Ibanez GRGR131EX-BKF Black Flat Electric guitar

Ibanez GRGR131EX-BKF — A Blacked-Out Superstrat for Modern Metal

The Ibanez GRGR131EX-BKF brings the aggressive Superstrat formula into Ibanez's GIO entry tier in a fully blacked-out Black Flat finish. Built around the iconic RG-style body, it pairs a poplar body with a bolt-on maple neck and a bound purpleheart fretboard for a fast playing feel. This model delivers Superstrat visual punch without flagship-tier pricing, with HH pickups, 24-fret access, and 5-way switching covering metal and hard rock styles.

What Sets This Model Apart

Unlike most entry-level HH guitars with a 3-way toggle, this instrument uses a 5-way pickup selector that unlocks split-coil voicings from its dual humbuckers. The mono-unit output jack is a single solid piece designed to resist loosening and contact failure. Combined with the F106 hardtail bridge and sharktooth inlays, the design delivers detail typically reserved for higher-tier Ibanez RG models.

Poplar Body and Black Flat Finish — Lightweight and Stage-Ready

Poplar construction keeps weight down for long sessions while delivering solid attack. The satin Black Flat finish reduces glare under stage lights and feels smooth under the picking hand. There is no carved top — the body relies on its sleek RG contours for visual appeal.

• Body Material: Poplar — light and balanced for standing performances
• Finish: Satin Black Flat — non-reflective, smooth to the touch
• Top Material: None — a flat slab body that keeps the visual focus on the RG contours

Maple Neck and Purpleheart Fretboard — Built for Speed

A bolt-on maple neck uses Ibanez's GRG profile for fast lead playing and comfortable chording. The bound purpleheart fretboard adds tonal warmth against the all-black hardware, while reversed black sharktooth inlays keep the stealth look. With 24 medium frets, players get full two-octave access on the high E string.

• Scale Length: 648 mm — tight low-end response ideal for drop tunings
• Fretboard: Bound Purpleheart — dense tonewood that brightens attack
• Neck Profile: 43 mm nut, 58 mm at 24F, 400 mmR radius — slim GRG shape for fast position shifts

Infinity R Humbuckers and 5-Way Switching — Tonal Range Beyond Standard HH

Both pickups are Ibanez Infinity R humbuckers with passive ceramic magnets, voiced to stay clear under high-gain settings. The 5-way pickup selector expands the tonal palette beyond a typical 3-way HH layout, opening up split-coil positions. Black hardware throughout keeps the stealth aesthetic consistent.

• Pickup Configuration: HH — dual Infinity R humbuckers — tight response under distortion
• Controls: Volume, Tone, 5-way pickup selector — expanded tonal options
• Bridge: F106 hardtail — independent string height adjustment with solid sustain

Who Should Play the Ibanez GRGR131EX-BKF

Beginner and intermediate players who want a genuine Superstrat feel without premium pricing will find this guitar a strong match. Metal and hard rock players benefit from the tight HH response, fast neck profile, and 24-fret access for extended-range soloing. This model is the right choice for players exploring drop tunings, where the 648 mm scale length keeps low-end definition tight.

The GIO Series — Ibanez's Gateway to the RG Line

This model belongs to Ibanez's GIO series, the brand's entry-level sub-line that brings core RG design language to a wider audience. Introduced in February 2021, the instrument shares the visual DNA of Ibanez's flagship RG Superstrats at an accessible price point.