Ibanez GA3008CE-NT Cutaway Classical 8-String Acoustic-Electric Guitar – Natural
Expand Your Musical Range with Eight Nylon Strings
The Ibanez GA3008CE-NT 8-String Classical Acoustic-Electric Guitar takes the expressive warmth of a traditional nylon-string guitar and expands it into an entirely new tonal range. Designed for adventurous classical guitarists, arrangers, fingerstyle players, and musicians looking for deeper bass possibilities, the GA3008CE combines premium tonewoods, an extended-range design, a comfortable cutaway, and professional Fishman electronics.
At its heart is a solid German spruce top, chosen for its sensitivity, clarity, and articulate response. African mahogany back and sides complement the spruce with a warm, full-bodied midrange, helping maintain definition and musical balance across all eight strings.
The result is an instrument capable of producing everything from delicate classical passages to rich chords, independent bass lines, extended-range arrangements, and powerful solo performances.
Eight Strings – A Whole New Range of Possibilities
The defining feature of the GA3008CE is its eight-string configuration. The two additional bass strings extend the instrument below the range of a traditional six-string classical guitar, providing additional notes for bass lines, chord inversions, contrapuntal arrangements, and contemporary extended-range techniques.
Ibanez factory tunes the instrument E-B-G-D-A-E-B-D from the 1st through 8th strings, giving players substantial additional low-end range while maintaining familiar standard tuning across the first six strings.
Whether you're arranging classical repertoire, exploring Brazilian and Latin styles, developing solo guitar arrangements, or simply looking for new sounds, the GA3008CE provides an inspiring platform for musical creativity.
Solid German Spruce & African Mahogany
The solid German spruce top delivers a clear, responsive voice with excellent note definition. It responds well to subtle changes in touch, making the GA3008CE equally comfortable with delicate fingerstyle passages and more aggressive playing.
The African mahogany back and sides add warmth and a strong, full-bodied midrange. This pairing is particularly well suited to an extended-range classical guitar because it helps maintain clarity while supporting the powerful lower register of the seventh and eighth strings.
An elegant Natural High Gloss finish, African mahogany binding, wooden top purfling, and traditional Classical Mosaic rosette complete the guitar's refined appearance.
Designed for Extended-Range Playability
An eight-string classical guitar requires more fingerboard space, and Ibanez designed the GA3008CE accordingly.
The Okoume neck is paired with a flat-radius rosewood fingerboard and a 67.5mm nut width, providing the additional room necessary for eight nylon strings. The traditional 650mm / 25.6" scale length retains a familiar classical feel.
Ibanez also incorporates an extended fingerboard, giving players additional upper-register possibilities, while the cutaway body provides convenient access to the higher frets.
A genuine bone nut and bone saddle, rosewood bridge, and gold classical tuning machines with a 14:1 gear ratio complete the instrument's performance-focused design.
Fishman Electronics for Stage and Studio
The GA3008CE is ready for amplified performance with a Fishman S-Core pickup paired with an Ibanez AEQ-SP2 preamp.
The onboard preamp provides convenient control over your amplified sound with Volume, Bass, and Treble controls, while the built-in tuner makes it easy to keep all eight strings accurately tuned.
For additional versatility, the GA3008CE provides both 1/4" and balanced XLR outputs, making it easy to connect directly to an acoustic amplifier, PA system, mixing console, audio interface, or recording system.
Features & Specifications
- Model: Ibanez GA3008CE-NT
- Series: GA Classical
- Instrument Type: 8-String Classical Acoustic-Electric Guitar
- Orientation: Right-Handed
- Finish: Natural High Gloss
- Body Shape: Cutaway Classical
- Number of Strings: 8
- Top: Solid German Spruce
- Back: African Mahogany
- Sides: African Mahogany
- Body Binding: African Mahogany
- Top Purfling: Wooden Purfling
- Rosette: Classical Mosaic Design
- Neck: GA Okoume
- Fingerboard: Rosewood
- Fingerboard Radius: Flat
- Extended Fingerboard: Yes
- Scale Length: 650mm / 25.6"
- Nut Width: 67.5mm
- Number of Frets: 20
- Nut Material: Bone
- Saddle Material: Bone
- Bridge: Rosewood
- Tuning Machines: Gold Classical Tuners
- Tuner Gear Ratio: 14:1
- Strings: Savarez Nylon 500CJ + 5207R + 5208R
- String Gauges: .030 / .034 / .041 / .029 / .034 / .044 / .050 / .059
- Factory Tuning: E – B – G – D – A – E – B – D (1st through 8th strings)
- Pickup: Fishman S-Core
- Preamp: Ibanez AEQ-SP2
- Preamp Controls: Volume, Bass and Treble
- Onboard Tuner: Yes
- Outputs: Balanced XLR and 1/4"
- Battery: 9V
- Hardshell Case: Included
Why You'll Love the Ibanez GA3008CE
If you already love the expressive character of a classical guitar but want to explore a much deeper tonal range, the Ibanez GA3008CE offers possibilities that a traditional six-string simply cannot provide.
The two additional bass strings open the door to deeper bass lines, richer chord voicings, expanded solo arrangements, contrapuntal playing, and creative extended-range techniques. Because the first six strings retain familiar standard classical tuning, experienced nylon-string players can begin exploring the instrument without completely relearning the fingerboard.
You'll also appreciate that Ibanez hasn't treated the GA3008CE as simply a novelty instrument. The solid German spruce top, African mahogany back and sides, rosewood fingerboard and bridge, bone nut and saddle, Savarez strings, and gold classical tuners give it the appointments expected of a serious classical guitar.
Add the Fishman S-Core pickup, Ibanez AEQ-SP2 preamp, onboard tuner, balanced XLR output, 1/4" output, cutaway body, and included hardshell case, and you have an exceptionally versatile instrument that's ready for the stage, studio, church, classroom, or home.
Professionally Set Up by Calido Guitars
Every guitar purchased from Calido Guitars is professionally set up in our shop before shipping. We carefully inspect and adjust your guitar for proper playability so that it arrives ready to play and enjoy.
For the classical guitarist who wants to venture beyond the traditional six-string range, the Ibanez GA3008CE-NT offers an exciting combination of eight-string versatility, solid German spruce tone, comfortable playability, professional Fishman electronics, and an included hardshell case.