Ibanez GAX 70

[Problem Child]

Since I've realised that my guitar is crap (it really is) I'm planning to buy a new one. I'm looking for a solid rock guitar which wouldn't be too expensive. After looking through several sites I'm seriously thinking about buying the Ibanez GAX 70. If you know anything about this guitar please post your comments. It seems to be a great instrument.

[cyberfret]

I have a student that has one. It is a nice begging guitar. But you have been playing awhile and I think that this particular guitar would be a side step rather than a move up. I would save up your money and move to a mid range guitar....maybe something in the $400 range (US).

What do you have now?

--Shawn

[ESP_Viper]

Yeah shawn is right. The ibanez will be a great guitar for a beginner. I would say go for a higher end ibanez, an ESP: LTD, a lowish end jackson, or a BC Rich. The 400 dollar range will be about right for ya. Stay clear of gibsons, they are a waste of money. If you want a great quality guitar I can't recommend they ESP: LTD's enough!! They really are very nice guitars and play like a much more expensive guitar. If you can find De'Armond guitars get one!!! They are being discontinued and they are getting really low priced now. They are very great quality for their price as well.

[Problem Child]

What do I have now? Well, a piece of ... . It's a guitar made in China, called Kapok (I can imagine how much you are laughing at the moment). I bought it coz it was cheap, very cheap. It has uneven frets, so I had to rise the action, so that I could hear the 3 bottom strings. Before they were dead:D Now the action is so high that in the area of the 14th fret the strings are about 1 cm off the fretboard. It's quite impossible to play something which has to do with the 17th fret or so (you have to press so hard, but it's a good training :) ). Besides the high e string on the first fret it is dead as well. It is the wrost guitar I've ever played. Even a friend of mine (he calls himself KoRn here), who has a no name guitar is better off with his instrument:( The only pro is that no-one is able to play my guitar exept of me:p And don't ask me why I bought it. I want to forget this story.
Thanks for your help!

[cyberfret]

In that case.....this would be a step up. You probably learned a good lesson about buying "cheap". There is inexpensive....that is what the GAX 70 is.....and there is cheap. Cheap is a waste of money, and damaging to your hands. You are doing your fingers and your music damage by playing on a guitar that has the strings 1 cm of the fretboard. Pressing down that hard is really not good training! You get into an extremely bad habit, and you are setting yourself up for future injury. When you do get a new guitar........take a lot of time an relearn how to play...........pressing down on the strings lightly. If you would have come to me for private lesson, I would have told you to burn that guitar immediately. You have now been playing that guitar for at least 8 months ( I think you where one of the first forum members) It is going to take a serious effort on your part to fix the bad habits this guitar has made you develop. In the end you are going to wish you has spent a little more on your first guitar.

So my opinion has changed to......buy as soon as possible :)

--Shawn

[Problem Child]

Boy, this sounds bad :( ! Y'know, I noticed I had to buy another guitar already one month after I had bought this one. And you're right, any guitar will be a step up for me. Yes, I've learned my lesson. I'll probably go for the GAX 70, coz here in Austria it's quite hard to get guitars. There are no ESPs BC Richs and so. I'd have to go to Germany to Berlin to buy an ESP (about 1000 km). All they've got in the guitar store I know are Gibsons, (unbelievable expensive) Epiphones (expensive, too), Fenders and Ibanez. And I once asked the guy about Gretsch. He didn't even want to tell me the prize. So it'll probably be an Ibanez. As soon as possible. And THANKS once again.