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Ibanez electric guitars have received quite a following, but a lot of people do not realize that their acoustic line is also well made and sounds great. The company started in 1900 under a different name by Hoshino Gaki in Japan. Though the company began at the turn of the 20th century, they did not start making guitars until 1935.

In general, the company was relatively unknown in the United States until the 60s. Hoshino Gakki partnered with Harry Rosenbloom, an American music shop owner in Pennsylvania. They decided that the name, the Hoshino Gaki Company, did not have what it took to signify success in the West. So, together, they came up with Ibanez, thus making the guitars more marketable based on the name alone.

Some of their early guitars included styles that were modeled after the popular guitars put out by large companies like Gibson and Fender. They were able to find people to use their instruments by offering nearly exact replicas of these brands for inexpensive prices. This helped them get their name out there, but it was not their permanent solution to success.

They no longer model their guitars after the success of others. They currently have their own line of both acoustic and electric guitars and the Ibanez brand is endorsed by some pretty accomplished players. Some of these players even have their own signature models. For example, Steve Vai is a very accomplished solo player and he has his own line through Ibanez which also includes an acoustic model.

Ibanez has a full line of acoustic guitars. These include the acoustic in the Steve Vai signature series, the AE, the Talman, the masa the GA, and the DT. For more information on the acoustic guitar line, visit the website at ibanez.com.

There are also a lot of musicians who love Ibanez guitars in general, and several actively endorse the brand. These include Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, and Andy Timmons, who are all accomplished solo players. Other guitarists include Terry Balsamo, Adam Blackstone, and Mike DeWolf. For more information on the artists visit the website.

Here is what some people have to say about their Ibanez Acoustic guitars:

About the Ibanez DT 10

Beautiful style and sound!. Great tone quality, nice finish. I started playing the guitar a little over a year ago. I was lucky to get a good deal on my Ibanez, since I did not even know where to begin. I walked into our local music store, stood at the counter, and said, I want to buy a guitar.

About the Ibanez AW100
This is a good guitar with a great sound. It holds up to the Ibanez reputation with a nice feel and an even better sound. It is a very sturdy guitar that can take a lot of abuse even for an acoustic. It has a nice bright sound and a smooth thin neck.

Another for the Ibanzes AW100

Great sound and solid top for this price is exceptional. Great starter guitar. I have played the guitar for about 12 years no so recently I have been in the market, or at least looking and drooling over, a higher end guitar. My recent research has lead me to be quite up to date on several different guitar makers and the individual.

Ibanez is a guitar manufacturer started by Hoshino Gakki in Japan. Back in 1900 when the company first began they were called the Hoshino Gakki Company and they only started making string instruments in 1935.

These early stringed instruments were not known in the West until the 1960s when Gakki paired up with Harry Rosenbloom, a Pennsylvania music shop owner. Together, they decided to give the guitars the name of Ibanez to make it more marketable to a western audience.

By the time the 70s hit, Ibanez began making guitars modeled after popular styles that companies like Gibson and Fender were putting out. Though they were almost exact replicas, they were made with cheaper materials and were therefore inexpensive.

However, Ibanez has changed. They no longer model their guitars after other styles put out by different companies. They have their own makes and models that are endorsed by some pretty high level players.

The newer Ibanez guitars are more modern in design and style. You can find some with interesting shapes and designs. Also, artists such as Steve Vai work closely with the company to manufacture special models with their own artistic flare. (For example, Vais tree of life pattern on the fretboard).

Another modern style element includes the fact that they have slimmer necks and flatter fingerboards than the classic style guitars. This makes doing intricate and accurate speed work a lot easier. Also watch out for different models with different finishes and electronics.

An example of some of the guitars you can find include the Prestige Series guitars, the Vai Signatures, Pat Metheny Signatures, Korn Signatures, Joe Satriani Signatures, and the Andy Timmons Signature guitar. These signature guitars were designed with or by the artists themselves. Other models include the S-Series guitars, special models for left handed players, and the Artcore guitars.

There are also certain artists who use and endorse the brand. These include Joe Satriani and Steve Vai, two highly regarded instrumental rock guitarists who often tour together. Andy Timmons, Korn, Pat Metheny, George Benson, Terry Balsamo of Evanescence, Fran Cosmo of Boston, Marty Friedman, John Scofield, and Matt Roberts of 3 Doors Down.

Here is what some people have to say about Ibanez guitars (source Harmony Central):

I have been playing for about 3 years now and this is my consideration of my first real guitar. I have always played Ibanez, I just like the look, feel and sound of them. If this were stolen I would definitely get another one of these and I plan to replace my GRX170 with another one, yes I want another one call me crazy but I wanna have another guitar with a normal string arrangement on it. I love everything about this guitar, the look, the feel, the sound, it definitely has a character of its own. (Harmony Central User concerning the RG32Q0S)

Ibanez electric guitars are inseparable from their Japanese roots as the Hoshino Gakki musical Instrument Co. in Japan imported Salvador Ibanez instruments as far back as the late 1920s. The Ibanez Company was eventually bought by Hoshino Gakki and by the late 1950s Ibanez electric guitars were being fabricated solely in Japan. Since 1982 Ibanez electric guitars have been sold on the international market.

Originally the Ibanez electric guitars were imitations or copies of already established models made by Fender and Gibson, but by the late 1970s Ibanez emerged on the market with their own unique models, the Iceman, and the Ibanez Roadstar, thereby securing their place in the market of electric guitars. Since the production of the Iceman and the Roadstar, the company has no longer been producing copies of other models.

The Ibanez Roadstar series features 24 fret slim necks and most of the models have bolt-on necks with high-performing tremolos. One way to easily identify an Ibanez electric guitar is by the “Monkey grip” or the “Lion’s Claw” just below the tremolo. Vine or Pyramid inlay are also signature design qualities of Ibanez electric guitars. Today’s Roadstar guitars include a 6-step special treatment to the fret board for more comfortable playing. Ibanez also designed the “S” series which is now famous for its ergonomic and light weight bodies made of mahogany wood. As intricate design is ingrained in Japanese esthetics, it is no surprise that the Ibanez electric guitars include delicate inlay in their design.

Some of the famous musicians who favor the Ibanez electric guitars are Frank Gambale, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani and Nuno Bettencourt. Herman Li, guitarist for Dragonforce, is the newest endorser of Ibanez guitars. Frank Zappa’s guitarist, Steve Vai formed a relationship with Ibanez in the early 1990s, a collaboration that resulted in the Ibanez JEM and the Ibanez Universe models. Soon after the success of the JEM, a lower-priced version of this model appeared on the market and it too, was an instant hit among electric guitar enthusiasts.

Also true to Japanese manufacturing that aims for high quality at low cost, Ibanez electric guitars are noted for being amongst the best made guitars on the market for the best price. With so much bang for your buck, you really can’t go wrong with an Ibanez. In 2002 the company released the new Artcore series, a hollow body guitar aimed to attract the novice guitarist. Since then, the Artcore is considered to be among the very best value guitars on today’s market. 

With its beginnings in Spain and its foot in the door to the Japanese market before its destruction in the Spanish Civil War, the Ibanez Company survived incredible obstacles, finally securing its place in the world market for electric guitars. This is truly remarkable and speaks highly for the persistence and dedication to excellence that has made the Ibanez electric guitar what it is today: an awesome instrument worthy of the passionate player’s attention.