Ibanez GRX40 Gio Series RG Sunburst

This second hand electric guitar is in great condition

The Ibanez GRX40 is an entry-level electric guitar from the GIO series, designed for beginners and budget-conscious players who want a solid, reliable instrument without breaking the bank. Featuring a versatile HSS pickup configuration, smooth playability, and Ibanez’s signature sleek design, the GRX40 is a great choice for those looking to dive into rock, blues, and even metal.

Build Quality & Design

The GRX40 follows Ibanezs modern Superstrat-style design, with a lightweight poplar body, a bolt-on maple neck, and a comfortable Jatoba fretboard. It has a double-cutaway body, making upper-fret access smooth and effortless.

Despite being a budget guitar, it feels well-constructed, with decent factory fretwork and a fast-playing 22-fret neck. The finish options—ranging from classic black to vibrant sunbursts—look great, giving the guitar a more premium feel than its price suggests.

One of the standout design features is the contoured body, which makes it comfortable for both sitting and standing players.

Tone & Sound Quality

The GRX40 comes with an HSS pickup configuration (humbucker in the bridge, single-coils in the middle and neck), making it more versatile than a typical beginner guitar.

• Bridge Humbucker – Delivers a thick, punchy sound great for rock and metal.
• Middle Single-Coil – Offers a balanced, bright tone for blues and clean tones.
• Neck Single-Coil – Produces a warm, smooth sound for leads and rhythm playing.

The pickups are surprisingly decent for the price, with a good amount of clarity, though the humbucker can sound a bit muddy under high gain, and the single-coils lack some sparkle compared to higher-end models. Still, for beginners, the GRX40 offers plenty of tonal options to explore different styles.

Playability & Comfort

Ibanez guitars are known for their fast and comfortable necks, and the GRX40 is no exception. The medium frets and smooth GRX neck profile make it easy to play, even for beginners.

The lightweight body is great for long practice sessions, and the low action out of the box (depending on factory setup) makes it easier to press down the strings. The tremolo bridge allows for basic whammy bar tricks, but it can go out of tune quickly with aggressive use.

Hardware & Tuning Stability

The standard die-cast tuners hold tuning reasonably well, but like most budget guitars, the tremolo system can cause tuning instability if used heavily.

Other features include:

• 5-way pickup selector for tone flexibility.
• Standard volume & tone controls for shaping your sound.
• Synchronized tremolo bridge (not the most stable but fun for beginners).

While its not a high-end bridge, it works well for light tremolo use. Serious players may want to upgrade the tuners and bridge for better tuning stability.

Pros:

• Affordable price with solid build quality
• Versatile HSS pickup configuration
• Fast, beginner-friendly neck
• Lightweight and comfortable design
• Good for rock, blues, and even metal

The Ibanez GRX40 is an excellent entry-level electric guitar, perfect for beginners who want a stylish, easy-to-play, and versatile instrument. While it has some limitations in tuning stability and pickup clarity, it offers fantastic value for its price and is a great starting point for rock and blues players.

If you’re looking for a well-built, comfortable, and great-sounding budget guitar, the GRX40 is a solid choice.