The Ibanez FRH20SMN spalted maple top nylon-string acoustic-electric guitar merges classical tone with electric-style playability, delivering an ideal solution for guitarists who want the expressive sound of nylon strings without sacrificing comfort or performance. With a sleek, thinline body and a cutaway design for superior upper-fret access, this Ibanez acoustic-electric is built to bring out the best in your playing in any setting—from stage to studio to late-night rehearsals at the practice space. The soundhole-free top design minimizes feedback, while a cleverly placed side sound port delivers rich, direct acoustic tone straight to your ears. With professional-grade Ibanez electronics and thoughtful construction throughout, the FRH20SMN offers a uniquely modern nylon-string experience.
Spalted Maple and Sapele Deliver Balanced Warmth and Clarity
The tonewood pairing on the FRH20SMN gives it a distinctive look and stunning voice that are sure to command attention on any stage. The spalted maple top provides striking visual appeal with its gorgeous natural figuring while adding a bright, articulate top end to the tonal palette. The back and sides are crafted from sapele, known for its strong midrange presence and rich low end, giving the guitar a full, rounded response. Together, these woods create a balanced tonal foundation that responds well to fingerpicking, light strumming and expressive melodic phrasing.
Comfortable Nyatoh Neck With Rosewood Fingerboard
Playability is where the FRH20SMN truly excels. Its nyatoh neck adds rich low-mid warmth, while the rosewood fingerboard ensures smooth response and a well-balanced tone. The 15.75" radius and 1.81" nut width provide a familiar, almost electric feel that makes chord shapes and fingerstyle passages intuitive. This neck design is particularly appealing for players transitioning from steel-string or electric guitars to nylon, eliminating the typical learning curve while still offering the soft, expressive voice of a classical guitar.
Stage-Ready Ibanez Electronics and Onboard Tuner
Equipped with an Ibanez undersaddle pickup and the AEQ210T preamp, the FRH20SMN offers crystal-clear amplified sound with deep control. The preamp includes active bass and treble EQ, giving you powerful tone shaping on the fly. A built-in digital tuner ensures you're always performance-ready, while the minimal, discreet layout keeps the aesthetic clean and modern. Whether you're plugging into a PA, an amp or a direct recording setup, this nylon-string guitar delivers consistent, feedback-resistant tone with professional polish.
Innovative Hollowbody Design for Enhanced Feedback Resistance
The FRH20SMN boasts a thin, modified FR hollowbody design with a deep cutaway that facilitates effortless playability up and down the neck—whether you're riffing on jazzy extended chords, plucking your way through delicate fingerstyle melodies or woodshedding intricate classical arrangements. The guitar's fan bracing—a common design component of traditional classical guitars—adds warmth and resonance. With its no-soundhole design, the FRH20SMN offers enhanced feedback resistance—perfect for live environments with higher stage volume. At the same time, its side-mounted sound port allows players to hear the guitar's natural acoustic tone directly, making it equally enjoyable for unplugged playing at home.
A Nylon String Acoustic Electric for the Modern Player
With its elegant aesthetics, electric-guitar-inspired feel and stage-ready electronics, the Ibanez FRH20SMN spalted maple top nylon-string acoustic-electric guitar is a standout choice for musicians seeking classical warmth without sacrificing modern playability. Its lightweight body, fast neck and smooth upper-fret access make it an easy fit for crossover guitarists, while the fan-braced hollowbody and premium tonewoods offer the nuance and depth needed for expressive nylon-string playing. Whether you're performing classical pieces on stage, experimenting with jazz or Latin rhythms or recording intricate fingerstyle compositions at home, the FRH20SMN gives you inspiring sound and feel in a refined, gig-ready package.