Description
Review of the Ibanez PC12MHCE Electro Acoustic Guitar in Open Pore Natural
The Ibanez PC12MHCE-OPN is a full size steel string electro acoustic built on a Grand Concert body with a cutaway, an undersaddle piezo pickup and an onboard AEQ-2T preamp with a built in tuner. The finish is a low gloss open pore natural that leaves the grain visible and the wood free to move. It is aimed at a player past the beginner stage who wants a mid range instrument that can be recorded or plugged into a PA without a microphone.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Grand Concert body, a smaller shape than a dreadnought that Ibanez describes as giving a balanced midrange with clarity, and one often chosen for blues, jazz and country.
- Onboard AEQ-2T preamp with a tuner, giving two bands of EQ and a volume control, so the guitar can be tuned and adjusted without extra hardware.
- Open pore low gloss finish, a thin coating that leaves more of the wood free to vibrate than a thick gloss lacquer.
- Suited to fingerstyle, according to the manufacturer, which fits the smaller body and the balanced midrange.
- Truss rod adjustment key and a 9V battery are included, so the guitar is usable and adjustable out of the box.
Cons
- The wood information conflicts. The description names okoume for the top, back and sides with a laurel fingerboard and bridge, while the specification table lists mahogany and rosewood. Okoume is frequently marketed under mahogany-like names, which likely explains the discrepancy, but a buyer who cares about the exact species should confirm it.
- The listing does not state whether the top is solid or laminated, which is the largest single factor in acoustic tone.
- Two bands of EQ is basic. There is no notch filter or phase switch, which are the controls that deal with feedback on a loud stage.
- No case or gig bag is listed as included, and the finish is a thin one that would benefit from protection.
Detailed Product Description
The body is a Grand Concert shape with a cutaway. A Grand Concert is narrower across the lower bout and shallower than a dreadnought. Less internal air volume means less bass and less raw volume, and in exchange the midrange comes forward and individual notes separate more cleanly. That is why the shape is favoured for fingerstyle, where hearing each string matters more than sheer output, and why Ibanez points to blues, jazz and country. The cutaway removes part of the upper bout so the fretting hand can reach the frets nearest the body.
The electronics are the reason to choose this over a plain acoustic. An undersaddle piezo sits in the slot beneath the saddle and senses the pressure each string exerts on it. That gives a signal that resists feedback well at volume, which is why the design dominates live acoustic work, and it produces the bright, slightly compressed character that piezo systems are known for. The AEQ-2T preamp mounted in the upper bout provides volume, two bands of EQ and an onboard tuner, and it runs from the supplied 9V PP3 battery.
Whether that is worth having depends on the intended use, a question covered in the guide to whether an acoustic electric guitar needs an amp. The short version is that the guitar works entirely on its own unplugged, and the electronics only matter for playing to a room or recording directly.
What Comes with the Product
- The full size PC12MHCE steel string Grand Concert electro acoustic in Open Pore Natural
- A guitar manual
- A 9V PP3 battery for the preamp
- A truss rod adjustment key
No case, gig bag, strap, cable or spare strings is listed as included.
Who It Suits
This suits a fingerstyle player, a singer songwriter who performs to small rooms, and anyone recording acoustic parts who wants a direct signal as well as a microphone option. The smaller Grand Concert body also suits a player who finds a dreadnought physically awkward, and the light weight helps during long sessions.
It suits less well a heavy strummer who wants the loud, bass forward voice of a dreadnought, since a Grand Concert deliberately trades volume for clarity. It also suits less well a complete beginner, who would get more from a package that includes a tuner, bag and strap rather than a bare instrument. Anyone playing loud stages will eventually want a preamp with feedback controls that this one does not have. Comparable instruments include the smaller Ibanez PF2MHOPN, the Fender Redondo Player with its Fishman system, and the compact Yamaha APXT2. The wider selection sits in the acoustic electric guitars section and the full guitar review index.
How to Maintain
Treat the open pore finish gently. A thin coat offers less protection than gloss, so wipe it with a dry microfibre cloth and keep polishes and household cleaners away from it entirely.
Keep the guitar away from radiators and out of unheated spaces. Acoustic tops are thin panels under permanent string tension and they respond quickly to humidity swings. A rising action, a bellied top or hairline cracks along the grain are the signs to watch for.
Tips and Recommendations
Set the two EQ bands flat before adjusting anything. Piezo systems usually improve with a small treble reduction rather than a bass boost, and starting from neutral makes the problem frequency easier to identify.
Carry a spare 9V battery in the case pocket. A preamp battery dying halfway through a performance is the most common failure with any acoustic electric guitar.
Use the truss rod key sparingly and in small increments, preferably a quarter turn at a time with a settling period in between. The guide to guitar action and setup covers what the adjustment actually does.
Product FAQ
Does it have a built in tuner?
Yes. The Ibanez AEQ-2T preamp includes an onboard tuner alongside volume and two bands of EQ.
Does it need a battery?
Yes, a 9V PP3 for the preamp, and one is supplied with the guitar.
What woods is it made from?
The description names okoume for the top, back and sides with laurel for the fingerboard and bridge, while the specification table lists mahogany and rosewood. This is worth confirming with the seller.
