Two-Tone Looks, Solid Spruce Sound, and a Side Port You Didn't Know You Needed
There's something genuinely fun about picking up a guitar that turns heads before you even play a note. The Ibanez AE170 does exactly that — a natural gloss spruce top on one side of the story, and a transparent red high-gloss flamed maple back and sides on the other. It's a striking combination, and the good news is that it sounds as interesting as it looks.
At its core, this is a Grand Auditorium acoustic-electric built around a solid Sitka spruce top with X-M bracing, paired with flamed maple back and sides. The result is a voicing that leans bright and articulate — crisp highs, clear mids, and a well-defined low end that doesn't get muddy in a mix. Whether you're playing solo or plugging in, there's a clarity here that rewards dynamic playing.
The AE170 is a comfortable fit for players who spend time both on the couch and on stage. The Venetian cutaway opens up the upper frets, and a few thoughtful design choices — including one that addresses an age-old acoustic complaint — make this a guitar that's genuinely easy to live with every day.
The A.I.R.port: Acoustic Feedback Without the Guesswork
One of the more practical features on the AE170 is the A.I.R.port (Acoustic Information Response port) — a second sound hole positioned on the upper bout, facing the player. Ibanez designed it with an internal structure that reflects sound waves and guides them toward the player's ear rather than out into the room. For solo practice or low-volume playing, it gives you a clearer, more direct sense of what your guitar actually sounds like without needing to crank an amp or lean over the body.
It's a small thing that makes a noticeable difference when you're playing at home or working through a new arrangement quietly. Players who spend time on both the couch and the stage tend to appreciate it most.
A Neck That Stays Out of Your Way
The AE170 uses a maple neck shaped into Ibanez's Comfort Grip profile — a contour designed to minimize hand fatigue during longer playing sessions. It joins the body at the 14th fret via a dovetail joint, and the neck thickness runs 20mm at the first fret and 21mm at the seventh, keeping things slim and fast without feeling insubstantial.
The fretboard is Thermo Aged Ovangkol — a material that goes through a specialized drying process to become lighter, harder, and more dimensionally stable than standard Ovangkol. The 15.75" radius and acrylic block inlays round out a fretboard that plays smoothly whether you're running scales or strumming open chords. Nut width sits at 1.692" (43mm), which is on the slightly narrower side — comfortable for players who like strings close together.
Electronics Ready for the Stage
Plugging in the AE170 is handled by an Ibanez T-bar undersaddle pickup, which picks up vibrations directly from the top of the guitar for a natural, balanced amplified tone. The signal runs into an Ibanez AEQ-TP2 preamp located on the upper bout, giving you volume, bass, and treble controls plus an easy-to-read onboard digital tuner — no clip-on needed for a quick soundcheck.
The AE170 also offers both a standard 1/4" output and a balanced XLR output, which is a genuinely useful feature for running directly into a PA or mixer without a DI box. The Thermo Aged Ovangkol scalloped bridge enhances vibration transfer to the top, and chrome die-cast tuners with an 18:1 gear ratio keep things in tune through a long set.
Product Features:
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Top: Solid Sitka spruce with X-M bracing
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Back & Sides: Flamed maple — Natural High Gloss top, Transparent Red High Gloss back and sides
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Body Shape: Grand Auditorium (AE shallower body depth) with Venetian cutaway
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Neck: Maple, Comfort Grip profile, 25" scale length, 1.692" nut width
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Fretboard: Thermo Aged Ovangkol, 15.75" radius, 20 frets, acrylic block inlays
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Electronics: Ibanez T-bar undersaddle pickup + AEQ-TP2 preamp with 2-band EQ and onboard tuner
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Outputs: 1/4" and balanced XLR
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A.I.R.port: Upper-bout sound port directed toward the player for improved acoustic monitoring
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Tuners: Chrome die-cast, 18:1 gear ratio
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Bridge: Thermo Aged Ovangkol scalloped bridge with Ibanez Advantage bridge pins
Brand: Ibanez
Model: AE170
SKU: AE170NTR
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.
