The Ibanez TOD10N: Tim Henson and the Quest for the Anti-Acoustic

As an electric guitar guy, I have always wanted a classical guitar that gives an electric guitar-like super thin neck and low action. And believe me, my relationship with nylon goes way back—the very first guitar I ever struggled with as a kid was a huge, boomy, traditional classical guitar. I am also not a fan of acoustic guitar, so nylon string is better. The slim body of the TOD10N is perfect; I hate thick and loud traditional acoustic guitars. This thing is the ultimate six-string paradox: a classical nylon acoustic that looks like it just finished a juice cleanse and had a quiet word with a luthier about excessive volume. It’s the acoustic that embraces its inner minimalist. Frankly, the traditional classical guitar is trying too hard to fill a room, and the TOD10N is the chilled-out, finger-style friend I never knew I needed.

Craftsmanship: The Anti-Acoustic Manifesto

Let's be clear: the slim body is the real victory. I don't want a booming wooden drum strapped to my chest; I want a quiet, comfortable friend for the couch. If I need stadium-shaking volume, that's what the amp and the surprisingly crisp Fishman pickup are for. This guitar is basically saying, "I'm acoustic, but only when it's convenient." Beyond the body, the craftsmanship is beautiful. The "Tree of Death" fretboard inlay is a stunning piece of work—it's gothic and dramatic, which is an absurdly awesome choice for a nylon-string guitar. With solid gold tuners and a fit and finish that screams "electric guitar," the TOD10N is a beautifully crafted instrument that happens to be completely terrified of tradition.

Now, let's get to the whole point of this masterpiece: the neck. If traditional classical guitars feel like you're trying to fret chords on a 2x4, the TOD10N is a sleek, buttery electric neck that just happens to be wearing nylon strings. It's thin (still a little wider than electric guitar), it's fast, and it finally makes crossover playing feel intuitive instead of like a hand exercise designed by a medieval torturer.

However, even the "Anti-Acoustic" is still slightly beholden to The Old Ways. While the factory action is certainly low compared to a typical classical guitar, for an electric player like me, the low E string still sat around a sluggish 2.75–3mm. That's not "Playing God"—that's "Playing... Slowly." Naturally, I immediately became my own luthier, yanked the bridge saddle out, and went to town with some file and sandpaper. Now, at a glorious 2.0–2.25mm (According to Polyphia's tour manager Tim's TOD10N low E string sits at 1.75mm), the action is perfect. It's truly ready to shred, tap, and fly, proving once and for all that a guitar is simply a suggestion until you modify it to your exact specifications.

The factory strings were also a bit cursed, leaving weird stains right above the frets, so they were the first thing to go—replaced by the proper Tim Henson signature nylon strings for a brighter sound. Crucially, since the bridge is all wood and lacks a tie-block bone to prevent damage, I had to add string beads to keep the tension from digging into the wood over time. Confession: I find the beads a little ugly; they ruin that clean, traditional classical guitar look I love (on the bridge, anyway). It’s an agonizing trade-off between aesthetics and not destroying the saddle, but function won the day.

The Verdict: My Anti-Acoustic Soulmate

The Ibanez TOD10N isn't just a classical guitar; it's a sleek electric guitar that decided to exclusively use nylon strings. It flawlessly fixes every acoustic annoyance: it's thin, quiet, comfortable, and fast.

Yes, I immediately had to perform surgery on the bridge bone for proper electric action, and the string beads I added are necessary but ugly. However, those are tiny sacrifices for a guitar that is otherwise perfect.

If you hate chunky, loud acoustics but love the smooth warmth of nylon, the TOD10N is your soulmate.

P.S. Look out for my next reviews, where I'll be talking about my Epiphone Firebird and the glorious geometry of the Jackson Kelly!