Electric Guitar Shop

Ibanez electric guitars are inseparable from their Japanese roots as the Hoshino Gakki musical Instrument Co. in Japan imported Salvador Ibanez instruments as far back as the late 1920s. The Ibanez Company was eventually bought by Hoshino Gakki and by the late 1950s Ibanez electric guitars were being fabricated solely in Japan. Since 1982 Ibanez electric guitars have been sold on the international market.

Originally the Ibanez electric guitars were imitations or copies of already established models made by Fender and Gibson, but by the late 1970s Ibanez emerged on the market with their own unique models, the Iceman, and the Ibanez Roadstar, thereby securing their place in the market of electric guitars. Since the production of the Iceman and the Roadstar, the company has no longer been producing copies of other models.

The Ibanez Roadstar series features 24 fret slim necks and most of the models have bolt-on necks with high-performing tremolos. One way to easily identify an Ibanez electric Ibanez GB10 Electric Guitar w/ bonus Fender Telecaster guitar is by the “Monkey grip” or the “Lion’s Claw” just below the tremolo. Vine or Pyramid inlay are also signature design qualities of Ibanez electric guitars. Today’s Roadstar guitars include a 6-step special treatment to the fret board for more comfortable playing. Ibanez also designed the “S” series which is now famous for its ergonomic and light weight bodies made of mahogany wood. As intricate design is ingrained in Japanese esthetics, it is no surprise that the Ibanez electric guitars include delicate inlay in their design.

Some of the famous musicians who favor the Ibanez electric guitars are Frank Gambale, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani and Nuno Bettencourt. Herman Li, guitarist for Dragonforce, is the newest endorser of Ibanez guitars. Frank Zappa’s guitarist, Steve Vai formed a relationship with Ibanez in the early 1990s, a collaboration that resulted in the Ibanez JEM and the Ibanez Universe models. Soon after the success of the JEM, a lower-priced version of this model appeared on the market and it too, was an instant hit among electric guitar enthusiasts.

Also true to Japanese manufacturing that aims for high quality at low cost, Ibanez electric guitars are noted for being amongst the best made guitars on the market for the best price. With so much bang for your buck, you really can’t go wrong with an Ibanez. In 2002 the company released the new Artcore series, a hollow body guitar aimed to attract the novice guitarist. Since then, the Artcore is considered to be among the very best value guitars on today’s market. 

With its beginnings in Spain and its foot in the door to the Japanese market before its destruction in the Spanish Civil War, the Ibanez Company survived incredible obstacles, finally securing its place in the world market for electric guitars. This is truly remarkable and speaks highly for the persistence and dedication to excellence that has made the Ibanez electric guitar what it is today: an awesome instrument worthy of the passionate player’s attention.