Rank #10 in Best Electric Guitars 2026: 10 Ranked, 3W to 40W Amps
Ibanez GRG121DX GIO Electric Guitar, Black Flat
Price and rating as shown on Amazon when we collected them. Both change.
The Ibanez GRG121DX-BKF GIO takes the number 10 slot in this guide at £199.00, rated 4.4 out of 5 from 350 ratings. It is a solid-body electric: a poplar body, a GRG maple neck with a bound purpleheart fretboard, two IBZ-6 ceramic humbuckers, 24 jumbo frets on a 648 mm / 25.5-inch scale, and an F106 fixed bridge.
The listing's own numbers are worth reading before the description. Item weight is given as 3.2 kg, which is what a full-size solid-body guitar should weigh — not the sub-kilo figure quoted for some full-size electrics on this page. It is also not a bundle: the only included component named is a 'Guitar Tape Case', so there is no amplifier in the box, and at £199.00 it costs £16 less than the most expensive amp bundle in the guide. Everything below comes from the Amazon listing, not from our own testing.
How those 350 ratings break down
An average hides its own shape. This is the spread behind the 4.4 stars.
Specification
Exactly as published on the Amazon listing, field for field.
| Price | £199.00 |
|---|---|
| Rating | 4.4 out of 5 from 350 ratings; 74 of the 100 ratings in the breakdown are five-star |
| Listed item weight | 3.2 kg |
| Body, neck, fretboard | Poplar body, GRG maple neck, purpleheart fretboard |
| Pickups | Dual IBZ-6 ceramic humbuckers, neck and bridge |
| Frets and scale | 24 jumbo frets, 648 mm / 25.5-inch scale |
| Bridge and jack | F106 fixed bridge; mono-unit output jack |
| Included components | Guitar Tape Case (as listed) |
What buyers actually say
Quoted from customer reviews on Amazon
Verified purchase“Only thing I don't like is that after I'd thrown all the boxing away I notice the bottom of the guitar is chipped! I was too eager to play it I forgot to do the full check over. BUT the good news is that I can return for free and get a replacement so all good.Honestly So surprised at the quality of this geet, sounds fantastic.”
Verified purchase“Daughters first electric guitar, not too heavy, nice sound to it & looks the business. She's only a beginner so didn't want to spend too much, this was real value for money on the Black Friday deal. Paired it up with a fender 10G amp & it sounds great.”
What it is up against
The rivals it was ranked against in Best Electric Guitars 2026: 10 Ranked, 3W to 40W Amps.
Questions people ask
Does the Ibanez GRG121DX-BKF GIO come with an amplifier?
No. The listing's Included Components field names only a 'Guitar Tape Case', so no amp is in the box.
How much does the Ibanez GRG121DX-BKF weigh?
The listing gives the item weight as 3.2 kg.
What pickups and how many frets does it have?
Two IBZ-6 ceramic humbuckers, one in the neck and one in the bridge, and 24 jumbo frets on a 648 mm / 25.5-inch scale.
What do the ratings look like?
4.4 out of 5 from 350 ratings, with 74 of the 100 ratings in the breakdown at five stars and 7 at one or two stars.
What do the reviews say about condition on arrival?
Two of the reviews shown describe a chip on arrival: one reports a slight chip and poor packaging, another found a chip on the bottom after throwing the packaging away and notes a free return and replacement.
Is it right-handed and what finish is it?
Hand orientation is listed as right, and the finish is Black Flat over a poplar body.
Comments
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