Head to head
ESP J-430E NATURAL GLOSS vs Ibanez UKS100
The verdict
The ESP J-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 J-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 UKS100 wins on
No standout advantage.
Scorecard
| Metric | J-430E NATURAL GLOSS | UKS100 |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 82 | 62 |
| Build | 96 | 61 |
| Playability | 78 | 64 |
| Sound | 68 | 60 |
| Value | 81 | 62 |
Full specifications
| Spec | J-430E NATURAL GLOSS | UKS100 |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | ESP | Ibanez |
| Type | Acoustic | Acoustic |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | JP | — |
| Body wood | Rosewood | Sapele |
| Neck wood | Mahogany | — |
| Fretboard | Roasted Jatoba | Purpleheart |
| Strings | 6 | 4 |
| Frets | 20 | 16 |
| Scale | 25.5" | 13.8" |
| Pickups | Fishman Sonicore | — |
| 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" | 350mm/13.8" |
| Strap Button | Standard | — |
| Top wood | Solid Sitka Spruce | Sapele top |
| Tuners | LTD | — |
| A Length | — | 11" |
| A Width | — | 37mm at NUT |
| Back Sides | — | Sapele back & Sapele sides |
| Body shape | — | Soprano body |
| B Width | — | 8 1/4" |
| C Max Depth | — | 2 3/8" |
| C Thickness | — | 17mm at 1F |
| D Thickness | — | 21mm at 7F |
| Factory Tuning | — | 1A,2E,3C,4G |
| Inlay | — | White dot inlay |
| Radius | — | Flat |
| String Gauge | — | .024/.032/.036/.030 |
| String Space | — | 15mm |
| Tuning Machine | — | Chrome Open Gear tuners |