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Ibanez electric guitars, whether the bass or the classic, are known for their warm tone and crisp sound. They also have an excellent reputation for giving you that bad boy look without emptying your wallet and your savings. But where did Ibanez come from? Perhaps because of its reputation, the name sounds cutting edge and exotic, but the truth is Ibanez are, simply put, a superior Japanese product with a Spanish history and design.
Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
In 1908 The Hoshino Shoten Bookstore Co., owned by Hoshino Gakki, kept a small corner reserved for the instrumental sales sector. Eventually, this unofficial sector turned into the Hoshino Gakki Company which began producing its own stringed instruments in 1935. The small business grew steadily over the years and eventually exploded in the Western world in the 1960s. At that time, Hoshino hired the retired Teisco and FujiGen Gakki guitar factories to manufacture his guitars.
From Ibanez to Hoshino
Originally the Ibanez guitars, created by the famous Salvador Ibanez, were unattainable after Salvador's workshop was destroyed in the Spanish Civil War. However, the instruments remained in high demand despite their being relatively extinct and so Hoshino bought the brand name and began making the Spanish guitars himself.
Stars in the Legend
1957 marks the release of the modern line of Ibanez guitars, which are used by all types of musicians, even today, from jazz artists to country, pop and rock. They are most noted, however for their use in metal and hard rock because of their appearance. Wild patterns and colors always graced the machines and boosted their sales because of their affordability.
In the early 1960s Ibanez designs were too similar to American made guitars and an unofficial lawsuit developed between the parent company of Fender and Hoshino Gakki toward the turn of the decade. Gakki settled out of court and developed nothing but unique designs from there on out, including:
- Ibanez Iceman
- Ibanez Roadstar
The late 70s to mid 80s were very successful for Gakki. He had developed a working relationship with Steve Vai, guitar god, and together they released the Ibanez JEM. Not too long after, Hoshino released his first superstrat, the Ibanez RG series. This was an excellent, low price copy of the JEM model with the well known Ibanez Edge tremolo. The Edge tremolo allowed Hoshino to manufacture with increased mass, much improved locking posts and better placed fine tuners.
Fun Facts
- Gakki released semi-acoustic and steel stringed guitars named Tama from 1974 to 1979.
- Tama guitars were made in a drum factory, owned by Gakki.
- Many Ibanez guitars are now made in Korea, China and Indonesia as well as Japan.
- Many of the factories used by Ibanez are also used to make Rolands as well as other brands.
- Hoshino also owned the Starfield Guitar brand.
- Ibanez and Greco have similar features in their guitars because Gakki befriended Kanda Shokai.
Back It Up/p>
In the end, the Ibanez name, which stands for high quality at budget prices, is well known in the music industry and well used. I leave you with knowing that Ibanez is an intelligent investment for all types of musicians as well as this list of rockers who wail on an Ibanez regularly.
- Steve Vai: JEM7VWH, JEM7VBK, UV777PBK, JEM555BK
- Joe Satriani: JS1000 and JS1200
- Honza Kirk Behunek: RG15
- Curtis Chambers: SZ
- Brad Delson:RG7620
- Tom Fischer: Iceman
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