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Ibanez GAX 30

 

Ibanez GAX 30 Electric Guitar reviewed by The Man in the Jar  

Even though I'm faced every day with a warehouse full of professional and semi-professional instruments I still enjoy getting a "beginner's" guitar out for a bit of a thrash. The Ibanez GAX 30 comes in at about £130 which puts it squarely in competition with the Squire Affinity's and Vintage copies. Mmmm...let's see... 

 

Features of the Ibanez GAX 30

Tuners - An unbranded type that are covered rather than sealed. Generous knobs with a smooth and accurate action.

Headstock - This is a nice tidy design, what an interior designer might call "contemporary classic". Three a side configuration.

Nut - Black plastic, neat and accurate. The top slopes back at the same angle as the strings towards the splayed headstock.

Neck - Lovely slim maple neck with that "dry-sanded" feel to it. This is one crucial feature that Ibanez have got right on all their guitars that I've tried. With the limitations that the price would normally impose I'm surprised to find a neck of such quality on this instrument.

Fretboard - Dark rosewood, smoothly finished with traditional dot markers.

Frets - Medium large with rounded profile.

Action - Good action straight from the box which in conjunction with the excellent neck make this a very playable guitar.

Body - Agathis body in a kind of fat-bottomed SG shape. Although I do like the SG body a lot, I'm old enough to appreciate a fatter bottom. A nicely contoured edge and through-body stringing complete the picture.

Bridge - Nice, simple plate bridge with an individual saddle for each string with two keys for height adjustment and one key for intonation.

Pickups - Two open-coil humbuckers in black.

Controls - Single volume and single tone, each sporting those sexy Gibson-type knobs. One three-way position selector.  

Pickguard - Obviously SG-inspired but with a more angular shape. Made from two-ply plastic, black on white.

Strap-buttons - Good and secure.

Output Jack - On lower edge set in oval plate.

Finish - The translucent red finish on this model is really lovely, bringing more echoes of the SG. But, if you want to break that spell, it's also available in black or white. 

 

Sound of the Ibanez GAX 30

This is the area where all lower-priced guitars are going to show their pedigree. The GAX 30 was able to deliver good overdriven and clean sounds through a Roost valve amp in all pickup positions, albeit slightly muddy with neck pickup engaged alone. However its best sound comes with both 'buckers running together and this is how most of its users will end up playing.

 

Overall Impressions of the Ibanez GAX 30

I was very impressed with this guitar in terms of playability. For the price this neck is simply lovely. The looks score top points as well. A straight SG copy will always bear the stigma that it's not a real SG. The GAX 30 will always be a GAX 30.
The sound from the dual humbuckers will satisfy any bedroom-jockeys or garage band players. In fact I can see a young player falling in love with the playability and looks of this guitar and opting to upgrade pickups a couple of years down the line.
For the price this is a star buy!  

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