The History of Ibanez Guitars

We are excited to announce that starting July 2026 Janzen Brothers has become an official Ibanez dealer. We would like to commemorate this moment with a couple of blog posts regarding Ibanez as a company, their line-up of instruments, and why we believe they are a good fit.

History of Ibanez / Hoshino Gakki

Ibanez is a Japanese guitar brand owned by Hoshino Gakki, a company that began in 1908 as the musical instrument division of a bookstore chain. The brand name originated in 1935, inspired by Spanish luthier Salvador Ibáñez, and initially reflected a Spanish-style pronunciation before shifting to its modern English form in 1986. Ibanez first gained recognition by producing Spanish-style acoustic guitars and later expanded into electric instruments, becoming one of the earliest Japanese companies to successfully export guitars to the United States and Europe.

The modern era of Ibanez began in the late 1950s, with production handled by factories such as Kiso Suzuki, Guyatone, and Hoshino’s own Tama facility. After changes in manufacturing partnerships, FujiGen Gakki became the primary producer of Ibanez guitars through the 1970s and 1980s. During this period, Ibanez also manufactured semi-acoustic and acoustic guitars, along with a wide range of effects, amplifiers, and accessories. Production eventually expanded beyond Japan to countries like Korea, China, Indonesia, and the United States, where a custom shop operates in Los Angeles.

In the 1960s, like many Japanese brands, Ibanez produced guitars modeled closely on popular American designs from Gibson, Fender, and Rickenbacker. This practice led to the so-called “lawsuit era,” culminating in a 1977 legal case filed by Norlin Corporation, Gibson’s parent company, over headstock designs. The case was settled out of court in 1978, prompting Ibanez to fully commit to original designs.

Even before the lawsuit, Hoshino Gakki had begun developing unique models. The Artist series debuted in 1974, followed by innovations like the Iceman, Roadster (later Roadstar), and Musician lines. These guitars were designed to compete with or surpass American counterparts in quality and performance. Ibanez embraced modern features such as slimmer necks, extended 24-fret fingerboards, high-output pickups, locking tremolo systems, and bold, unconventional body shapes.

The late 1980s and early 1990s marked a major turning point for the brand. A close collaboration with guitarist Steve Vai led to the creation of the JEM and Universe models, the latter being one of the first widely available seven-string guitars. Ibanez also introduced the RG series, a more affordable and widely adopted line that became central to the "superstrat" movement and gained popularity among rock and metal players.

Ibanez' global growth was supported by key distribution partnerships. In North America, Harry Rosenbloom's Elger company became the exclusive importer in the 1960s, later rebranded as Hoshino U.S.A. The company also collaborated with other brands such as Greco, Cimar, and Starfield, sometimes sharing designs across different markets. Additional brands like Antoria and CSL distributed Ibanez-based models in the UK, helping expand its international presence.

By the 21st century, Ibanez had established itself as one of the world’s leading guitar manufacturers. Its catalog includes a vast range of electric, acoustic, and bass guitars, with hundreds of models available. Known for innovation, playability, and artist collaborations, Ibanez stands alongside major brands like Gibson, Fender, and PRS as one of the most popular and influential names in the global guitar industry.

Take a look at our current Ibanez stock. And there is more on its way...