Ibanez Guitars: Acoustic, Electric, and Bass

Catering to players of all stripes, Ibanez has established themselves within the industry as the go-to instrument manufacturer for many of the top artists in the world. Established in Japan during the early part of the 20th century, Ibanez got their start marketing acoustic guitars under the name Hoshino Gakki -- Ibanez's parent company to this day.

By the 1980s, Ibanez was well on its way to creating guitars that were instrumental to developing the heavy metal sound. Guitar virtuosos like Steve Vai and Joe Satriani adopted these workhorse guitars not only for their top-notch tone, but also because these guitars could stand up to the intense stress these shredders put their instruments through. Ibanez's thinner Wizard necks and flatter fingerboard radii translated into faster playing with incredible accuracy. Ibanez introduced their RG Series in the late 1980s, making it easier for more and more players to get their hands on inspiring, high-performance instruments.

Ibanez's tight association with metal has only grown stronger since the '80s, as evidenced by the growth of their Iron Label guitar series. Meanwhile, metal music has grown even heavier, with Ibanez's extended-range guitars lending a unique, lower timbre to the mix. From Mr. Vai, to Korn's Head and Munky, Ibanez artists have proved to be highly capable ambassadors of 7-string guitars -- as the extended string rage has transcended novelty to be a credible choice for professionals everywhere.

Building on their legacy, Ibanez continues to push the boundaries of heavy metal with their 8-string and 9-string guitars. These instruments add an even heavier layer of guitar tone for incredible sound at brutally low pitches.

Of course, guitarists don't get to have all the fun. Ibanez has also established themselves as one of the premier bass guitar manufacturers in the world. The SR Series bring superior Ibanez quality to mid-range instruments, while the incredible BTB Series offers top-quality boutique-style basses crafted from exotic tonewoods.

Ibanez has also created a name for themselves in the effects pedal industry. Effects like the Tube Screamer overdrive and ever-popular 9-series cemented Ibanez's status as top pedal manufacturers. Popularized by players such Stevie Ray Vaughan and Trey Anastasio of Phish, the Ibanez Tube Screamer has found its way onto some of the largest stages in the world.