Ibanez Artwood Vintage Avd11 Thermo Aged

A pre-aged dread with looks to dry for.

- Michael Astley-Brown

Old acoustic guitars are often said to have a magic that an off-the-shelf acoustic can’t match; while that may be partially down to indefinable vintage mojo, there is some truth to the tone: older woods tend to possess a stronger projection, courtesy of a top that has dried and stiffened over the decades.

In recent years, guitar manufacturers have aimed to replicate this process with torrefaction, which has become the hottest buzzword in acoustics – quite literally: it involves heating tonewoods to artificially age the wood, remove moisture and stabilise its molecular structure. The process started appearing on instruments from small builders and high-end models from the likes of Martin, but has trickled down to mid-priced acoustics, with this Thermo Aged dreadnought from Ibanez a prime example.