IBANEZ AW20

  • Ibanez AW20 (1979) acoustic guitar
    Ibanez AW20 (1979)
  • Ibanez AW20 (1982) acoustic guitar
    Ibanez AW20 (1982)
  • Ibanez AW20-HS acoustic guitar
    Ibanez AW20-HS (2003)

Overview

Brand name: 

Product: 

  • acoustic guitars

Series name: 

Dates of manufacture: 

1979

The Ibanez Artwood AW20 was introduced around 1979. These early Ibanez AW20s were Japanese made dreadnought acoustics with solid Sitka spruce top, hand shaped scalloped bracing and originally mahogany back & sides with tortoiseshell pick-guard and natural gloss finish. The AW20 was the entry level Artwood model at the time and was also available with 12-strings as the AW25 model.

By 2002 the AW20s were no-longer made in Japan and had maple back and sides and honey sunburst finish (the AW20HS model).

Specifications (15)

General

Finish colorshoney finish, natural finish, red finish
Finish effectssunburst finish
Number of strings6 strings

Body

Body back materialmahogany body back, maple body back
Body sides materialmahogany body sides, maple body sides
Body styledreadnought-size body
Body top materialsitka spruce body top
Pickguard materialtortoiseshell pickguard
Soundholeround soundhole

Neck

Body fretNeck joins body at 14th fret
Number of frets20 fret
Tuner layoutthree-each-side

Fretboard

Fingerboard materialrosewood fingerboard
Fingerboard position markersdot fingerboard position markers

Hardware

Hardware colorchrome hardware

Prices (12)

DatePriceConditionNameComments
2005$278.00newRod
1981$345.00new
2016$100good
1998R160good
2007$250.00excellent
1980$340newTRI love this guitar. Plays extremely well...easy on the fingers...intonation is not perfect.
1980$340newTerry RitchieMy Ibanez is 37 years old this year, and seems to have changed much for the better recently. Historically the sound has been very trebly, and this actually increased when I had bone nut and saddle installed. I have not played it much in the past few years due to getting a new Takamine which i love. I recently restrung the Ibanez with Elixir Nanoweb light gauge strings and began playing it again..... and something has happened. The sound is full...balanced and clear with far better low end response than before. It's not the strings making the difference, although they are outstanding strings. I always keep the Ibanez in the case with a humidifier.. It seems like this year may have been the year when the wood aged long enough, and the sound got sweet. It has always been an excellent playing guitar and the neck has always been one of the great things a bout it. Nowe the sound has iom[proved and i am thrilled. If you happen across one of these original Artwood models from the 80's....buy it.
1980$340newTerry Ritchie
1979$500.00goodDavid LethI bought my Ibanez Artwood AW20 with money I received for my 21st birthday. It has a great tone and the workmanship.The top is sitka spruce with a honey finish, with mahogany back and sides with a tortoiseshell pickguard. It looks just the same as the day I bought it, I am so happy that I spent a little extra on a hard case and nearly always return it to the case after playing. I am not a good guitar player but when some of my friends who are good guitar players play it it sounds amazing. As I get older I appreciate just how good it sounds and how well made it is.
1980£120newIvanThis guitar sounds better now than it when I bought it. Kept in the original hardcase all year.
2005$300.excellentGrahamI am just a hobbyist, but when I go to local music shop, I can't find anything that feels better, regardless of price. serial number 81070042D
1981£130newIvanI don't think it's my imagination, but the guitar sounds better today than it ever did. The bass note has improved giving a much mellower all round sound. Just needs some new strings. Kept in a hardcase, keeps it's tune, neck straight ( I did adjust it a couple of years back, it had bowed slightly).

Reviews (3)

IBANEZ AW20 reviewed by Anonymous

5
Average: 5 (1 vote)
I bought my AW20 second hand in 1986 and soon realised it was a keeper, now I won't part with it. All i had to do was slightly raise the nut and adjust the truss rod and it's remained that way since. The sound is so warm and balanced with nice deep tones yet still bright enough. The neck is easy to manoeuvre around, so much so that i prefer it to my Taylor 310CE. It's built solid to last, I've had no problems in the 37 years I've owned it.

IBANEZ AW20 reviewed by Art

4
Average: 4 (1 vote)
I bought this guitar for $80. It seemed all right at first until noticed what turned out to be Belly bulge. I removed the strings and humidified the interior over a period of a week and that corrected much of the concave in front of the bridge. I put 11's on it and It sounds pretty good. I like the violin finish. I've tried to sell it on Craigslist and I get low-balled. I might as well keep it. The sound hole is too small for a sound hole pickup. The neck is one piece Mahogany. The tuners are acceptable. Really, it's pretty good for 80 bucks. Bug the top deformation is kind of a turn off to me. Otherwise it plays pretty good and it sounds pretty good. Whoever had it before me I'm sure didn't play it much. The top was dead when I got it. It seems to be loosening up with daily use. I give it an 82 I like the way it sounds and I can dance to it. Oh wait. that's American Bandstand. 70's flashback.

IBANEZ AW20 reviewed by Anonymous

5
Average: 5 (1 vote)
The Ibanez Artwood AW-20 was part of the first and second generation guitars. The top is made from solid Sitka spruce, high quality laminate mahogany back and sides. Rosewood fretboard and hand scalloped bracing. The bracing is copied from Martin. The finish is had rubbed. My model had locking tuners, which also gives away it's year (1980). After 1982 the tuners are no longer available with the locking system. Well made with no issues. The guitar is simply Stunning, it's so vibrant and has a very well balanced tone, good bass and mids and clear highs. It really is a joy to play. I'd seriously consider ANY Artwood up to 1983. I'd never sell mine! Bought for £300 absolutely worth every penny.

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