Ibanez Jet King

Last updated
Ibanez Jet King
Manufacturer Ibanez
Construction
Body typeSolid
Neck jointBolt-on
Woods
BodyBasswood(JTK1) Mahogany(JTK2,3,4)
Neck Maple
Hardware
BridgeTune-o-matic
Colors available
Varies with Model

The Ibanez Jet King is the term for a family of electric guitars sold by Ibanez. The family includes:

Contents

Zim-Gar EJ-2-T (1960s) played by Jon Spencer, 2009.jpg
1960s ZimGar / FujiGen EJ-2-T
Ibanez JTK1 Jet King Guitar.jpg
Jet King 1 (JTK1) resembles 1960s FujiGen EJ-2-T, and position markers of Teisco model.

Jet King 1

According to the Harmony Central press release the original JTK1 had the following pickups: Neck Pickup: Powersound PSND1 Humbucker, Bridge Pickup: Powersound PSND2 Humbucker. Some owners of the JTK1 have however reported finding Ibanez Super 58 pickups... although whether these were later production models and shortly before the phasing towards JTK2 is unestablished. It had a different body compared to later versions, with a smaller upper horn and the tuners were 3-a-side. It was available in Butterscotch Transparent, Ivory, Metallic Light Blue, and Black Red Sunburst.

Jet King 2

Ibanez model 904 StageMaster (ca.1962-63).png
1960s StageMaster (model 904) was slightly similar to Rhythm Maker [4]
Ibanez JTK2 Jet King guitar (2015-02-27 21.03.16 by Michael Pardo) edit.jpg
Jet King 2 (JTK2), resembles Ibanez Rhythm Maker in 1960s. [4]
Ibanez Jet King Bass.jpg
Jet King Bass (JTKB200), bass version of Jet King 2

The Jet King 2 (Also, Jet King II, Jetking II, JTK2) was essentially an upgrade of the original. The machine heads now were on one side, and the body was changed to its current shape.

The first and discontinued edition of the Jet King II is probably the most collectible of all the range.[ citation needed ] The body is finished in brown sunburst with tortoise pickguard and has two Ibanez Super 58 pickups for neck and bridge. The Jet King II models made from 2003/11 to 2004/10 features a 1-piece maple bolt-on neck with rosewood fingerboard and the body is mahogany. The second and most popular edition of the JTK 2 (black and white and red and white) has only one Super 58 pickup for the neck, one Axis pickup for the bridge and a 3-piece neck like most Ibanez guitars. Standard colors for the Jet King II second edition were black or red with white pickguards, though examples of a white body and black pickguards have been seen.[ citation needed ] The Ibanez Super 58 pickup has a warm vintage sound while the Axis has a brighter and more aggressive sound. It has one volume knob, one tone knob, "rocker switches" used for coil splitting (for even more versatility), a fixed Full Tune III bridge and a string-thru body construction, providing fair sustain. The "rocker switches" allow this guitar to be very versatile.[ citation needed ] Some players[ who? ] claim it can imitate a Fender Jazzmaster or a Gibson Les Paul.

Jet King 3 and 4

At the 2007 NAMM Show, two new Jet Kings were revealed. The "retro-style" mahogany body remained the same; however, unlike its predecessors, no rocker coil splits were included on the new models.

The Jet King 3 features two P-90 style soapbar pickups, the IBZ HFS1, and IBZ HFS2. Standard colors are "Roadster Orange Metallic" and "Bluestone." "Turquoise", and "Red Bean" colors are available in limited markets.

The Jet King 4 featured a Bigsby-style tremolo and two humbuckers, the ACH3 neck pickup and ACH4 bridge pickup.

Other related Ibanez guitars are:

