Ibanez Montage? (Acoustic Electric)

[wildfield]

Saw this guitar posted on another board (see below).  They look very nice.  I would like to get my hands on one.

[chazmo]

Yup,

That one's new to the States.  I think they got it in Europe a few months ago.  Very nice, eh?  Similar to a Taylor T5, at least in concept.

[Juha T]

In Europe, for example

"Availability of this item:
shipment due to arrive on 28.02.2008"

http://www.thomann.de/gb/ibanez_msc650_vv.htm

http://www.thomann.de/gb/prod_bdb_AR_202616.html?image=2

Juha

[jamman]

Hey Everyone,

I'm new to the forum and have a few questions, so please bear with me.

I GASed and put the Koa on backorder at MF after watching to youtube demo and pics and comments on this site.

I'm pretty high on the looks and what it offers at this price point. It may give the T-5 a pretty good run for the money.

Has anyone on the forum played one ?? If so which model and how would you rate the sound and construction quality ?? I wonder how the 650, 700 and 750 compare soundwise ...


Seems a little odd that the lower models have a bound fretboard but the higher end Koa does not ..

Another question, all resellers are listing that it has XLR and 1/4 in outputs and uses a 9v battery but the demo on youtube shows 2 - 1/4 in jacks (no XLR) and comments on this board say it uses 4 AA batteries .... Which is correct ??  If it does have XLR I wonder is it can use Phantom power for the electronics ...

Also can anyone comment on the body depth and size (say compared to a Taylor GC or GA), is it closer to a Grand Concert or a Grand Auditorium ??

With the F.A.S.T. adjustment does that imply that the fretboard is not glued to the top and it uses a cantilever of some type ? just curious ...

At the japan website there is a nice layout here of how they are using a DSP for mixing, chorus and reverb and it has an analog overdrive and a pretty innovative bracing pattern: http://www.ibanez.co.jp/products/ag_page.php?area_id=3&data_id=123&color=CL01&year=2008&cat_id=3&series_id=6

MF lists availability now at 3/1 ... It will be hard to wait 

Thanks for all responses ...

Jamman

[Mongo]

Jamman,

Welcome to ICW.

That's a good question about the XLR or 1/4" outputs. I wish we would have known about the different references before NAMM, John could have found out for sure.

Johns, anyone,

Any idea if there is any ballanced/lo impedence/XLR output for this guitar?
or what battery configuration is used?

I'm leaning towards the Quilted MSC650VV myself, even though I love Ebony fretboards...

[Mongo]

Here's a link to the U-Tube Demo: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/aaeL3d9TuEw&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/aaeL3d9TuEw&rel=1</a>

[Juha T]

Here they are

http://www.ibanez.co.jp/products/ag_series.php?series_id=6&area_id=3&year=2008&cat_id=3

but nothing about the output(s) or batteries

Juha

[Mongo]

I've been looking at those pages.
Surprising that they are not giving more detail.

I was hoping some of our members may have a contact that could fill in some of the blanks.

[ChuckE99]

WE NEED A MONTAGE!

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/-xBSfY01nMk&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/-xBSfY01nMk&rel=1</a>

[Mongo]

Team America...   

[Mongo]

Ibanez updated the Montage info on their site.
http://ibanez.com/acoustic/series.aspx?s=Montage

They also added some new finishes/versions.




"The revolutionary Montage, voted ‘Best In Show’ at the 2008 NAMM show"

Here's a demo with the MSC650VV
http://ibanez.com/videos/Ibanez_montage_webnew.mov

This is still my favorite.

[Juha T]

List prices (US)

MSC500MBK: $785.70
MSC550TRD: $857.13
MSC650VV:  $928.55
MSC700NT:  $999.99
MSC750NT: $1,142.84

Juha

[jeffsailor]

It looks like MF will have them available on 3/28: They range in retail price from $549 for the 500 to $799 for the 750.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Ibanez-Montage-MSC750NT-AE-Hybrid-Cutaway-Acoustic-Electric-Guitar?sku=515812

[Juha T]

MF's prices are probably for preorders only and will be higher later    Or they sell them at much lower prices than European web stores (again).

Outputs from MF: Balanced 1 4" and XLR (1 4"  = 1/4" ?)

Juha

[jeffsailor]

Juha,

The prices could be pre-order specials, but MF usually doesn't sell that way. If the prices were going to go up, you can bet they would advertise that. Obviously there is a always a difference between list, msrp, and actual retail. I'm confident the MF prices are comperable to what we here in states will be paying.

js