Ibanez PFT2 Limited Edition Natural High Gloss

An LTD Edition in the Spirit of PF Performance: The Tenor Updated

The PFT2 follows the PF Performance philosophy: offering accessible, well-finished instruments designed to be played often, for long periods, and with pleasure. In this LTD Edition Natural High Gloss, Ibanez highlights a "natural high gloss finish" aesthetic that showcases the wood grain and immediately gives the impression of a carefully crafted instrument.
The very concept of the tenor guitar is not new: it appeared about a century ago as a transitional instrument between the Dixieland banjo and the 6-string swing guitar, and it is now making a comeback thanks to contemporary artists seeking a more direct, more "percussive" timbre and a different tuning logic. The PFT2 embraces this idea and makes it easy to adopt daily.

Who Is This Ibanez PFT2 For? From Curious Guitarists to Demanding Songwriters

If you are a 6-string guitarist, the PFT2 is a formidable playground: with 4 strings tuned in fifths, you break out of habits and quickly find new voicings, double-stops, and melodic patterns that fall naturally under the fingers. Musicians coming from the mandolin or violin will find a familiar interval logic and can transpose scales and chord shapes with true coherence.
In terms of styles, this acoustic tenor guitar fits easily into folk, country, Irish, swing, or jazz repertoires, but it is equally relevant for modern pop where accompaniment leaves room for vocals. Its compact format and short scale also make it an excellent option for songwriting, rehearsals, or an inspiring backup guitar in the home studio.

Sound: Clarity of Spruce, Warmth of Sapele, Precise Attack of Purpleheart

The PFT2's sonic personality primarily relies on its spruce top. Spruce is appreciated for its clarity, quick response, and ability to maintain definition whether playing open chords or more articulated picking. On a tenor, this precision is particularly interesting: each note stands out with great clarity, highlighting the intervals and harmonic movements typical of fifths tuning.
The sapele back and sides complement the sound with warm mids and controlled brightness. The result is a full sound without being overwhelming, pleasant for accompaniment, and sufficiently present for melodic phrases. The mini dreadnought format offers surprising projection considering its size, with a punchy feel useful for light strumming as well as more dynamic playing.
The choice of purpleheart for the fingerboard and bridge enhances the clean and responsive attack. The bridge efficiently transmits vibrations to the top, and the combination with a bone saddle contributes to a more precise attack and well-sustained notes for a 4-string instrument. Finally, the Ibanez Advantage pins are a real plus for everyday use: easier insertion and removal, and more stable tuning during string changes.

Recommended Compatible Accessories

To get the best out of this tenor guitar, plan for a D'Addario J66 string set (or a set with the same gauges .010/.014/.022/.032) to maintain the tension and balance intended for the A D G C tuning. A chromatic tuner is also very useful: fifths tuning sets in quickly but requires impeccable intonation to enjoy the instrument's rich voicings. Finally, a few picks of varying thicknesses will allow you to adjust the attack, from soft and round tones to more percussive playing.

Technical specifications

Format	Dreadnought	Nbrs of frets	20
Cutaway	No	Neck Type	Glued
Strings	Steel	Electroacoustic	No
Nbr of strings	4	Color	Brown
Top	Spruce	Finishing	Glossy
Back&Sides	Sapelli	Hardware	Chromed
Fingerboard	Purple heart

Type	Acoustic tenor guitar (4 strings)	Neck thickness (1st fret)	22 mm / 0.87"
Shape	Mini Dreadnought	Neck thickness (7th fret)	23 mm / 0.91"
Back	Sapele	Scale length	580 mm / 22.83"
Sides	Sapele	Nut width	30 mm / 1.18"
Body depth	3.75" / 95.25 mm	Width at fingerboard end	36 mm / 1.42" (at 14th fret)
Body width	12.625" / 320.68 mm	Radius	15.75" / 400 mm
Body length	15.625" / 396.88 mm	Number of frets	20
Rosette	Black and white multi-ply	Inlays	White dots
Binding	-	Bridge	Purpleheart
Bracing	-	Bridge pins	Ibanez Advantage
Finish	Gloss Polyurethane (high gloss finish)	Nut	Bone
Neck/body joint	Screw jointing	Saddle	Bone
Joint position	14th fret joint	String spacing	11 mm / 0.43"
Neck wood	Okoume	Tuners	Chrome Open Gear tuners
Neck finish	Gloss Polyurethane