With each step up in price, you can expect an increase in the build quality, attention to detail and material quality. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Keep in mind that while some Ibanez guitars are cheap, they also have high-end guitars that are expensive. There have been a few different S-based series produced over the years. The first digit indicates the quality level. The seemingly standard combination of a Maple neck and Jatoba fingerboard grace this RGA model, but the body is made from Meranti as opposed to Poplar. On the back of your guitars headstock or neck plate (on some older models), you will see a model number and a serial number. The neck is a 3pc Maple set neck which adds to the impressive sustain this guitar creates, and like all Ibanez guitars, its slim, comfortable profile sets this guitar apart from other semi-hollow options at this price point. There are some Ibanez guitars that are better to Fender and some Fender guitars that are better than Ibanez. With so many other sub-brands, it doesnt seem right to call the Standard sub-brand the normal Ibanez tier. The JS240PS comes from a very long line of Satriani signature models, and although its not quite at the level of some of the really high-end options, its an affordable shredders dream. The Ibanez FR series guitars were introduced in 2008 and are clearly different in style compared to the other series such as RG and S. Its obvious that the FR series was inspired by the classic Telecaster shape. The second digit (or third if the model has more than 6 strings) indicates the pickup configuration and presence or absence of a pickguard. Ibanez offers a range of different tremolo systems that vary in quality. There have been so many different Ibanez models over the years and sadly a lot of them are no longer in production.
You'll find amp controls guides, tips to improve your tone, and answers to loads of specific issues. The GIO sub-brand is easy to identify with the big GIO on the headstock. The Artcore or AS series may not be as variety as Ibanezs solidbody electrics, but there are still plenty of series to choose from. In this article I'll compare everything you need to Hey, welcome Pro Sound HQ. This construction enables Hensons own DiMarzio Notorious signature pickup set to flourish delivering wide-open sounding clean tones or gurn-inducing dirt when needed. While pickups, switching and other electronics can be changed, its preferable if your guitar has exactly what you need straight from the factory. The first letter G indicates that this model is in the GIO series. The blend of these woods gives the ICHI10 a balanced tone, and theres plenty of scope for a punchy top end when you lay into it thanks to the bolt-on neck. The guitars are made in China and come in a range of shapes. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). Most of the time you can tell what series an Ibanez guitar is in, because it will be after the code. Youll notice in the below photo that the headstock logo doesnt identify the guitar as an Axion Label. These guitars offer a longer 26.5 scale length (learn all about guitar scale length here) to suit down-tuning and metal. There are literally 30+ minute videos on YouTube explaining Ibanezs model numbers. S series guitars have been available since they were introduced in 1987. While past models were available in the Prestige and Premium sub-brands, today the SA series focuses more on the more budget-focused Standard and Gio sub-brands. A temptation with 8-strings is to tune them even lower than usual and Ibanez knows this so much so that theyve routed out a ferrule on the back of the guitar for a bass string. Another interesting feature with Axion Label guitars is that they use Sub Zero Treated Frets, which have been temperature treated to harden the frets. Ibanezs main goal like many other guitar manufacturers is to only produce easily playable guitars, but everyone has different tastes and preferences when it comes to their setups. Youll notice these guitars dont use a tone knob, use a 3-way pickup selector, and have super-thin Nitro Wizard necks. This guide will focus only on the current range you can buy. His signature guitar model, based on the Ibanez Quest series of electric guitars, is an ultra-modern headless offering.
The great thing about the Standard sub-brand is that there are so many different styles and features available to choose from. This model is available with three Essentials single-coil pickups, which deliver traditional tones with a bit of an edge when required, making this model perfect for near enough any style of playing. The roasted birdseye Maple fingerboard first of all looks amazing, but also adds to the tone in the form of a musical brightness which really makes the guitar sing. Ibanez currently only offer the SA series outside of the main S range. The Premium sub-brand is slightly more affordable than the Prestige guitars as they are produced in Indonesia instead of Japan. 
