Head to head
ESP A-430E NATURAL GLOSS vs Ibanez GA5TCE3Q
The verdict
The ESP A-430E NATURAL GLOSS comes out ahead overall — 82 to 62 on our estimated score.
Estimated from specs & owner reviews — a starting point, not a substitute for playing both.
ESP A-430E NATURAL GLOSS wins on
- Better build (96 vs 61)
- Better playability (78 vs 64)
- Better sound (68 vs 60)
- Better value (81 vs 62)
Ibanez GA5TCE3Q wins on
No standout advantage.
Scorecard
| Metric | A-430E NATURAL GLOSS | GA5TCE3Q |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 82 | 62 |
| Build | 96 | 61 |
| Playability | 78 | 64 |
| Sound | 68 | 60 |
| Value | 81 | 62 |
Full specifications
| Spec | A-430E NATURAL GLOSS | GA5TCE3Q |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | ESP | Ibanez |
| Type | Acoustic | Acoustic |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | JP | — |
| Body wood | Rosewood | Spruce |
| Neck wood | Mahogany | — |
| Fretboard | Roasted Jatoba | Purpleheart |
| Strings | 6 | 6 |
| Frets | 20 | 18 |
| Scale | 25.5" | 23.2" |
| Pickups | Fishman Sonicore | Ibanez Undersaddle |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | — | — |
| Bridge | Roasted Jatoba Bridge w/ Graphtech Nubone Saddle | Purpleheart bridge |
| Bridge pickup | Fishman Sonicore | — |
| Case | - | — |
| Case Included | N | — |
| Construction | Set-Neck | — |
| Controls | Active | — |
| Finish | Natural Gloss | — |
| Fretboard radius | 350mm | — |
| Hardware | Gold | — |
| Neck profile | Thin U | — |
| Nut | Graphtech Nubone | — |
| Nut width | 43mm | — |
| Scale length | 25.5" | 590mm/23.2" |
| Strap Button | Standard | — |
| Top wood | Solid Sitka Spruce | Spruce top |
| Tuners | LTD | — |
| A Length | — | 17 11/16" |
| A Width | — | 46mm at NUT |
| Back Sides | — | Sapele back & Sapele sides |
| Battery | — | 9V x1 |
| Body shape | — | 3/4 size Thinline Cutaway Classical body |
| B Width | — | 13 3/4" |
| C Max Depth | — | 3" |
| C Thickness | — | 21mm at 1F |
| D Thickness | — | 23mm at 7F |
| Factory Tuning | — | 1E,2B,3G,4D,5A,6E |
| Output Jack | — | 1/4" output |
| Preamp | — | Ibanez AEQ-2T preamp w/Onboard tuner |
| Radius | — | Flat |
| Soundhole Rosette | — | Classical Mosaic Design |
| String Gauge | — | .0285/.0325/.041/.030/.036/.044 |
| String Space | — | 11.6mm |
| Tuning Machine | — | Gold Classical tuners |