Ibanez achieved US success when it began manufacturing copies of classic Fender, Gibson, and Rickenbacker guitars in the late ’60s. While Gibson and Fender guitars declined in quality, Japanese copies were, at least visually, markedly on par with the American originals.
Although not built to the same specifications as their American counterparts — many of which sported Bolt-on necks, inferior electronics, and multi-piece plywood tops — the Japanese instruments were utilitarian, had personality, and were faithful to the original designs. They were quickly embraced by novice players and those who didn’t want to shell out their hard-earned cash for a guitar of questionable quality. American guitar brands felt the hit.
In addition to Ibanez, other manufacturers started importing their own copies of the classics. Seventies Les Paul lookalikes featured names like Burny, Tokai, and Greco on their headstocks. Interestingly, most Japanese copies of the time didn’t have serial numbers.
The Famous Lawsuit
Left: Open-book headstock design / Right: Ibanez revised design
1.- In 1977, Gibson’s parent company filed a lawsuit against Ibanez essentially the Hoshino corporation for copying their “Open-book-style” headstock. 2.- The Lawsuit was settled out of court, and Ibanez replaced the headstock with a revised design. 3.- Ibanez ramped up the quality of its own designs, including Set-in neck copies of solid body and Archtop guitars. 4.- Soon after, it rolled out its own line of signature instruments like the Iceman and Destroyer , which set the tone for the company-defining instruments of the ’80s and ’90s. A tone befitting the international rise of Heavy Metal . 5.- Technically the only “Lawsuit” guitars are Ibanez models or other brand name guitars made by Hoshino, which look almost identical to Gibson or Fender guitars, except for the name on the headstock and some technical specifications. They mostly came from the FujiGen Gakki plant in Japan and were imported into the United States.
Copy models by year [ ]
Expand to see all Copy models by year of availability:
Ibanez branded guitar models
2387CT (Gibson's Flying V style)
Cimar branded bass models
1949 (Rickenbacker's style)
1908 (Fender's Jazz style)
Guitar models
Ibanez branded guitar models
2660 (Gibson Les Paul style)
2655 (Fender Stratocaster style)
2451 (Gibson's Les Paul L6S)
2398 (Gibson Les Paul style)
2388 (Rickenbacker style)
2375 (Fender Stratocaster style)
2375L (Fender Stratocaster style)
2350 (Gibson Les Paul style)
2350L (Gibson Les Paul style)
2351 (Gibson Les Paul style)
2341 (Gibson Les Paul style)
2342IV (Gibson Les Paul style )
2348 (Gibson Firebird style)
Ibanez branded twin neck guitar models
Cimar branded guitar models
1963 (Gibson's L6-S style)
1967ASH (Fender Stratocaster style)
1951 (Gibson's Marauder style)
1940 (Fender Stratocaster style)
1940ASH (Fender Stratocaster style)
1940WH (Fender Stratocaster style)
1943CT (Fender Telecaster style)
Hollow-body models
Ibanez branded hollow-body models
2471 (Gibson's L-5CE style)
2460 (Gibson's L-5CES style)
2461 (Gibson's “Johnny Smith” style)
