If you are a guitarist with a passion for the rock and metal genres then you must be aware of the Ibanez RG series. This guitar series is known for having sleek design guitars for high performance. Within this versatile eclectic guitar series, there are 2 popular models; the RG Standard and the RG Gio. Both of these guitars present a robust design and offer the signature playability of Ibanez but they serve different levels of guitar players. These guitars both provide for different technical preferences.

Today we are offering a comparison of RG Standard VS RG Gio. We will be outlining their difference, similarities, and features to help you make the right choice for your guitar-playing needs.

Overview of RG Standard and RG Gio

The Ibanez RG Standard provides several high-performance features with its sleek designs – best suited for intermediate to advanced-level players. As for the RG Gio, it is a budget-friendly option in the RG series; perfect for beginners to intermediate players. It lets beginners or guitarists on a budget enjoy the Ibanez RG sounds without spending much.

Comparison Of Key Technical Aspects: RG Standard VS RG Gio

1.   Neck Profile and Material

The RG Standard comes with the Wizard III Neck; a slim profile for speed playability. It’s made of maple which makes the agile playing styles a breeze; allowing movement across the fretboard easy and convenient. This neck also can handle complex techniques of rock and metal with agility.

The RG Gio has the GRG neck which is a bit thicker compared to the Wizard III and is made of maple or the maple & poplar blend. This is suited for beginners but doesn’t have that ultra-thin design profile of the RG Standard.

2.   Body Construction and Materials

The body construction of the RG Standard is of basswood or mahogany. The basswood offers a midrange warm balance tone for the high-gain settings. As for the mahogany, it creates richer resonant sounds for heavy music style.

The RG Gio has the Poplar body, a lightweight wood species that creates balanced and brighter sounds. Still, the poplar lacks the depth and resonance provided by the mahogany or the basswood.

3.   Pickups and Electronics

The RG Standards come equipped with varying pickup configurations like humbuckers or the HSH combination. This leads to it having a versatile tonal range. Most of the Ibanez RG series guitars have the brand’s proprietary DiMarzio or the Quantum pickup. Either of these two allows for tonal clarity and responsiveness when paired with distortion. They also let the RG standard to have a full spectrum of tones; a great feature if you wish to play for diverse genres.

The RG Gio comes equipped with the Ibanez Infinity Pickups; the entry-level pickups that offer a decent performance. They create reliable tones – perfect for the rock & pop genre but they will lack the tonal richness and depth found for the DiMarzio and Quantum pickups.

4.   Bridge System and Tremolo

The RG Standard has either the Edge Tremolo or the Edge-Zero II Bridge, which depends on its model. These bridges offer stability for the extreme pitch bends while sustaining the tuning. The Edge-Zero II is particularly loved for the RG Standard because of how smooth of a feel and fine-tuning it provides.

The RG Gio has the fixed bridge or the T106 Tremolo Bridge for most of the models but it will certainly lack the tuning stability like the Edge-Zero II. The T106 still maintains the tuning while offering tremolo for learning basic guitar techniques.  

5.   Playability and Comfort

The design of the RG Standard is made with speed and playability in mind; offering a flat radius. This flat radius results in easy string bending and low-action setup for complex fingerwork. The fretboard is made of either Jatoba or rosewood; both offering smooth finger control and giving warmth to the tone for a fast-playing neck.

The RG Gio has a smaller radius design with a fretboard of maple or Jatoba wood. This fretboard makes it comfortable for the guitarist to practice higher actions to develop strength and accuracy.

Comparison Table: RG Standard vs. RG Gio

Here is a helpful comparison table of RG Standard VS RG Gio to give you a better understanding of these two guitars.

RG Standard VS RG Gio: Which Is the Right Choice?

(1): RG Standard: This guitar is designed to cater needs of an experienced guitarist. The Wizard III Neck profile with high-performance pickups, and advanced tremolo systems makes it ideal for guitarists looking to push technical boundaries. All these features make the RG Standard to be ideal for those who wish to play multiple musical genres.

(2): RG Gio: This model is the perfect choice for novice and beginner guitarists. It has all the core elements of the Ibanez RG Series but in an affordable price range. The easy-to-play neck with standard pickups and a quality bridge system makes it ideal for learning the basics of guitar playing.

Conclusion

The RG Standard and the RG Gio are great examples of the Ibanez brand’s commitment to quality, design, and playability. The RG Standard offers detailed features for an experienced player whereas RG Gio offers accessibility to instruments for beginners. In conclusion, whether you are an advanced guitar player or someone starting their guitar-playing journey; these two models have something to offer.