Guitar World is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. If you're looking for a high output Gibson bridge pickup then the 498T and 500T are your best options, but what's the difference between them? For example, RG models used to only offer floating tremolo bridges, but there are now models with fixed bridges available such as the below 7 string. This low number makes sense since it is an entry-level guitar. Unless youre dying to be the next John Scofield or Pat Metheny, wed suggest you go for something smaller itll be easier to play, and youll improve quicker. This AR520HFM is no exception. A Basswood body and roasted Maple neck and fingerboard provide crisp and precise tonal clarity. The second digit (5) refers to the quality, the same as in the first example. There are a couple of ways these can be identified in the full name. Custom is the top-tier sub-brand in terms of quality and price.
This is a little shorter than a standard Fender-style scale length, so string bending is easier and overall string tension is a little lower making playability easier. The Prestige models can be identified by the clear Prestige logo on the headstock. Custom name tells you that these are custom models produced in Japan by their top luthiers. Read the section in this guide about the different sub-brands to learn about these options. The Premium range of guitars are built in Ibanezs Indonesian premium factory to very high quality standards, and many would argue that this range competes with the Mexican or Korean-made electric guitars of other major manufacturers. Here are some examples of the main shapes. That tonal edge translates well through a dirty guitar amp too. Wed love to stay in touch, sign up for The Pick team to contact you with great news, content and offers. The model number will be a combination of letters and numbers. The main series are: GIO, Standard, Premium, Prestige and J Custom. Ibanez has a massive range of signature guitars from some iconic guitarists. While Ibanez is possibly best-known for the signature guitars of the virtuosic Steve Vai and Joe Satriani, your options are much more than a deluge of gain and divebombs. Im a Junior Deals Writer here at Guitar World - the ideal job for a gear nerd like myself. If youre not able to try before you buy, then there are a few things to take into account.
Three R1 ceramic single coil pickups and an onboard alter switch offer a player 10 different tonal options, making this guitar one versatile beast. Ive also worked for online music distributors RouteNote, and toured the UK and Europe with my old band Hypophora. The first 2-3 letters indicate the shape. If youre just starting out and looking for a great beginner electric guitar, or just looking for a killer budget electric guitar, wed recommend the Ibanez AZES31 (opens in new tab). You can clearly see the basic shape is a Les Paul with a symmetrical double cutout. If youre looking for the best of the best, then the Ibanez J. Welcome to our first signature model of the evening, everyone.
In my spare time, youll catch me writing songs, taking my greyhound, Simba, to the beach, or getting very nerdy about coffee. Dont focus too much on brand name as both brands can produce excellent quality guitars. This makes it very hard to compare Fender and Ibanez. These models vary in pickup combinations and bridges while all offering a smooth and lightweight body shape. The third digit (2) refers to the HH pickup configuration. The Iron Label sub-brand has been produced since 2013 and offers bare-bones styled guitars designed purely for metal guitarists. This can be confusing as you would expect something like the Edge Pro II to be an upgraded version of the Edge Pro, but often these models are low-cost versions of the original models. With the wide range of styles available in other series, the FR models are subtle. If you love the sound of a single-coil electric guitar pickup, then two humbuckers probably wont do it for you, and vice versa. The first thing to know about the Ibanez range, is that it is split into series or sub-ranges, which separate the entire selection, into models catering for specific budgets. While the RG guitars have a blocky shape, the Ibanez S (S stands for Saber) is incredibly thin and contoured. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Keep an eye out for the word slim when reading about a guitars neck shape, as these will likely be your most comfortable options. Ibanezs artist roster features some of the guitar worlds most intriguing and exciting new talent, and Ichika Nito seems to be the most intriguing and exciting of them all. Artcore Expressionist: mid-range models ranging between around $650 and $800.
