The Ibanez B200 Banjo is a throwback to a simpler era - a time before countless hair bands put Ibanez on the map as a premier maker of metal weaponry. Yes, Ibanez was a highly respected banjo manufacturer, and even collaborated on a signature model with the late, great Earl Scruggs. Ibanez is back in the banjo biz. The B200 sports a basswood rim, a rolled-brass tone ring, and a toneful mahogany bowl. The smooth-playing neck, with its gorgeous pearl fingerboard inlay, also benefits from Ibanez's considerable experience in designing shredtastic guitars. Check out the Ibanez B200.

Ibanez: a brief history

Ibanez began its life in 1908 as the Hoshino Gakki company in Nagoya, Japan. However, the company didn’t get into the guitar business until 1929, when they started importing Salvador Ibanez guitars from Spain. In 1935, Hoshino Gakki began building Spanish acoustic guitars under the Ibanez Salvador name, which was later shortened to Ibanez. Although Ibanez began manufacturing electric guitars in 1957, the company was relatively unknown in the West until the 1960s, when they started producing guitars based on American designs. By the late 1970s, Ibanez had stopped producing derivative guitars and had begun manufacturing the original designs that the company is now known for. Ibanez is also famous for their effects pedals (most notably the Tube Screamer) and guitar amplifiers.

What Ibanez Says...

It's been three decades since Ibanez was in the banjo biz, but we're back with a bang... or is it a twang? Old-timers may recall Ibanez was quite enamored with banjo-building, having even collaborated on an artist signature model with the late great Earl Scruggs. But, things change, and hair bands happen. And now, we're back at it, and in the Ibanez tradition, the B200 delivers a sweet 5-string closed-back banjo at a price that won't break the bank.