The Ibanez trademark originated from the Fuji plant in Matsumoto, Japan. In 1932, the Hoshino Gakki Ten, Inc. factory began producing instruments under the Ibanez trademark. The factory and offices were burned down during World War II, and were revived in 1950. By the mid-1960s, Hoshino was producing instruments under various trademarks such as Ibanez, Star, King´s Stone, Jamboree, and Goldentone.
In the mid-1950s, Harry Rosenbloom opened the Medley Music store outside Philadelphia. As the Folk Music boom began in 1959, Rosenbloom decided to begin producing acoustic guitars and formed the Elger company (named after Rosenbloom's children, Ellen and Gerson). Elger acoustics were produced in Ardmore, Pennsylvania between 1959 and 1965.
In the 1960s, Rosenbloom travelled to Japan and found a number of companies that he contracted to produce the Elger acoustics. Later, he was contacted by Hoshino to form a closer business relationship. The first entry level solid body guitars featuring original designs first surfaced in the mid-1960s, some bearing the Elger trademark, and some bearing the Ibanez logo. One of the major keys to the perceived early Ibanez quality is due to Hoshino shipping the guitars to the Elger factory in Ardmore. The arriving guitars would be re-checked, and set up prior to shipping to the retailer. Many distributors at the time would just simply ship product to the retailer, and let surprises occur at the unboxing. By reviewing the guitars in a separate facility, Hoshino/Ibanez could catch any problems before the retailer - so the number of perceived flawed guitars was reduced at the retail/sales end. In England, Ibanez was imported by the Summerfield Brothers, and sometimes had either the CSL trademark or no trademark at all on the headstock. Other U.K. distributors used the Antoria brand name, and in Australia they were rebranded with a Jason logo.
In the early 1970s, the level of quality rose as well as the level of indebtedness to classic American designs. It has been argued that Ibanez´ reproductions of Stratocasters and Les Pauls may be equal to or better than the quality of Norlin era Gibsons or CBS era Fenders. While the Blue Book of Electric Guitars would rather stay neutral on this debate (we just list them, not rate them), it has been suggested by outside sources that next time close your eyes and let your hands and ears be the judge. In any event, the unauthorized reproductions eventually led to Fender´s objections to Tokai´s imports (the infamous headstock sawing rumour), and Norlin/Gibson taking Hoshino/Ibanez/Elger into court for patent infringement.
When Ibanez began having success basically reproducing Gibson guitars and selling them at a lower price on the market, Norlin (Gibson´s owner at the time) sent off a cease-and-desist warning. Norlin´s lawyers decided that the best way to proceed was to defend the decorative (the headstock) versus the functional (body design), and on June 28th, 1977 the case of Gibson vs. Elger Co. opened in Philadelphia Federal District Court. In early 1978, a resolution was agreed upon: Ibanez would stop reproducing Gibsons if Norlin would stop suing Ibanez. The case was officially closed on February 2, 1978.
The infringement lawsuit ironically might have been the kick in the pants that propelled Ibanez and other Japanese builders to get back into original designs. Ibanez stopped building Gibson exact reproductions, and moved on to other designs. By the early 1980s, certain guitar styles began appealing to other areas of the guitar market (notably the Hard Rock/Heavy Metal genre), and Ibanez's use of famous endorsers probably fueled the appeal. Ibanez´s continuing program of original designs and artist involvement continued to work in the mid to late 1980s, and continues to support their position in the market today (source: Michael Wright, Guitar Stories, Volume One).
In 2011, Ibanez announced they were closing their western distribution offices in Idaho Falls, ID and moving all operations to their Bensalem, PA office.
Instruments currently produced in Japan since the early 1960s, Korea since the 1980s, and China since the early 2000s. Ibanez guitars are distributed in the U.S. by Ibanez USA (Hoshino) in Bensalem, PA. Previously distributed in Idaho Falls, ID. Other distribution offices include Quebec (for Canada), Sydney (for Australia), and Auckland (for New Zealand).

IBANEZ Electric Guitars Models

IBANEZ RG420 Image

IBANEZ RG420

- similar to the RG320, except features Lo TRS tremolo, two humbucker (V7/V8) IBZ pickups, and black hardware, available in Black or Royal Blue finish, mfg. 1998 only.

IBANEZ AFJ957 Seven-String Image

IBANEZ AFJ957 Seven-String

- similar to the AFJ95, except in seven-string configuration with 4/3-per-side tuners, two ACH7 humbucker pickups, and a rosewood trapeze tailpiece, available in Vintage Sunburst finish, mfg. 2013-present.

IBANEZ SR5006E Six-String Image

IBANEZ SR5006E Six-String

- similar to the SR5000E, except in six-string configuration with three-per-side tuners, available in Oil finish, hardshell case included, mfg. 2009-2014.

IBANEZ 2368 TELECASTER THINLINE Image

IBANEZ 2368 TELECASTER THINLINE

- single cutaway semi-hollow Telecaster-style body, single f-hole, bolt-on maple neck, 21-fret maple fingerboard with black dot inlay, six-on-one-side tuners, Tele-style bridge, large pearloid white pickguard, one humbucker and one single c...