2464 (Gibson's Byrdland style)
2467 (Gibson'S ES-345 style)
2453 (Epihone/Gibson Howard Roberts style)
2457 (Gibson's ES-355 style)
2370 (Gibson's ES-345 style)
2355 (Gibson's ES-175 style)
2355M (Gibson's ES-175 style)
Cimar branded hollow-body models
1970 (Gibson's ES-335 style)
1947 (Gibson's ES-335 style)
1948 (Gibson's ES-175 style)
Bass models
Ibanez branded bass models
2656 (Fender's Jazz style)
2376 (Fender's Jazz bass style)
2365B (Fender's Jazz bass style)
2366B (Fender's Precision bass style)
2367 (Fender's Jazz style)
2369B (Fender Bass style)
Cimar branded bass models
1965 (Fender's Jazz style)
1966 (Fender's Jazz style)
1952 (Gibson's Grabber style)
1949 (Rickenbacker's style)
1911 (Gibson's EB-3 style)
1908 (Fender's Jazz style)
Guitar models
Ibanez branded guitar models
2650 (Gibson Les Paul style)
2651 (Gibson Les Paul style)
2654 (Gibson SG style)
2655 (Fender Stratocaster style)
2451 (Gibson's L6S style)
2440 (Gibson SG style)
2441 (Gibson SG style)
2420 (Gibson Les Paul style)
2393 (Gibson Les Paul style)
2399 (Gibson L5S style)
2380 (Gibson's Les Paul Recording style)
2386 (Gibson Les Paul style)
2386L (Gibson Les Paul style)
2387 (Gibson Flying V style)
2387DX (Gibson Flying V style)
2388 (Rickenbacker style)
2375 (Fender Stratocaster style)
2375ASH (Fender Stratocaster style)
2375L (Fender Stratocaster style)
2350 (Gibson Les Paul style)
2350CH (Gibson Les Paul style)
2350L (Gibson Les Paul style)
2351 (Gibson Les Paul style)
2351M (Gibson Les Paul style)
2352 (Fender Telecaster style)
2352DX (Fender Telecaster style)
2340 (Gibson Les Paul style)
2341 (Gibson Les Paul style)
2342 (Gibson Les Paul style)
2343 (Gibson Les Paul Junior DC style)
2348 (Gibson Firebird style)
2334 (Fender Stratocaster style)
2335 (Gibson Les Paul style)
2337DX (Gibson Les Paul style)
Ibanez branded twin neck guitar models
Cimar branded guitar models
1967ASH (Fender Stratocaster style)
1963 (Gibson's L6-S style)
1960 (Les Paul style)
1951 (Gibson's Marauder style)
1950 (Fender's Munstang style)
1945 (Gibson's SG style)
1943 (Fender Telecaster style)
1943CT (Fender Telecaster style)
1940 (Fender Stratocaster style)
1940ASH (Fender Stratocaster style)
1940WH (Fender Stratocaster style)
Hollow-body models
Ibanez branded hollow-body models
2470 (Gibson's L-5CES style)
2471 (Gibson's L-5CE style)
2460 (Gibson's L-5CES style)
2461 (Gibson's “Johnny Smith” style)
2464 (Gibson's Byrdland style)
2467 (Gibson'S ES-345 style)
2453 (Epihone/Gibson Howard Roberts style)
2454 ( Gibson's ES-335 style)
2455 (Gibson's L-4 style)
2457 (Gibson's ES-355 style)
2370 (Gibson's ES-345 style)
2355 (Gibson's ES-175 style)
2355M (Gibson's ES-175 style)
Cimar branded hollow-body models
1970 (Gibson's ES-335 style)
1947 (Gibson's ES-335 style)
1948 (Gibson's ES-175 style)
Bass models
Ibanez branded bass models
2656 (Fender's Jazz style)
2657 (Fender's Jazz style)
2463B (Gibson's Thunderbird style)
2452B (Gibson's Ripper style)
2387B (Gibson's Flying V style)
2388B (Rickenbacker's style)
2389B (Rickenbacker's 4001 style)
2376 (Fender's Jazz bass style)
