Never thought I'd make a video with this title haha 🙃🙃🙃 Serious question, though, who's still got anti-bacterial soap in their area? It's all gone from mine lol

I'd like to see you do a $200 bucks challenge where you buy the best you can get from the likes of fender, epiphone,Ibanez ect to crown what you think is the best starter guitar from the big brands

I tried a bunch of brands and always return to my old Ibanez RG because it remained stable for the last 20 years, cost me close to nothing and has been a reliable workhorse ever since.

BRING BACK THE ICEMAN IBANEZ!!!

It's also worth noting the Artcore series. Ibanez make some of the best budget Jazz guitars.

I never thought i would see this title on one of your videos 😂

Ibanei's wide radii caught the eye of Steve Vai, thats why

By extension I'd say the relationship the brand has with its artists - Steve Vai is a great example

Their cheaper stuff is also pretty good. For someone starting, I would totally recommend a gio over many other very low cost guitars

He looks like steve terreberry😁

I recently acquired a Ibanez AS73FM semi hollow (in Azure Blue). I'm in a 3 piece alt-rock-90's influenced band. I was using a Les Paul, a Tele and a Powercaster. I'm not using the Ibanez as my primary guitar. I was so surprised by how well it fits in the mix. It's warm, full and clear. I thought I would have to swap out the stock pickups but I'm so happy with them I'm going to leave them in. It's a very versatile guitar. So comfortable to play, and it's absolutely stunning. This guitar has completely changed my perspective on the brand, it won't be the last Ibanez I buy.

Can you do this but with ESP or Jackson?

Ibanez's QC is generally great, like at least 9 times out of 10, i can pull out any of their guitars at my local music shop, plug it in, and it'll play just fine. I can't say the same for the other makes of guitar.

As a self proclaimed Ibanez fanboy I gotta say you missed a very important point, and that's the overall diversity in their lineup. As well as metal guitars, they also have less metal solid bodys like the AZ (which is what I cobsider the holy grail of guitars) and Talman, and there's an entire hollow body line from 335 style guitars to full sized jazz boxes, not to mention all the basses and acoustic. Literally everyone who knows how to play guitar can find an Ibanez guitar that fits him

The headstock is loved because of the straight string path not the look of it!!!

I'll always have a soft spot for ibanez... My first guitar that wasn't an awful pile of festering shit was an ibanez

I have played multiple guitars in my life, and my favourite guitar ever was an Ibanez prestige RG. The way the neck felt was amazing for shredding. Unfortunately i had to sell it back then as i was still in college, but an Ibanez Prestige will probably be one of my next 2 or 3 guitars.

I think for me it's mostly sentimental, besides the fact that Ibanez is my favorite brand because you get good quality guitars for a decent price, the first guitar I ever bought when I was about 14 from the money I made with my first proper job, was an Ibanez RG, since then I've had different brands, and I love my PRS and LTD, but Ibanez just feels like home to me. So it's mostly personal.

One guitar from ibanez that's so underrated it's the ibanez sz series. Man those guitars just kill it

I’ve been blessed to have had many high end guitars throughout the years, but every time I pick up my Ibanez guitar... it just feels the best 🙂

Bought my first RG back in 1988, it had a air brush job of shattered glass, man I wish I had that guitar back. I have had many since then and love my Ibanez guitars. Love my RG920 and JS1000 good stuff! Also have 2 Ibanez acoustics, and they are a great bang for your buck for sure too!

On the topic of necks, this new trend of unlaquered oiled necks with a grain you can feel is amazing and one of the reasons I love my AZ2204f TAB

The fit and finish on Ibanez guitars is amazing. Granted I'm playing a couple thousand dollar Japanese one, so it better be, but for the price they do an incredible job across their range. Keep up the great work on the videos Hunter. 🤘

Part of me wants another Ibanez, but a hardtail, maybe a high performance RG or the seafloor finish

i think you missed out on Ibanez own bridges like the Lo Pro Edge trem with the wheel on the back of the guitar to adjust the bridge instead of using a screwdriver makes restring a guitar with a floating bridge much more quicker.

