When it comes to investing your hard-earned money, you want to make sure that you are doing so in a way that you’re going to get the most value for each dollar. Not only that, but you want to ensure that you’re getting what you want two. This goes for everything but, most assuredly, for things you may be spending more than you typically do on purchases like guitars.
When you’re looking to find the right guitar, a salesperson will show you a wide range of options. Not only through different types and designs but also by brands. Like anything else, though, when you ask someone’s opinion of which brand is the best, they’re always going to have their own take on it.
So how are you supposed to know which one is the right one for you? The best way to do that is to take a look at multiple different brands and compare them. Two of the most popular types of electric guitars are Jackson vs Ibanez. They both make high-quality guitars that are perfect for any level of experience.
So let’s take a look and compare these two major guitar brands with each other to see if we can figure out which one might be the best option for you.
About Jackson
Jackson guitars have been around for over 40 years and have been the go-to brand for many amazing guitarists like Randy Rhoads. In fact, it was Randy Rhoads who was the catalyst for Jackson guitars becoming their own brand. After approaching them to create a specially designed guitar, its owners decided to replicate that underneath their own umbrella brand and named it Jackson.
This name-recognition eventually led to it becoming one of the biggest brands, especially in heavy metal during the 80s and eventually in the early 2000s was bought out by Fender. The guitars now are made in factories both in California and Mexico. So now that you have a little background on the company itself and how it came about, let’s take a look at a broad spectrum analysis of the guitars offered by this company.
This is a broad look at the overall construction, tone, and price as each model has its unique aspects to be considered.
Tone
Depending on the components used to construct it, each model will have its own unique tone. But in general, Jackson guitars are designed for use in heavier kinds of music like metal. Because of this, you’re going to find that Jacksons tend to have a warmer and darker tone to them.
Construction
When you’re comparing two brands, one of the most important aspects is to look at the construction and components used in that construction. When it comes to Jackson and the next of the guitars themselves, you’re going to find that they tend to lean more towards the thin and flat design.
Jackson’s necks are not as thin as other options and give it more of an almost Stratocaster feel, which may be more comfortable for some players. Because of this, the neck is not as fast as the I business, but it is more comfortable.
Jackson guitars are designed with both a tremolo and fixed bridges, but if you’re looking at a beginner level, you’re going to find that more often than not, the bridge is designed with a tremolo construction. They tend to lean more towards the Floyd Rose bridges on the middle-priced models, which may lead to some loosening of the tremolo because it is screwed on. However, this has a benefit as you can play with the tightness, which can lend a different sound to your music.
Next up on the construction and components to look at are the pickups. Jackson utilizes both active and passive pickups. It really depends on the make and the model and the price point that it sits at. One of the most important things when it comes to the construction of the guitar is the wood that is used in the body.
Jackson leans more towards using popular as its main body, but as the price points rise, you may see that some models offer mahogany in place of poplar. Along with these two types of woods, you may find models using alder as well as basswood too.
Regarding the assembly of these guitars, it depends on the price point and model of the guitar when it comes to Jackson. For the lower price point and beginner guitar, Jackson uses a bolt-on neck construction. These tend to be neck-through constructions, and as the price point goes up, you’ll see more and more premium neck options on Jackson guitars.
About Ibanez
Ibanez Is actually a company underneath the umbrella of a Japanese bookstore chain that began building acoustic guitars in 1935. However, the guitar didn’t get really famous until the 1950s when Ibanez began imitating fellow guitar companies like Gibson and Fender when it came to guitar design. This led to a little bit of trouble regarding these companies and their patents.
After several years of trouble, the company itself opted to create its own original size and, in the 1970s, began producing some pretty unique guitars.
In the 80s and 90s, the name grew bigger and bigger, with big-name guitarists touting the quality of their guitars. This recognition, of course, just like it did with Jackson, meant that the name Ibanez became a household one, especially in regards to those looking to enter the world of metal.
Tone
Ibanez electric guitars also are designed primarily for heavier music like metal, but they have a more versatile range. Depending on the model, you’re going to find that there will be some that are semi-hollow and some that are hollow, which will impact the guitar’s tone. This range of options means that you can find the tone that best suits your sound a little easier than you might with a Jackson guitar.
Construction
The tone is important, but the tone is created not only by the component shoes but the construction of the guitar. So just like with the Jackson, we’re going to break down an Ibanez guitar’s basic construction and components. Also, just like with the Jackson, though, you have to understand that these are a broad analysis of the components, and every model and design will have its own unique features and benefits.
When it comes to the neck of the guitar, Ibanez, much like Jackson guitars, opt for a thin and flat neck. This differs from the Jackson guitars because the thinness and flatness of the Ibanez guitar are pretty dramatic. By utilizing this type of design, the guitar necks shred quicker, which is perfect for metal. However, some do find that holding bar chords can be quite challenging on this type of neck.
Depending on the model, you’re going to have the choice between a tremolo or a fixed bridge. That being said, you are more likely to see either a fixed bridge or their own patented tremolo bridge design when it comes to Ibanez guitars. The most often used construction-wise bridge is a push-in system that eventually will wear out over time. However, though it is less durable than the screw-on version used in the Jackson guitars, it does have less of a chance of loosening while you’re playing.
Just like its counterpart Jackson, Ibanez uses a mixture of both active and passive pickups depending on the model. When it comes to the wood, Ibanez follows the trend with Jackson regarding the variety of options. You will find that there will be guitars crafted with a poplar body as well as mahogany, alder, and basswood.
For beginner-level guitars, this company uses a bolt-on neck construction but also uses a neck-through design as well. Ibanez does not put many variations in their neck constructions which could be a deterrent for some.
Both guitar companies offer a wide range of excellent guitars in different price brackets. When it comes to the range of prices and comparing them, you have to break it down per the model and what features are included. For this reason, we’re not really going to go into the price ranges but just know that each of them offers you a wide range of options.
Final Thoughts
Both guitar companies make high-quality guitars in a wide range of price points and models. No matter if you’re a beginner or professional, these guitars are crafted to help enhance your abilities and make crafting your customized sound easier.
They’re specifically great for those looking to enter heavier music like metal or even punk, as their tones and components are specifically designed for a richer, warmer tone.
That being said you can’t go wrong with either, and so the final decision is up to you. You have to decide what guitar brand- Ibanez or Jackson-is the right fit for you. We just hope that all the information above has helped make your decision-making process a bit easier.
