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The B50 is a five string closed back banjo model introduced by Ibanez in mid 2012. It is made in China. It marks the return of Ibanez banjos after more than 30 years.

The B50 features a laminated nato rim and a mahogany veneer resonator with ivory binding and natural high gloss finish. It has a mahogany neck with a single coordinator rod and a 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with binding and white dot position markers. Components include a rolled chrome tone ring, chrome tension hoop with 24-piece bracket, an 11" Remo head, a purpleheart saddle in a rosewood and maple bridge, a chrome tailpiece, plastic nuts, a chrome armrest, and chrome open gear tuning machines with acrylic buttons.

In 2017 the open gear tuning machines were replaced with friction tuners. For 2018 the mahogany veneer resonator was changed to sapele veneer, the rosewood fretboard was changed to purpleheart and the rosewood and maple bridge was replaced with purpleheart and maple. For 2019 the neck was changed to okoume.

The B200 is a similar model with a basswood or poplar rim and with more elaborate fretboard and headstock inlays. The B100 is a similar model with decorative fretboard inlays.

Specifications[]

Specifications for B50
Name: B50
Year(s) offered: 2012–2024
Sold in: Americas & Oceania 2012–2019 / Europe 2012–2019 / USA
Made in: China
Price: MSRP: US$419.99 (2018)[1]
Finishes: Natural High Gloss
Body
Body type:
Acoustic
Body shape:
Banjo
Dimensions:
  Diameter: 333mm/ 13⅛"
  Depth: 95mm/ 3¾"
Rim:
  Material: Nato (laminated)
  Finish: Gloss
Resonator:
  Material: 2013–2017: Mahogany veneer
                2018–2024': Sapele veneer>
  
Finish: Gloss
  
Binding: Ivory (acrylic)
Tone ring:
Rolled chrome
Tension hoop:
Chrome
Head:
Remo 11" coated Weather King
Neck
Neck profile:
B (5-string)
Neck material:
2012–2018: 1-piece mahogany
2019–2024: 1-piece okoume
Neck finish:
Gloss
Neck joint:
Screw
Coordinator rod:
Single
Scale length:
670mm/ 26⅜"
Fingerboard:
2012–2017: Rosewood w/ binding
2018–2024: Purpleheart w/ binding
Inlays:
White dot
Frets:
22 nickel silver
Nut:
Ivory plastic (32mm)
Components
Armrest:
Chrome
Bridge:
2012–2017: Rosewood & maple
2018–2024: Purpleheart & maple (14.5mm string spacing)
Saddle:
Purpleheart
Tailpiece:
Chrome
Hardware color:
Chrome
Tuning machines:
2012–2017: Ibanez open gear w/ acrylic pearl buttons
2017–2024: Ibanez friction w/ acrylic pearl buttons
Strings (factory):
2012–2022: 009/.016/.023/.030/.009
2023–2024: .011/.013/.016/.026/.010
Factory tuning:
1D,2B,3G,4D,5G
Related content: Models-icon

Images[]

Additional details
2021 B50 2Y 04 sub 2
Rear of body
2021 B50 2Y 04 sub 1
Rear of neck/ headstock
B50 fretboard
Fretboard inlay

Sources[]

  • 2013 USA catalog (p. 96)
  • B50 product page 2015, Ibanez USA, archived December 2015
  • 2016 North America catalog (p. 75)
  • B50 product page 2019, Ibanez USA, archived December 2019
  • B50 product page 2020, Ibanez USA, archived January 2020
  • B50 product page 2021, Ibanez USA, archived January 2021
  • B50 product page 2022, Ibanez USA, archived June 2022
  • B50 product page 2023, Ibanez USA, archived January 2023
  • B50 product page 2024, Ibanez USA, archived February 2024
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