2365B (Fender's Jazz bass style)
2366B (Fender's Precision bass style)
2366FLB (Fender's Precision bass style)
2367 (Fender's Jazz style)
2369B (Fender Bass style)
2354B (Gibson's EB-0/EB-3 bass)
Cimar branded bass models
1965 (Fender's Jazz style)
1966 (Fender's Jazz style)
1952 (Gibson's Grabber style)
1952WH (Gibson's Grabber style)
1949 (Rickenbacker's style)
1911 (Gibson's EB-3 style)
1908 (Fender's Jazz style)
Guitar models
Ibanez branded guitar models
2662 (Yamaha's SH style)
2451 (Gibson's Les Paul L6S)
2456 (Gibson Les Paul style)
2458 (Gibson Les Paul style )
2391 (Gibson Les Paul style)
2392 (Gibson Les Paul style)
2393 (Gibson Les Paul style)
2398 (Gibson Les Paul style)
2399DX (Gibson's Les Paul L5S)
2380 (Gibson Les Paul Recording style)
2386 (Gibson Les Paul style)
2386L (Gibson Les Paul style)
2387 (Gibson Flying V style)
2387DX (Gibson Flying V style)
2388 (Rickenbacker style)
2375 (Fender Stratocaster style)
2375ASH (Fender Stratocaster style)
2350 (Gibson Les Paul style)
2350CH (Gibson Les Paul style)
2350L (Gibson Les Paul style)
2351 (Gibson Les Paul style)
2351DX (Gibson Les Paul style)
2351M (Gibson Les Paul style)
2352 (Fender Telecaster style)
2352DX (Fender Telecaster style)
2340 (Gibson Les Paul style)
2341 (Gibson Les Paul style)
2342 (Gibson Les Paul style)
2343 (Gibson Les Paul Junior DC style )
2344 (Gibson's Melody Maker style)
2345 (Gibson SG style)
2346 (Gibson SG style)
2347 (Gibson SG style)
2348 (Gibson Firebird style)
2336 (Gibson Les Paul Junior style)
2337DX (Gibson Les Paul style)
Ibanez branded Twin neck guitar models
1940 (Fender Stratocaster style)
1940ASH (Fender Stratocaster style)
1940WH (Fender Stratocaster style)
1941 (Gibson's Les Paul Jr. style)
1942 (Gibson's Les Paul Jr. style)
1943 (Fender Telecaster style)
1943CT (Fender Telecaster style)
1944 (Gibson's SG style)
1903 (LP Recording style)
1903S (LP Recording style)
1904 (Les Paul style)
1905 (Gibson's SG style)
1906 (Gibson's SG style)
LP-1C (Gibson's Les Paul style)
LP-2G (Gibson's Les Paul style)
SG-1 (Gibson's SG style)
Hollow-body models
Ibanez branded hollow-body models
2460 (Gibson's L-5CES style)
2461 (Gibson's “Johnny Smith” style)
2464 (Gibson's Byrdland style)
2453 (Epihone/Gibson Howard Roberts style)
2454 ( Gibson's ES-335 style)
2455 (Gibson's L-4 style)
2457 (Gibson's ES-355 style)
2390 (Gibson's ES-325 style)
2395 (Gibson's ES-335 style)
2370 (Gibson's ES-345 style)
2374 (Gibson's ES-335 style)
2355 (Gibson's ES-175 style)
2355M (Gibson's ES-175 style)
Cimar branded hollow-body models
1947 (Gibson's ES-335 style)
1948 (Gibson's ES-175 style)
1909 (Teisco's Hertiecaster style)
Bass models
Ibanez branded bass models
2452B (Gibson's Ripper style)
2463B (Gibson's Thunderbird style)
2381 (Gibson's Les Paul Recording style)
2387B (Gibson's Flying V style)
2388B (Rickenbacker's style)
2373 (Les Paul Professional style)
2376 (Fender's Jazz bass style)
2365B (Fender's Jazz bass style)
2366B (Fender's Precision bass style)
2366FLB (Fender's Precision bass style)
2369B (Fender Bass style)
2354B (Gibson's EB-0/EB-3 bass)
Cimar branded bass models
