If you are looking for an electric guitar to start learning on or a higher-quality upgrade from your current one, then you might want to consider an Ibanez electric guitar. Read more below to find out more about the company, their guitars, what to look for, and more along with the 9 best ones that you can get today.
Buying Guide
How to choose the best Ibanez electric guitar.
Body type
There are three types of guitar bodies: solid, hollow, and semi-hollow. The most common ones are the solid Ibanez guitars, and these are the ones that are usually fully decorated or painted and more affordable.
Hollow-bodied Ibanez guitars produce a sound that slightly lingers and is smoother than a solid-bodied guitar. The last type, semi-hollow, is a cross between the two, producing a slight and smooth reverb and being idle for mixed-genre playing because of its capabilities.
Neck material
The wooden neck of a guitar can have a vast impact on how it sounds, and Ibanez uses several different types of woods including Basswood, Bubinga, Ebony, Mahogany, Maple, Rosewood, and Sonokeling.
Basswood, Sonokeling, and Rosewood provide warm tones and have a good feel for beginners. Bubinga and Maple are harder and heavier while sounding a somewhat lighter tone, and Ebony has a similar sound but is much lighter. Mahogany is favoured for its color and deeper sound.
Length
Long-necked guitars, around 34 inches, generally hold a note longer than short-necked guitars, around 25.5 inches. This does not really affect the quality of the sound, but it can be difficult for newer or younger players to handle a longer guitar.
If you are new to playing and started out on a smaller guitar, it is a good idea to get a slightly longer one as you advance or grow. While it will not necessarily sound better, it can help you improve your playing and finger positioning.
Number of frets
This is very similar to the neck length, but this factor does affect the sound. A short-necked guitar generally has fewer frets than a longer-necked guitar, and any guitar typically has around 20 to 24 frets. The higher frets are usually not used in most genres regularly except for rock and roll and heavy metal.
Weight
For beginners and children, the weight can be an important thing, especially if they are not used to 15 to 20 pounds either hanging around their neck or resting on their lap. Despite what many think, it can seem less important to adults, but keeping that much weight on your neck or leg for even as long as 20 minutes can cause soreness if you are a beginner.
Extras
Many guitars usually come with a few extra items like a case, a music stand, a tuner, amp cable, an extra set of string, and possibly more. Buying a package or set that comes with most or all of these can be very useful if you do not have any equipment, but if you already do have these tools, then it can save you money to just get the guitar alone.
Warranty
Ibanez is one of the oldest guitar brands that got extremely popular in the '70s and '80s due to their unique shape design. They are also one of the higher quality brands and are generally more affordable than some of the other high-end brands.
What are the advantages of an Ibanez electric guitar?
Ibanez is one of the oldest guitar brands that got extremely popular in the '70s and '80s due to their unique shape design. They are also one of the higher quality brands and are generally more affordable than some of the other high-end brands.
Things to look for that differentiate them.
Other than the previously mentioned traits, the color and shape are a unique factor. Some have extra curves while others are smooth, and some can be found in a solid color while others come in the craziest patterns. These are all a matter of your preference and go best with the genre you like to play.
What is the best way to use an Ibanez guitar?
Make sure you keep it clean and out of extra humid or dry areas since these can damage the guitar. You will also probably want to keep an extra set of strings nearby because it is pretty easy to break them when you are playing or tuning the guitar. You will also want to take lessons at a studio or watch online videos.
These can be especially helpful when it comes to cleaning and maintaining your guitar, and here is one from AxMax that shows how to keep an electric guitar clean.
Top 9 Ibanez electric guitars
This guitar has a solid body that is a dark blue along the edges of the face with the center being a light turquoise colored-stain that still shows a nice accent of the wood grain and the head matches. The neck is made of a light Maple, making it stand out from the body and the head.
Unlike the traditional 6-string guitar, this one has 7 strings that go into a fixed bridge, also known as a hardtail bridge. Being one of the more expensive models, this one has one of the clearest sounds, but it is suited more for an experienced guitar player or even a professional.
Pros
Cons
This one has one of the more unique designs and colors but is pretty similar to the last one. It comes with a case and a stand, it has a dark blue edged body with a more turquoise-green color in the center, it has a Maple neck, and it is more targeted for experienced guitar players.
The underwater texture in the center of the body, the number of strings (6), and the matching Maple sides of the guitar body are what make it different from the last one. The neck is also longer than many other guitars, being 26.5 inches long, and it is also a bit heavier than most.
One of the reasons this is not for beginners is because there are no fret markers on this guitar, meaning either you would have to tape off marks if you need them or try and get better at memorizing them.