(Book). Ibanez is the most important Japanese guitar brand, and this new
book tells the story of its electric guitars, tracking the fortunes of
this impressive brand. At first the guitars were cheap and basic, and in
the 1970s, Ibanez was best known for its copies of leading Gibson
instruments, including Les Pauls, SGs, and Explorers. As the Japanese
music industry gained maturity and increased quality, Ibanez made more
assured instruments with original features; and in the late '70s and
early '80s, it hit new peaks of achievement. The big break came in the
late '80s with the arrival of Steve Vai's impressive and spectacular JEM
signature models. In recent years, the company has continued to provide
great modern electric guitars. Ibanez guitarists featured in the book
include George Benson, Charlie Burchill (Simple Minds), Phil Collen (Def
Leppard), Allan Holdsworth, Pat Metheny, Steve Miller, Joni Mitchell,
John Petrucci (Dream Theater), Lee Ritenour, Joe Satriani, John
Scofield, Paul Stanley (Kiss), Mick Thompson (Slipknot), Steve Vai, and
Bob Weir (Grateful Dead). The book is in the tradition of Tony Bacon's
best-selling guitar series, with a carefully researched story, including
exclusive interviews with Vai and Satriani, a gallery of full-color
pictures of famous guitars and players, and a reference section
detailing production years and specifications of all Ibanez's electric
models.