Even though I don't own a single Ibanez anymore... (sorta fell in love with Schecter) I've owned a few Ibanez guitars in the past and the one thing that struck me so much (and I've heard others mention it a lot aswell) is how the quality is ridiculously good across the price ranges... it's very very hard to find better playing guitars than Ibanez's especially in the lower price ranges... Oh! And not to mention, Ibanez has been a major innovator when it comes to guitar bridges too, from the Gibraltar style hardtails to their own locking bridges, which, in my humble opinion are better than the Floyd Rose systems... and a hell of a lot easier to restring, too.

Pretty much the same reasons why I love Charvel and Jackson.

here's my top reasons why I think Ibanez is great 1) Korean / japanese models play amazing and have great hardware and features amazing build quality 2) the are models to cover everyone's needs and have different neck sizes 3) the higher end signature models play amazing and for the price really sounds amazing and have great pickups 4) the prices they sell for new and used are amazing and very budget friendly depending on the model 5) the finishes they offer is very good

The one thing about Ibanez guitars are the necks. I love the necks. I have 23 guitars, 2 Ibanez, the necks are just great

I am actually a huge fan of Ibanez basses. Been playing Soundgear since I started in the late 80s. I have Schecter, Carvin, Pedulla, Alembic, Fender, Modulus and BC Rich basses but my old SR505 is my favorite for ergonomics, tone and playability. Also a huge fan of their acoustic basses and guitars.

I primarily play the RG and one of the main things that intrigued me about them to start was the fingerboard radius, the more affordable models have a 15.7 inch radius and the prestige/j custom models have a 16.9 inch radius and both are considerably more flat than most other offerings by most other manufacturers, this is more comfortable for me. The other thing that I absolutely love about this model is the fact that they offer it in 22 fret and 24 fret configurations with HH, HSH, HSS, with or without trems, literally any way you can think of to configure it it exists. Quality is on par with any other big name instrument manufacturer. All of the boxes are checked for me, great playability, great, build quality, get any sound I want, and in any color I want lol.

ESP Next Please!

All I can say is if you like ESP you'll love Ibanez. Such craftsmanship and comfortable not to mention inspirational. While I too am mainly a Eclipse player, I do have 2 Ibanez my 7 string prestige and my red genesis, and they are something. Super comfortable to play, the neck just slides so easily, and such love built into the quality. Sure you can say what you want with how they make things, and sure they don't really make "les pauls" anymore, but for what it's worth they are nice to check out if only to have a killer super strat in your arsenal 😊.

Saw Vai play, wanted to play what he played, 20 years later I still play RG's and Jems. They sent the best quality guitars, they aren't the prettiest but they feel home and they are so reliable.

Ibanez RG220 was my first electric guitar. Got it 20 years ago and still play it to this day.

Agreed about the model name. If you familiar enough with it, its really useful to know basic specs and model with that "code"

there is a lot about them that I love but I think the main thing is the quality control honestly. Every single one of them that I have purchased has been nearly perfect right out of the box. Cheap or expensive they seem to get it right no matter what. I just have a lot of respect for a company that actually cares about their customers that don't have $3000 to spend on an instrument. That is amazing because most guitar companies really do not pull that off very well. Just purchased a 5000 series RG with stainless frets and oh man is she amazing

Still have a couple of Ibanez guitars that I got back in the early 90's that still rock even though they've taken a beating through the years. I love the wizard neck on my RG770, some complain it's too thin, but I haven't felt a more comfortable neck. And as for artists who have rocked Ibanez, let's not forget the one that got me into guitar (and millions others) that Ibanez Destroyer turned Shark by Mr. Van Halen.

The headstock is good engineering too. No idiotic string angles, no string trees, not prone to the neck snap. You should do Jackson as well. Classic metal guitars.

I credit my love for Ibanez when I saw John Petrucci first time playing his JPM. His pre-EBMM era tone and music is just awesome. I told myself, that's it. I am Ibanez for life.

#huntergothacked

I first thought that you were Stevie T by looking at the thumbnail picture on the right

Gotta do the RevStar! RS620 still my go to for live jams!

