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 BTB33 FIVE-STRING Image

IBANEZ BTB33 FIVE-STRING

-offset double cutaway mahogany wing body, ash top, five-piece maple/bubinga NTB, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard, matching headstock overlay, two/three-per-side tuners, mono-rail V bridge, two Bartolini BH-1 humbucker pickups, Ibanez 3-band E...

IBANEZ ADC120 Image

IBANEZ ADC120

- single cutaway mahogany body slightly based on a Les Paul, set mahogany neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with special designer inlays, black headstock with three-per-side tuners, Gibraltar III bridge, STB, two VK blade pickups, two knob...

IBANEZ RC430 Image

IBANEZ RC430

- offset double-cutaway Roadcore style basswood body, RC maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, matching headstock, six-on-a-side tuners, Standard Tremolo bridge, three Core Tone S single-coil pickups, three knobs (v, two...

IBANEZ RGIB6 Image

IBANEZ RGIB6

- offset double cutaway mahogany body, three-piece maple/bubinga neck, 24-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with no inlays, matching headstock with six-on-a-side tuners, Gibraltar Standard II bridge, two EMG humbucker pickups, one volume knob...

IBANEZ RGD320 Image

IBANEZ RGD320

- offset double cutaway basswood body, bolt-on three-piece maple Wizard II neck, 24-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with RGD special checkmark inlays, standard headstock with matching finish overlay and Ibanez logo, six-on-one-side tuners,...

IBANEZ RGA7 SEVEN-STRING Image

IBANEZ RGA7 SEVEN-STRING

- seven-string configuration, offset double cutaway RG-style mahogany body with an arched top, white body binding, five-piece Wizard II maple/walnut neck, 24-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlays, standard headstock with bla...

IBANEZ DG350 "DESTROYER" Image

IBANEZ DG350 "DESTROYER"

- Explorer/Dean ML-style basswood body, flame maple top, black body binding, one-piece maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlays, matching finish headstock overlay, six-on-one-side tuners, double locking Ibanez Edge tre...

IBANEZ SRT700DX Image

IBANEZ SRT700DX

- offset double cutaway Soundgear-style mahogany body, five-piece maple/bubinga SRT4 NTB, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with abalone oval inlays, matching finish headstock overlay with "SDGR" logo, two-per-side tuners, Accu-Cast B3...

IBANEZ RS420 Image

IBANEZ RS420

- offset double cutaway basswood body, rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, six-on-one-side tuners, Pro-Rock'r double locking vibrato bridge with Top Lok, two Ibanez Duo-Sound pickups, three knobs (two v, tone), three-way pickup switch, av...

IBANEZ MC100 Image

IBANEZ MC100

- slightly offset double cutaway ash/mahogany laminated body, bolt-on laminated rock maple neck, 24-fret ebonized rosewood fingerboard with pearloid dot inlays, mahogany headstock overlay, three-per-side Ibanez Velve-Tune II tuners, Gibralt...

IBANEZ SRA300 Image

IBANEZ SRA300

- offset double cutaway Soundgear-style mahogany body with an arched top, three-piece maple SRA4 neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlays, black headstock overlay with "SDGR" logo, two-per-side tuners, B-10 bridge,...

IBANEZ TRB1 Image

IBANEZ TRB1

- offset double cutaway alder body, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, four-on-a-side tuners, die cast fixed bridge, black hardware, one J-style and one P-style pickups, three knobs, available in Black, C...

IBANEZ G104 Image

IBANEZ G104

- offset double cutaway ergonomic alder body with an ash top and back, six bolt five-piece wenge/bubinga Grooveline neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with no inlays, black headstock overlay with Ibanez logo, two-per-side tuners, Tight-end...

IBANEZ MAB4FM/QM (FLAME/QUILT MAPLE) Image

IBANEZ MAB4FM/QM (FLAME/QUILT MAPLE)

- offset double cutaway mahogany body, flame maple (FM) or quilt maple (QM) top, maple/purple heart three-piece through body neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, Wilkinson fixed bridge, two-per-side tuners, P-style/J-sty...

IBANEZ RG90BKP Image

IBANEZ RG90BKP

- offset double cutaway basswood body, five-piece maple/wenge neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, matching headstock with nine-string tuner configuration, Gibraltar Standard II-9 bridge, two Bare Knuckle Canine humbucke...

IBANEZ SR05 FIVE-STRING Image

IBANEZ SR05 FIVE-STRING

- offset double cutaway light ash body, bolt-on three-piece maple neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, matching headstock with 3/2-per-side tuners, HB-5 bridge, two Lo-Z combination pickups (one straight, one angled), four kno...

