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Ibanez GRG121DX
Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS22 DKA
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Playability
75
Sound
66
Build
49
Value
73
Score
63
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Playability
73
Sound
65
Build
54
Value
79
Score
64
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Ibanez GRG121DX vs Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS22 DKA

Reasons to Get
Ibanez GRG121DX over Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS22 DKA

Release Year
2020 vs 2014
From a more recent year
Neck Profile
GRG vs Speed
Thin neck for playing fast
Switch Positions
5 vs 3
More tone options
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.77'' (19.6mm) vs 0.775'' (19.7mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.85'' (21.6mm) vs 0.835'' (21.2mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm) vs 1.688'' (42.9mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Bridge
Fixed vs Tremolo
Good sustain and needs no set-up

Reasons to Get
Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS22 DKA over Ibanez GRG121DX

Compound Radius
12" to 16" vs 16"
Balanced playability for chords and single-notes
Neck Profile
Speed vs GRG
Thin and flat neck for playing fast
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.775'' (19.7mm) vs 0.77'' (19.6mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.835'' (21.2mm) vs 0.85'' (21.6mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Nut Width
1.688'' (42.9mm) vs 1.693'' (43mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Bridge
Tremolo vs Fixed
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance
Value Score
79 vs 73
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Ibanez GRG121DX vs Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS22 DKA

Bridge Pickup
IBZ-6 vs Jackson High-Output Humbucking
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
IBZ-6 vs Jackson High-Output Humbucking
Different Neck Pickup

Shared Features
Ibanez GRG121DX vs Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS22 DKA

Body Wood
Poplar
Same Body Wood
Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Purpleheart
Same Fretboard Wood
Headstock
6
Same Headstock
Nut Material
Plastic
Same Nut Material
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
Number of Frets
24
Same maximum octave
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Joint
Bolt-On
Allows you to detach and swap the neck
Type of Frets
Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Weight Relief
  • Locking Tuners
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Nut
  • High-Quality Frets
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS22 DKA is probably the better product overall with its final score of 64 compared to the Ibanez GRG121DX's 63 score, although not by a lot.

The Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS22 DKA wins when it comes to build quality, value for the money. On the other hand, the Ibanez GRG121DX has the upper hand when it comes to sound, playability.

If you got small hands, none of these instruments will make a big difference when it comes to comfortability.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS22 DKA is the better choice.

The Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS22 DKA meets 5 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Ibanez GRG121DX meets only 4. This takes into account the type of frets, scale length, nut width, bridge type, fretboard radius, and neck profile to determine the easiest combination for new players.

New Player Friendliness

Ibanez GRG121DX
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS22 DKA
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

Nevertheless, when it comes to choosing an instrument, you should pick the one more compatible with your personal style. Still, below we'll try you to give you our results as objectively as it's possible to help you decide.

Ibanez GRG121DX Overview

  • From Ibanez's 2020 RG series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Poplar body
  • Maple neck
  • Purpleheart fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: IBZ-6 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: IBZ-6 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • F106 bridge
  • GRG Bolt-On neck
  • 24 Jumbo frets
  • Ibanez tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS22 DKA Overview

  • From Jackson's 2014 JS series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" to 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Poplar body
  • Maple neck
  • Purpleheart fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Jackson High-Output Humbucking (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Jackson High-Output Humbucking (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • 2-Point Fulcrum Tremolo bridge
  • Speed Bolt-On neck
  • 24 Jumbo frets
  • Jackson Sealed Die-Cast tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Sound Quality Comparison

The wood used in an electric guitar or bass is not as important to determine the final tone. However, some people prefer specific wood types, so we'll take a look at those first. Then, we'll take a look at the electronics to determine the versatility and sound quality of each instrument.

Woods Used in Both

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple
Purpleheart wood pattern used for guitar building
Purpleheart
Poplar wood pattern used for guitar building
Poplar

Maple is one of the most popular necks for good reasons. It is a strong wood that is relatively cheap to make and looks beautiful. The highest quality maple is the hardest that comes from North America. Find out more about Maple.

Purpleheart (also known as Amaranth) is a hard, dense wood with a brilliant tone. As its name suggests, the purple color makes this wood look exotic.

Poplar is a cheaper and heavier alternative to Alder wood. It terms of tone, it emphasizes the low-end and has cutting mids. It's relatively soft compared to most body woods. Find out more about Poplar.

Winner: Tie.

Pickup Configuration

Both pickup configurations are HH. Double Humbucker (HH) is the choice for people who want a fuller, more round sound with tons of mids and lows. Humbuckers also get rid of the hum noise that plague single-coil pickups. They can work out for almost any genre going from Djent to even Jazz.

Pickups Quality

None of these use a specialized pickup brand for their pickups. Some of the best guitars on the market come with pickups from brands like EMG, Seymour Duncan, DiMarzio, etc. You might want to replace your pickups eventually if you want to get the best sound out of any of these instruments.

