Ibanez PM3C-BKL Pat Metheny

Ibanez PM3C-BKL Pat Metheny review

The Ibanez PM3C-BKL Pat Metheny is a black, fully hollow electric guitar built around a maple body and spruce top. It is a Pat Metheny signature model, with a set-in nyatoh and maple neck, ebony fingerboard, and a single-coil pickup in the neck position. The design favors a direct, responsive playing feel, and the player feedback supplied for this review is notably positive about its setup and neck.

Listed at $1,399 and available since October 2024, the PM3C-BKL includes a case. Its 628 mm (24.72-inch) scale is shorter than a conventional 25.5-inch scale, while the 43 mm (1.69-inch) nut width gives the neck a familiar width at the first position. Ibanez specifies a PM neck profile that measures 20 mm thick at the first fret and 22 mm at the twelfth. Those dimensions offer useful context for players who compare necks by feel rather than by model name.

Build, neck, and setup

The player report describes the guitar as arriving close to ready to play, without defects or parts needing luthier repair. The reviewer's practical advice was limited to adjusting string height and pickup height to personal preference. That is a subjective account rather than a guarantee about every instrument, but it points to a strong first impression of the example tested.

The same feedback singles out the neck as a highlight, describing it as excellent and easy to play. Ibanez lists 22 medium frets, a 305 mm (12.01-inch) fingerboard radius, and acrylic PM3C inlays on the ebony board. The supplied specifications also identify a bone nut. Together, these details describe a fairly specific playing surface, though hand size and preferred action will determine whether the neck suits an individual player.

At 628 mm, the scale is compact, and the reviewer found the guitar comfortable to play. The report does not provide measurements for the instrument's weight, body depth, or factory string height, so those are worth checking in person if they matter to your buying decision. The included case is a useful part of the package, while no gig bag is listed.

Sound and controls

The PM3C uses a PM special single-coil pickup in the neck position. Its controls are straightforward: one volume control and one tone control with a push-pull function. The guitar has no tremolo. Ibanez pairs the pickup with a Gibraltar Performer bridge and its own machine heads. The hardware is gold-plated, a visual contrast against the black finish.

The field report describes a lively acoustic sound and an appealing, refined tone. It also draws a clear comparison with a humbucker: the PM3C was not as smoky or dark as a humbucker-equipped guitar. That distinction helps set expectations. Players looking for a thick, dark response may prefer a different pickup configuration, while the reported brightness and openness may appeal to those who want a more immediate hollowbody character.

The guitar ships with D'Addario ECG24 flatwound strings. Flatwounds are a meaningful part of the setup and can shape the feel and response, so players should take them into account when judging the sound. The feedback praises the instrument's tone as comparable to that of a much more expensive guitar, but that remains one player's assessment, not a direct comparison with a set of named alternatives.

Verdict

The Ibanez PM3C-BKL Pat Metheny stands out on paper for its fully hollow maple body, spruce top, ebony fingerboard, and neck-position single-coil pickup. In the supplied hands-on feedback, its strongest points are playability, neck feel, and a lively acoustic response. The reviewer also reports receiving an example that needed only personal adjustments to string and pickup height before playing.

Its sound has a more open character than the darker humbucker tone described in the comparison, which makes pickup preference central to the decision. The compact scale, flatwound strings, simple controls, and included case complete a focused specification. For a player drawn to a hollowbody signature guitar with a single-coil voice, the PM3C-BKL merits a close look. Try the neck and hear the pickup in person if possible, since both the feel and the tonal balance are personal choices.