IBANEZ ALTSTAR ACOUSTIC - FOLLOW UP REVIEW -ALT30FMBDB

I've been adjusting this fun acoustic guitar to see if I can get the action as easy to play as I hoped when I ordered it.
Ibanez ALT30FMBDB
Altstar Acoustic-Electric Guitar, Blue Doom Burst

[@grigoredinca9487]

You are doing a great job . Keep going ! Greetings from Brasov city Romania !

[@MartinBlasick]

Thank you! More reviews are in the works. Hello from Los Angeles.

[@Aidenjaxon]

You can always sand the bridge piece down to lower the action

[@MartinBlasick]

I’d be interested to try that. So far I haven’t removed an acoustic bridge. Would be a learning experience

[@Aidenjaxon]

@@MartinBlasick it should just fall out when you take the strings off

[@timwoodruff]

​@@MartinBlasick can confirm that sanding down the bottom of the saddle to lower the action does wonders for the playability. I did it on my Ibanez and Fender acoustics. You just need to make sure that the bottom of the saddle is completely flat to get even contact with the piezo pickup. Most guitar shops can do this as well.

[@luizsantanna9777]

The books on the table!

[@larrys2080]

Mine came 2 days ago and I really like it !! You were right about the film on the neck etc but the action is great and it plays like an electric. Can’t wait to get some new strings on it etc.. amazing guitar for the $$$. !! Thanks for the help :-)

[@MartinBlasick]

Cool! How is it settling in? I've become very comfy with mine.

[@larrys2080]

@@MartinBlasick I seriously can’t believe how much I love it. I put new strings on it today went with 10’s like it came with and I just freaking love it. I actually just ordered another one in blue. !!!! it’s so much fun to play.

[@rebeccaabraham8652]

Concur with others - truss rod first to get the neck straight and then look at the saddle. They cost a dollar or two each - so get several and have fun; I’ve adjusted the saddles on all my acoustics for as low an action as possible to match my strats and they’re great fun to play - especially the dreadnought with ball-end classical strings!

[@MartinBlasick]

You make it sound like a fun game. I’m going to take that to heart and get some saddles and play around. I guess I was too chicken to give it a go.

[@rebeccaabraham8652]

@@MartinBlasick we all are the first time! That's why you buy a couple of saddles - try and get them the same size (or slightly over-length; you can file the ends down) and then enjoy; the pleasure from making the guitar sing the best it can for you is always amazing! PS - love the Voyager bit - the best theme they ever wrote!

[@raul21md]

Great playing and thanks for the tips on the guitar!

[@MartinBlasick]

Thank you my friend

[@ArnoldwilliamDow]

I just ordered this! I love Ibanez my favorite acoustic is an old AEF 30

[@MartinBlasick]

I hope you love yours. I find it’s a pleasure to grab and jam.

[@ArnoldwilliamDow]

@@MartinBlasick Hey what is that song you played a part of?

[@MartinBlasick]

@@ArnoldwilliamDow “The Stripper” by David Rose.

[@ArnoldwilliamDow]

@@MartinBlasick No no, the one where you sang a bit... " I wanna be, closer to you"

[@MartinBlasick]

@@ArnoldwilliamDow ah I had to take a listen to remember what I did. That’s “Closer To You” a song I wrote and released with my old band Statica. I like to do it more mellow on acoustic. Here’s a link to the Statica version: open.spotify.com/track/5MKty5s0zq5OEb6CLo8QcC?si=-PTrii-aRN-JO2rHeLmy7w

[@larrys2080]

Thank you so much for that review that was very thorough. I just love the way that guitar looks and I’m thinking about ordering it to keep it in my condo in Florida to have to play when I come down. I mean guitar as a Taylor 610 which I love what do you think I should do? :-) Should I buy it or should I buy a better guitar perhaps another Taylor or something?

[@MartinBlasick]

I have a Taylor too, a high end one I’ve had it for quite a while now. But I also love having an easy to play less expensive guitar to take out for live gigs and practice on. It’s sweet to have both. If you only want one go for the one that makes you feel happiest when you play it.

[@markbrown7103]

Yes Ibanez make some fine guitars I own one myself I have a nylon tangerine orange classical guitar but made by Ibanez it’s beautiful and it plays nice and I got it for a very reasonable price 🎸👍🏼🎶🎼😎

[@MartinBlasick]

I’m still loving mine.

[@WillieBStudios]

I'm seriously thinking about this guitar ...I'm a new player....and the thinner neck and style ...seem like it totally might work for me.

[@MartinBlasick]

Sounds like a perfect fit. I still love mine.

[@solonaskypros3263]

nice playing man , im impressed

[@MartinBlasick]

Much appreciated. Guitars are a cure for boredom. Always so much more to learn.

[@solonaskypros3263]

yeah i bought my first guitar when covid started and it was the best thing i have ever done , indeed it never gets boring .

[@Paultheguitarist]

I really love the way this neck plays and sounds for leads,I just wish it had more of a full sound when strumming…I’m wondering if there are any higher end guitars that have a better combination of the two

[@MartinBlasick]

I looked for years for the same thing. I’m still getting good results from the alt star plugged in.

[@Paultheguitarist]

@@MartinBlasick I think I’m going to try an AEWC32.

