Favored by pros like Steve Vai, Joe Satriani and John Scofield, Ibanez electric guitars provide the quality and playability to accommodate a range of players, from beginner to virtuoso. While Ibanez may be best known for their shred-worthy RG and S series, the company's roots run deep with a rich history that started in 1920s Japan.

Ibanez began as Hoshino Gakki, an importer that originally sold sheet music and high-end classical guitars from a Spanish guitar builder by the name of Salvador Ibáñez. Over the next few decades, the company adopted the name of the renowned luthier, and began exporting their own guitars. Ibanez initially gained worldwide attention by shifting their production focus away from original budget-friendly models, and crafting extremely high-quality versions of famous American guitars. This eventually led to a lawsuit over headstock designs that was settled in the late 1970s.

By the 1980s, Ibanez's Saber and Roadster guitars (now known as the S and RG series) became the industry standard for rock and heavy metal players demanding hot-rodded features that weren't found in traditional electric guitars. High-output pickups, thin, fast necks, and double-locking tremolo systems were all elements that shredder guitarists craved, but couldn't get without modifying or building stock guitars. The rise of progressive metal, nu metal and other experimental styles led Ibanez to be an innovator and leader in extended-range guitar building. Long scale lengths, fanned frets and other innovations in 7-string, 8-string, and 9-string guitars have made Ibanez a top choice among players looking to dive into lower registers.

While they excel at building well-oiled shred machines, Ibanez is also a force in the hollowbody archtop guitar world. Their Artcore and Artstar series guitars are well-loved by jazz, blues and folk musicians thanks to their fully-hollow and semi-hollow models that rival those of Gibson, Gretsch and Epiphone. The Talman and Roadster series offer up iconic pickup configurations and curvy, offset looks that immediately give each guitar a distinct vintage vibe. Never afraid of innovation and collaboration, Ibanez has led the industry in designing and building player-friendly guitars for all styles, price points and skill levels.