Let's talk about the history and music of the American Heartland

Visit our Sister Sites
CreekDontRise.com Home Page Visit our sister site, School of the Rock
Visit our Classic Train Songs Page
A page devoted to some of Paul's own music endeavors.
 

It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 6:44 pm


To ask any question about the content on this site please use our Site Contact Page.

To sign up for this discussion forum, please use our Forum Signup Page.

Either way, we'll be very glad to hear from you - Paul Click to see Paul's music home page Click to contact Paul through this page. Click to see Paul's music page on Facebook Click to see Paul's music blog page Click to hear Paul's music on SoundCloud. Click to sign up for this discussion forum. Click to learn about our Momma Don't Low Newsletter. Click to see Paul's YouTube Channel. Click to see Paul's Twitter Page

All times are UTC - 5 hours [ DST ]




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 2 posts ] 
Author Message
 Post subject: Ibanez PN12E-VMS Review
PostPosted: Tue Jun 28, 2022 8:04 am 
Offline
Site Admin
User avatar

Joined: Thu May 15, 2014 3:39 pm
Posts: 1004
Here's a review of a cheap Ibanez 00 (PN12E-VMS) I just put on Musician's Friend.

I was researching parlors for an article and had no interest in buying anything larger than an "O," then I saw one of these used and very cheap and thought "what the heck?"

BTW, I generally play "full sized" professional guitars, but I got into Ibanez and Washburn Parlors because I do historical reenactments and many so-called "parlor" guitars represent the sizes and shapes of most 19th-century guitars.

I also have been setting up my own guitars since the 1970s, so a guitar that arrives unplayable out of the box doesn't frighten me as long as all the pieces are there, the tuners work, and the neck can be adjusted. (Yes, I HAVE sent guitars back for replacement, including Ibanez acoustics, so I'm aware that guitars like this one CAN have quality control issues that require immediate returns.)

Still, I was pleasantly surprised by this thing's little brothers in the PN1 family. Set up with good strings, they're a blast to play, and a great size for students, beaches, campfires, or Civil War campgrounds. (They approximate "Size 2" guitars, which were introduced around 1840.)

The PN12E is about a "OO," which was first widely available about 1874, which makes it too "modern" for Civil War reenactments, but still usable for Cowboy or Victorian uses.

It costs only a third again as much as the PN1s, but it includes a built-in tuner and pickup, and the sound is bigger because of its larger body. Yes, it needed set up. But as a student or beach guitar it will do fine.

It doesn't have the volume or tone of my solid-topped Washburn parlors (which cost 3-4 times as much). And I have to confess, NONE of the guitars I've tried in this size range have great bass.

But with the built-in pickup, I can get by in a lot of settings that aren't too demanding. Say, you take it on vacation to use on the campground or beach, and someone invites you to a local open mic or such. Plugged in, it won't sound that much different from the $2000 guitars plugged in - the electronics are basically the same.

I'm thinking of getting a case for this and taking it to places like church, nursing homes, parties, and jams where my pro guitars are overkill.

Again, if you order one, be sure to check it out or have it checked out as soon as you get it, no matter WHO you buy it from. Most quality control complaints have to do with minor finish imperfections, which frankly don't bother me because I put wear and tear on my instruments regardless. But they may bother you. And it WILL need set up and probably new strings. But if it arrives in one piece, you may be pleasantly surprised with its sound and playability for the cost.

If you want to see a picture of this and get an idea of pricing, here it is on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Ibanez-PN12E-Vin ... s_li_ss_tl

If you buy it through Amazon, I may get a few dollars, but you are welcome to shop around for a better price or try to find one locally.

- Paul Race, Creek Don't Rise

Attachment:
ibanez_pn12e.jpg
ibanez_pn12e.jpg [ 32.02 KiB | Viewed 5198 times ]


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Tue Jun 28, 2022 8:09 am 
Offline
Site Admin
User avatar

Joined: Thu May 15, 2014 3:39 pm
Posts: 1004
BTW, my size 2 and size O parlor guitars all fit nicely into the TKL #04675 padded gig bag, even the Luna Gypsy Parlor, which is longer because of the 14-fret neck. I like the TKL because it's so well padded. But this size 00 did not fit into it.