Both use Passive pickups. This is what's used for most music genres. They have a regular output and will serve you for both high-gain and clean tones. The alternative (Active pickups) offer a higher output that is mostly used for heavy music.

Winner: Tie.

Versatility Comparison

Some instruments offer you more ways to explore your creativity than others. Below you'll find how both compare when it comes to versatility.

Switch Options

The Ibanez GRG121DX gives you 5 switch options while the Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS22 DKA gives you 3. This means that the Ibanez GRG121DX gives you more options to find the right pickup combination for the type of sound you want to achieve

Neither of them come with some kind of coil split or pickup mod option. This makes both lacking in terms of versatility.

Ibanez GRG121DX pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Ibanez GRG121DX's switch options
Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS22 DKA pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS22 DKA's switch options

When evaluating versatility, we also take into consideration bridge and neck joint type, number of frets, switch options, amount of pickups and more.

Winner: Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS22 DKA.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Ibanez GRG121DX
Pickups 55
Sustain 80
Versatility 62
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 66
Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS22 DKA
Pickups 55
Sustain 75
Versatility 69
Tuning Stability 60
Sound 65

Build Quality Comparison

When it comes to build quality, we like to take into account everything used to build the instrument. This includes materials, hardware and the quality control expected depending on the country where it was built. Let's see how the Ibanez GRG121DX compares to the Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS22 DKA.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. Both in this comparison where made in China.

China has a bad reputation when it comes to building quality. However, times have changed and now respectable brands use China's cheap labor to build good instruments for a lower price. Don't discount a guitar only because it was built in China, but also expect more quality from countries like Korea.

Winner: Tie

Nut Material

If you want your guitar to stay in tune and sound good, you need a well cut nut. Nut quality can be inconsistent even when comparing two copies of the same model. The best way to make sure you're nut will be well done is by getting a nut made by an expert company like TUSQ or Micarta.

In this case, both have Plastic nuts. This is a low-quality nut that you might want to consider upgrading soon. Bone and TUSQ nuts are the best for guitars with a fixed or simple tremolo bridge.

Fret Material

Most fret wire is made of nickel silver. This material eventually wears down after a lot of use and most instruments end up needing a complete fret replacement. However, some expensive models come with stainless steel frets. This is what you should aim for if you can afford it.

Unfortunately, none of them come with stainless steel frets.

Winner: Tie.

Bridge

The perfect bridge for you will depend on your playstyle because they all have advantages and disadvantages. However, some bridges are more expensive—like Floyd Roses and Evertunes—and thus add more value to a guitar.

The Ibanez GRG121DX's brige is a Fixed. It's a simple bridge that is very beginner-friendly since it doesn't require any set-up. You can swap strings easily. It might also give more sustain since it doesn't have complex moving parts that make the strings lose vibration. However, it doesn't have the same versatility as a tremolo bridge.

On the other hand, the Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS22 DKA's is a Tremolo. Tremolo bridges give you more versatility than fixed bridges. They let you perform the intense vibrato effects that would be impossible with a fixed bridge. However, since the bridge floats and there's less contact with the body, the strings lose sustain slightly faster. They can also be a bit harder to restring and set up correctly than fixed bridges.

Since we need to be objective, the most expensive type of bridge will be the winner of this section. In the end, this doesn't matter if you're not going to use the bridge for its original purpose, so choose the bridge that fits your playing style better.

Winner: Tie.

Tuners

Both come with regular tuners. The Ibanez GRG121DX's are Ibanez while the Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS22 DKA's are Jackson Sealed Die-Cast

Winner: Tie.

Neck Joint

Contrary to popular belief, the difference in sustain and tone that some neck joints give to a guitar is simply unperceivable—if they're all well built. However, some of them do have advantages over the others.

Both have a Bolt-On neck joint. This neck is joined to the body by 4 bolts that you can simply unscrew. This allows you to replace the neck or take it off for travel. It's the most common and cheapest way to build a guitar.

Winner: Tie.

Here is the list of features that were considered when choosing the winner in the Features subcategory:

Strengths & Weaknesses
Ibanez GRG121DX
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in China
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS22 DKA
  • Tremolo
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in China
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Ibanez GRG121DX
Quality of materials 41
Features 50
Quality Control 55
Build Quality 49
Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS22 DKA
Quality of materials 41
Features 65
Quality Control 55
Build Quality 54

Playability Comparison

Let's now compare their playability. Bear in mind that the instrument will feel different depending on your hand size and play style. That's why you should always test before buying. But if you can't or want a second opinion on it, we can still take a look at each of the important measurements of the instrument for you. This way, we can predict how easy a guitar might be to play, or how different it will feel compared to the other.

Remember that, even though the difference might seem small, every inch counts when it comes to feeling of the instrument in your hands. Any variation can completely change how comfortable a guitar feels in your hands.

