Description
Review of the Ibanez GIO GRX20Z Solid Body Electric Guitar, Black Night
The Ibanez GRX20Z is a solid body double cutaway electric from the GIO range, finished in Black Night with two humbucking pickups and a rosewood fingerboard. GIO is Ibanez’s entry level line, built to the same outlines as the more expensive RG series but at a starter price, and it is aimed at rock and metal players beginning out.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Two humbucking pickups, which cancel the mains hum single coils pick up and deliver the higher output that distorted rock and metal tones need.
- A published 25.5 inch scale length, the standard long scale, so any commonly sold electric string set will fit correctly.
- Rosewood fingerboard, slightly oily and comfortable under the fingertips, and easier to maintain than a lacquered maple board.
- A thin, fast neck profile is what the GIO range is known for, and it is one of the reasons this outline appeals to players working on speed.
- A tremolo bridge, so pitch bends and vibrato are available from the outset.
Cons
- The body wood is stated three different ways. The spec table gives poplar for the body and back, alder for the top and material type, and the Amazon description says basswood. Those are three distinct timbers with different weights and tonal characters, and the listing does not settle which is fitted.
- The pickup configuration field says “H”, one humbucker, while the description clearly says two humbucking pickups.
- The spec table records an instrument key of C. Guitars are not tuned to a key and standard tuning is built around E. That field is meaningless here.
- The FAT 6 bridge named in the page bullets is not confirmed anywhere in the imported specification, which records only “Tremolo”. Which tremolo unit is fitted therefore cannot be verified from the data.
- The dimensions of 38.5 by 3 by 14 inches and the 9 pound weight describe a packed carton rather than the instrument.
- Nothing is included beyond the guitar. No amplifier, cable, bag or strap appears in the listing.
Detailed Product Description
The body is a double cutaway with both horns scooped away from the neck joint, which is what makes the top frets reachable and is the defining feature of this outline. Whatever the timber turns out to be, poplar, alder and basswood are all light, close grained woods used at this end of the market for the same reasons: consistency, low cost and reasonable weight. Alder is the densest of the three and would give the most defined low end; basswood is the softest and the most neutral. The difference is audible but modest under heavy distortion, which is how this guitar is likely to be played.
The neck is maple with a rosewood fingerboard. Ibanez necks in this family are known for being thin front to back, which suits players who wrap the thumb over less and prefer to keep it behind the neck for fast movement. Rosewood needs nothing more than an occasional wipe with a suitable oil once or twice a year.
Two humbuckers are fitted. A humbucker uses two coils wired to cancel electrical interference, giving a thicker, louder and darker sound than a single coil. That output is what makes an amplifier’s gain stage respond, which is why this configuration dominates rock and metal guitars.
The bridge is a tremolo. The arm lowers pitch and springs in a rear cavity return it, which means strings should be changed one at a time so the bridge does not shift and disturb the intonation. Light gauge strings at 25.5 inches give a comfortable tension for bending. The relationship between gauge and feel is covered in the guide to guitar string gauge.
What Comes with the Product
- The GRX20Z electric guitar in Black Night
Nothing else is listed. No amplifier, cable, gig bag, strap, tuner, picks, tremolo arm or spare strings appear in the data. This is sold as an instrument on its own, so an amplifier and a lead are needed before it makes any sound. Whether the tremolo arm ships in the box is not stated, which is worth confirming with the seller.
Who It Suits
This suits a beginner or an intermediate player heading towards rock and metal who already has an amplifier, and it suits anyone who wants a recognised brand’s entry level instrument rather than an unbranded package. The thin neck and twin humbuckers make it a natural first guitar for someone learning riffs rather than open chords.
It suits less well a complete beginner with nothing else, since there is no amp or cable in the box. It also suits less well a player after clean, bright, chiming tones, where a single coil equipped guitar is the better starting point, as discussed in the guide to guitar body shapes. Comparable instruments include the Ibanez GRX70QA, the Ibanez GRX70QATBB and the Ibanez GIO GRG121DX. The full range sits in electric guitars, and how the budget lines relate to their premium counterparts is covered in the guide to budget guitar brands.
How to Maintain
Wipe the strings after every session. Nickel wound strings corrode from sweat and a dull set is routinely blamed on the guitar.
Change strings one at a time. The tremolo floats against spring tension and removing all six at once lets the bridge move, which upsets the intonation and takes time to reset.
Oil the rosewood fingerboard once or twice a year with a product intended for it. Rosewood dries out and shrinks, which is what causes fret ends to feel sharp along the edge of the neck.
Tips and Recommendations
Budget for an amplifier and a cable at the same time. Without them the guitar cannot be heard properly, and practising an electric unplugged builds bad habits because mistakes stay inaudible.
Keep the tremolo arm loose in its socket rather than screwed down tight. Overtightening strips the thread.
Fit a fresh set of strings before forming a judgement, and if notes buzz or the action feels high, a setup will change the instrument more than any parts swap. The guide to guitar action and setup explains what to ask for.
Product FAQ
What is the body made of?
The data conflicts. Poplar, alder and basswood all appear in different fields of the same listing, and it is not resolved.
How many pickups does it have?
Two humbuckers, according to the manufacturer description. The spec table’s single “H” entry conflicts with that.
Does it come with an amplifier?
No. The listing includes the guitar only, with no amplifier, cable, bag or strap.