IBANEZ AXS32 Image

IBANEZ AXS32

- double offset mahogany body, three-piece mahogany neck, 22-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with 12th fret inlay, STB bridge, three-per-side tuners, two humbucker pickups (AH3, AH4), four knobs, three-way switch, chrome hardware, available...

IBANEZ EARLY BLAZER MODELS Image

IBANEZ EARLY BLAZER MODELS

- offset double cutaway mahogany, ash, or alder body, bolt-on maple necks, maple or rosewood fingerboards, available in these configurations: BL50 (HH, fixed bridge, 1980-81), BL100 (SSS, phase, 1982 only), BL170 (HH, phase, 1982 only), BL3...

IBANEZ AF80 Image

IBANEZ AF80

- single rounded cutaway semi-hollow style, bound maple top, bound f-holes, maple back/sides, set-in maple neck, 22-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, adjustable rosewood bridge/trapeze tailpiece, bound blackface peghead...

IBANEZ IJL70 JUMP START PACKAGE Image

IBANEZ IJL70 JUMP START PACKAGE

- GRG70DX guitar featuring an offset double cutaway cedar body, bolt-on maple neck, 24-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with sharktooth inlays, six-on-one-side tuners, standard tremolo bridge, two humbucker pickups (bridge, neck) and one sin...

IBANEZ EX120 Image

IBANEZ EX120

-offset double cutaway basswood body, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, six-on-one-side tuners, vibrato bridge, two humbucker pickups, available in Black, Red, or White finish, mfg. 1989-1991.

IBANEZ AR200 ARTIST Image

IBANEZ AR200 ARTIST

- dual cutaway mahogany body, bound maple top, set-in maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, three-per-side tuners, chrome hardware, Full Tune II bridge/stop tailpiece, two humbucker pickups, four knobs (two v, two t...

IBANEZ JEM555 Image

IBANEZ JEM555

- offset double cutaway American basswood body, bolt-on maple neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot/vine inlay with Steve Vai signature block inlay at 24th fret, Lo TRS II tremolo, six-on-a-side tuners, charcoal hardware, humbuc...

IBANEZ FGM100 Image

IBANEZ FGM100

- sculpted thin offset double cutaway mahogany body, one-piece maple neck, 22-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with body matching color sharktooth inlay, double locking vibrato, six-on-one-side tuners, one DiMarzio humbucker, one DiMarzio si...

IBANEZ GB5 Image

IBANEZ GB5

- single round cutaway hollow style, arched spruce top, bound f-holes, raised bound maple pickguard, bound body, maple back/sides, maple/mahogany three-piece neck, 20-fret bound ebony fingerboard with pearl split block inlay, ebony bridge w...

IBANEZ ICEMAN 2663 (THE FLASH I, IC200) Image

IBANEZ ICEMAN 2663 (THE FLASH I, IC200)

- Iceman body style, B/N/H binding, set neck, 22-fret ebonized fingerboard with parallelogram inlays, offset pointy headstock with three-per-side tuners, Gibraltar bridge, cast violin tailpiece, two Super 70 humbucker pickups, four knobs (t...

IBANEZ GR220 Image

IBANEZ GR220

- double cutaway bound alder body, bound maple top, mahogany neck, 22-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, bound offset headstock with three-per-side tuners, Full Tune fixed bridge, stop tailpiece, two Ibanez P-90 pickups,...

IBANEZ GSA20 Image

IBANEZ GSA20

- double offset cutaway agathis body, GSA maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, standard tremolo, six-on-one-side tuners, two humbucker pickups (PSND1 & PSND2), available in Black finish, mfg. 2000-04.

IBANEZ GRG121DX Image

IBANEZ GRG121DX

- offset double cutaway RG-style basswood body, bolt-on maple GRG neck, 24-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with sharktooth inlays, black headstock overlay, six-per-side tuners, fixed bridge, two standard EMG-style humbucker pickups, two bla...

IBANEZ TC220 Image

IBANEZ TC220

- similar to the TC420, except features an Agathis body, standard tremolo, and two exposed humbucker pickups, available in Black or Deep Green finish, mfg. 1998 only.

IBANEZ GSR100(Z) Image

IBANEZ GSR100(Z)

- similar to Model GSR200, except has only one Powersound P-style pickup, available in Black (disc.), Black Night (2007 only), Gray Metallic (disc.), Jewel Blue, Metallic Blue (disc.), Silver (2005-07), or Trans. Red finish, mfg. 1999-2007.

IBANEZ EXB404 Image

IBANEZ EXB404

- offset double cutaway maple body, bolt-on three-piece maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, die-cast fixed bridge, four-on-one-side tuners, one P-style and one J-style pickups, three knobs, chrome hardware, availa...

IBANEZ RBM1 Image

IBANEZ RBM1

- offset double cutaway mahogany body with vibrato wedge cutaway, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, six-on-one-side tuners, double locking tremolo, small metal pickguard, two single coil and one humbucke...