Nut Width

Ibanez GRG121DX Nut Width
Ibanez GRG121DX Nut Width
Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS22 DKA Nut Width
Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS22 DKA Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Ibanez GRG121DX has the wider nut with 43mm (1.693'') vs 42.9mm (1.688''). This is a 0.1mm (0.0050000000000001'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Ibanez GRG121DX, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

Ibanez GRG121DX and Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS22 DKA's Scale Length
Both have the same scale length

The scale length is one of the things that influences playability the most. This is the distance between the nut and the bridge and will affect everything from low action allowance, difficulty to perform bends, fret separation, and even tone.

In this case, both have a scale length of 25.5".

This is the scale used in most Stratocasters. It's slightly longer than the typical 24.75'' size found in Les Pauls, and it's one of the main reasons why Stratocasters have such a bright sound in general. A longer scale also means that the strings will have higher tension. This will help you get lower action without suffering fret buzz, which will also be helpful when playing in lower tunings without having to increase your string gauge.

However, this also means that there will be more separation between frets, which can make it more difficult to play. Also, bending the strings will require more strengths due to the increased tension, but remember that a tremolo guitar will offset this difficulty.

Lastly, remember that you can also affect the tension of the strings by changing your string gauge. You can use a thicker gauge for more tension and a lighter one for less tension.

Neck Profile

Ibanez GRG121DX Neck Profile
Ibanez GRG121DX's neck profile
Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS22 DKA Neck Profile
Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS22 DKA's neck profile

No single neck shape is better than others. However, most people tend to prefer a thinner necks because it doesn't get in their way when playing fast and most hand sizes can adapt to it pretty well. However, some people still prefer thicker necks for a better grip, especially if they have big hands.

In this case, both have different neck shapes:

The Ibanez GRG121DX has a GRGR type of neck. This neck is used in Ibanez's mass production guitars, and it's very similar to the Wizard profile in terms of shape and thickness.

The Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS22 DKA, on the other hand, has a D neck. This is a thin and flat neck that is made for playing fast. If you prefer a neck that doesn't get in your way when soloing, this is the shape you should use. Guitarists that prefer to have a bit more grip won't like this type of neck.

Fretboard Radius

Ibanez GRG121DX Fingerboard Radius
Ibanez GRG121DX's Fingerboard radius
Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS22 DKA Fretboard Compound Radius
Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS22 DKA's Compound Fretboard Radius

Most guitar fretboards are not flat; they usually have a curve or arc across their width. A curved fretboard will make it easier to perform chords without muting strings, while a flatter one will make it easier to play single notes, which is good for bending and soloing in general. The best fretboards have a compound radius that varies across the fingerboard, but they're not common since they take a lot more work to build.

In this case, the Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS22 DKA is the only one with a compound radius. This is a huge win because it will give you the best of both worlds: a more curved radius in the first few frets for chords, and flatter as you come closer to the body for soloing.

Hand Size Comfortability

Everyone has a different hand size, and that's why it's recommended to try a guitar before buying, even if others tell you that it's comfortable to play. However, we can know whether a guitar favors small or large hands just by knowing its exact measurements.

After taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that both in this comparison favor small hands .

Ibanez GRG121DX:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS22 DKA:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Ibanez GRG121DX and Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS22 DKA Frets Size
Both have a similar Jumbo fret size

Both have a Jumbo fret size. This is one of the tallest frets you can get. You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings. It will give you the best sustain and all types of chords will be easier to play. However, you can end up changing the pitch of your notes if you press too hard, which is something people used to feeling the fretboard do when trying Jumbo frets for the first time.

Final Playability Scores

Ibanez GRG121DX
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 50
Solo Playability 90
Playability 75
Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS22 DKA
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 90
Playability 73

Specs Side-by-Side

Ibanez GRG121DX vs Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS22 DKA
General Ibanez GRG121DX Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS22 DKA
Brand: Ibanez Jackson
Year: 2020 2014
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: China China
Series: RG JS
Colors: Black, Brown White, Blue, Natural, Black Satin
Left-Handed Version: Yes Yes
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Poplar Poplar
Bridge: F106 2-Point Fulcrum Tremolo
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Ibanez Jackson Sealed Die-Cast
Fretboard: Purpleheart Purpleheart
Neck Material: Maple Maple
Decoration: White Sharktooth Pearloid Sharkfin
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: GRG Speed
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.77'' (19.6mm) - 12th Fret: 0.85'' (21.6mm) 1st Fret: 0.775'' (19.7mm) - 12th Fret: 0.835'' (21.2mm)
Frets: 24 Jumbo Nickel Silver 24 Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 16" 12" to 16"
Nut: Plastic Plastic
Nut Width: 43mm (1.693'') 42.9mm (1.688'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: IBZ-6 (Humbucker / Passive) Jackson High-Output Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: IBZ-6 (Humbucker / Passive) Jackson High-Output Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 5 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1