A Closer Look at Tim Henson’s Signature Ibanez TOD Guitars

There came a point in Tim Henson’s career when he wanted to push his musical boundaries even further than he had previously, and like many genre-bending virtuosos before him, one of the missing pieces of the puzzle was the perfect guitar for his needs.

With his groundbreaking progressive rock band, Polyphia, Henson is no stranger to exploring new sonic territory. Ibanez was just the partner he needed to help him create a guitar deserving of his boundless creative spirit. The Ibanez TOD Tim Henson signature collection is a series of versatile acoustic-electric guitars that marry nylon-string tones with electric steel-string playability.

Table of Contents

Comparing the Ibanez Tim Henson Signature TOD Guitars
Ibanez Tim Henson TOD Nylon-String Guitars
What Makes the TOD Series So Unique?
Why You Need a Tim Henson TOD Series Nylon-String Guitar
FAQs About Ibanez Tim Henson TOD Guitars

Comparing the Ibanez Tim Henson Signature TOD Guitars

Constructed of various tonewoods and equipped with different necks and electronics, these Ibanez signature models are all ready to innovate and help you release the inner inspiration that makes you you.

Ibanez Tim Henson TOD Nylon-String Guitars

Ibanez Tim Henson TOD10N

What to Know: 

• Solid Sitka spruce top

• Solid sapele back and sides

• Phase switch and built-in tuner

The all-solid construction of the TOD10N provides a rich, articulate tone, and its nyatoh neck with a slim C profile is comfortable enough to play for hours on end. Like the TOD20FMN, the TOD10N is centered around a hybrid hollowbody design that helps reduce feedback due to the soundhole being located on the top of the body, facing the player. Its all-solid sapele back and sides, solid Sitka spruce top and traditional fan bracing provide warm fundamentals, focused mids and an articulate top end. As with the other TOD models, it is adorned with Henson’s signature “Tree of Death” fingerboard inlay to further distinguish itself from typical, run-of-the-mill classical guitars.

The TOD10N is equipped with a Fishman S-Core pickup and Ibanez AEQ210TF preamp that more than deliver the clarity and volume you need to perform. Other player-friendly features include a 2-band EQ for quick tonal adjustments, a phase switch to address onstage feedback and a built-in tuner.

Ibanez Tim Henson TOD20FMN 

What to Know:

• Flamed maple top

• Solid sapele back and sides

• Slim C profile neck with a 1.81" nut width

The main difference between the TOD20FMN and the TOD10N is its flamed maple top. This tonewood difference gives the TOD20FMN a slightly brighter, more defined voice than the TOD10N. Coupled with solid sapele back and sides, this tonewood combination creates a sound that is warm yet articulate. Its playability once again shines due to the nyatoh slim C profile neck with a 1.81" nut width that is narrower than traditional nylon-string guitars. To provide an even more agile, electric-guitar-like feel, the TOD20FMN features a 15.75" fingerboard radius that is slightly curved to provide a more electric playing experience.

Ibanez Tim Henson TOD100N

What to Know: 

• Solid Sitka spruce top

• Solid okoume back and sides

• Ultrathin FRM chambered body

The TOD100N might be as close as you can get to the feel of an electric while playing a nylon-string guitar. There are a few design shifts that take the 100N a step further in this direction than the other TOD models—and it all starts with the body. An ultrathin, FRM chambered body composed of solid okoume back and sides, along with a solid Sitka spruce top, provides an accessible feel, tonal clarity and a full-bodied midrange. If you love the feel of the TOD100N’s ultrathin chambered body but prefer a slightly brighter response, Ibanez also offers the TOD100FMN, which features a flamed maple top. 

While it features the same slim C-profile nyatoh neck as the other TOD models, the TOD100N also includes an ebony fretboard for a slightly more focused tone in which each note is defined and cuts through clearly. Its electronics also make the TOD100N a standout in the Tim Henson TOD signature collection. The TOD100N’s Fishman Acoustic Matrix undersaddle pickup is complemented by a bridge-mounted body sensor, producing an amplified tone with more detail and resonance than a typical undersaddle pickup alone.

What Makes the TOD Series So Unique?

When Ibanez created the TOD nylon-string models with Henson, it was clear they were never meant to be traditional classical guitars. By centering their designs around thin bodies and fast-playing necks, Henson and Ibanez have given musicians access to the natural, warm tone of a nylon-string guitar with the feel of the electric models they are familiar with. 

Why You Need a Tim Henson TOD Series Nylon-String Guitar

Whether you’re a Polyphia fan or just looking to play intricate, progressive patterns with a nylon-string tone, these forward-thinking Ibanez Tim Henson TOD acoustic-electrics are easy on the fingers and lightning fast. The TOD Series is the perfect complement to any shredder’s electric collection—a no-brainer for moodier onstage moments, late-night practice sessions and adding unique textures to your recordings.

FAQs About Ibanez Tim Henson TOD Guitars

How does it feel compared with an electric guitar?
While any nylon-string guitar will feel inherently different from your favorite electric, the metaphorical bridge that Ibanez and Henson have built between the TOD Series and traditional classical guitars provides you the best of both worlds. The profiles, widths and fingerboard radii of the TOD models are much closer to those of electric guitars, making the TOD models more familiar and faster-playing than other nylon-string models.

Can you play it unplugged?

Most definitely. The side soundport on these signature models directs the sound and tone generated by their all-solid bodies straight toward the player.

What is the difference between a hollowbody and a chambered guitar? 

Hollowbody designs are fully open and generally produce a warm acoustic resonance, while chambered bodies are built by routing and carving internal pockets or channels from a solid block of wood, which adds an airy quality to their tone and makes the guitar lighter.

What does okoume sound like compared to sapele?

Okoume—often referred to as “African mahogany”—sounds slightly warmer and softer due to its lower density. Sapele has a similar midrange punch but tends to be a bit brighter due to its greater density.

How does a spruce top sound compared to a flamed maple top?

Spruce can sound quite complex thanks to its rich overtones, and its tone can warm with age. Flamed maple is known for its crisp, direct projection, which can help notes sound more defined and distinct.