IBANEZ RG1550M Image

IBANEZ RG1550M

- offset double cutaway RG-style basswood body, five-piece Wizard Prestige maple/walnut neck, 24-fret maple fingerboard with black dot inlays, standard headstock with black overlay and logo, six-on-one-side tuners, Edge Pro tremolo bridge,...

IBANEZ SR375F Five-String Fretless Image

IBANEZ SR375F Five-String Fretless

- offset double cutaway maple body, bolt-on five-piece maple/rosewood SR5 neck, fretless rosewood fingerboard with white dot inlays, matching finish headstock overlay with "SDGR" logo, three/two-per-side tuners, Accu-Cast B125 bri...

IBANEZ AFS77T Image

IBANEZ AFS77T

- single cutaway jumbo hollow body archtop ES-5 style, maple back/top/sides, two f-holes, body binding, three-piece maple/mahogany neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with block inlay, three-per-side tuners, Vintage Vibrato tailpiece, pickgu...

IBANEZ ART600 ARTIST Image

IBANEZ ART600 ARTIST

- single sharp cutaway sapele body, quilted maple top, single-ply body binding, set three-piece sapele/maple neck, 22-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with ART block inlays, black headstock overlay, three-per-side Auto Trim locking tuners, T...

IBANEZ AS180 Image

IBANEZ AS180

- similar to AS80, except has a three-piece maple/mahogany set-in neck, cream dot fingerboard inlay, Gibralter II tune-o-matic bridge, and wrap-around tailpiece, available in Stained Sunburst finish, mfg. 1997-99.

IBANEZ S540FM Flame Maple Image

IBANEZ S540FM Flame Maple

- similar to S540, except has flame maple top, bound rosewood fingerboard with abalone oval inlay, and chrome hardware, available in Cherry Wine (1991-94), Trans. Black (1994-96), Trans. Blue (1991-92), Trans. Magenta (1991 only), Trans. Pu...

IBANEZ GSRM20 MIKRO Image

IBANEZ GSRM20 MIKRO

- short scale version of the GSR20 with a 28.6 in. scale neck, mahogany body, bolt-on maple neck, two-per-side tuners, B10 bridge, one J-style and one P-style pickups, three knobs, chrome hardware, available in Amethyst Sky Metallic (2007-2...

IBANEZ SR5000 PRESTIGE Image

IBANEZ SR5000 PRESTIGE

-offset double cutaway SR mahogany/wenge body, wenge top, five-piece wenge/bubinga bolt-on neck, 24-fret wenge fingerboard with pearl/abalone oval inlay, matching headstock overlay, two-per-side tuners, mono-rail V bridge, two Bartolini cus...

IBANEZ 2370 ES-345 Image

IBANEZ 2370 ES-345

- semi-hollow thin ES-345-style hardwood body, multi-layer top and back binding, two bound f-holes, bolt-on neck, 22-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with split parallelogram inlays, three-per-side tuners, tune-o-matic-style bridge, trapeze...

IBANEZ RG420GK Image

IBANEZ RG420GK

- similar to the RG420, except has a Roland GK pickup, three knobs, and two mini-switches, available in Black finish, mfg. 2002 only.

IBANEZ MBM1 MATT BACHAND SIGNATURE Image

IBANEZ MBM1 MATT BACHAND SIGNATURE

- offset double cutaway RG-style mahogany body, bolt-on five-piece maple/walnut MBM Prestige neck, 24-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with offset dot inlays, standard headstock, truss rod cover with initials "SF," six-on-one-side...

IBANEZ RG420RW Image

IBANEZ RG420RW

-similar to the RG420, except features a rosewood top, available in Charcoal Brown Flat finish, mfg. 2014-present.

IBANEZ ART700EQM ARTIST Image

IBANEZ ART700EQM ARTIST

- single sharp cutaway mahogany body, quilted maple top, single-ply body binding, set one-piece mahogany neck, 22-fret black-bound rosewood fingerboard with pearl block inlays, bound black headstock overlay with Ibanez and stylized "I&...

IBANEZ AS200 Image

IBANEZ AS200

- double cutaway semi-hollow body, bound flame maple top, flame maple back and sides, three-piece mahogany/maple neck, 22-fret ebony fingerboard with pearl/abalone block fingerboard inlay, three-per-side tuners with pearl buttons, Gibralter...

IBANEZ RG1570 Image

IBANEZ RG1570

- offset double cutaway basswood body, five-piece Wizard Prestige maple/walnut neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, black headstock with six-on-one-side tuners, Edge Pro bridge, two humbucker and one single coil pickups in H/S...

IBANEZ AFS78T Image

IBANEZ AFS78T

- single cutaway jumbo hollow body archtop ES-5 style, maple back/top/sides, two bound f-holes, body binding, three-piece maple/mahogany neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with block inlay, three-per-side tuners, Vintage Vibrato tailpiece,...

