The GIO series was developed for players who want Ibanez quality in a more affordable package.?Not only do they look and play better than everything else in their price range, but their rigorous inspection, set-up and warranty is the same as Ibanez’s more expensive models.

Nothing quite prepares you for your first glimpse of the new Ibanez GRG010LTD. We haven’t seen so much yellow since we raided Bananaman’s wardrobe.In classic Ibanez fashion, this is no mellow yellow that bashfully avoids eye contact – this guitar’s parts are about as subtle as radioactive banana custard. The design was apparently inspired by comic books. Let’s take a closer look at the little marvel.Wasp-like aesthetics aside, the GRG010LTD is your classic Ibanez rock machine. That familiar RG body shape comes loaded with a double-locking Edge III vibrato and a pair of PSND (aka Powersound) humbuckers packing ceramic magnets for maximum output.Build quality is everything you’d expect from a manufacturer of Ibanez’s calibre: the frets are well seated and dressed, and all the hardware works as it should.Ibanez has a reputation for producing ultra-thin neck profiles (much loved by shredders), so you might be surprised to find a deep C-shape on a chunky neck that feels more Les Paul than lollipop stick. We like the extra beef and, believe us, you don’t need a thin neck to play fast.Plug into an amp and the combination of the ceramic magnets and hard fingerboard finish produces a lot of clarity. Heavy bottom string riffs really pop, and false harmonics are a breeze.The Powersound pickups don’t impress quite so much on a clean setting, though. Some guitars equipped with ceramic magnet humbuckers can be tonally versatile. The bridge ‘bucker on the GRG010LTD lacks character; we had to combine it with the neck unit to add some depth to the tone.It’s a bit disappointing to find a regular three-way switch and not the coil-splitting five-way job that makes other Ibanez guitars so versatile. It would’ve been the tonal icing on what is already a pretty decent little cake.The combination of black and yellow usually signifies scary things best not tangled with: wasps, poisonous frogs, ’80s Christian metal bands? In the case of the GRG010LTD, it’s just a unique finish on a great guitar.

More than ever, bassists craving instruments that bear a bit of wear-and-tear are now being forced to spend more than ever for their dream bass. Even relic?d new instruments are commanding outrageous sums, making them equally unattainable. In answer to this demand, Ibanez offers its affordable Artcore Vintage Bass series. The Artcore Vintage ?aging? process applies to hardware and other appointments, as well as the body, giving each bass a convincingly real, worn appearance. These basses are still Artcore to the heart? expressive, well-built and dependable.Classic Elite Bass PickupThe Artcore acoustic bass features bridge and neck Classic Elite Bass Pickups that deliver classic tone, punch and extra output.Sure Grip III Control KnobsThe Sure Grip III knobs are designed for precise control with nonslip functionality, along with smooth and classic looks.