I was shopping for a gig bag for the PN12E when I remembered a POS "gig bag" that came with a used size 0 I bought some time back and immediately replaced with a good one. The PN12E fit into it. It's pretty flimsy and not really padded but it will do for getting it from point A to point B in the meantime.


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 2 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 5 hours [ DST ]


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 3 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
cron




To ask any question about the content on this site please use our Site Contact Page.

To sign up for this discussion forum, please use our Forum Signup Page.


Paul Race playing a banjo. Click to go to Paul's music home page.Whatever else you get out of our pages, I hope you enjoy your music and figure out how to make enjoyable music for those around you as well.

And please stay in touch!

    - Paul Race Click to see Paul's music home page Click to contact Paul through this page. Click to see Paul's music page on Facebook Click to see Paul's music blog page Click to hear Paul's music on SoundCloud. Click to sign up for the Creek Don't Rise discussion forum. Click to learn about our Momma Don't Low Newsletter. Click to see Paul's Twitter Page Click to see Paul's YouTube Channel.



All material, illustrations, and content of this web site is copyrighted © 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006,
2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 by Paul D. Race. All rights reserved.

Note: Creek Don't Rise (tm) is Paul Race's name for his resources supporting the history and
music of the North American Heartland as well as additional kinds of acoustic and traditional music.

Creek Dont' Rise(tm) is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising
program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.



Visit related pages and affiliated sites:
- Music -
Heartland-inspired music, history, and acoustic instrument tips.
Best-loved railroad songs and the stories behind them.
Visit musings about music on our sister site, School of the Rock With a few tools and an hour or two of work, you can make your guitar, banjo, or mandolin much more responsive.  Instruments with movable bridges can have better-than-new intonation as well. The Independent Christian Musician. Check out our article on finding good used guitars.
Carols of many countries, including music, lyrics, and the story behind the songs. X and Y-generation Christians take Contemporary Christian music, including worship, for granted, but the first generation of Contemporary Christian musicians faced strong, and often bitter resistance. Different kinds of music call for different kinds of banjos.  Just trying to steer you in the right direction. New, used, or vintage - tips for whatever your needs and preferences. Wax recordings from the early 1900s, mostly collected by George Nelson.  Download them all for a 'period' album. Explains the various kinds of acoustic guitar and what to look for in each.
Look to Riverboat Music buyers' guide for descriptions of musical instruments by people who play musical instruments. Learn 5-string banjo at your own speed, with many examples and user-friendly explanations. Explains the various kinds of banjos and what each is good for. Learn more about our newsletter for roots-based and acoustic music. Folks with Bb or Eb instruments can contribute to worship services, but the WAY they do depends on the way the worship leader approaches the music. A page devoted to some of Paul's own music endeavors.
- Trains and Hobbies -
Free building projects for your vintage railroad or Christmas village.
Visit Lionel Trains. Click to see Thomas Kinkaded-inspired Holiday Trains and Villages. Big Christmas Train Primer: Choosing and using model trains with holiday themes Building temporary and permanent railroads with big model trains Click to see HO scale trains with your favorite team's colors.
- Christmas Memories and Collectibles -
Visit the FamilyChristmasOnline site. Visit Howard Lamey's glitterhouse gallery, with free project plans, graphics, and instructions. Click to return to the Old Christmas Tree Lights Table of Contents Page Click to sign up for Maria Cudequest's craft and collectibles blog.
Click to visit Fred's Noel-Kat store.
Visit the largest and most complete cardboard Christmas 'Putz' house resource on the Internet.
- Family Activities and Crafts -
Click to see reviews of our favorite family-friendly Christmas movies. Free, Family-Friendly Christmas Stories Decorate your tree the old-fashioned way with these kid-friendly projects. Free plans and instructions for starting a hobby building vintage-style cardboard Christmas houses. Click to find free, family-friendly Christmas poems and - in some cases - their stories. Traditional Home-Made Ornaments



Click to trains that commemorate your team!

Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group