Ibanez Electric Guitar roundup
The Best Ibanez Electric Guitars for the Money
Shopping for an Ibanez electric guitar? Here are the best options across different budgets and styles. No hype, no invented test scores — just solid recommendations about which Ibanez electric guitars deliver real value.
If you're shopping for an Ibanez electric guitar, you've got choices. Lots of them. This guide looks at the best Ibanez electric guitar options across different budgets and playing styles, focusing on instruments that actually deliver value and reliability. No hype, no invented test scores — just straightforward recommendations about which Ibanez electric guitars are worth your money.
Best All-Round Ibanez Electric Guitars
The AZ and AZS families are the modern Ibanez electric guitar sweet spot. They're comfortable, versatile and sound good across a broad range of tones. An AZ sits naturally between the shred-oriented RG and the jazz-leaning Artcore. If you're buying your first serious Ibanez electric guitar and you're not sure exactly what style you'll play, the AZ is the safe bet.
The AZ Essentials (AZES) Ibanez electric guitar is where to start if you're on a budget but want genuine quality. For around £300–400, you get a properly finished Ibanez electric guitar with a comfortable neck, a 250 mm fingerboard radius that feels familiar if you've played Fenders, and solid construction. An AZES Ibanez electric guitar won't embarrass you in a band setting or a bedroom. It's not fancy, but it works.
If you can stretch to £800–1,200, a Standard-level AZ Ibanez electric guitar steps up noticeably: better pickups (often Ibanez's own Quantum or PowerSpan designs), upgraded hardware, and more careful fretwork. At this price, an Ibanez electric guitar is genuinely competitive with equivalents from other makers. You're getting an instrument built to last.
Best Ibanez Electric Guitars for Shred and Metal
The RG is the classic for this, and it deserves the reputation. An RG Ibanez electric guitar is fast, aggressive and built for high-gain tones. The double-cutaway shape gives you plenty of room to reach the high frets. The necks are thin and comfortable for rapid playing.
A Standard-level RG Ibanez electric guitar (around £500–800) is a solid performer. You get a locking tremolo, decent pickups and the responsiveness you need for technical playing. A Premium or Prestige RG Ibanez electric guitar steps up the finish and hardware, but the playability jump isn't as dramatic as the price jump. If budget is tight, a Standard RG Ibanez electric guitar will not hold you back.
The RGD line is built for extended-range instruments and drop tunings. If you're playing seven-string or eight-string Ibanez electric guitars, or you're tuning down to drop D and below, the RGD Ibanez electric guitar's longer scale length keeps the low strings tight and responsive. This is the right choice if heavy, low music is your lane.
Best Ibanez Electric Guitars for Jazz and Clean Tones
The Artcore hollow-body Ibanez electric guitar is underrated outside jazz circles, but it's the answer if you want warm, woody, resonant tones. A semi-hollow Artcore Ibanez electric guitar offers a compromise: some acoustic resonance but less feedback than a full hollow-body. They look beautiful too.
The Artcore family represents good value. A mid-range Artcore Ibanez electric guitar (around £600–1,000) is genuinely competitive with far pricier hollow-bodies from heritage makers. You're not getting a guitar that's been made the same way for sixty years, but you're getting reliable construction, a good neck and tones that suit jazz, blues, soul and clean rock playing.
If you want an Ibanez electric guitar that can handle electric and acoustic work and still look at home in a jazz setting, the semi-hollow Artcore is the practical choice.
Best Budget Ibanez Electric Guitars
The GIO and GRG ranges offer genuine value. A GRG Ibanez electric guitar at £200–300 is a real instrument, not a novelty. It's got real hardware, a playable neck and decent pickups. The quality control is looser than in higher tiers, and the frets might benefit from professional dressing, but it's a legitimate starter.
A GIO Ibanez electric guitar is softer — thinner woods, simpler hardware — but still playable. If you're unsure whether you'll stick with guitar, a GIO Ibanez electric guitar gets you started without breaking the bank. Pair it with a professional setup (£50–100) and you've got a perfectly usable instrument.
Best Premium Ibanez Electric Guitars
If you've got the budget, a Prestige-level Ibanez electric guitar is where the brand really shines. Hand-finished construction, Japanese manufacturing (usually), premium woods and hardware, meticulous fret work. A Prestige RG, AZ or S Ibanez electric guitar feels different the moment you pick it up. The neck feels finished rather than simply assembled. The frets are levelled and crowned by hand. The hardware operates smoothly.
A Prestige Ibanez electric guitar isn't twice as good as a Standard, but it's noticeably better where it matters. If you play seriously and you've got the cash, a Prestige is worth the investment. It'll last decades with basic care.
Best Ibanez Electric Guitars by Price Point
| Budget | Best Ibanez Electric Guitar | Why |
|---|---|---|
| £200–300 | GRG Ibanez | Playable entry-level; real hardware; good setup helps |
| £300–500 | AZES or GRG Premium | Balanced; comfortable neck; reliable quality |
| £500–800 | Standard RG or AZ | Genuine quality; locking tremolos work well; versatile |
| £800–1,200 | Premium AZ or RG | Better pickups; improved hardware; hand-finished frets |
| £1,200+ | Prestige or Artist Signature | Premium construction; Japanese-made; lasting investment |
What Actually Matters
Stop worrying about the series name and start thinking about what you're actually going to play. An Ibanez electric guitar is a tool. A cheaper Ibanez electric guitar in your hands every day is better than an expensive one gathering dust in a corner. Buy the Ibanez electric guitar that suits your budget and your actual playing style, get it professionally set up, and learn it inside out. That's how you end up with a good guitar.
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