Which Ibanez guitar is the best for metal?
When finding the best Ibanez guitar for metal it can be difficult to narrow down your options.
The different models, features, and series can be confusing and take the joy out of buying a new guitar.
As if that’s not enough, it can be frustrating to find an electric guitar you’d really like, only to find out it’s out of stock or isn’t being made anymore.
Fortunately, we’ve takes care of all of that for you.
We’ve looked at the different models, weighted the different features, and found the best Ibanez guitar for metal available today.
Check it out!
The Best Ibanez Guitar for Metal: Best Overall
Ibanez High Performance RG421HPAH
Are you looking for a smart-looking Ibanez guitar that’s easy to play metal on? Then check out the Ibanez High Performance RG421HPAH.
It has a nyatoh body with an ash top and a bolt-on neck so it’s resonant with a lot of sustain and is comfortable to play.
The roasted maple neck is in Wizard III shape with a radius of 15.74″ so it’s thin, flat, and very fast as well as being very stable.
With white dot inlays and 24 jumbo frets, the jatoba fretboard has a full 2-octave range and high-performance playability and adds a rich mid-range and crisp high end to your tone.
Two DiMarzio Fusion Edge humbuckers at the neck and the bridge positions have a powerful, distinctive tone with a crisp high end and a tight low end without any muddy mid-range.
Plus, it has a master volume knob, master tone knob, a 3-way pickup selector and a coil tap switch so you can expand your choice of tones and have complete control over your sound.
Lastly, the F106 hardtail bridge has a string-through-body design which ensures superior resonance and sustain while providing high-performance tuning stability.
Pros
- Luminescent Side Dot Inlays
Cons
- Plastic Nut
All in all, the Ibanez High Performance RG421HPAH is a great choice for metal players who also want to expand their tonal range.
We think you’ll agree that it’s versatile, has a great look, and will handle some really heavy tones.
Why wait? Click here to get yours now.
The Best Ibanez Guitar for Metal: Best Budget
Ibanez Gio GRG121DX
If you’re looking for a big value electric guitar that’s got some serious metal tone and attitude, then check out the Ibanez GIO GRG121DX.
It has a poplar body in Ibanez’s RG shape so it’s easy and comfortable to play and has a powerful and resonant tone.
The GRG-shaped maple neck is fast-playing with a radius of 15.74″ making it perfect for playing metal leads.
Plus, with 24 jumbo frets and white Sharktooth inlays, the bound purpleheart fretboard adds a rich tonal character, an aggressive metal look, and frets designed to make it easier to play lightning-fast leads.
Additionally, the two Ibanez IBZ-6 ceramic humbuckers at the neck and the bridge positions have a full, crisp tone and are wired for split-coil.
As a result, this guitar has high output pickups that’ll keep your metal tones clear, and still enables you to play lots of different styles of music.
Lastly, the F106 hardtail bridge has a string-through-body design that makes intonation easy and straightforward while also ensuring superb resonance and sustain.
Pros
- Available in 2 Colors
- Versatile Switching Setup
Cons
- Plastic Nut
All in all, the Ibanez GIO GRG121DX is a very budget-friendly electric guitar that’s got the perfect looks and tones for playing metal.
We think you’ll find its versatile pickup setup, and fast-playing neck makes it an excellent value.
Why wait another day? Click here and get yours now.
The Best Ibanez Guitar for Metal: Best Runner-Up
Ibanez High Performance RGA42HPT
Are you ready for a high-performance Ibanez guitar that has everything you need to play metal in a sculptured design? Then check out the Ibanez High Performance RGA42HPT.
It has a nyatoh body that’s sculpted so it’s comfortable and has a balanced tone that’s full and rich.
The neck is very stable and durable since it’s made of roasted maple and with a Wizard III shape and a radius of 15.74″ it’s ridiculously fast and easy to play leads on.
With off-set white dot inlays and 24 jumbo frets, the jatoba fretboard has a full 2-octave playing range and adds a rich mid-range and crisp highs to your tone, and a stylish look.
The two DiMarzio Fusion Edge humbuckers at the neck and the bridge positions produce a powerful and distinctive tone with a razor-sharp high end, very tight lows, and no muddy middles.
