Nylon String Feel, Stage-Ready Sound
If you've always been curious about nylon strings but dread the idea of wrestling with a traditional classical guitar's wide, flat neck, the Ibanez GA5TCE might be exactly what you've been looking for. It takes the warm, expressive voice of a classical guitar and wraps it in a thinner, more manageable body with a comfortable cutaway — so your fretting hand won't feel like it's trying to palm a tennis racket.
The thinline body sits closer to your body than a standard classical, and the 46mm nut width is considerably narrower than the typical 52mm classical neck. Players who live on steel-string acoustics or electric guitars tend to settle in quickly here. Add a built-in pickup and preamp system, and you've got a nylon-string guitar that's ready to plug into a PA, an amp, or a recording interface without any extra gear.
This particular GA5TCE is offered as B-Stock — great opportunity to get into an Ibanez classical-electric at a discount. Details on the specific B-Stock condition are noted below.
This item is a B-Stock guitar sourced directly from the manufacturer. It is new and has never been previously owned. The photos shown are of the exact instrument you will receive. Before shipment, our licensed technician will inspect and professionally set up the guitar to ensure it is playing its best. During our inspection, we noticed FLAW IN POLY NEAR BRIDGE, SAND THROUGH BRIDGE AND TOP FRONT BODY NEAR STRAP BUTTON. (see pictures) Please note, these may not be the only cosmetic imperfections. As a B-Stock instrument, there may be additional minor blemishes that are small in nature and do not affect playability or performance.
The Body: Classical Tone in a Thinline Package
The GA5TCE is built around a thinline cutaway classical body — it's shallower than a traditional classical guitar, which makes it sit more naturally if you're used to playing steel-string instruments. The spruce top is paired with sapele back and sides, a combination that delivers the balanced, clear response you'd want for nylon-string playing. Sapele shares tonal characteristics with mahogany — punchy low-mids, clear highs — while bringing its own distinctive ribbon grain appearance under that amber gloss finish.
Fan bracing under the top is a traditional classical construction technique that distributes string vibration across the soundboard efficiently. On this guitar, it contributes to a focused, articulate sound whether you're playing fingerpicked classical pieces, bossa nova chord melodies, or just noodling through something lyrical. The Venetian cutaway opens up access to the upper frets — practical if you like to venture up the neck or play contemporary pieces that demand it.
Neck, Fretboard, and Playability
The okoume neck is lightweight and comfortable, with a flat fingerboard radius — as you'd expect from a classical-style instrument. The purpleheart fretboard and bridge add a splash of distinctive color (purpleheart has a naturally deep violet-purple hue) and hold up well under regular playing. The 650mm (25.6") scale length is a classical standard, and the 46mm nut width hits a sweet spot: wide enough to accommodate proper nylon-string fingerstyle technique, but narrow enough that players coming from steel-string guitars won't feel completely lost.
With 21 frets and the neck joining the body at the 14th fret, you get reasonable upper-register access for a classical-style instrument. Gold classical tuning machines round out the hardware, and they do a solid job of keeping nylon strings — which can take a little longer to settle in than steel — locked in place.
Electronics: Plug In and Play
The GA5TCE carries an Ibanez undersaddle pickup paired with the AEQ-2T preamp. The AEQ-2T gives you bass and treble controls along with a volume knob, and it has an onboard chromatic tuner built right in — just press the button and you've got a visual tuner without clipping anything to the headstock. Output is via a standard 1/4" jack, so it works with any amp or DI box you already have. A single 9V battery powers the system.
The undersaddle pickup captures the string vibration at the saddle and translates it cleanly to amplified sound. It's a practical, reliable approach for live use — no fiddling with microphone placement, no feedback drama at stage volumes. Whether you're playing a coffeehouse, a worship service, or a classroom, you can dial in your sound and focus on playing.
Product Features:
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Body: Thinline Cutaway Classical body with Venetian cutaway
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Top: Spruce with fan bracing, amber high gloss finish
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Back & Sides: Sapele, gloss finish
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Neck: Okoume (GA neck profile), flat fingerboard radius
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Fretboard & Bridge: Purpleheart
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Scale Length: 650mm (25.6") | Nut Width: 46mm | Frets: 21
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Electronics: Ibanez undersaddle pickup + AEQ-2T preamp with onboard chromatic tuner
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Output: 1/4" jack, 9V battery
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Tuners: Gold classical tuning machines
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Strings: Nylon | Finish: Amber High Gloss
Brand: Ibanez
Model: GA5TCE
SKU: GA5TCE-2ND|2Y11GS260307946
Condition: B-Stock
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.
