Ibanez (アイバニーズ (Expansion Opening Needs), Aibanīzu) (pronounced [aɪˈbænɛz] in English) is a well known guitar brand owned by Hoshino Gakki based in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan. Ibanez production was started in Japan in 1970 by Hoshino Gakki but the actual Ibanez name dates back to the Ibanez Salvadol Brand in 1929. Hoshino Gakki owns the Ibanez (guitars) and Tama (drums) brand names. Ibanez is only a brand name that is owned by Hoshino Gakki and therefore Ibanez does not produce guitars. A Ibanez guitar is not produced by Ibanez, a Ibanez guitar is produced by Hoshino Gakki who contract guitar factories to make guitars for them bearing the Ibanez brand name.

The Hoshino Gakki company began in 1908 as a musical instrument sales division of the Hoshino Shoten bookstore company. In 1935 they began manufacturing their own stringed instruments. The company had little presence in the Western world until the mid-1960s.

They started on importing Spanish guitars from the famous Spanish luthier Salvador Ibáñez (1854 - 1920), but when the Spanish workshop was destroyed during the Spanish Civil War (1936 - 1939) and the original guitars became unavailable (and very much sought after because of their excellent quality), they bought the rights of the trademark Ibanez and started making Spanish and acoustic guitars on their own, first as "Ibanez Salvador", and later as "Ibanez".

Harry's Rosenbloom, of Medley Music, based in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, was manufacturing handmade guitars under the name "Elger." By 1965 Rosenbloom had decided to stop manufacturing guitars and chose to become the exclusive North American distributor for Ibanez guitars. At the time, the phrase "made in Japan" was considered to have negative connotations of low quality, so Hoshino Gakki and Rosenbloom wanted to distribute the instruments under a "non-Japanese" name, so it was decided to market all the instruments (and not only the acoustics) under the Ibanez brand name. In 1981 Hoshino purchased Elger Guitars, renaming the company "Hoshino U.S.A." and retaining the company headquarters in Bensalem, Pennsylvania as a distribution and quality-control center.

In the early 1970s Hoshino began making Ibanez guitars that were almost exact copies of popular models by Gibson, Fender and Rickenbacker. Using somewhat cheaper materials and greater automation in manufacturing, they were able to sell these guitars for a significantly lower price than the originals. The low price combined with the relatively high quality of the guitars made these models very popular. Many guitar aficionados feel that the early- and mid-70s mark a low point in the quality of guitars from the major manufacturers, which helped contribute to the popularity of the Ibanez copies. These guitars have become known as "lawsuit" guitars and have become highly collectible.

The actual lawsuit referred to was brought by the Norlin Corporation, the parent company of Gibson guitars, in 1977, and was based on an Ibanez headstock design that had been discontinued by 1976. Hoshino settled out of court, and by 1978 had begun making Ibanez guitars from their own designs.

Abandoning the strategy of copying "classic" electric guitar designs, the newer models began incorporating more modern elements into their design, such as radical body shapes, slimmer necks and flatter fingerboards (which allowed for faster playing), higher-output electronics and colourful finishes. This led to an increasing popularity with heavy metal musicians. The company also began an extensive program of consulting with well-known guitar players, such as Kevin 'Noodles' Wasserman, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Paul Gilbert, Munky, Andy Timmons, George Benson, John Petrucci, Herman Li and Sam Totman, creating signature models made to the players' specifications.

Hoshino also manufactures Ibanez electro-acoustic and acoustic guitars, both nylon and steel-stringed. The logo used on the headstocks of the acoustic guitars is the original Spanish Ibanez logo. Most Ibanez guitars were made for Hoshino by the FujiGen guitar factory in Japan up till the mid to late 1980's and from then on Ibanez guitars have also been made in other Asian countries such as Korea and China.

• GIO series is the budget range, with this name assigned to their headstock above the Ibanez logo. The GIO range have the budget copies for RG, RX, SA, SZ, and AX series. The GRGM mikro, the sole 3/4-sized guitar made by Ibanez, also belong to this category.

• Ibanez RG, also known as "road gear" series, is Ibanez's superstrat series, all featuring 24-fret necks. It has the following sub series:
  • RG Prestige - High-end range which are made in Japan/Korea. Contains the Hi-Spec RG, RGT and RGA designs. Also all earlier models of RG above the RG410. A Notable model in the series is the RG550, used by Paul Gilbert while in Mr. Big.
  • RG Tremolo - Basic superstrat design with Floyd Rose-like tremolo. Contains The Standard Spec RG and RGT models with Edge III tremolo systems. Most RG models have two humbucker pickups in the bridge and neck positions.Some may have one single coil pickup in the middle position.
  • RG Fixed - Just like RG Tremolo, but with a fixed bridge (no tremolo system); uses locking bridges to ensure the string stay in tune..