Plus, with a master volume control, master tone control, 3-way switch, and coil tap switch you’re able to not only play powerful metal tones but a wide variety of sounds.
Finally, the double-locking tremolo bridge is great for adding to your dynamic leads and provides high-powered tuning stability.
Pros
- Luminescent Side Dot Inlays
- Matching Headstock
Cons
- Only Comes with Gold Hardware
As you can see, the Ibanez High Performance RGA42HPT has the features and playability necessary for raw power metal playing.
We think you’ll find it’s a very versatile guitar that guarantees smooth performance.
Why forego the pleasure? Click here and get yours now.
The Best Ibanez Guitar for Metal: Best Under $500
Ibanez RG470MSP
Are you ready for an Ibanez guitar that’s got crazy looks, high-performance tones, and staggering playability? Then check out the Ibanez Standard RG470MSP.
It has a meranti body in Ibanez’s RG shape with a bolt-on neck and a Turquoise Sparkle finish. As a result, it has a shape that’s proven to be comfortable to play, high-powered looks, and a fiery tone.
The neck is in Ibanez’s Wizard III shape, with a radius of 15.74″ so it’s super flat, extremely playable, and very easy to play metal leads on.
With black dot inlays and 24 jumbo frets, the maple fretboard adds a classic look and tone to your playing and gives you a full 2-octave playing range.
Additionally, the Quantum Humbuckers in the neck and bridge positions are perfect for playing metal tones whether rhythm or lead. The Quantum single-coil pickup in the middle position only adds to the versatility of this guitar since you can play more styles of music.
Finally, the double-locking tremolo means you can dive bomb to your heart’s content while having rock-solid tuning stability.
Pros
- Wired for Split-Coil Tones
- Sparkly look and Excellent Tone
Cons
- Maple Fretboard Kinda Boring
- Only Comes in Turquoise. We Would Love to See a Black Sparkle Version
As you can see, the Ibanez Standard RG470MSP has the sound and playability you need to play metal in an unmatched package.
We think you’ll find it makes a statement with its looks and its tones and is much more than just a great guitar to play metal.
Don’t wait any longer! Click here and get yours now.
The Best Ibanez Guitar for Metal: Best Under $400
Ibanez RG Standard RG450DX
Are you looking for an Ibanez guitar that has cool looks, metal tones, and high-performance playability?
Then check out the Ibanez RG Standard RG450DX.
It has an RG-shaped body made of meranti with a bolt-on neck making it comfortable to play with plenty of warm tones and sustain.
The Wizard III-shaped neck is made of maple and has a radius of 15.74″ so it’s very thin, flat, and perfect for playing metal-inspired leads.
Plus, with Sharktooth inlays and 24 jumbo frets, the bound jatoba fretboard adds a rich mid-range and crisp high end to your tone, as well as adding a serious look and a full 2-octave range playing range.
The pickups at the neck and bridge are Quantum humbuckers while the middle pickup is a Quantum single-coil pickup so it has a wide range of tones that are not only suitable for metal, but a lot of other styles also.
Additionally, the 5-way switch is wired for split-coil tones giving you even more options for your sound.
Lastly, the double locking tremolo features a locking nut and ensures high-performance tuning stability no matter how many times you dive bomb.
Pros
- Available in 2 Colors
- Great Alternative for Metal Players
Cons
- Only Seems to Come in Blue
All in all, the Ibanez RG Standard RG450DX has the features and looks that are great for playing metal and will let you experiment with playing a lot of different styles of playing.
We think you’ll find it versatile, dependable and a joy to play.
Don’t delay! Click here and get yours now.
The Best Ibanez Guitar for Metal: FAQ
- Are Ibanez guitars good for metal?
- Yes. See this post for some more recommendations, plus our Best Overall and our Best Budget recommendations.
- What is the best guitar for metal?
- This is kind of subjective, but Ibanez, Jackson, ESP and Schecter usually come top of the list. See this post for more recommendations.
- What is the best Ibanez guitar?
- What type of guitar is used in heavy metal?
- Definitely something with humbuckers, and often with a Floyd Rose Tremolo. See this post more more information.
JT currently resides in Southern California and has been playing the guitar since he was 13. He enjoys baking French pastries, drinking loose-leaf tea, and running Slackware Linux.
