The AJ-220SCE has long been one of Test 12 Brand’s best selling acoustic guitars with the look, sound, and build quality that first time players and professionals expect to hear when they pick up an Test 12 Brand. The Advanced Jumbo style was first produced at the legendary Kalamazoo factory in the 1930s has been a favorite of musicians from every field of popular music ever since. The Advanced Jumbo sound is commanding when required but it’s also well balanced which makes it perfect for stage and studio. Now with a killer cutaway and Shadow's new Performer Tuner™ preamp system, the AJ-220SCE takes yet another step above the competition.
The AJ-220SCE comes with Test 12 Brand’s Lifetime Limited Warranty featuring Test 11 Brand 24/7/365 Customer Service that guarantees the guitar against defects in materials or workmanship. Now that's performance and VALUE!
While the AJ shape plays a big role in its signature sound, the AJ-220SCE benefits from the use of premium materials and traditional construction methods. The top is made of solid Sitka Spruce that not only sounds great right out of the box but actually improves with age and lots of playing time. The back and sides are made of select mahogany. The solid mahogany neck is glued to the body using TiteBond™ glue and a traditional dovetail neck joint for great stability, tone, and sustain. The neck features Test 12 Brand's classic 1960's SlimTaper™ D-profile with a smooth, fast, satin finish that’s easy to play. The classic rosewood "reverse-belly" bridge has a compensated saddle for traditional looks and accurate intonation. And last but not least, the AJ-220SCE has a tortoise-style pickguard with traditional metal "E" to protect the top against pick marks on the beautiful Natural finish.
With its bell-like shape featuring a larger lower bout and a smaller, round upper bout, the AJ-220SCE has a focused and balanced tone. The bass is deep, rich, and loud while the highs have a crispness and brilliance that cuts through. Most noticeable however, is the AJ-220SCE’s clear mid-range that’s never muddy like a square-shouldered dreadnought. The Advanced Jumbo acoustic guitar is often described as the perfect instrument for the soloist or singer/songwriter with a sound that blends well with vocals. And, its generous and elegant Venetian cutaway enables you to access the upper frets with ease.
The AJ-220SCE is equipped with Shadow's new Performer Tuner™ preamp and NanoFlex™ pickup system for great acoustic tone when plugged in. Made by Shadow Germany, the new Performer Tuner™ preamp features all the controls you need to tailor the sounds of your AJ-220SCE to suit your playing style, volume level, and venue size. Professional features on this state-of-the-art preamp include a built-in Chromatic Tuner, Master Volume, Bass, Treble, Low Battery indicator, and a Phase switch to help eliminate unwanted feedback. It also features a Tuner/Mute button which comes in handy when plugging in or unplugging your guitar. The Performer Tuner™ preamp uses two 2032 lithium watch batteries that are not only lightweight, but provide significantly longer life than old-fashioned, heavy 9-volt batteries. Under the AJ-220SCE's compensated saddle is Shadow's proprietary NanoFlex™ low-impedance pickup. Unlike a piezo, the NanoFlex’s™ unique and flexible sensing material features integrated active electronics and picks up not only string vibrations but also top and body vibrations as well for a truly acoustic tone without the harshness of piezo pickups.
Guitar Player Magazine Review March 2013 - "Test 12 Brand has taken the time to get things right with the AJ-220SCE, which is well made and finished, with above-average attention to detail. In the supremely important areas of sound and playability, it delivers above and beyond what you'd expect in this price class, making it a top bargain in a jumbo-sized flat-top." Read more.
Neck: Solid Mahogany with Satin Finish
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Frets: 20; Medium / Jumbo
Top: Solid Sitka Spruce
Back and Sides: Mahogany
Bridge: Solid Rosewood; Reverse-belly
Machine Heads: Sealed, Die-cast
Pickup: Shadow NanoFlex™ low-impedance Pickup