IBANEZ SR5005 FIVE-STRING PRESTIGE Image

IBANEZ SR5005 FIVE-STRING PRESTIGE

-offset double cutaway SR mahogany/wenge body, wenge top, five-piece wenge/bubinga bolt-on neck, 24-fret wenge fingerboard with pearl/abalone oval inlay, matching headstock overlay, two/three-per-side tuners, mono-rail V bridge, two Bartoli...

IBANEZ 2372 LES PAUL PRO Image

IBANEZ 2372 LES PAUL PRO

- single cutaway Les Paul Professional-style hardwood body, contoured top, body binding, bolt-on neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with MOP block inlay, three-per-side tuners, tune-o-matic-style bridge, stop-style tailpiece, raised black p...

IBANEZ 540S Pro Image

IBANEZ 540S Pro

- similar to the 540S, was produced before the 540S came out, available in Black Cherry or Sunset Red , mfg. 1987.

IBANEZ GSRM20B Image

IBANEZ GSRM20B

- short scale version of the GSR20 with a 28.6 in. scale neck, mahogany body, bolt-on maple neck, two-per-side tuners, B10 bridge, one J-style and one P-style Dynamix pickups, three knobs, black hardware, available in Walnut Flat finish, mf...

IBANEZ SR390 Image

IBANEZ SR390

- offset double cutaway ash body, bolt-on three-piece maple neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, two-per-side tuners, standard fixed bridge, two IBZ DX soapbar pickups, three knobs, Phat bass boost circuitry, black hardw...

IBANEZ S540QM Quilt Maple Image

IBANEZ S540QM Quilt Maple

- similar to S540, except has quilted maple top, bound rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, and chrome hardware, available in Trans. Blue finish, mfg. 1997 only.

IBANEZ SR400 Image

IBANEZ SR400

- offset double cutaway soft maple body, bolt-on three-piece maple neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, two-per-side tuners, die-cast fixed bridge, black hardware, one P and one J-style Ibanez DX pickups, four knobs (one...

IBANEZ ARX100 ARTIST Image

IBANEZ ARX100 ARTIST

- double smooth cutaway mahogany body, B/N/H binding, set neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with block inlay, three-per-side tuners, Gibraltar III bridge, triangle-shaped tailpiece, two exposed humbucker pickups, three knobs, three-way swi...

IBANEZ AS200 PRESTIGE Image

IBANEZ AS200 PRESTIGE

- double rounded-cutaway thin hollow flamed maple body, multi-ply body binding, two bound f-holes, mahogany set neck, 22-fret bound ebony fingerboard with acrylic/abalone block inlays, three-per-side tuners with pearl buttons, Gotoh 510BN b...

IBANEZ UV70P Image

IBANEZ UV70P

- offset double cutaway basswood body, bolt-on five-piece maple/walnut neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with green dot inlay, Edge Zero II-7 tremolo, seven-on-one-side tuners, black pickguard, Cosmo Black hardware, two humbucker and one s...

IBANEZ MBM2 MATT BACHAND SIGNATURE Image

IBANEZ MBM2 MATT BACHAND SIGNATURE

- offset double cutaway RG-style mahogany body, bolt-on three-piece maple Wizard II neck, 24-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with offset dot inlays, standard headstock, truss rod cover with initials "SF," six-on-one-side tuners, G...

IBANEZ RG420CM Image

IBANEZ RG420CM

- offset double cutaway mahogany body with cinnamon top, bolt-on three-piece maple Wizard II neck, 24-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with sharktooth inlays, black finish headstock, six-on-one-side tuners, Edge III tremolo bridge with locki...

IBANEZ AFS80T Image

IBANEZ AFS80T

- single smooth cutaway jumbo hollow archtop ES-5-style body, maple top, back, and sides, two bound f-holes, body binding, three-piece mahogany/maple DX set neck, 22-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with pearl block inlays, bound black heads...

IBANEZ SR5006 SIX-STRING PRESTIGE Image

IBANEZ SR5006 SIX-STRING PRESTIGE

-offset double cutaway SR mahogany/wenge body, wenge top, five-piece wenge/bubinga bolt-on neck, 24-fret wenge fingerboard with pearl/abalone oval inlay, matching headstock overlay, three-per-side tuners, mono-rail V bridge, two Bartolini c...

IBANEZ AFS85T Image

IBANEZ AFS85T

- single cutaway jumbo hollow body archtop ES-5 style, cordia top, back, and sides, two f-holes, multi-layer B/W binding, mahogany neck, 22-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with special plus sign block inlays, bound headstock, three-per-side...

IBANEZ ARX120 ARTIST Image

IBANEZ ARX120 ARTIST

- double smooth cutaway mahogany body, B/N/H binding, set ARX neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with diamond and 12th fret shining star inlays, three-per-side tuners, Gibraltar III bridge, Quick-Change Ultra tailpiece, two exposed humbucke...