Cheap guitar of the week #33 - Ibanez Talman TCM50

A different look for an electric-acoustic guitar that actually works.

Ordinarily, when a guitar company releases an acoustic with a non-traditional shape, it doesn't work. The Ibanez Talman TCM50 however does work.

Even in a natural finish (same price as the dark finish, check link above for that,) it looks pretty darned good:

Yes, there is a very-obvious pickup mounted in the front position. This is an acoustic-electric that leans more towards acting like an electric. The body style is thinner than a traditional dreadnought, but what really makes this act more electric-like is the way the electric sound is delivered.

When unplugged, the TCM50 has a traditional acoustic sound. When plugged in, you get more of a solid-body electric sound out of this guitar, which for many players is actually quite desirable because it's easier to record with.

Here's someone playing some Metallica acoustic riffs on the TCM50 with it plugged in:

...and that's pretty much the plugged-in sound you get out of it. Not traditional, but very, very easy to record.

The TCM50 might have "that acoustic-electric sound" you've been looking for, and if so, it doesn't cost a lot to get it.