Ibanez Guitars at LV Guitars
Ibanez has spent decades earning a place on stages and in studios worldwide, and LV Guitars carries a hand-picked selection — from punishing metal machines to refined jazz hollowbodies — to put the right instrument in your hands. With over 60 models in stock and a wide range of price points, there's an Ibanez here for the weekend warrior, the touring pro, and the serious collector alike.
Whether you need a razor-thin neck that shreds through a two-hour set without fatigue, a warm archtop for late-night jazz, or a road-ready acoustic that holds its own mic'd up in a venue, Ibanez delivers the playability and reliability gigging musicians demand — and LV Guitars makes it easy to find yours.
The Ibanez Story
Ibanez grew from a Japanese instrument-making tradition into one of the most globally recognized guitar brands, building its reputation by pushing boundaries at every price point. The company made its mark in the rock and metal worlds with fast, thin necks and precise hardware, then expanded into jazz, acoustic, and extended-range territory — proving the brand was about versatile craftsmanship, not just speed. Decades of collaboration with some of the most technically demanding players in music have refined every detail, from fret-end finishing to tremolo stability, into instruments built to perform night after night.
Today the Ibanez catalog spans bolt-on workhorses, neck-through prestige builds, archtop hollowbodies, and full-sized dreadnought acoustics — each line carrying the same philosophy: serious playability at a price that respects the working musician. The brand's willingness to take on artist collaborations with players as stylistically diverse as Steve Vai, George Benson, and Tosin Abasi speaks to how broad that commitment really runs.
What Ibanez Is Known For
- Ultra-slim, fast-playing neck profiles engineered for endurance across long live sets
- Iconic RG and S-series guitars beloved by rock, progressive, and metal players worldwide
- Deep artist collaborations — Steve Vai's JEM, George Benson's GB archtops, and Tosin Abasi's signature extended-range models among the most celebrated
- The Artstar and AS hollowbody lines, delivering warm jazz and blues tones with stage-ready build quality
- Extended-range and multiscale designs that helped define modern progressive and djent guitar playing
- The Artwood acoustic series, combining tonewoods like Sitka spruce and mahogany into gig-ready instruments at accessible prices
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the RG and the Artstar/AS series?
The RG series is Ibanez's flagship electric platform — built around a thin, fast neck, a double-cutaway body, and hardware optimized for high-gain rock and metal playing. The Artstar and AS hollowbody series are a completely different animal: semi-hollow and full-hollow archtop designs voiced for jazz, blues, and clean funk tones, with set-neck construction and vintage-inspired aesthetics. Both are serious instruments, just aimed at very different playing styles and genres.
Which Ibanez lines are best for metal and progressive playing?
The RG series — especially neck-through and prestige builds — is the go-to for metal and progressive players. Models with Fishman Fluence pickups handle everything from tight djent rhythms to soaring leads without noise issues on loud stages. Extended-range models in the RG line also serve players who need lower tunings for heavier material. The JEM series, built around Steve Vai's specifications, is a favorite for technically demanding progressive work.
Are Ibanez guitars a good fit for jazz and clean playing?
Absolutely. The George Benson GB10EM is one of the most respected jazz hollowbodies in production — a direct collaboration with one of the genre's all-time greats. The broader Artstar line offers semi-hollow and full-hollow options with warm, nuanced clean tones that translate beautifully to a live jazz or funk context. Set-neck construction and quality humbuckers give these guitars the sustain and articulation that jazz and clean-tone players look for.
What does B-Stock mean for Ibanez guitars at LV Guitars?
B-Stock instruments are open-box or cosmetically imperfect units that are fully functional and performance-ready. They may show minor handling marks or packaging wear from display or a prior return, but they play and sound exactly as intended. With nearly 50 B-Stock Ibanez models in stock — including Artstar and JEM pieces — they represent a strong way to access higher-tier instruments at a reduced price.
How do Ibanez acoustics compare to their electrics in terms of build quality?
The Artwood series brings the same commitment to material selection and playability to the acoustic side. Sitka spruce tops, mahogany backs and sides, and dreadnought body shapes produce a full, projecting sound that holds up well in live settings. Ibanez acoustics are built to be played and gigged, not just displayed — a practical choice for performers who need an acoustic that can keep pace with a busy schedule.