Last Updated on November 26, 2022 by Teemu Suomala
Can these budget-friendly GIO guitars be any good? I mean they say “if it looks too good to be true, it probably is”. And the price tags of the GIO’s definitely look really good…
Well, I have played several GIO’s over the years and owned 1 for over a year now. And personally, I like them a lot. But of course, they are not perfect…
In this post, we’ll look at the pros and cons of GIO models and also look at which models are available in 2022. Then I’ll answer some frequently asked GIO questions.
Let’s get started!
Author: Teemu Suomala
I first grabbed the guitar in 2009. I started this website in January 2020 because I couldn’t do window installation anymore due to my health problems. I also noticed that most guitar websites don’t do a really good job, so I decided to just go for it! I got lucky and managed to get awesome people to help me with my website. I also got lucky because I have you visiting my website right now. Thank you. I do all this for you guys. If you have any recommendations, tips, or feedback, just leave a comment, I would love to chat with you. I have been fortunate to produce content for several large guitar websites, such as Songsterr, Musicnotes, GuitarGuitar, and Ultimate Guitar. I spend my spare time exercising and hanging out with my wife and crazy dog(I guess that went the right way…).
Are Ibanez Gio Guitars Any Good?
Quick answer: Yes they are. GIO’s are not perfect but offer versatility and easy playability. Especially for my small hands, shredding with GIO feels like a breeze. I personally like the tones of most GIO models too and they offer high value for the money.
My Personal Experience With Gio’s
I have tested plenty of GIO’s during my playing years. Over the last 2 years, I have probably played at least 5 of them, plus this one that sits with me in my home.
They are not perfect, but I fell in love with easy playability and versatile tones. It’s really likely that I’m going for another GIO this year, or at least for some other Ibanez model.
But let’s look closer at the good and bad that can be present with GIO’s…
The Good
- Fast and easy playability
- Slim neck
- Solderings were done great in models I have opened
- Versatile tones
- I like the sound of GIO models
- Offer really high value for the money (one of the best electric guitars in value)
- Tuning stability has been on the same level with competitors
- Hardware doesn’t lose to competitors
- Usually plenty of different color options to choose from
That’s a great stack. But let’s look at the bad things next.
The Bad
- Minor finish issues can be present (sharp fret edges etc.)
- Sometimes fret buzz out of the box
- Clean tones of some GIO’s lose to competitors
- The tone can get a bit fuzzy sometimes (for example, my GIO was not a good pair with VOX Pathfinder 10)
- Tuners are not better than most competitor models
To me, the good aspects stack is much heavier, but there’s no denying that GIO’s are not perfect. Most of these issues are really common with all budget electric guitars, so GIO’s don’t have some really annoying issues that are not happening with other guitars.
How Ibanez GIO Sound?
Here’s a sound demo where tones of 4 budget electric guitars are tested head to head, Ibanez GIO being one of them. I used Boss Katana 50 MKii amp:
I think that the GIO held its ground well. In general, GIO’s offer versatile tones from gentle cleans to mean distortion.
I compare my Ibanez GRX70QA to other similar priced models in this article: Best Electric Guitars Under 200.
Ibanez GIO Models Available in February of 2022
Let’s look closer at the GIO models available right now. I’ll also mention the key features of different models.
Price symbol meaning:
$= 150-189 Dollars
$$= 190-210 Dollars
$$$= 211-230 Dollars
$$$$= 231-250 Dollars
$$$$$= 251-299 Dollars
| Model | Key Features | Music it Handles | Price Level | Check Latest Prices (affiliate link) |
| GRGM21 | – 3/4 Sized – 2 Infinity R Humbucker pickups (Ceramic) – Solid guitar, but still probably the weakest GIO model – Fixed bridge, no tremolo | Metal Rock Hard rock Blues Classic Rock | $ | Sweetwater |
| GRX40 | – Infinity R Humbucker and 2 Infinity R Single-Coil pickups (Ceramic) – Versatile rock guitar – Tremolo bridge – Jatoba fretboard | Rock Hard rock Blues Classic Rock Funk | $ | Thomann |
| GRX70QA | – 2 Ceramic Infinity R Humbuckers and 1 Infinity RS Single-Coil pickups(Ceramic) – Really versatile – Tremolo bridge | Metal Rock Hard rock Blues Classic Rock Funk Jazz | $$ | Sweetwater |
| GRG140 | – Infinity R Humbucker and 2 Infinity R Single-Coil pickups (Ceramic) – Versatile rock guitar – Tremolo bridge – Purpleheart fretboard | Rock Hard rock Blues Classic Rock Funk | $$$ | Thomann |
| GRG121DX | – 2 IBZ-6 Humbuckers (Ceramic) – Build for Metal – Fixed bridge, no tremolo | Metal Rock Hard rock Classic Rock | $$$ | Sweetwater |
| GRGR131EX | – 2 Infinity R Humbuckers (Ceramic) – Wide 1.692″ nut width – Handles Metal Well – Fixed bridge, no tremolo | Metal Rock Hard rock Blues Classic Rock | $$$$ | Sweetwater |
| GRG170DX | – 2 Ceramic Infinity R Humbuckers and 1 Infinity RS – Single-Coil pickups(Ceramic) – New Zealand Pine fretboard – Really versatile – Tremolo bridge | Metal Rock Hard rock Blues Classic Rock Funk Jazz | $$$$$ | Thomann |
| GRG120QASP | – 2 Infinity R Humbuckers (Ceramic) – Wide 1.692″ nut width – Handles Metal Well – Tremolo bridge – Quilted Maple top | Metal Rock Hard rock Classic Rock | $$$$$ | Sweetwater |
| GRG7221QA | – 2 Infinity R Humbuckers (Ceramic) – 7 Strings – Wide 1.889″ nut width – Handles Metal Well – Fixed bridge, no tremolo | Metal Rock Hard rock Blues Classic Rock | $$$$$ | Sweetwater |
| GRGR221PA | – 2 IBZ-6 Humbuckers (Ceramic) – Build for Metal – Fixed bridge, no tremolo – Poplar Burl Art Grain top | Metal Rock Hard rock Blues Classic Rock | $$$$$ | Sweetwater |
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Why?
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Who Ibanez GIO’s Are Good For?
Do you value these qualities:
- Versatility
- Really high value
- The fast and slim neck
- Easy and fun playability
- Solid tones
- Hardware, tuners, and finish quality are in general on the same level as with competitors (not better or worse)
If all the things above sound good, I would suggest you try GIO’s out ASAP.
FAQ
Are Ibanez GIO Guitars Great for Metal?
Yes. GIO guitars are really versatile, but especially models featuring double humbuckers handle metal really well. IBZ-6 Humbuckers featured on some GIO’s are my go-to option for metal.
Where Are Ibanez GIO Guitars Made?
Made in China. Here’s proof:
I also checked other GIO models and they are also made in China.
When Did Ibanez Gio Guitars First Come Out?
Ibanez GIO guitars first came out in 1998, replacing the older “Cimar” budget guitar lineup.
Conclusion on Are Ibanez Gio Guitars Good
Ibanez GIO’s are versatile, high-value electrics. Not perfect, but still great budget guitars. I definitely recommend that you test one out as soon as possible if you haven’t already. Maybe you fell in love as I have done.
Check this post if you want to learn mode about cheap Ibanez guitars.
Hopefully this post helped you out. If you have any questions, leave a comment down below. I wish you all the best and keep rocking!
Teemu