IBANEZ EDA900 Image

IBANEZ EDA900

- offset double cutaway Luthite body, three-piece maple EDA4 neck, 24-medium fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay on 12th fret, two-per-side tuners, Mono-Rail II bridge, one IBZ-DFR pickup, active electronics, four knobs, chrome hardwar...

IBANEZ S1XXV (25TH ANNIVERSARY) Image

IBANEZ S1XXV (25TH ANNIVERSARY)

- offset double cutaway S-style mahogany body, bolt-on three-piece maple Wizard III neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with matching color dot inlays, standard headstock with matching finish overlay and Ibanez/S Series logos, six-on-one-sid...

IBANEZ GWB1 Image

IBANEZ GWB1

- offset double cutaway Swamp Ash body, three-piece maple neck, ebony fretless fingerboard, pearl dot position markers, STD-5 bridge, one Bartolini GW and one Bartolini NTBT pickups, black hardware, available in Natural Flat or Trans. Black...

IBANEZ DWB1 Image

IBANEZ DWB1

- offset double cutaway maple body, five-piece maple/bubinga neck-thru body, rosewood fingerboard with abalone/pearl position markers, Accu-Cast B20 bridge, one IBZ AFR-P and one IBZ AFR-J pickups, gold hardware, available in Trans. Blue fi...

IBANEZ TR50BK (IJSTR50 JUMP START PACKAGE) Image

IBANEZ TR50BK (IJSTR50 JUMP START PACKAGE)

- offset double cutaway agathis body, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret maple fingerboard with black dot inlay, fixed bridge, 4-on-a-side tuners, chrome hardware, black pickguard, P-style pickup, volume/tone controls, available in Black or Blue N...

IBANEZ A104/A104F Image

IBANEZ A104/A104F

- offset double cutaway asymmetrical saman body, maple neck NTB, 24-fret or fretless ebony fingerboard with offset pearl inlay at 12th fret, matching offset pointy headstock with two-per-side tuners, four Mono Rail bridges with tuning lever...

IBANEZ CTB1 Image

IBANEZ CTB1

- offset double cutaway maple body, bolt-on three-piece maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, two-per-side tuners, die-cast fixed bridge, chrome hardware, one P-style and one J-style Ibanez pickups, three knobs, bla...

IBANEZ ICB200 Image

IBANEZ ICB200

- single horn cutaway asymmetrical mahogany body with pointed bottom bout, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, two-per-side tuners, B-10 bridge, two MHC4 pickups, three knobs, chrome hardware, available in...

IBANEZ BTB200 Image

IBANEZ BTB200

- offset double cutaway agathis body, bolt-on three-piece maple neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlays, matching headstock with two-per-side tuners, B100 standard bridge, two Ibanez pickups, three knobs, Phat II active ele...

IBANEZ ATK100 Image

IBANEZ ATK100

- offset double cutaway basswood body, bolt-on three-piece maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, two-per-side tuners, ATK Custom surround fixed bridge, black pickguard, one double coil pickup, two knobs (v, tone), p...

IBANEZ SB900 Image

IBANEZ SB900

- similar to the SB1200, available in Black, Crimson Red, Laser Blue, Purple Neon, or Ruby Red finish, mfg. 1990-91.

IBANEZ SZ320 Image

IBANEZ SZ320

- offset double cutaway thick mahogany body with arched maple top, three-piece mahogany neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, black headstock with six-on-one-side tuners, Gibraltar III bridge, two humbucker pickups, three knobs...

IBANEZ RD300 Image

IBANEZ RD300

- offset double cutaway with extended bass horn, agathis body, maple neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, four-on-one-side tuners, B-100 bridge, two pickups, three knobs, chrome hardware, available in Black or Navy Metallic (2...

IBANEZ ARTB100 Image

IBANEZ ARTB100

- single sharp cutaway mahogany body, single-ply binding, set three-piece maple/mahogany neck, 22-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlays, bound headstock with black overlay and logo, two-per-side tuners, Gibraltar III bass br...

IBANEZ ANB1006 ADAM NITTI SIGNATURE Image

IBANEZ ANB1006 ADAM NITTI SIGNATURE

- six-string configuration, offset double cutaway SR-style swamp ash body with a figured maple top, five-piece maple/purpleheart NTB, 24-fret purpleheart fingerboard with abalone oval inlays, matching finish figured maple headstock overlay...

IBANEZ AFB200 Image

IBANEZ AFB200

- single smooth cutaway ES-5-style hollow body, maple top/back/sides, 2 f-holes, body binding, three-piece maple/mahogany neck, 22-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, bound headstock with two-per-side tuners, adj. rosewood brid...