Ibanez RG8EX-BKF

Ibanez RG8EX-BKF review

The Ibanez RG8EX-BKF is an eight-string electric guitar in the RG series, finished in matte black. Listed at 529, it offers a 27-inch scale, a fixed bridge, and two passive humbucking pickups. Those details place it among more accessible entry points to eight-string playing, while player feedback is divided on its ergonomics, setup, and value. The instrument has been available since March 2024.

Several players describe it as comfortable to play, with sound quality they consider impressive for the price. One owner moved from an Ibanez M80M to this model specifically for its shorter scale, while retaining a familiar RG body and neck profile. That comparison suggests the RG8EX-BKF may suit players who want eight strings without the longer scale of some other instruments. It is not a guarantee of comfort for everyone, especially given conflicting reports about the neck and overall feel.

Neck, scale, and playing feel

The bolt-on neck is made from five pieces of maple and walnut, with a Wizard III profile and a jatoba fingerboard. Its 686 mm, or 27-inch, scale is shorter than the scale found on many extended-range guitars. The nut measures 55 mm, and the fingerboard has a 15.75-inch radius. There are 24 jumbo frets, white dot inlays, and a plastic nut.

That scale length is a key part of the guitar's appeal. A player who preferred the RG8EX-BKF to an M80M cited the shorter scale as the reason for switching. It can make the instrument feel more familiar to someone coming from a conventional electric guitar, although an eight-string neck still requires a wider reach and adjustment to the additional strings. Another owner praised the guitar's playability, but a different report called the neck chunky and the ergonomics poor. These comments point to a personal fit issue rather than a universally agreed-upon advantage.

The supplied string set is listed as.009,.011,.016,.024,.032,.042,.054, and.065. String choice and setup affect tension and feel, so players may want to check whether the factory setup suits their tuning and playing style. The available reports include a complaint of heavy buzzing on the low F-sharp, along with a separate criticism of fret leveling. Those are meaningful concerns for an instrument in this price range, but they describe individual examples and do not establish that every guitar will arrive with the same problems.

Pickups and controls

Two Super 8 humbuckers sit in the neck and bridge positions. The controls are straightforward: one volume control, one tone control, and a three-way pickup selector. The electronics are passive, with no active preamp listed. One player found the sound impressive for the price, while another felt the pickups fell short of those in a competing eight-string guitar. The supplied feedback therefore offers no single consensus on tone. The pickup layout and simple controls provide a conventional starting point, but players should judge the sound against their own tuning, amplifier, and recording needs.

Bridge, construction, and finish

The F108 is a fixed bridge, and there is no tremolo. Ibanez machine heads and black hardware complete the hardware specification. The body is meranti, with no separate top, and the neck and body have a matte polyurethane finish. The listed color is Black Flat.

One owner reported minor factory finish issues, including glue on the body. That is worth checking during inspection, particularly if buying in person or ordering from a retailer with a clear return policy. The guitar does not include a case or gig bag, so transport protection is an additional purchase. Its fixed bridge keeps the hardware arrangement simple, but the supplied information does not establish anything about long-term tuning stability or the consistency of individual factory setups.

Verdict

The RG8EX-BKF has a clear case to make for players seeking an eight-string guitar with a shorter 27-inch scale, a familiar RG-style body, and a basic passive pickup setup. Positive reports highlight comfortable playing and strong sound for the price. The main cautions are conflicting opinions about neck comfort, a reported fret-buzz problem, and occasional finish complaints. At a listed price of 529, inspect the setup and finish where possible, and factor in the cost of a gig bag or case. It may be a useful starting point for eight-string playing, but the mixed feedback makes a hands-on check especially worthwhile.