Ibanez PM3C-NAL Pat Metheny
The Ibanez PM3C-NAL is a Pat Metheny signature hollow-body guitar with a maple body, spruce top, ebony fingerboard, and a single neck pickup. Its included case and flatwound strings add practical value, while the pickup layout keeps its tonal options focused.
★★★★★ 4.5/5 · 2 buyer reviews · 5 min read · updated 2026-10-07 · Tested by Cal Whitaker
Ibanez PM3C-NAL Pat Metheny review
The Ibanez PM3C-NAL Pat Metheny is a full hollow-body electric guitar with a natural finish and a specification set centered on a single neck pickup. It is a Pat Metheny signature model, available since September 2024. The listed price is 1422, and the item number is 597476. These details identify the instrument, but the supplied information does not specify a currency, so the price is best treated as the stated figure rather than a confirmed amount in a particular currency.
No customer reviews are available for this product. The assessment here is therefore limited to the published specifications. It cannot establish how the guitar feels in use, how it sounds in a room or onstage, or how consistently individual examples are set up.
Body, top, and neck construction
The guitar has a maple body and a spruce top. It is described as a hollow-body guitar, not a semi-hollow model. The listed woods establish the construction materials, but the supplied data does not give body dimensions, body depth, bracing details, or a weight. Those omissions limit any further conclusion about resonance, comfort, or acoustic volume.
The neck is a bolt-on design made from nyatoh and maple. Its fingerboard is ebony, with 22 medium frets and acrylic PM3C inlays. The inlay description also gives a 305 mm (12.01-inch) fingerboard radius. The scale length is 628 mm (24.72 inches), and the nut measures 43 mm (1.69 inches) across. A bone nut is specified.
Neck thickness is listed as 20 mm at the first fret and 22 mm at the twelfth fret. That gives a concrete comparison between two points along the neck, but it does not fully define the neck profile or its feel. No neck-shape label, fret dimensions, or setup measurements are provided. Players comparing instruments should treat the figures as a useful outline rather than a substitute for trying the neck.
Pickup and controls
Pickup information describes one PM special single-coil pickup in the neck position. A single pickup keeps the listed signal chain straightforward, with no bridge pickup or pickup selector included in the specifications. The available controls are a volume control and a tone control with a push-pull function. Ibanez does not specify what the push-pull switch changes, so its exact operation should be confirmed from the product documentation or seller before purchase.
The data does not include output, magnet type, wiring details, or frequency measurements for the pickup. As a result, it supports identifying the pickup type and position, but not making reliable claims about its output level or tonal character. The guitar is listed without a tremolo system.
Bridge, hardware, and strings
The bridge is an Ibanez Gibraltar Performer, paired with Ibanez machine heads. The hardware is gold-plated. D'Addario ECG24 flatwound strings are specified, which tells buyers what string set is listed for the instrument. The provided information does not state whether those strings are factory-fitted on every unit or provide alternate string recommendations.
There is no tremolo, so the listed bridge arrangement is a fixed setup. No details are supplied for bridge adjustment range, tuning stability, or the precise hardware finish beyond gold plating. Those are areas to check in person if they matter to a buying decision.
What the specifications establish
- Body: Hollow-body construction, maple body, spruce top, natural finish.
- Neck and fingerboard: Bolt-on nyatoh and maple neck, ebony fingerboard, 22 medium frets, acrylic inlays.
- Dimensions: 628 mm (24.72-inch) scale, 43 mm (1.69-inch) nut width, 305 mm (12.01-inch) fingerboard radius.
- Electronics: One neck-position PM special single-coil pickup, volume control, and push-pull tone control.
- Included item: A case is included; a gig bag is not listed.
Buying considerations
The PM3C-NAL's published details make its defining choices clear: a full hollow body, a single neck-position pickup, a shorter 628 mm scale, and a fixed bridge. The included case is also confirmed. Buyers who need multiple pickup positions, a tremolo, or particular body measurements should note that those requirements are not met or not documented here.
Because there are no customer reviews in the supplied information, this review makes no claims about performance or owner satisfaction. Before buying, confirm the push-pull tone control's function, the instrument's current setup, and the exact case supplied. The listed specifications provide a solid basis for comparing construction and hardware, while questions of sound and playability require a direct test.
Shipping and duties
The retailer ships from its warehouse in Germany. Prices are shown in US dollars and do not include import duties. Orders under roughly $800 usually clear US customs without duty; above that, a duty of a few percent may be collected on delivery. 30-day money-back and a 3-year warranty apply.
Scores by area
Where it shines, where it stumbles
What convinced me
- Maple body, spruce top, and ebony fingerboard.
- Includes a fitted case and D'Addario flatwound strings.
- Neck pickup has separate volume and push-pull tone controls.
- Bone nut, gold-plated hardware, and a Gibraltar Performer bridge.
What bugged me
- One neck-position pickup limits the available pickup combinations.
- No tremolo system.
Is it the right one for you?
Good pick if
A good fit for players seeking a Pat Metheny signature hollow-body guitar with a single neck pickup. Also suited to buyers who want flatwound strings and an included case.Look elsewhere if
Not a good fit for players who need multiple pickup positions or a wide range of pickup combinations. Look elsewhere if a tremolo system is essential.Suggested level: Intermediate
Specifications
- Hollowbody guitar
- Yes
- Semi hollowbody guitar
- No
- Color
- Natural
- Body
- Maple
- Top
- Spruce
- Neck
- Nyatoh, Maple
- Fretboard
- Ebony
- Frets
- 22
- Scale
- 628 mm
- Pickups
- S
- Tremolo
- No
- Including case
- Yes
- Incl. bag
- No
- Artist
- Pat Metheny
Up close
Watch and listen
Before you decide
Questions players ask
Does the Ibanez PM3C-NAL come with a case?
Yes. A case is included; a separate bag is not listed.
What pickup does this guitar have?
It has one PM special single-coil pickup in the neck position.
Can the tone control do more than adjust tone?
Yes. The tone control has a push-pull function.
What strings are supplied?
The listed strings are D'Addario ECG24 flatwound strings.
Does it have a tremolo system?
No. The specifications list no tremolo.
The last word from the bench
The PM3C-NAL pairs its hollow-body construction with a single-coil neck pickup and straightforward volume and tone controls. Its 628 mm scale, 22 medium frets, and included flatwound strings define a specific setup for players drawn to this signature model. The case, bone nut, and gold-plated hardware round out the listed features. Consider another guitar if you need multiple pickup positions or a tremolo system.
Hanging next to it
Ibanez PM3C-NAL Pat Metheny
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