it’s still under 200 bucks. But, the difference lies in the top – it’s solid mahogany. It’s an all-mahogany guitar with a gorgeous open pore finish. It’s a whistler for sure!

Ibanez IJV50 FAQ

What are Ibanez Advantage Pins?

Ibanez Advantage bridge pins have a tapered end and a stopper under the bulb head. These two features stop the pins from 1) being pushed too far in, and 2) from the ball end of the string getting caught on the end of the pin and pulling the pin up.

It’s a win-win with Ibanez bridge pins that won’t give you hassle like cheap, flimsy ones can do.

What are the Accessories in the Quick Start Bundle?

The IJV50 guitar comes with a gig bag, chromatic clip-on tuner, and guitar strap. It also comes with an accessories pouch and picks.

What Gauge strings come with the Ibanez IJV50 guitar?

This guitar comes with light gauge strings. From the factory, the guitar is set up with .012, .016, .024, .032, .042, and .053 strings.

Can a Left-hand person use this IJV50 guitar?

It has the dreadnought body shape with no cutaway, so it can be used as a left-hand guitar. Simply restring the strings in the reverse order.

It’s your choice if you’d rather leave the pickguard where it is or peel it off to move it when you’ve strung it for a left-hand player.

Is this an Acoustic Electric Guitar?

This is an acoustic-only guitar that has no output or input jacks for plugging-in.

Are there any other Finish Options on the Ibanez guitar?

The natural guitar with a high gloss finish is the only model available.

Is the IJV50 covered with a Warranty?

You’ll have to check with the vendor of your Ibanez guitar for a full warranty. Ibanez offers product registration, and repair and maintenance coverage may be offered. However, most sellers should offer a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Hardware/Electronics You’ll Need:

One of the best things about the IJV50 guitar is that it comes with the Quick Start bundle. The kit includes a tuner, gig bag, strap, picks, and accessories pouch. Although, these starter accessories are nice to have and definitely a money-saver in the end, there’s a few more items that we can think of that you’ll need.

But, you be the decision-maker on that!

Extra steel strings
Humidifier
Capo (optional)
Metronome (optional)
Stringwinder (optional)

Standout Features of the IJV50 Acoustic Guitar

Beginner’s kit included
Premium hardware
Extremely affordable

Our Verdict on the Ibanez IJV50 Guitar

To strum it up, the Ibanez IJV50 guitar is a money-saver. It comes with extras that would push you way out of budget if you had to purchase them separately. But, it’s not just the freebies that makes this a sweet deal, it’s the IJV50 guitar – classic simplicity done right!

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