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Ibanez JIVAX2
Ibanez JIVA10
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Playability
73
Sound
81
Build
73
Value
61
Score
76
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Playability
73
Sound
81
Build
60
Value
71
Score
71
FIND IT ON:
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Ibanez JIVAX2 vs JIVA10 Specs Comparison
Ibanez JIVAX2 JIVA10
General
Brand: Ibanez Ibanez
Year: 2022 2020
Configuration: HSH HSH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Japan Indonesia
Series: JIVA JIVA
Colors: White Gray Burst
Left-Handed Version: No Yes
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: African Mahogany African Mahogany
Bridge: Edge-Zero tremolo w/ZPS3 Edge-Zero II tremolo
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Gotoh machine heads Ibanez
Fretboard: Bound Ebony Bound Ebony
Neck Material: Maple/Wenge 3pc Maple/Purpleheart
Decoration: Beaten Path Beaten Path
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: JIVA Wizard III
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.669'' (17mm) - 12th Fret: 0.748'' (19mm) 1st Fret: 0.75'' (19.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.83'' (21.1mm)
Frets: 24 Jumbo Nickel Silver 24 Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 17" 16"
Nut: Locking Locking
Nut Width: 43mm (1.693'') 43mm (1.693'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickups: DiMarzio Pandemonium (Humbucker / Passive) DiMarzio Pandemonium (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup: DiMarzio True Velvet (Single Coil / Passive) DiMarzio True Velvet (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: DiMarzio Pandemonium (Humbucker / Passive) DiMarzio Pandemonium (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 5 Way 5 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1
Hardware
Strap Lock: No No
Hardware Color: Black Black
Show Diagrams Comparison
Ibanez JIVAX2 and Ibanez JIVA10 pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Ibanez JIVAX2 and Ibanez JIVA10's switch options

Reasons to Get
Ibanez JIVAX2 over JIVA10

Country of Manufacturing
Japan vs Indonesia
Built with higher quality standards
Release Year
2022 vs 2020
From a more recent year
Neck Profile
JIVA vs Wizard III
Thin and flat neck for playing fast
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.669'' (17mm) vs 0.75'' (19.1mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.748'' (19mm) vs 0.83'' (21.1mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Bridge
Edge Zero vs Edge Zero II
Intense vibratos like Floyd Rose but easier to setup
Fretboard Radius
17'' (431.8mm) vs 16'' (406.4mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend

Reasons to Get
Ibanez JIVA10 over JIVAX2

Neck Profile
Wizard III vs JIVA
Thin neck for playing fast
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.75'' (19.1mm) vs 0.669'' (17mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.83'' (21.1mm) vs 0.748'' (19mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Bridge
Edge Zero II vs Edge Zero
Intense vibrato effects and cheaper than Edge Zero
Fretboard Radius
16'' (406.4mm) vs 17'' (431.8mm)
Easier to play chords without muting strings
Value Score
71 vs 61
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Ibanez JIVAX2 vs JIVA10

No Key Differences Found

Shared Features
Ibanez JIVAX2 vs JIVA10

Bridge Pickup
DiMarzio Pandemonium
Same Bridge Pickup
Middle Pickup
DiMarzio True Velvet
Same Middle Pickup
Neck Pickup
DiMarzio Pandemonium
Same Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Mahogany
Same Body Wood
Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Ebony
Same Fretboard Wood
Headstock
6
Same Headstock
Nut Material
Locking
Same Nut Material
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
5
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Pickups
HSH
High output, round sound with a single-coil for cleans
Number of Frets
24
Same maximum octave
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm)
Same string separation at the nut
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
Decorative Top
Quilted Maple
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
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 Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Weight Relief
  • Retainer Bar
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Price History Comparison

Ibanez JIVAX2 Prices

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Hand Size Comfortability

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

Ibanez JIVAX2:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Ibanez JIVA10:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Beginner Friendliness

Both meet 3 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness. 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. If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, you can't go wrong with either of them.

New Player Friendliness

Ibanez JIVAX2
  • Comfortable shape
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners
  • Easy-to-use bridge

New Player Friendliness

Ibanez JIVA10
  • Comfortable shape
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners
  • Easy-to-use bridge

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
Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony
Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany

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.

Ebony is a high-end wood, so it is not cheap. It's only used for fretboards because it's also very heavy. It does an excellent job as a durable material while looking elegant. Find out more about Ebony.

Mahogany is a fairly rare wood nowadays. It's used mostly for bodies due to its relatively lightweight. Gibson popularized it with their Les Paul guitars during their golden years, so this wood has a lot of good reputation behind it. The most expensive type comes from South America and it's still used by Gibson even today. Find out more about Mahogany.

Winner: Tie.

Pickup Configuration

Both pickup configurations are HSH. HSH is a versatile pickup configuration that will give you the high output, full tone, and quiet sound of humbucker pickups, but with the possibility of using a single coil for cleaner tones. The disadvantage is that the middle single-coil pickup will have a noticeable lower volume, so you might want to adjust the height of the pickups. Another problem is that if you set the middle pickup too high, it might interfere with your picking hand.