1949 (Rickenbacker's style)
1902 (Fender's Jazz style)
1908 (Fender's Jazz style)
EB-1 (Gibson's EB style)
Guitar models
Ibanez branded guitar models
2391 (Gibson Les Paul style)
2392 (Gibson Les Paul style)
2393 (Gibson Les Paul style)
2394 (Gibson SG style)
2398 (Gibson Les Paul style)
2380 (Gibson Les Paul Recording style)
2386 (Gibson Les Paul style)
2386L (Gibson Les Paul style)
2387 (Gibson Flying V style)
2387DX (Gibson Flying V style)
2370 (Gibson's ES-345 style)
2372 (Gibson Les Paul Recording style)
2372DX (Gibson Les Paul Recording style)
2375 (Fender Stratocaster style)
2375ASH (Fender Stratocaster style)
2350 (Gibson Les Paul style)
2350L (Gibson Les Paul style)
2351 (Gibson Les Paul style)
2351DX (Gibson Les Paul style)
2351M (Gibson Les Paul style)
2352 (Fender Telecaster style)
2352DX (Fender Telecaster style)
Ibanez branded twin neck guitar models
2402 (Gibson SG style)
2404 (Gibson SG style)
Hollow-body models
Ibanez branded hollow-body models
2401 (Gibson Les Paul Signature style)
2397 (Gibson ES-335 style)
2395 (Gibson's ES-335 style)
2390 (Gibson's ES-325 style)
2384 (Fender Telecaster Thinline style)
2374 (Gibson's ES-335 style)
2370 (Gibson ES-345 style)
2368 (Fender Telecaster Thinline style)
2355 (Gibson's ES-175 style)
2355M (Gibson's ES-175 style)
Bass models
Ibanez branded bass models
2403B (Gibson's EB-0 style)
2381 (Gibson's Les Paul Recording style)
2385 (Fender's Tele bass style)
2387B (Gibson's Flying V style)
2388B (Rickenbacker's style)
2371 (Gibson's EB-2D style)
2373 (Les Paul Professional style)
2376 (Fender's Jazz bass style)
2365B (Fender's Jazz bass style)
2365BN (Fender's Jazz bass style)
2366B (Fender's Precision bass style)
2366FLB (Fender's Precision bass style)
2354B (Gibson's EB-0/EB-3 bass)
Guitar models
Ibanez branded guitar models
2398 (Gibson Les Paul style)
2380 (Gibson Les Paul Recording style)
2386 (Gibson Les Paul style)
2386L (Gibson Les Paul style)
2387 (Gibson Flying V style)
2387DX (Gibson Flying V style)
2370 (Gibson's ES-345 style)
2372 (Gibson Les Paul Recording style)
2372DX (Gibson Les Paul Recording style)
2375 (Fender Stratocaster style)
2375ASH (Fender Stratocaster style)
2350 (Gibson Les Paul style)
2350L (Gibson Les Paul style)
2351 (Gibson Les Paul style)
2351M (Gibson Les Paul style)
2352 (Fender Telecaster style)
2352DX (Fender Telecaster style)
Hollow-body models
Ibanez branded hollow-body models
2397 (Gibson ES-335 style)
2395 (Gibson's ES-335 style)
2390 (Gibson's ES-325 style)
2384 (Fender Telecaster Thinline style)
2374 (Gibson's ES-335 style)
2370 (Gibson ES-345 style)
2368 (Fender Telecaster Thinline style)
2355 (Gibson's ES-175 style)
2355M (Gibson's ES-175 style)
Bass models
Ibanez branded bass models
2381 (Gibson's Les Paul Recording style)
2385 (Fender's Tele bass style)
2387B (Gibson's Flying V style)
2388B (Rickenbacker's style)
2371 (Gibson's EB-2D style)
2373 (Les Paul Professional style)
2376 (Fender's Jazz bass style)
2365B (Fender's Jazz bass style)
2366B (Fender's Precision bass style)
2366FLB (Fender's Precision bass style)
2350B (Gibson's Les Paul style)