Ibanez name their models using a confusing combination of letters and numbers. Thank you for reading 5 articles this month*, US pricing $3.99 per month or $39.00 per year, UK pricing 2.99 per month or 29.00 per year, Europe pricing 3.49 per month or 34.00 per year, *Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription. So what does the rest of the code mean? Like many higher-end Ibanez guitars, the LB1 is based on the AZ platform but has an Ash body as opposed to the Alder and Basswood bodies of similar models. There arent many brands that do budget electric guitars quite like Ibanez. Having guitars manufactured in Indonesia allows Ibanez to produce cheaper guitars. For example, heres the model number for my Ibanez GIO: From looking at this model number, heres what you can tell about the guitar: If you want to find the specific codes to decode any Ibanez model number, check out this handy guide on the Ibanez Fandom Wiki. Custom guitars fit that description to a T. Ibanez says they are envisioned to be the finest Japanese-made guitar in history, and with some of Ibanezs most skilled luthiers on the case, that claim is bang on the money. Axion Label- these are aimed at the heavy metal market with long scale lengths and sometimes 7 strings. Find out more about how we make our recommendations andhow we testeach of the products in our buyer's guides. In the early 90s, Ibanez also offered USA Custom guitars, so you may still find second-hand models out there. They feature exceptionally high quality materials, impressive craftsmanship, and a higher level of finish overall making these guitars some of the best Japanese guitars on the market. There are also a few popular ones such as the Genesis, Axion Label and Iron Label to consider. Heres a list of some of the guitarists with Ibanez signature models: I could go on, but you get the idea. The best Ibanez guitar for you depends on the style of music you play and what features you want in a guitar. Available in some stunning colors, and with options for either SSS or HSS pickup configurations, this guitar is well worth a look. Bath AX: double cutaway, wide lower bout, with pickguard. Here are some common questions you might have about Ibanez guitars. The Gio is Ibanezs budget sub-brand, which started as the RX, AX, and EX series. DISCLOSURE: articles may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, I receive a commission. The Ibanez GIO GRX40 was my first guitar and you may notice in photos and videos that I still use it today. The HSS pickup configuration brings a balanced and versatile tonal palette thanks to three ceramic Infinity pickups. The first digit (4), indicates the quality of the model within the range. This indicates the colour. Premium: guitars in this range are considered mid-range and hover around the $1300-$1600 price mark. Ibanez usually fits one or two models from each range with a fixed bridge, and the Strat-style tremolo features heavily on their less extreme models such as the AZ and YY models, among many others. A lot of models dont have a letter at the start to indicate the series, and just start with the shape code, but a lot of models in the GIO series make this exception. Unveiling Donn Aaron's new guitar technique, YouTuber builds super-super thin electric guitar. SSS config not usually found on headless instruments, The V7 and V8 pickups are criminally underrated, Would expect something nicer than Basswood, Designed and set up for alternate tunings, The cool switching capabilities can be confusing, A signature model worth selling a kidney for, A fierce signature model for a fierce woman, Ibanez guitars don't get much cooler than this, Guitar World teams up with TrueFire to create the ultimate in guitar masterclasses, 1x Infinity humbucker (bridge), 2x Infinity single coil (middle & neck), Black Night, Metallic Light Green, Candy Apple Red, Metallic Light Blue, Transparent Gray Flat, Dragon Eye Burst Flat, Blue Lagoon Burst Flat, Satin Chrome Ibanez Mono Tune bridge, Ibanez Custom String Lock tuners, V7 humbucker (neck), S1 single-coil (middle), V8 humbucker (bridge), Desert Sun Yellow, Road Flare Red, Purple Neon, Wilkinson WV6-SB Tremolo, Gotoh MG-T locking tuners, Sustainiac Driver single-coil (neck), DiMarzio The Satchur8 humbucker (bridge), 2x DiMarzio Notorious single coils, 2x DiMarzio Notorious ceramic humbucker, Gotoh T1502 tremolo and MG-T locking tuners, Seymour Duncan Experion single coils and humbucker, Gotoh T1802 tremolo, Gotoh Magnum locking machine heads, Black, Hazy Rose Metallic, Ice Blue Metallic, 2x Seymour Duncan Lari Basilio single coils (Neck & Middle), Seymour Duncan Lari Basilio Humbucker, Gotoh Tremolo, Gotoh Magnum locking tuners, 2x DiMarzio UtoPIA humbuckers, 1x DiMarzio UtoPIA single coil, Gold Gotoh Tuners, Edge Tremolo with Ultralite arm, What is bubble harmonics? The best Ibanez guitars come in all shapes, sizes, finishes and price points so whether youre after a budget-friendly shred machine, a well-priced hollowbody, or a high-end Superstrat, theres something for you in Ibanezs vast product catalog. The neck is specifically designed for Satch and his JS models, and being a titanium reinforced Maple/Bubinga 3-piece construction, youve no reason to worry about anything other than your playing. Ibanez, whilst being mostly well known for their shred-friendly Superstrats, produce some gorgeous semi and fully hollow bodied guitars. What complicates things, is that sometimes the suffix may be telling us more than one feature.