Would love it if you did one for Jackson guitars, another big staple in the metal genre.

oh sure Hunter......we love guitar brands. There are so many guitar brands. You know a brand that's been around the block, yet still hangs out on the corner?.....Washburn guitars. i have owned a couple and have fond memories. They are not bad on value and price and quality control. Thx Vin

Huge Ibanez fan, have been playing them for over a decade and I own 5 Ibanez instruments. My thoughts changed when I bought my first Schecter and ESP though. For $1200 brand new, Ibanez seems nothing compared to Schecter's Elite series' quality and features. Indonesian Ibanez quality has been suffering in recent years, and Schecter's Korean craftsmanship is by far the best I've seen over Jackson, Ibanez, and ESP. All are fantastic in their own right though and I love all the ones I'm lucky enough own.

Ibanez is my favorite guitar of all time, thanks for bringing up some valid points and recognitions. As a long time metal player (about 28yrs), I choose them again and again.

I found a 89 mij 540sltd at a pawn shop back in 1990 maybe.. Traded a beater in and paid 200 bucks for it.. All original Dimarzio pick ups edge tremolo and lipstick red..30 years later it still holds up to anything

Ibanez will always have a soft spot in my heart, they offer almost everything you'd ever want

Huge fender player here, but in highschool I couldn't afford one, and I wanted a USA so I opted for an Ibanez Sr 600, that bass got me through highschool and didn't get a high-end bass until I went to Berklee. Which was a Spector... Now I play mostly fenders, but I own a few Ibanez and Spector basses.

Love that Ibanez was a Mexican who first started the company. Then it was bought! What we have come to know as ibanez look up the history. Go Mexicana month!

Not gonna lie i would love for you to make it into a full series, you could make an episode on squier or charvel or fender. Keep it up!

Ibanez (or Banny like how my fellow Polyphia fans call it) is my favorite guitar brand. After trying many more brands I always came back to Ibanez for most of these reasons. I currently own an RG450 that's 10 years older than mine that I recently made a wacky rewiring project on and an AZ that's supposed to come at any moment now

I got my son an Ibanez RG6003FM for his first guitar, I liked it so much I bought myself the exact same model (and put a Seymour Duncan 59 and Dimebucker in it).

Mid to late 80's Ibanez guitars always dazzled me when I would go to the Sam Ash in my area.

My 1st guitar was a 1998 Ibanez GIO AXE double cut in Orange with the wood grain showing through. The only sub $200 brand name guitar with 2 volume and 2 tone pots that I've ever seen. I used to play all the time with the distortion maxed on the neck humbucker with the tone rolled all the way down, what a thick saturated sound that was. I loved that guitar.

Something that is bothering me about this years lineup is they got rid of the all premiums that had stainless frets and now have worse frets and they are touting them as a feature.

I have a '94 "pre-prestige" RG550 LTD from the Fugijen factory. 29 years later and it's still a metal machine. I was the original owner, and it's in great shape. It's also the first guitar that taught me how to set up and maintain a floating, Floyd style trem, a necessary guitarist skill to be sure! EDIT - lol, post was 2 years old, I really should pay more attention to dates before commenting :P

I am a huge single cut Fan like you and yesterday was debating selling my RG to get another Single cut and when I picked it up and played it.........no new single cut at the expense of the RG.

the shattered mirror Ibanez used by Paul Stanley is iconic for me as a KISS fan.

I used to be a Gibson/Epiphone fanboy (well, "Gibson fanboy that can only afford Epiphones" would be more correct) and I still have an Epi SG and used to have an Epi Les Paul that I recently sold, but my next guitar was an Ibanez and oh my god, it changed my world, suddenly Epiphones/Gibsons became unplayable, heavy, chunky, and required twice the effort to get half the result. Ibanez have been my choice from that point onwards, with a used $80 RX40 being the first and that was a huge deal honestly, I get it's not the best Ibanez there is but hey, it's not a Gio and it's worth at least two if not three times the amount I paid. I use it still today, mainly to practice so I don't "ruin" my better guitar through bedroom practice and exercises, where I don't "need" the best guitar. Then a SA360QM, which I use for "virtuoso" stuff (Vai/Satriani etc) in E tuning, and a RG420FA that I use for metal/metalcore in C tuning. So yeah, you can say Ibanez is my thing now. I'll keep the SG as a memento 'cause it was my teen years guitar back in high school, but I never play it anymore and I wouldn't play a SG today even if I had the most expensive Gibson there is, the problem is not that it's a cheap Epi, it just doesn't feel right in my hand anymore since the moment I tried my first Ibanez and fell in love with it. So yeah, I do love that SG, and will always keep it, but more as a memento of my teen years playing metal in high school, than as an actual guitar to play with, 'cause Ibanez won that race the moment I touched the first one. Next one I want is gonna be a 7 or 8 string guitar with fanned frets... Guess the brand? Yeah, Ibanez.