2353L (Fender's Telecaster style)
2354B (Gibson's EB-0/EB-3 bass style)
Guitar models
Ibanez branded guitar models
2380 (Gibson Les Paul Recording style)
2387 (Gibson Flying V style)
2387DX (Gibson Flying V style)
2370 (Gibson's ES-345 style)
2372 (Gibson Les Paul Recording style)
2372DX (Gibson Les Paul Recording style)
2375ASH (Fender Stratocaster style)
2364 (Dan Armstrong's style)
2365 (Fender's Jazzmaster style)
2350 (Gibson Les Paul style)
2351 (Gibson Les Paul style)
2351M (Gibson Les Paul style)
2352 (Fender Telecaster style)
Hollow-body models
Ibanez branded hollow-body models
2390 (Gibson's ES-325 style)
2384 (Fender Telecaster Thinline style)
2374 (Gibson's ES-335 style)
2370 (Gibson ES-345 style)
2368 (Fender Telecaster Thinline style)
2358-M (Gibson ES-335/Al Caiola style)
2358-R (Gibson ES-335/Al Caiola style)
2356 (Gibson's Barney Kessel style)
2355 (Gibson's ES-175 style)
2355M (Gibson's ES-175 style)
1912 (Gibson's ES-330 style)
1910 (Yamaha's SA-30 style)
Bass models
Ibanez branded bass models
2381 (Gibson's Les Paul Recording style)
2387B (Gibson's Flying V style)
2388B (Rickenbacker's style)
2389B (Rickenbacker's 4001 style)
2371 (Gibson's EB-2D style)
2373 (Les Paul Professional style)
2376 (Fender's Jazz bass style)
2364B (Dan Armstrong's style)
2365B (Fender's Jazz bass style)
2366B (Fender's Precision bass style)
2366FLB (Fender's Precision bass style)
2350B (Gibson's Les Paul style)
2353L (Fender's Telecaster style)
2354B (Gibson's EB-0/EB-3 bass style)
2357 (Höfner's 500/1 style)
1915 (Yamaha's bass style)
Guitar models
Ibanez branded guitar models
2380 (Gibson Les Paul Recording style)
2382 (Gibson SG style)
2383 (Gibson SG style)
2370 (Gibson's ES-345 style)
2372 (Gibson Les Paul Recording style)
2372DX (Gibson Les Paul Recording style)
2377 (Gibson SG style)
2364 (Dan Armstrong's style)
2365 (Fender's Jazzmaster style)
2350 (Gibson Les Paul style)
2351 (Gibson Les Paul style)
2351M (Gibson Les Paul style)
2352 (Fender Telecaster style)
2354 (Gibson SG style)
Hollow-body models
Ibanez branded hollow-body models
2374 (Gibson's ES-335 style)
2370 (Gibson ES-345 style)
2368 (Fender Telecaster Thinline style)
2362 (Gretsch's style)
2358-M (Gibson ES-335/Al Caiola)
2358-R (Gibson ES-335/Al Caiola)
2356 (Gibson's Barney Kessel style)
2355 (Gibson's ES-175 style)
2355M (Gibson's ES-175 style)
1910 (Yamaha's SA-30 style)
Bass models
Ibanez branded bass models
2381 (Gibson's Les Paul Recording style)
2371 (Gibson's EB-2D style)
2373 (Les Paul Professional style)
2364B (Dan Armstrong's style )
2365B (Fender's Jazz bass style)
2366B (Fender's Precision bass style)
2366FLB (Fender's Precision bass style)
2350B (Gibson's Les Paul style)
2353L (Fender's Telecaster style)
2354B (Gibson's EB-0/EB-3 bass style)
2357 (Höfner's 500/1 style)
2030 (Fender bass style)
1915 (Yamaha's bass style)
Acoustic models
1970 (Go to page )
Guitar models
Hollow-body models
1910 (Yamaha's SA-30 style)
Bass models
2353L (Fender's Telecaster style)
List of all 177 models in the Copy series [ ]
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