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 BL700 Image

IBANEZ BL700

- offset double cutaway ash body, bolt-on maple neck, 21-fret maple fingerboard with black dot inlay, four-on-one-side tuners, fixed bridge, black pickguard, one Super P4 pickup, two knobs, brass hardware, available in Natural or Trans. Vio...

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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 1910 YAMAHA SA-30 Image

IBANEZ 1910 YAMAHA SA-30

- semi-hollow symmetrical double cutaway SA-30 style, two f-holes, body binding, bolt-on neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with a round end, three-per-side tuners, adjustable bridge, vibrato tailpiece, raised black pickguard, four knobs, t...

IBANEZ 1915 YAMAHA SA-70 BASS Image

IBANEZ 1915 YAMAHA SA-70 BASS

- semi-hollow symmetrical double cutaway SA-70 bass-style, two f-holes, body binding, bolt-on neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with a round end and dot inlays, two-per-side tuners, covered bridge, trapeze tailpiece, raised black pickguard...

IBANEZ DB700 DESTROYER II (X SERIES) Image

IBANEZ DB700 DESTROYER II (X SERIES)

- Explorer-style shaped basswood body with beveled (crystal-cut) edges on both sides, rosewood fingerboard, four-on-one-side tuners, standard bridge, one Super J6 and one Super J5S pickups, three knobs, balancer, black hardware, available i...

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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 RG1XXV (25TH ANNIVERSARY) Image

IBANEZ RG1XXV (25TH ANNIVERSARY)

- offset double cutaway RG-style American basswood body, bolt-on five-piece maple/walnut Wizard Premium neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with matching finish sharktooth inlays, standard headstock with matching finish overlay and Ibanez/Pr...

IBANEZ RX60 Image

IBANEZ RX60

- offset double cutaway hardwood body, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret maple fingerboard with black dot inlays, six-on-one-side tuners, standard tremolo bridge, tortoise pickguard, one humbucker and two single coil black pickups HSS, two knobs...

IBANEZ PM2 PAT METHENY Image

IBANEZ PM2 PAT METHENY

- single rounded cutaway semi-hollow body, maple top, back, and sides, two bound f-holes, multi-layer B/W binding, set three-piece mahogany/maple neck, 22-fret bound ebony fingerboard with pearl/abalone block inlays and 21st fret Pat Methen...

IBANEZ RT150 Image

IBANEZ RT150

- offset double cutaway alder body, bolt-on maple neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, standard vibrato, six-on-one-side tuners, white pickguard, two humbucker and one single coil pickups HSH, two knobs (v, tone), five-w...

IBANEZ R442 Image

IBANEZ R442

- offset double cutaway alder body, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret maple fingerboard with black dot inlay, locking vibrato, six-on-one-side locking tuners, black hardware, two single coil and one humbucker Ibanez pickups HSS, two knobs (v, ton...

IBANEZ FRM100 PAUL GILBERT FIREMAN Image

IBANEZ FRM100 PAUL GILBERT FIREMAN

- reverse Iceman-style mahogany body, set three-piece mahogany/maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlays, Iceman-style headstock with black overlay and vertical Ibanez logo, Tight Tune bridge, Tight Tune stop tailpiece,...

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...

IBANEZ AXB50 Image

IBANEZ AXB50

- offset double cutaway basswood body with an extended bass horn and a cutout for the bridge (RBM style), 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, no headstock, FineTune bridge/tailpiece, two humbucker pickups, three knobs, balancer, bl...

IBANEZ MX2 Image

IBANEZ MX2

- offset double cutaway mahogany body, bolt-on neck with all-access heel, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, matching headstock with six-on-one-side tuners, Edge locking vibrato, two Ibanez humbucker pickups, two knobs (v, tone),...

IBANEZ SRX300 Image

IBANEZ SRX300

- offset double cutaway SR style basswood body, maple neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlays, two-per-side tuners, Accu-Cast B-100 bridge, two PFR pickups, four knobs, chrome hardware, available in Bright Blue, Iron Pewter...

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 AF55 Image

IBANEZ AF55

- single cutaway jumbo hollow body archtop ES-5 style, maple top, back, and sides, two unbound f-holes, cream body binding, set mahogany neck, 22-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, black headstock overlay with Ibanez logo and...

IBANEZ JTK1 Image

IBANEZ JTK1

- offset double cutaway, basswood body, three-piece maple neck, 22-fret rosewood neck with narrow side inlays, three-per-side tuners with plastic knobs, standard bridge, STB with plate, chrome pickguard, two humbucker pickups, two knobs, th...

IBANEZ SCA220 Image

IBANEZ SCA220

- offset double cutaway mahogany body, one-piece maple neck, rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot position markers, 22 large frets, Short Stop II bridge, 2 IBZ V6 humbucker pickups, chrome hardware, available in Black Pearl or Cosmic Blue fi...

IBANEZ SR1000EFM FLAME MAPLE Image

IBANEZ SR1000EFM FLAME MAPLE

- offset double cutaway maple body with flame maple top, five-piece maple/bubinga neck-thru body design, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with offset abalone oval inlays, two-per-side tuners, Monorail bridge, two Bartolini pickups, four knobs,...