Pickups Quality

Both come with very good pickups from at least one of the specialized brands in the market. With pickups like these, you probably won't need an upgrade anytime soon.

You can purchase similar pickups to the Ibanez JIVAX2's and use them on any guitar:

We found the same or similar pickups to the Ibanez JIVA10's online:

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

Both are equal when it comes to the pickup switching option.

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

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

Winner: Tie.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Ibanez JIVAX2
Pickups 85
Sustain 80
Versatility 75
Tuning Stability 85
Sound 81
Ibanez JIVA10
Pickups 85
Sustain 80
Versatility 75
Tuning Stability 85
Sound 81

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 JIVAX2 compares to the Ibanez JIVA10.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Ibanez JIVAX2 is built in Japan while the Ibanez JIVA10 is made in Indonesia.

Japan has a long history of high-quality guitar building. Little has changed in terms of their manufacturing and quality control over the years. Many guitars made in this country can be compared—and even beat—others made in the US.

Indonesia is becoming the most popular country for guitar building because they can make good instruments for a low price. Some people think that they're 'the new China' when it comes to build quality. But the truth is that Indonesian guitars are more consistent, although Chinese quality has improved a lot in the last few years.

Winner: Ibanez JIVAX2

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 Locking nuts. Instead of a regular nut, this guitar has a locking system that will lock down the strings at the nut, preventing it from getting out of tune. It removes one of the disadvantages of tremolo bridges, tune stability.

Unfortunately, neither of them have a retainer bar for the nut, which would be a helpful addition. Without it, the strings will change pitch once you lock down the nut, so you'll have to make more micro-adjustments at the bridge to tune it correctly.

Winner: Tie.

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 JIVAX2's brige is a Edge Zero. This is a different version of Ibanez's Edge bridges. It comes with locking stud bolts that lock down into the body and provide better stabilization, and with easier adjustment of the springs without having to remove the backplate thanks to a thumb-screw .

Edge Zeros that come with ZPS3 Zero Point system come with two extra springs that help return the tremolo to the neutral position quicker, helping with tune stability. These bridges offer tons of versatility, but they also require more work than simpler tremolos to set up.

On the other hand, the Ibanez JIVA10's is a Edge Zero II. This is a cheaper version of Ibanez's Edge Zero bridges. It comes with the same locking stud bolts that lock down into the body and provide better stabilization, and with easier adjustment of the springs without having to remove the backplate thanks to a thumb-screw. However, the intonation in this cheaper version will require additional work.

Edge Zero IIs that come with the ZPS3 Zero Point system have two extra springs that help return the tremolo to the neutral position faster. These bridges offer tons of versatility, but they also require more work than simpler tremolos to set up.

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: Ibanez JIVAX2.

Tuners

Both come with regular tuners. The Ibanez JIVAX2's are Gotoh machine heads while the Ibanez JIVA10's are Ibanez

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 JIVAX2
  • Made in Japan
  • Expensive Wood
  • Locking Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Luminescent Inlay
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Retainer Bar
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Ibanez JIVA10
  • Expensive Wood
  • Locking Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Luminescent Inlay
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Retainer Bar
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Ibanez JIVAX2
Quality of materials 55
Features 65
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 73
Ibanez JIVA10
Quality of materials 45
Features 60
Quality Control 75
Build Quality 60

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 JIVAX2 Nut Width
Both Guitars Have The Same Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, both have a nut width of 43mm (1.693'').

This is within the most common range of nut widths for a 6-string guitar. It offers a good balance of string separation at the nut. It's the size that most guitarists prefer as it gives them just enough space to play open chords without muting the strings, but without spreading the strings too wide and making bar chords difficult to perform.

Scale Length

Ibanez JIVAX2 and Ibanez JIVA10'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 JIVAX2 Neck Profile
Ibanez JIVAX2's neck profile
Ibanez JIVA10 Neck Profile
Ibanez JIVA10'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 JIVAX2 has a D type of 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.

The Ibanez JIVA10, on the other hand, has a Wizard neck. This is thinner than most C-type necks. It won't get in your way if you want to play fast solos. It's not as slim as 'Super Wizard' necks, so it might fit you better if you don't like ultra-thin necks.

Fretboard Radius

Ibanez JIVAX2 Fingerboard Radius
Ibanez JIVAX2's Fingerboard radius
Ibanez JIVA10 Fingerboard Radius
Ibanez JIVA10's Fingerboard 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 Ibanez JIVA10's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Ibanez JIVAX2's. This extra arc will make playing chords easier in this model. You won't be as likely to mute the strings, especially if you have big hands. However, playing single notes and bending will be easier on the Ibanez JIVAX2.

Still, both tend to favor soloing over chords, so if you're looking for a guitar for playing rhythm, you might want something else with a radius closer to a Stratocaster's 9.5''.

Fret Size

Ibanez JIVAX2 and Ibanez JIVA10 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 JIVAX2
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 50
Solo Playability 90
Playability 73
Ibanez JIVA10
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 50
Solo Playability 90
Playability 73