Ibanez Guitars Reviews 15

Every single guitar made by Ibanez that I owned had great build quality and playability. Can't say anything about budget or mid-tier options (under 300-600), so YMMV.

I bought the GSM200 on 2022 just to learn and practice, basically it never left my home. Since the beginning of 2024 I can see part of the body started changing color. By now it completely changed its colour as far as looking like I applied a sticker on left side of the body of the guitar.

Basically it's made of different pieces of leftover woods glued together. Seriously it looks so embarrassing I keep it in a dust cover bag just to cover it. I know I bought the budget and starter bass, but this is below standard. I didn't expect this from one of the leading guitar maker. I wish I could share a photo of the guitar for everyone to see but there's no option on Trustpilot. I put the photo out on Amazon, since I bought it there.

I'll never buy or recommend ibanez guitars to anyone.

No spare parts, no support and no answers from Ibanez, even through official dealers in my country (France).

I have a 1800€ RG2228 Prestige that I just can't play with because of broken saddles on the Edge III-8 fixed bridge. It's been 2 months now without any help from Ibanez.

This bridge is mounted on guitars from 1600€ to 5999€ that are still selling brand new and worldwide, but they don't even bother respond to official dealers when it comes to spare parts.

I don't recommend buying anything from this brand, and especially expansive guitars that you and your local shop won't be able to service.

I love these guitars they are very accurately and sounds perfect.

I only have an entry level GIO, but a long history of electrics! It’s the best I have had.

Once you learn how to fine tune, bridge, action, nuts, pickup heights etc… Get the amp and tone dialled…. It can sound as good in the right hands as anything.

Ibanez, recognised in the community, OK, maybe more metal, but even if you like classical or pop, it works.

It won’t update over the internet and stop working! They are comfortable, fast, look good, I’ve never had to complain to customer service, but I will bet they will fall over to help.

Having used Ibanez guitars for 30 years, I decided to get my son an acoustic Ibanez. Just over a year has passed and the bridge was coming loose. I contacted Ibanez for the RMA to get the warranty work done. It took them over a week to respond, then asked me over and over what was wrong with the guitar. By this time it’s been two weeks and I finally get an RMA. No word at all after another two weeks. Finally I get pissed and email my would be customer service rep. He tells me it can’t be repaired and they are sending the replacement that day. It’s been over a week, I’ve asked for shipping info to find out if it’s even coming my way. Another week has past and still no response.

This is my last Ibanez I will ever buy. I will also encourage the students I teach to stay away from a brand like this. Sure the guitars are decent, but god forbid they need to actually honor any warranty work. There are just to many better companies I’ve dealt with that handle things much better.

Ibanez Guitars is the best guitar in the world

I have long been a fan of Ibanez guitars since buying my USA Custom in the 90's, which was one of the best guitars I have ever owned. After buying many other top brands recently, such as Suhr, Anderson Guitars, Music Man, and the like, memories of that USA Custom and the quest for the perfect neck profile led me back to them.

Unfortunately, Ibanez no longer produces a professional quality, or in many cases, a functioning instrument. And I am not talking about their low end lines, but their premium Japanese made models in the Prestige and J Custom series. I have had 11 out of 13 premium guitars bought arrive defective with a myriad of issues such as bad necks, non-functioning truss rods, bridge posts that won't lower action, wood stripped where the nut is fastened leaving it loose, uneven, grinding or sticking frets, and finish issues.

Last week I returned the 5th defective guitar in a row of the same 50th Anniversary model; the J Custom RG8570CST-NT, which was a replica of the USA Custom Exotic Wood I owned previously. I have traded emails with a customer service manager who admitted they are having major quality issues with the Fujigen Factory in Japan; where all their premium guitars are built. He also aknowledged they are aware Fender, including Jackson, and others using Fujigen are having the same issues.

The solution to my problem? I was advised to stop buying their guitars! Stating that while they are behind on orders they are not focused on correcting the quality issues and would not until after production is caught up. They are getting massive numbers returned from dealers. Sweetwater had a meeting with them in regard to their poor quality, and nothing has changed. The Axe Palace in Walpole Mass, a boutique dealer, returned 19 defective Japanese made, premium guitars in one week alone! Six other dealers have expressed similar issues.

I needed this guitar to record with for a professional pitch, but could not get one that worked and Ibanez refused to help. When right, these are fantastic guitars. But Ibanez is now content to sell instruments they know are full of defects and simply do not care. I bought 13, and 11 were returned defective and this is in the past few months. Think about those numbers. That is an abysmal success rate. A monumental amount of defects. I suggest we all stop buying their guitars, and maybe they will get the message! Zero Stars!

Ibanez s470 electric guitars are still great!
I acquired my first Ibanez electric guitar in 1995, an electric blue s470 super-strat Custom USA (a mix of Japanese guitar engineering and USA pickup technology) it has been one of my go-to guitars right up to the present day (I've played it so much I've almost worn it away). My other go-to guitars are a Gibson Les Paul and a Fender Telecaster. This week I bought a new modern S470 super-strat with an ice blue finish (made in Korea) and it is refreshing to see that the new models are still made to the exacting and rigorous standards. It plays like a dream and has an amazing tone.

They make probably the best basses and are worth every penny. Unlike your bog standard Jazz bass or P-bass which weigh a tonne, their Soundgears are considerably lighter so you won't need to visit the chiropractor after every gig.
Build quality and tone is perfect and would definitely go and buy the same bass again if it got lost or stolen.

I have had and played several basses from Ibanez and currently I play the BTB 7-string and SR 6-string models. The company has always been innovative and creating great models - even exciting hybrid models even like 7-string basses. I also like the light-weighted SR-models and the sound they produce.

But the quality of any Ibanez bass still holds top notch within each category and even for the budget models like SR 305 or likewise you get quite a lot of great features and craftmanship from Ibanez whether that concerns playability, electronics or hardware - and aesthetics. Ibanez do not fail on these crucial counts.