Named in honor of Spanish master luthier Salvador Ibáñez, whose classical guitars Hoshino Gakki (Ibanez’s parent company) began importing to Japan in the 1920s, the Ibanez brand was officially founded in 1935 as Hoshino’s Spanish-style guitar division. 


While it first garnered a reputation in the U.S. for building high-quality copies of popular guitar models at a fraction of the price in the early 1970s, it wasn’t until Ibanez began producing its own unique designs that its shred-ready appointments—including fast, skinny necks, high-output humbuckers, deep cutaways, and locking tremolo systems—quickly made Ibanez one of the most popular brands in the U.S. by the 1980s.


Whether you’re a die-hard shredder, a lifelong blues player, or lean towards the jazz life, CME’s wide array of Ibanez guitar and bass options for sale online, or in-store, offers musicians a balance of quality craftsmanship and affordability at any price point. Plus, you can always find low prices when you shop deals on new, vintage, and used Ibanez musical instruments available every day at Chicago Music Exchange, with free shipping on most items.