An Acoustic Guitar That Thinks Like an Electric
If you've ever picked up a dreadnought acoustic after a long stretch on your electric and thought, "this neck is enormous" — the Ibanez Altstar ALT50FA was designed with that exact moment in mind. It's an acoustic-electric built specifically to feel familiar to electric players, with the specs to back it up: a 25.5" scale length, a 15.75" fingerboard radius, and tighter string spacing that mirror what you're already used to.
The single-cutaway compact dreadnought body is sized down from a standard dreadnought, keeping things comfortable without sacrificing too much projection. And with the neck joint sitting at the 16th fret instead of the typical 12th, upper-fret access is genuinely easy — not just technically possible. The result is an acoustic you can actually explore the whole neck on.
Dressed in a high-gloss Red Doom Burst finish over a Flamed Maple Art Grain top, this guitar looks distinct on stage or in the practice room. It's a solid option for electric players looking to branch out, for writers who want one instrument that covers both worlds, or for anyone who finds traditional acoustics a bit of a stretch after years on a slab-body.
A Neck That Feels Like Home
The Comfort Grip Maple neck is the heart of what makes this guitar work for electric players. The 25.5" scale is the same you'd find on a Strat or Tele, so your muscle memory transfers immediately. The 15.75" fingerboard radius is flatter than most acoustics — closer to what you'd find on a performance electric — which means bending and fast runs don't fight you the way they might on a rounder-radius acoustic neck.
The Purpleheart fretboard is a distinctive choice, both visually and tonally. It's a dense hardwood that delivers a responsive, clear feel underhand, with sharktooth position markers and neck binding that give the whole instrument a finished, intentional look. Large frets round out the package, contributing to smooth playability across single notes and chord phrasing alike.
Body and Tone: Sapele Warmth, Electric Sensibility
The top is Basswood dressed with a Flamed Maple Art Grain finish — visually striking and tonally balanced. The back and sides are Sapele, a tightly grained wood that delivers warm mids and a bright, clear top end. It's a combination that produces a well-rounded acoustic voice without going overly mid-heavy or dark. The compact dreadnought body keeps things manageable and responsive, with the asymmetrical tri-oval soundhole adding a visual nod to the guitar's modern design attitude.
The Purpleheart bridge transfers string vibration directly to the body for a natural, warm acoustic response, and Ibanez Advantage bridge pins make string changes straightforward — the bulb-shaped ends grip securely without the usual pin-wrestling.
Plugged In: AEQ-2T Electronics
The onboard electronics are a practical, well-considered setup. The Ibanez undersaddle pickup feeds an AEQ-2T preamp with bass, treble, and volume controls, plus a built-in tuner that works whether you're plugged in or not — a genuinely useful feature when you're setting up quickly. The output is a standard 1/4" jack, so it plays nice with any amp or DI you'd use for your electric rig.
The whole electronics package is designed to reproduce the acoustic character of the guitar cleanly, without adding excessive color. For practice, songwriting sessions, or small performances, it gives you what you need without a lot of menu-diving.
Product Features:
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Body: Compact single-cutaway dreadnought with Venetian cutaway
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Top: Flamed Maple Art Grain (Basswood) — high-gloss Red Doom Burst finish
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Back & Sides: Sapele — warm mids and bright, clear highs
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Neck: Comfort Grip Maple, neck joint at 16th fret for extended upper-fret access
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Fretboard: Purpleheart with sharktooth inlays and binding; 15.75" radius, 22 frets
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Scale Length: 25.5" — matches standard electric guitar scale
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Nut Width: 1.70"
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Bridge: Purpleheart with Ibanez Advantage bridge pins
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Electronics: Ibanez undersaddle pickup + AEQ-2T preamp with onboard tuner; bass, treble, and volume controls
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Finish: Red Doom Burst High Gloss
Brand: Ibanez
Model: Altstar ALT50FA
SKU: ALT50FARDB
Condition: New
Since 1872, C.A. House Music has been helping musicians across the Ohio Valley find the right gear -- with real advice from a team that actually plays. We're your authorized dealer of all the big names in guitars, keyboards, band instruments, drums, pro audio, and more. With four family-owned and operated locations in Ohio and West Virginia (plus a full online store), you don't have to go far for instruments, lessons, rentals, and repairs. No matter your musical needs, our team of musicians wants to help you Play Music for Life.