• Ibanez S, also known as the saber series, is a series of guitar that are famous for having ergonomic and lightweight mahogany bodies. It has the following sub series:
  • S - The S use the "zero resistance" Floating tremolo, which enables the string to stay even more in tune. Also available as S Prestige, High-end range which are made in Japan/Korea - S2170, S4170 AB.
  • SZ - The SZ have hardtail bridges and thru-bodies. Also available as SZ Prestige, high-end range which are made in Japan/Korea.
  • SA - The SA is basically the features are flatback body (S use curved back), and have synchronized tremolo instead. Also, the basic SA models utlizes hidden plate bolt on neck design. Subseries include SAS, basic SA models with Set-in neck design, and SA Prestige

• RX/RT series. Superstrat design but with 22 frets instead. Only exist as GRX (budget model of RX/RT series).

• AX series. Similar to gibson SG body. Currently, aside from Guitar-center exclusive, only GAX is available for purchase.

• AxStar (aka AxStar by Ibanez) discontinued
• EDR/EXR - Ergodyne series; discontinued

• Artist Series: Gibson les Paul copies
• ARC-100/300 (Retro Series)
• ARX-100/300 (Retro Series)
• AR-100/200 (black vintage top)

• Ibanez Artcore Series - Ibanez's Full and semi-hollow guitar line. Subseries are
  • AF (Full hollow)
  • AK (Full Hollow)
  • AFS-75t (Full hollow vintage vibrato)
  • AG (Full hollow)
  • AS (Semi hollow)
  • AM (Semi hollow)
  • AXD (Semi and Full hollow)
  • AWD (Semi and Full hollow)
  • FWD (Semi and Full hollow)

• JTK - Fender Jazzmaster copy with no tremolo

• Radius series - discontinued; a modified version is now taken over by the Joe Satriani signature series; features multi-radius neck

• RS - Roadstar - Consists of the Talman, Radius and Saber series
• EX - Manufactured in Korea.
• X series - Star shaped, hardtail guitars

• PL - Pro Line series
• RR - Rocket Roll
• DT Destroyer
• IC Iceman

• CN - Concert Series This was a short live series produced in 1978 and 1978 then discontinued. It features an asymmetric double cutaway with two humbuckers, hard tail and bolt on necl. The top end model (the CN250) was one of the earliest guitars to feature the half vine inlay on the finger board
• Maxxas

• Ibanez j.custom Previously Japan exclusive custom range. Now available worldwide.
• U.S.A. custom - USA custom range.

• Stanley Jordan Signature series.
• JS — Joe Satriani Signature
• Universe and JEM — Steve Vai designed guitar
• PGM — Paul Gilbert Signature
• JPM — John Petrucci Signature
• AT — Andy Timmons Signature
• MMM — Mike Mushok Signature
• MFM — Marty Friedman Signature
• MTM — Mick Thomson Signature
• NDM — Noodles Signature
• GB — George Benson Signature
• PM — Pat Metheny Signature
• VV — Vinnie Vincent V Signature (only one made appearing in the Vinnie Vincent Invasion 'Love Kills' video, Vinnie fell on hard times and Ibanez decided not to go into production).
• JSM — John Scofield Signature
• FGM — Frank Gambale Signature
• K7 — Korn Signature
• MBM1 — Matt Bachand Signature
• Xiphos - Muhammed Suicmez Signature (modified version of XPT700)

• Brian 'Head' Welch and James 'Munky' Shaffer of Korn uses the Ibanez K7; his own custom made electric, 7-stringed guitar. Reginald 'Fieldy' Arvizu uses a K5 Bass guitar when with Korn.

Currently Munky uses a custom Apex version of Ibanez

• Xiphos - XPT700 (X-Series)
• V-Blade - VBT700 (X-Series)
• RG 8-String - RG2228 (RG Series)

• ARTCORE Series
• Blazer
• BTB Series
  • BTB Prestige - High-end range which are made in Korea.
• DWB Series
• EDA Series
• EDB Series
• EDC Series
• EWB Series
• GAXB Series
• GSR Series
  • GSR 205 - Nominated for Ibanez's "Best of Model" award
• GWB Series
• ICB Series
• JUMPSTART Series
• K5 Series
• Musician Series
• ROADGEAR Series
• SR Series
  • SR Prestige - High-end range which are made in Korea.

• SRX Series
• SDGR Series
• ATK Series
• Ex series
• Roadstar Series
• S series
• TR Series

• AE Series
• AES Series
• AW Series
• DT Series
• EP9 Series
• EW Series
• GA Series
• JAMPACK Series
• MANDOLIN Series
• MASA Series
• PF Series
• TALMAN Series
• V Series
• Concord
• SAGE Series

In the 1970s, the Maxon company developed and began selling a series of effect pedals in Japan. Hoshino licensed these for sale using the name Ibanez outside of Japan. These two companies eventually began doing less and less business together until Maxon ceased manufacting the TS-9 reissue for Hoshino in 2002.

