Ibanez FRH Nylon String Guitar Review – A Great Nylon String Guitar for Recording
If you’re looking for an Ibanez FRH review because you’re considering buying a nylon-string guitar for recording, live performance or home use, this guitar is definitely worth looking at.
I recently purchased the Ibanez FRH nylon string guitar because I wanted a simple way to record classical guitar parts without having to set up a microphone in front of a traditional classical acoustic guitar.
For me, the Ibanez FRH has been a fantastic solution.
Why I Bought the Ibanez FRH
As a guitar teacher and guitarist, I regularly need different guitar sounds for recording and teaching. I wanted to be able to record classical guitar and nylon-string guitar parts quickly and easily without having to worry about microphone positioning, room acoustics or background noise.
A traditional classical guitar can sound fantastic when recorded with a good microphone, but it isn’t always the most convenient option.
The Ibanez FRH solves that problem.
Because it has an Ibanez T-bar undersaddle pickup and custom electronics, I can simply plug the guitar straight into my recording setup. Add a small amount of reverb and it produces a really impressive nylon-string guitar sound.
For home recording, that’s a huge advantage.
Ibanez FRH Sound
The first thing I noticed when plugging the FRH in was how good it sounds.
With a touch of reverb, the Ibanez FRH produces a clear, warm nylon-string guitar tone that works particularly well for classical guitar parts, acoustic arrangements and softer guitar passages.
It’s not trying to replace a high-end microphone and a great classical guitar in every situation. Instead, it provides something that I find much more useful for everyday recording: a great-sounding nylon-string guitar that you can simply plug in and record.
That’s exactly what I wanted.
Electric Guitar Feel with Nylon Strings
One of the biggest selling points of the FRH is its playability.
The guitar is designed for players who want the sound of a nylon-string guitar combined with the feel and playability of an electric guitar.
The relatively slim body makes it comfortable to hold, while the 46mm nut width and 400R fretboard radius make the neck feel much more familiar to an electric guitarist than a traditional classical guitar.
If you’re used to playing electric guitar, this can make the transition to nylon strings much easier.
The high fret access is also excellent, making the FRH particularly versatile for players who want to move beyond traditional classical guitar techniques.
Ibanez FRH for Home Recording
For me, this is where the FRH really makes sense.
If you’re recording classical guitar at home, you don’t necessarily want to spend time positioning microphones, checking levels and trying to eliminate unwanted room noise.
With the FRH, I can plug it directly into my interface and start recording.
That makes it particularly useful for:
- Home recording
- Classical guitar parts
- Songwriting and demos
- Guitar lessons and tuition material
- Live performances
- Recording acoustic guitar arrangements
- Players who don’t want to use a microphone
- Electric guitarists wanting a nylon-string guitar
The lack of a conventional sound hole on the front of the guitar also helps reduce feedback, making it suitable for both stage and home use.
The Side Sound Port
The FRH has an interesting feature that you don’t find on a traditional acoustic guitar in quite the same way: a sound port on the side of the body.
This allows the player to hear the natural acoustic sound of the guitar more directly while playing.
It’s a simple but effective design feature.
Although I’m mainly using the guitar plugged in, it’s still nice to be able to hear the acoustic character of the instrument while playing.
Ibanez FRH vs Tim Henson Signature Guitar
One of the reasons I chose the FRH is that I had also considered the Tim Henson signature nylon-string guitar.
The Tim Henson model is obviously a fantastic instrument and has become very popular with players looking for a modern nylon-string guitar.
However, if you’re primarily looking for a nylon-string guitar for recording, the FRH offers a very attractive alternative at a lower price.
For what I personally wanted the guitar for, I didn’t feel that I needed to spend the extra money.
The FRH gives me the important things I was looking for:
Nylon strings + electric-style playability + onboard electronics + easy recording.
And for my purposes, it sounds amazing.
Is the Ibanez FRH Good for Classical Guitar?
Yes, particularly if your priority is recording classical guitar without using a microphone.
The FRH isn’t a traditional classical guitar, and players looking for the completely natural response and tone of a high-end concert classical guitar may prefer a conventional instrument.
However, if you want to record classical guitar parts quickly and easily, the FRH is extremely practical.
Simply plug it in, set your tone, add a little reverb and you’re ready to record.
That’s exactly why I bought mine.
Ibanez FRH Specifications
| Specification | Ibanez FRH |
|---|---|
| Body Size | FRH |
| Top | Solid Sitka Spruce |
| Bracing | Fan Bracing for FRH |
| Back & Sides | Sapele |
| Neck | Nyatoh |
| Neck Shape | C Shape |
| Fingerboard | Walnut |
| Scale Length | 648mm |
| Number of Frets | 22 |
| Nut Width | 46mm |
| Bridge | Walnut |
| Pickup | Ibanez T-bar Undersaddle Pickup |
| Electronics | Ibanez Custom Electronics |
| Tuners | Ibanez Standard |
My Ibanez FRH Verdict
After using the Ibanez FRH, I’m really pleased with my purchase.
I wanted a nylon-string guitar for recording classical guitar parts without having to use a microphone, and the FRH does exactly what I needed.
It’s comfortable to play, has excellent access to the higher frets, feels more familiar to an electric guitarist than a traditional classical guitar and, most importantly for me, sounds fantastic when plugged in with a touch of reverb.
If you’re an electric guitarist looking for a nylon-string guitar, a guitarist wanting an easy way to record classical guitar, or you’re considering an alternative to the Tim Henson signature model, I think the Ibanez FRH is well worth considering.
For my particular needs, it’s become a very useful addition to my guitar collection.
My rating: ★★★★★
Looking for a Nylon-String Guitar for Recording?
If your main reason for buying a nylon-string guitar is home recording, I’d definitely recommend trying the Ibanez FRH.
It offers a very useful combination of nylon-string tone, electric-guitar-style playability and plug-and-play recording, without the need to set up a microphone every time you want to record a classical guitar part.
For me, that’s what makes the Ibanez FRH such a great guitar for home recording.