New Ibanez?

Andy S · #1 April 4th, 2008

Has anyone here played or heard in real life (not the video on the Ibanez website) the new Montage?

It has a humbucker pup in it, a regular piezo ( ok, not sure if it's a piezo, but it's an under the saddle pup), has built in chorus and distortion with ability to mix the sounds. Also has an EQ system.

The video audio sounded a bit thin, so it's not easy to tell what the humbucker pup sounded like.

Also, Taylor has the T-5 acoustic Electric Hybrid. Well, Hohner has a knock off that LOOKS just like it, but I can't find any details as to the pickups or electronics(other than the brief info on the site)

I ask since our Church's Worship leader is looking for a new guitar and was interested in getting T-5. He would be hard pressed to pay for it and was interested in any other options.

I have read a review in Front of House Magazine on the T-5. It was written by a sound tech. He was very impressed with the sounds from the viewpoint of a tech that plays focusing more importantly on the sounds coming out of it through a sound system.

But the Montage is very new and there is very little news out there that doesn't seem produced by Ibanez tooting their own horn. (ok, strumming their own strings!?)

So, anybody have any first hand or second hand info , real stuff, nit hype?

Thanks,

JessThrasher · #2 April 5th, 2008

I've never heard of it and yet I'm usually up to date with Ibanez!!!!

Andy S · #3 April 5th, 2008

HI Ya Jess,

Well, it's an Acoustic/Electric, so since your forte is more of the electric, shredder variety, maybe it was something that didn't catch your eye or ear. Add to it that this is a really, really new item. It was on Harmony-Central.com but not on the Ibanez website immediately after.

JessThrasher · #4 April 5th, 2008

No, I usually keep myself updated with their info in general.

SprayTech · #5 April 5th, 2008

neat guitar for sure , I seen it when I was looking on youtube NAMM 2008 winter stuff . YouTube - NAMM 2008 : Ibanez Montage

GotDeeBlues · #6 April 6th, 2008

I just checked it out on their site and Harmony. For the money it seems like a good deal. The list prices atart at about $700, street should be well below that.

737blues · #7 April 6th, 2008

Well, assuming it's build quality would be about the same as the Artcore series at that price, but with the added functionality of T5 like electronics, I'd say it would be a pretty good deal. Can't wait till it gets here to try one. Not very impressed with it's aesthetics though but then that's a purely individual choice and I'm pretty old fashioned.

Andy S · #8 April 7th, 2008

Well, I've either visited or called the three main places in town that carry Ibanez. No one has one in stock. The sales rep in the Guitar Center here just shrugged his shoulders and said, " well, it could be here tomorrow, it could be a few weeks. I can order one for you."

I chuckled and replied, " oh yeh, now why would I just order one site unseen, never played it nor heard it live?" Another shrug of his shoulders and he walked away.

I'm also trying to locate a Crafter SA series guitar. Those are visually very similar to the Taylor T-5. Taylor has sensors under the guitar top, a single stacked humbucker near the bridge and a hidden Humbucker under the top near the neck. The Crafter has an acoustic pickup under the bridge and a single coil on the top about mid point between the neck and the bridge. It's also about $1800 less expensive.

But I'm developing patience......It's easy for me....it's not me that wants a new guitar. It's for our Worship leader. Now, if HE can just wait, maybe he can save the $1800!!!

JessThrasher · #9 April 11th, 2008

I was just reading the latest issue of Guitar World and saw an Ad for the new Montage.