I have 1989 Ibanez rg550 that always makes me more inspired almost like it feels so good to play that it makes me think I'm better than I am.

Whoever came up with the "stick your pick in the slide over truss rod cover" at Ibanez, is an absolute genius.

Your list is spot on. I have been a long time ibanez user from the 80's. I absolutely love ibanez

My first two electric guitars were Ibanez guitars. They play great. I am a Strandberg fan now, but Ibanez is far from bad, and I would recommend both.

If you started playing guitar on a Strat ... (or another guitar which plays metal for shit).... and you try an Ibanez, it's changes your world.

Ibanez are my favorite, live my RG570. The original Wizard neck is simply the best for my personal tastes.

The main reason I took a liking to Ibanez guitars back in the day was because some of my favorite artists used them. Satriani and Vai were big ones, as well as Testament's Alex Skolnick, who played a gorgeous red Ibanez. I pretty much agree with your first 5 points though, especially the necks and the headstock.

The only thing I will hold over Ibanez is that they didn’t give Wes Borland a signature guitar, I wanted one like the one in the Break Stuff MV

My first guitar was an Ibanez that my Mom got me from a music store in town. It was beat to shit so we got a killer deal. It was a great guitar and I did love it. My buddies and some of my favorite artists were playing Jackson so I got one years later and never looked back. Jackson is in my blood 24 years later. I recently got a Solar A1.6 with Evertune and I’m feeling the shit out of it. Necks are kind of fat though like Stats. I’ll have to get used to that. Not terribly fat but thicker than Ibanez or Jackson.

They just feel so comfortable

Really enjoyed the format to this video. Would love to see it become a regular series

I have to agree here. I’ve always played fender, but recently got into extended range guitars and Ibanez got my attention. I sat and test a couple rg models and was amazed at how great they play and feel. Now I’m in love and recently bought my first Ibanez that I can’t put down. Plan on getting a 2nd one Down the road. I can’t believe I never played one before, I’m hooked.

On the extended range, they don't only do 7, 8, & 9 string guitars. The RGD line has a longer neck, so that you can use your standard 9 or 10 gauge stings and tune to D, which I find is easier than going to a heavier gauge, and they also make that line in 7 string variants. As an avid Ibanez owner (40+), my only disappointment is that I cannot find an 8-string with a tremolo.

For me, it was the Xiphos body shape combined with the Wizard III neck. My fingers absolutely danced across that fretboard. Plus the x-shape gives me a shelf to rest my pick arm on, but it has an extra large chamfer on the side, which makes it more comfortable than an Explorer, or similar x-shapes from Dean, et al. The reverse headstock was also a nice bonus. And yes, Gotoh rules.

Thanks for this...I know Ibanez isn't your favorite but you offered some very good points here..I'm a drummer but have two Ibanez axes because I got so much for the price!

Ibanez should do more reverse headstock models

I’m not a shredder. I play mostly pop and jazz and have used my GIO, S Style and RT models on every type of job. They all performed great. I also have Artcore and Artstar models well as a few others. It’s not the guitar that makes you sound like you. It’s you! I have recently been delving into shredding. I figure at 71 years old I might as well explore other genres to expand my horizons. If you really want a head blower guitarist give a listen to Dom Minasi. He plays a new freestyle music that you’ll probably hate when you first hear it but just give it a chance.

I learned to play on my brothers Ibanez art300 with a crazy lizard skin texture finish I’ve never seen on another guitar. I thought it was really cool as a teenager and it was a solid guitar with no issues, played perfect, and from China too

I own a Gio 6-string bass. It has a stuck truss rod on one side, but it's playable. It plays better than the Dean Edge I had before.

That was an incredible summary of Ibanez. As a die hard Ibanez fan boy I would love to see this format for other brands.