Based on the earlier Overdrive I and II pedals, Hoshino began releasing the first Ibanez Tube Screamer, the TS-808 in the late 1970s. These contained the famed JRC4558D integrated circuit (IC). Many players consider this one of the best solid state pedals to emulate the sound produced by an overdriven vacuum tube guitar amplifier.

Over the years, Hoshino released many different kinds of pedals bearing the Ibanez Tube Screamer name. The first was the TS-9 Tube Screamer, which included only a few component changes and often, but not always, different ICs. In 1985 the Master or L series were introduced and sold only for a year. Many claim that in this series, there's no Tubescreamer. Looking closer circuitwise shows that there is one but in the disguise of the Metal Screamer with slightly changed component values. The name change was most likely for marketing reasons.

Based on the Master series but with slight changes in housing in 1986, the Power Series were introduced, which included the TS-10. Like many of the Master and Power Series pedals, there were not many differences in the circuitry between these and their 9-series counterparts. To make production cheaper, these pedals used circuit board-mounted potentiometers (pots) and jacks. In 1992, Hoshino began re-issuing the Ibanez TS-9. Then in 1996, Hoshino added a CE mark to the back of the Ibanez pedal, which is required for it to be sold in Europe.

In the early 1990s, Hoshino released the Ibanez Soundtank series, which, except for the first run which was metal, had cheap plastic enclosures and like the Power Series before it, used less expensive parts. Around 2000 came the Tone Lok series, and the TS-7, which included a switch for added gain. In 1998, the new TS-9DX was introduced, which included a 4-way switch for capacitor changes and changes in the clipping section. Then in 2002, Maxon stopped production of the TS-9 for Hoshino. Post-2002 circuit boards say Ibanez instead of Maxon.

Due to popular demand, Hoshino reissued the Ibanez TS-808 in 2004, complete with the JRC4558D chip. Original TS-808's, and to a lesser extent, TS-9s, have become highly collectible. Many overdrive pedals in production, especially those by "boutique" manufacturers, are a modified version of the Tube Screamer circuit.

Approximate Ibanez Serial Numbers

Japanese Ibanez Serial Numbers

1997 and after (CE logo designation)

• F = FujiGen
• YYXXXXX format
• YY = year (98=1998)
• XXXXX = production number

1987-1997

• F = FujiGen
• H = Terada
• I = Iida
• YXXXXX format
• Y = year (2=1992)
• XXXXX = production number

1975-1986

• FujiGen
• MYYXXXX format
• M = Month (A = Jan to L = Dec)
• YY = year (82=1982)
• XXXX = production number

Korean Ibanez Serial Numbers

C = Cort, S = Samick(1990-1995),S/SQ = Saehan(Sunghan), P = Peerless (Iida), Y = Yoojin, A = Sae-In.

• YYMMXXXX format
• YY = year (03=2003)
• MM = month (01=Jan..12=Dec)
• XXXX = production number

E = Sung Eum

• YMMXXXX format
• Y = year (9=1999)
• MM = month (01=Jan..12=Dec)
• XXXX = production number

W = World

• MYXXXX format
• M=month (1=Jan .. 9=Sep, X=Oct..Z=Dec)
• Y=year (3=2003)
• XXXX = production number

Indonesian Ibanez Serial Numbers

I = Cort Indonesia, K = KWO

• YYMMXXXXX format
• YY = year (03=2003)
• MM = month (01=Jan..12=Dec)
• XXXXX = production number

Chinese Ibanez Serial Numbers

Z = Yeou Chern, J=Sejung

• YYMMXXXXX format
• YY = year (03=2003)
• MM = month (01=Jan..12=Dec)
• XXXXX = production number

Odd Ibanez Serial Numbers

• 2940000 Acoustic
• 2 = Cort Taejan
• YYXXXX format
• YY = year (94=1994)
• XXXX = production number

Older Acoustic

• YYMM (Kato)
• YY = year (82=1982)
• MM = month (01=Jan..12=Dec)

Silver Cadet model

• Z = Woo-sin

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• Official site
• Ibanez guitars and bass museum - Ibanez instruments database, resources, user reviews, pictures
• History of Hoshino Gakki Co., Ltd.
• Origins of Ibanez and the Lawsuit Models
• Ibanez Register - Gallery of past and present Ibanez guitars and basses.
• IbanezRules - Buy/Sell used Ibanez guitars, technical guides, catalogue scans, manuals, wiring diagrams, etc.
• Ibanez History - Ibanez History
• Ibanez Guitar Reviews - Reviews of Ibanez Guitars
• The Ibanez JS site