2010 Ibanez GRX70DX | Part 1

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Initial Evaluation

This made-in-China Ibanez GRX70DX hails from Kemaman. Based on the serial number "J100152458," we know that it was manufactured in January 2010. The current owner has asked me to determine if it can be restored, and if so; furnish him with an estimate. Therefore, if any work is to be done at all, two preconditions must be satisfied; the first being that this guitar can be restored. Ok, let's say restoration is possible, now we deal with the second; that the owner accepts my proposal and estimate. 'Nuff said, then. Let's begin our evaluation of this Ibanez GRX70DX.

Rusty Strings on an Old Guitar

Black Night Gloss Finish

The first thing you'll notice is that this guitar has not been played in years, probably stashed away without the protection of a gig bag or hard case. The body and headstock face feature a gloss finish Ibanez calls "Black Night," or "BKN" for short. On the whole, the finish is in fair condition, save for several stickers and numerous scratches. The butt end of the body is another story, though. It's badly scuffed and I dare say that raw wood is showing.

Stickers Galore

Neck Plate and Back Covers

Badly Scuffed Butt End

The maple bolt-on neck is seriously worn, with only a little of the original finish left. Areas of exposed wood have turned a dirty shade of grey, indicating that decay has set in. The maple neck is attached to the body with a regular four-bolt neck plate. I do say the neck plate looks pristine, and the etched Ibanez logo adds a touch of class.

Seriously Worn Maple Neck

Ibanez Four-Bolt Neck Plate

I'm pleased to see that the chalky fretboard is actually rosewood, and not some light-colored substitute dyed to look like the real thing. This fretboard features white sharktooth inlays and 22 jumbo frets. The frets appear to be in fairly good condition, but I'll still need to check if they're level after the neck is straightened.

Rosewood Fretboard/Sharktooth Inlays

Now the guitar is on its side, and I'm eyeballing the neck pitch. In the image below, it's evident that neck pitch is incorrect. The neck should be angled downwards slightly in relation to the body, but in this case, it's actually angled upwards. The end result is, as you can see, really high string action at the end of the fretboard. No worries, though. A neck pocket shim of suitable thickness should solve the problem. 

Neck Angled Upwards - High Action

  

We've moved up to the middle of the neck, and the strings are even higher off the fretboard. This means that there's too much neck relief. The solution would be to tighten the truss rod, flatten out the neck, reduce relief, and end up with much lower string action. That is, assuming the truss rod is still working and can be tightened. If it's frozen, we're done for!

Excessive Neck Relief - High Action

On to the headstock face, then. Apart from the "25" sticker covering the headstock label, you'll notice grimy tuner bushings and a rusty string tree. That empty screw hole beneath the G string is where the other string tree used to be. I highly recommend trashing this rusty artefact and installing a set of "butterfly" or roller string trees. 

String Tree Issues

Slightly further left is the truss rod access channel, concealing the 5/32" truss rod adjustment socket. Have I tried adjusting the truss rod, then? Yes, but it's as stubborn as a mule. Next, we have a black plastic nut which is a little short on the high E side. As the guitar is already 14 years old, this nut might be a replacement. A new nut of the proper width would be in order here.

Truss Rod Access Channel/Plastic Nut

The back of the headstock is where you'll find the serial number sticker and six really grungy trapezoid tuners. The tuners are terribly wonky, creaky, and emit all sorts of squeaks and groans. To make matters worse, the gears don't always engage; so you'll have a hard time tuning up to pitch. Long story short, these tuners are goners and need to be replaced.

Serial Number/Trapezoid Tuners

Holding down the other end of the strings is a chrome Ibanez FAT-6 tremolo bridge. The really neat thing about this bridge is the Ibanez stamp on the bridge plate and saddles. The presence of this stamp reassures the player that the FAT-6 is a piece of quality hardware. On the flip side, the tremolo arm is missing, and most of the smaller components are either badly tarnished or rusted. By the looks of it, the saddle height hex screws may need to be replaced. If I can unscrew them, that is.

Ibanez FAT-6 Tremolo Bridge

Tremolo Block and Springs

I'll conclude this post with an evaluation of the electronics on this Ibanez GRX70DX. Pickup configuration is HSH, with a middle single-coil flanked by neck and bridge humbuckers. All three pickups are wired to a five-way selector switch, master volume and tone controls, and a mono output jack. Volume and tone knobs are chromed plastic, while the output jack is side-mounted on an oval metal jack plate. Removing the control cavity cover reveals shielding paint, neat wiring, Alpha mini pots, and a PCB switch. The good news here is that the electronics are in working condition, and should be in fine form after servicing.

HSH Pickup Configuration

Controls and Selector Switch

Shielded Control Cavity