Ibanez GRG170DX-BKN Black Night Electric guitar

Ibanez GRG170DX-BKN — Metal-Ready Superstrat With RG-Series DNA

The Ibanez GRG170DX-BKN is a Superstrat-style electric guitar that brings the RG performance line into a more accessible price tier. Built around a Poplar body finished in Black Night, this model delivers the aggressive visual identity metal players expect. Chrome hardware and white Sharktooth inlays complete the stage-ready look. A T102 tremolo bridge with 10.5 mm string spacing keeps the whammy work expressive. This instrument is the right choice for guitarists who want HSH pickup versatility.

What Sets This Model Apart

Two design choices make this guitar stand out in its segment. The bound Purpleheart fretboard is unusual at this price point, giving the playing surface a richer visual character than the standard rosewood. The mono-unit output jack prevents loosening and contact failure over time.

Poplar Body Built for the Stage

Poplar construction keeps the weight manageable for long sets while delivering focused midrange. The polished Black Night finish gives the guitar a uniform, stage-ready appearance. There is no carved top, keeping the silhouette clean.

• Body Material: Poplar — balanced weight with focused midrange
• Finish: Polished Black Night — uniform stage-ready look
• Top Material: None — clean Superstrat silhouette

Maple Neck With Purpleheart Fingerboard

Maple construction gives the neck the bright tonal character and stability that metal players expect. The bound Purpleheart fretboard adds warmth to the attack. With 24 medium frets and a deep double-cutaway, every note stays reachable for lead work.

• Scale Length: 648 mm — standard RG-series tension
• Fingerboard Radius: 400 mmR — flat enough for fast bends
• Nut Width: 43 mm — comfortable for rhythm and lead

HSH Pickup Configuration for Tonal Range

The HSH pickup layout gives players access to thick humbucker tones, glassy single-coil clarity, and the in-between quack that defines the Superstrat sound. A five-way selector unlocks split-coil and out-of-phase combinations.

• Neck Pickup: Infinity R humbucker (passive/ceramic) — warm lead voice
• Middle Pickup: Infinity RS single coil (passive/ceramic) — bright clean tones
• Bridge Pickup: Infinity R humbucker (passive/ceramic) — tight rhythm response

Who Should Play the Ibanez GRG170DX-BKN

The Ibanez GRG170DX-BKN is the right choice for beginner and intermediate players who want a metal-oriented Superstrat with the visual identity and neck feel of Ibanez's higher-tier RG models. It suits students moving into harder genres, gigging players who need a reliable backup, and hobbyists who want HSH tonal flexibility. The 24-fret neck and Sharktooth inlays make it a natural fit for lead playing and modern rock or metal styles.

Ibanez RG Series and the GRG170DX

Sitting inside Ibanez's RG-series lineup, the GRG170DX belongs to a range that brings performance-oriented design language to a wider audience. In continuous production since February 2004, it is one of the longest-running Superstrat designs in the Ibanez catalog. The combination of a GRG-profile Maple neck, Infinity pickups, and T102 tremolo defines the model's metal-ready character.