I've never really vibed with ibanez and felt them to be overrated because I just don't get it. The neck feels too thin for me, they sound okay I have no complaints in their tone, but ultimately the price is weird to me, the really low end guitars feel horrible to me and sound horrible and then the price jumps up insanely high (in certain cases) and then they feel nice but cost more than I'd pay for them. One thing I wont take away from them is they do know how to make a beautiful looking guitar!

The Artcores! They get swept to the side, but even there cheapest offerings are really giggable Rock machines! And that Fuckin' Green Valley Gradiation color is the sickest guitar color I've seen recently...I've got 1 on order now! Not even Gretch make cheaper semi and hollow bodies that made to Rock!

I love Ibanez cause of Daron's Iceman. This is for me as iconic as Les Paul's for others.

1:47 I didn't know I was saying "iben-eye" wrong all this time!!! 💩 Just giving ya a hard time. I'm so glad I stumbled onto your channel. Watched most in one sitting!

The neck, and the overall quality of features and looks, design, and durability. Pups are also not bad. I love mine.

I play metal on a Ibanez Jet King JTK 30. When Ibanez started they only sold Guyatone guitars that Guyatone rebranded with Ibanez on the headstock. My Jet King is a reissued Guyatone LG 130T. The green sparkle guitar that Yvette Young plays has the same body shape. The Jet King died because real players did not try it because it looks Retro so they they expected a jingle jangle tinker toy sound. BUT the body is solid mahogany and the PU's are disguised with chrome covers but they are P90's This guitar has a huge sound and when distorted it will rip your face of. LOL

I've had my RG550 since 1991, and I've modded it. I've always wanted a Ibanez destroyer, but never managed to get hold of one! I have Gibson's, Fender's, PRS's, and a Jackson, and they are all great guitars!

I completely love the headstock!!

I have 4 Ibanez RGs and an SR405 bass, I love Ibanez!

Aaaannnd the S Series, the most comfortable shape to play - ever.

I like ibanez because even though the cheaper guitars are obviously built with lesser materials, they always felt quality, if I pick up a $150 squire or epiphone, it feels like a cheap guitar. But an ibanez gio feels pretty close to a full on ibanez RG.

I started on a gio and it’s been a solid guitar for 10+ years of abuse. Ibanez won me with that guitar

Honestly I definitely feel the love for the headstock. Its so CHONKY but i just smile when I look at my Ibanez. The naming system is hilarious though.

The SA are so diverse though you can play everything from rock to metal to jazz on them

I have a few Artcores and I know its not your cup of tea. I love those guitars! They are great to mod, every bit as good as a top of the line Epiphone and on par with thr Gretsch Electromatic line. When they came out it wasn't the darling of the ball but what they did do was push Epiphone to up their QC on the Dot and the less expensive hollow bodies and semi hollows. I've owned Gretsch, Epiphone, Gibsons, and other guitars and the Artcores hold their own. Even the stock humbuckers sound great if you swap the ceramic magnet with Alnico! Get a luthier to do that for you, pickup wire is pretty fragile. The brown Ibanez in my pic is an Artcore AK 86 with a Vintage Vibrato and a roller bridge. I swaped the stock pickups for Gretschbuckers and they actually sound better in the Ibanez. The vibrato went on easy as the screw holes matched up with the original tailpiece. My Gretsch got TV Jones Filtertrons. Each guitar compliments the other. I will say this, if you are looking for a Gretsch replacement, the Artcore will leave you wanting. Its more Gibson/Epiphone than a Gretsch. If you want a Gretsch...you got to buy a Gretsch. Same goes for Rickenbacker.

As a non-Ibanez player I see Ibanez as the first "modern guitar" manufacturer, the one that stated the future after Gibson and Fender

I find Ibanez tends to have sharp fret ends, necks that turn into a banana, tuning issues and necks that aren't as thin as they advertise. I like a meaty neck and to me, they're not the right thickness. Also, I find that the Ibanez guitars I've owned tend to not cut through a mix very well with stock pickups at any price point. I plan to install some Invaders or Bare Knuckle Juggernauts in my Ibanez. They'd be a lot better if they would drop their prices by $200 because it's always felt more like paying for a name like Ferrari or John Deer.

Distrokid is cool. Thanks for making the ad interesting and fun.

The only bad thing about Ibanez is the way they name their guitars!