[@jammingwithjavi]

This has been by far the most helpful review of this guitar I've seen on youtube! I also appreciated the jazz licks you were playing. It had me thinking if this guitar can achieve that gypsy jazz guitar tone (bright and percussive). In your opinion, do you think this guitar would work for that? It would be nice to get something affordable like this instead of dropping a grand on an actual gypsy jazz guitar. Thanks Martin!

[@MartinBlasick]

It does have that stringy gypsy jazz flavor. It’s been my dependable live gig banger. The neck has more of an Ibanez electric shape than a real gypsy guitar neck shape. I find it pretty easy to play.

[@chiaraantonioni4869]

How to eliminate feedback? It doesn't have a regular guitar hole

[@MARK-r6c3k]

Acoustic Guitars generally kill my Fingers. I can only play one for a little bit until I have to stop cause my fingers hurt so bad. I saw one of these at the Guitar Store the other day and only had a few minutes to play it. How is it on your Fingers? Is it easier since it has the Electric Guitar Neck? I play my Electric all the time with no issues.

[@MartinBlasick]

I was looking for an easy to play acoustic too. It’s not totally like a lead guitar butter because the third string is wound, which is a hallmark of the acoustic sound. If that’s not easy enough for you you could try electric strings for and unwound 3rd string. The sound will be thinner, but if it gets you into the acoustic game then I don’t have any hesitation going skinny.

[@MartinBlasick]

Martin Retro Acoustic Guitar Strings - .010-.047 Extra Light

[@MARK-r6c3k]

@@MartinBlasick thanks allot, never thought about that g string being wound. Duh. Lol I did put really light strings on my acoustic and after 30 minutes of playing I had to put it away. Ill buy a set of the ones you talk about here. Thanks. 🙂👍

[@MARK-r6c3k]

@@MartinBlasick ya being able to to get at least a solid half step bend on the G String would be pretty cool.

[@juliolugo476]

Does it have a metronome?

[@MartinBlasick]

No built in metronome. Just a tuner

[@generalawareness101]

Would this or the aeg50 be better if looking for a slim neck acoustic-electric?

[@MartinBlasick]

Interesting question. I think the Alt30 has the electric sized neck as the difference. I saw a negative review of the ibanez aeg50 saying the tone was weak. I actually love the sound of skinny acoustic guitars. I also love full bodied acoustic sounds too but there's a time for each one. I think it comes down to which neck you want. The electric neck is a bit skinnier. I'm still loving this guitar. And fwiw I just coached a well known actor for a guitar playing scene and he really loved playing the Alt30.

[@generalawareness101]

@@MartinBlasick Yep, I am leaning towards that, but the shark tooth inlay has never done it for me so might get the ALT20. I listened to the alt30, and it does sound thin, and funny I saw the saw critique of the aeg50 as you did. Makes it hard if you are trying to find a sub 300 USD one.

[@markbrown7103]

I’ve been a guitarist now for almost 50 years and there are nothing that comes close to an electric other than an Ibanez if you ever get on your love them I’ve had a few other electrics to but I’ve sold them because I’m just an old acoustic player now ha ha good luck hope you find what you’re looking for

[@generalawareness101]

@@markbrown7103 Well, it looks like it will be an Ibanez but damn them for bringing the head stock over from the electrics. btw, I had an RG421 and a GRG with so many QC issues that Ibanez admitted they had no QC until at least the summer of 2022 to catch up. If it is a sub 4k USD Ibanez made post 2020 it had no QC done on it. Love the Wizard III neck (the GRG was just 0.5mm thicker) so I think I will love this neck but the thin sound from the body is a bit putting off. I guess alright to learn on, to pick up and just putz about with if I end up with one without QC issues. That GRG was a deadly serious QC issue as the truss rod was all the way in yet needed to be moved in more to adjust the relief straight out of the box. The truss rod would not go in more so Ibanez had me return it.

[@generalawareness101]

@@MartinBlasick The Alt30 will be here on March 3, and I snatched it up for $269 last one as the new ones arriving (same stock different day) is now $369 vs the old $299 (a 70 USD Inflation price hike). My hope is that this one doesn't have the QC issues my first two Ibanez guitars had so we will see as I really loved the necks on them. I love my Bullet Mustang neck as well, but this guitar will be the widest at the nut I have had at 43mm. The Mustang is 42mm and the old Fender that destroyed my hand with the fat neck was 41mm.

[@jasongause7347]

Elixr 9s and Go

[@Thecherokee4x4]

Not impressed by the sound at all...sounds like a cheap Amazon guitar. Orangewood sounds much better

[@MartinBlasick]

I believe the electric style neck is the main selling point. That’s a big reason I still use this guitar regularly because it’s easy on the hands. I’ll have to learn about orangewood.

[@akinnon2000]

1:01 thisis the single worst sound i've ever heard coming out of any guitar... WTF... i heard like flintstone toy guitars that sounded better... yikes...

[@MartinBlasick]

Oh I’ve heard way worse 😁That buzz has since disappeared. I can’t remember if I made an adjustment or it self corrected. Hey I still play my high end Taylor plenty, but this little easy player has earned its keep.

[@aegisraven1284]

Emo hair...I thought that shit died

[@MartinBlasick]

Peace and love to you brother. Ima hippie at heart.

[@aegisraven1284]

@@MartinBlasick god-damned hippies!