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Ibanez: GRGR010LTD
List: $550
The Gio range of guitars by Ibanez, addresses players new to the instrument who often work with a limited acquisition budget. These are affordable models, often sporting features similar to Ibanez’s standard selections with trimmings in terms of material grade. The GRGR010LTD is a Spring Special released in March this 2010.
Construction/ Fit/ Finish
The QC standard displayed by the manufacturer is rather superior for instruments in this price bracket. There are no hints of sloppy workmanship in terms of cutting & fitting. The simple solid colour finish (white) is also praise-worthy. If there are any dissatisfactions here, both the tuners & solitary volume knob are stiff in operation. The rosewood fingerboard displays a pale hue indicating its lesser origin but no dry spots were detected. The skeleton fingers 12 – 15 fret markers added marginal benefit to the bare fretboard as one has to rely on the bass-side edge dots for positional references. The graphics would not present itself to be the primary attraction as it possesses a juvenile theme. The GRGR010LTD is a simple guitar with minimum features & it did well not to demerit itself in this department.
Rating: 90%
Playability/ Tone
We always look forward to acquire the Ibanez RG’s very shred-worthy neck profile & that’s what we get albeit the incremented depth; it’s definitely not the thinnest Ibanez has to offer. Extended playing also revealed the neck’s simple finish treatment, it’s a little coarse & proved to be grades below the lauded Prestige treatment. Nevertheless, the unmistakable RG presence was adequately felt & would be inviting for all things rock tinged & beyond, thanks to the great action set up.
Ibanez equipped this guitar with its in-house PSND4 covered humbucker. The common grouse we get with such budget electronics is its daft voicing. This was exactly the offering & as a lone ranger in this guitar, the pickup struggled to manifest healthy dynamism through volume play both clean & overdriven. It is fair to say the GRGR010LTD would serve the distortion-inclined as opposed to other musicians. The pickup’s bass response could have been more refreshing.
Tone test equipment
• Amplifier: Blackheart Killer Ant
• Effects: MXR Metal Bore/ Ibanez TS9
Rating: 68%
Final say
It is functional, this GRGR0101LTD, but inspiring it is not. The single pickup here means you either conform to what’s on offer tone-wise or you leave this guitar be & search for a more dynamic alternative. A satisfying instrument would present its appeal in wholesome terms; the GRGR010LTD may be credible physically but an equally inspiring tone would make it a real winner; we don’t part with cash for a well-made unit only, we need it to be attractive in terms of tone, as well. The pickguard’s eccentric outline would also put off players who would want a non-pink alternative; which other manufacturer provides a ready replacement?
Final rating: 72%
Product availability: Swee Lee Co
Likes:
• Factory action provides good playability
• Overall QC
Dislikes:
• Pickup’s default tone
• Stiff tuners/ volume knob
• Graphics/ pickguard
Worthy competitor:
• Epiphone- Les Paul Junior
• BC Rich: Son of Beast
