Ibanez began as a sales brand rather than a manufacturer. Its roots trace to 1908, when the Japanese company Hoshino Gakki started importing and selling guitars, including models inspired by Spanish luthier Salvador Ibáñez—whose name was later adopted as the brand.
By the 1930s, Hoshino began producing its own instruments, but Ibanez rose to global prominence in the 1960s–70s by making affordable replicas of American guitars from companies like Gibson and Fender. This led to the so-called “lawsuit era,” culminating in a 1977 legal dispute with Gibson’s parent company, which pushed Ibanez to develop original designs.
The shift proved pivotal. In the late 1970s and 1980s, Ibanez introduced innovative models like the Iceman and the RG series, gaining popularity among rock and metal players. Collaborations with virtuoso guitarists such as Steve Vai and Joe Satriani further cemented its reputation for fast-playing necks and modern aesthetics.
Today, Ibanez is known for versatility, producing guitars, basses, and effects used across genres worldwide.
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