Notable Jet King players

David Lowery.jpg
David Lowery (Cracker) with JTK1

See also

Notes

  1. EJ-2-T was manufactured by FujiGen during c.1962c.1965, and exported under several brands including: St George, Zim-Gar, etc..
    • G L Wilson (24 January 2010). "St George-branded vintage Japanese guitar - pristine condition". Guitarz. The St George brand was created for the St George music stores which had branches in Hollywood and New York in the 1960s...
    • ZimGar guitar played by Jon Spencer, seen on:
      Tessa Jeffers. "Interview: Jon Spencer Blues Explosion". Premier Guitar (October 2012). Archived from the original on 2013-03-04. Retrieved 2013-04-02. Jon Spencer plays his legendary Zimgar guitar (bought from a pawnshop by his wife) in dropped-D tuning.
    Note: similar model but with slightly broaden left-horn, seems later also manufactured by Matsumoku and exported as: Palmer, Tempo, Nivco (JVC), etc..
  2. Mark Cole (2006-12-12). "MJ-2L (1965), WG-2L (1963) - My Teiscos". Teisco Twanger's Paradise.
    Note1: the design origin (including side-block fret marker on JTK1) might can be dated back to 1959 Marco Polo "TL-59", produced by Guyatone, built by Kiso Suzuki Violin:
    • "1959 Guyatone Marco Polo "TL-59"". PulseBeatGuitars.com. The story of this rare Marco Polo guitar started as a production design under the direction of Guyatone House-Brands in 1958. It was built at the Suzuki [i.e. Kiso Suzuki Violin] ... The Marco Polo was styled, more-or-less, after the Fender Jazzmaster-shape with its offset guitars waist. ... extended upper horn and backward sloped lower cut-way. ... Guyatone was also particularly known for their "Gold Screen" pickups. Featuring a Rosewood Fingerboard with Side-Block Fret Markers ...
     Later, this model seems evolved into Guyatone LG-55W and LG-65T (Kent 530 Las Vegas) which designs were more sophisticated than FujiGen EJ-2 (1962): Note2: similar design was also shared on the later Kawai S-80 with half pickguard model in 1960s, as seen on: 60's Bizarre Guitars 1993 , p.  32
  3. "Guyatone Gallery". GuyatoneGuitars.com. DeMont Guitars. Bill Menting (oncevlectrum-undervlectrum.com) Left to right, EG-90, Model 1840 large body, extra volume and tone, set neck model 1202 bass, 1830 small body, 1830 large body/headstock, set neck model 1860.{{cite web}}: External link in |quote= (help)Note: model 18xx series seem corresponding to "Ibanez Rhythm Maker".
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Hoshino Gakki Ten: IBANEZ and related brands..." OnceVlectrum-UnderVlectrum.com. Archived from the original on 2022-01-09. {top} Here we have a '57-'59 Guyatone made model EG-90, sold to Hoshino, and exported to Canada under the Regent name. ... No picture exists in any Hoshino literature or website. ...", "{Middle} A rare one here, an Ibanez model 1860 large body set neck, circa 1960. This old girls claim to fame is that one of these models was owned by the late Jimi Hendrix. ... It is also Guyatone made.", "{Bottom} Here we have a much later Ibanez, made after the closing of the Tama plant in 1967. Most likely Teisco made, ... A rare bird under the Ibanez brand name.", " Model 1830 bolt on neck {{cite web}}: External link in |quote= (help).
    All models introduced on this page are:
    • [Top] model EG-90 under Regent brand (1957-59), model 1860 large body setneck (c.1960), [Kawai S-80 type] later model (after 1967)
    • [Left] Burns influenced model 1802 (early 1960s), model 883 (1962) and model 882 (1963), model 1943 very rare set neck (late 1950s), earlier version of model 994 (1963), and model 1830 bolt on neck (relative of model 1860 in early 1960s)
    • [Right] model 901 under Goldentone label and 902 under Continental label (1962-63), model 1201 under Hy-Lo label (1962) and model 1502 (1962-63), Burns Bison Copy Era first model 995 under Maxitone (1963) and last [Tama] manufactured model 3902x (1966), Jaguar styling model 882 (1963-64) and another Burns Bison influenced model 3903 under Goldentone label.
    Note: Kawai S180 (c.1964) used by Hound Dog Taylor, a similar model with slightly different pickguard, is said to be a copy of the Guyatone model indicated by the trade buyer, according to: 60's Bizarre Guitars 1993 , p.  32. And, according to the "Genesis of FujiGen" site, several of Kawai models at that time were also sometimes manufactured by FujiGen (with the request of trade buyer), to fill the shortage of production of Kawai, and these models are seen on the 1965 photograph of FujiGen office.
  5. 1 2 Ibanez Electric Guitars, Hoshino Gakki Ten, Ltd., 1961, p.  1, 2, archived from the original (catalog) on 2011-08-20, retrieved 2015-05-22
    "No.1830 [2pu] ... / No.1850 [3pu] ... / No.1860 [2pu with tremolo] ... / No.1880 [3pu with tremolo] ... / No.1950 [bass] ..."
  6. https://www.groundguitar.com/jimi-hendrix-gear/jimi-hendrixs-ibanez-jet-king/
  7. "Sludgefeast on Facebook". Facebook . Archived from the original on 2022-04-27.[ user-generated source ]

Related Research Articles

Ibanez is a Japanese guitar brand owned by Hoshino Gakki. Based in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, Hoshino Gakki were one of the first Japanese musical instrument companies to gain a significant foothold in import guitar sales in the United States and Europe, as well as the first brand of guitars to mass-produce seven-string and eight-string guitars. Ibanez manufactures effects, accessories, amps, and instruments in Japan, China, Indonesia, and the United States. As of 2017 they marketed nearly 165 models of bass guitar, 130 acoustic guitars, and more than 300 electric guitars. After Gibson and Fender, Ibanez is considered the third biggest guitar brand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fender Jazzmaster</span> Electric guitar

The Fender Jazzmaster is an electric guitar designed as a more expensive sibling of the Fender Stratocaster. First introduced at the 1958 NAMM Convention, it was initially marketed to jazz guitarists, but found favor among surf rock guitarists in the early 1960s. Its appearance is similar to the Fender Jaguar, though it is tonally and physically different in many technical ways, including pickup design, scale length and controls.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fender Showmaster</span>

The Fender Showmaster is a discontinued model of electric guitar made by Fender, and is characteristic of a superstrat.

Teisco was a Japanese musical instrument manufacturing company from 1948 until 1967, when the brand "Teisco" was acquired by Kawai. The company produced guitars as well as synthesizers, microphones, guitar amplifiers and drum kits. Teisco products were widely exported to the United States and the United Kingdom.

The Fender Duo-Sonic is an electric guitar launched by Fender Musical Instruments Corporation as a student model guitar, an inexpensive model aimed at amateur musicians. It was referred to as a "3/4 size" Fender guitar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frankenstrat</span> Electric guitar created by Eddie Van Halen

The Frankenstrat, also known as "Frankie", is a guitar created by Eddie Van Halen. Its name is a portmanteau of Frankenstein, the fictional doctor who created a monster by combining body parts of the recently deceased, and the Stratocaster, a model of electric guitar made by Fender.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ibanez RG</span> Series of electric guitars produced by Hoshino Gakki

The Ibanez RG is a series of electric guitars produced by Hoshino Gakki. The first model in the series, the RG550, was originally released in 1987 and advertised as part of the Roadstar series. That series was renamed "RG" in 1992 and all models since are simply known as RGs.

The Jackson Rhoads is a model of electric guitar, originally commissioned by guitarist Randy Rhoads and produced by Jackson Guitars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ibanez JEM</span> Electric guitar

The Ibanez JEM is an electric guitar manufactured by Ibanez and first produced in 1987. The guitar's most notable user is its co-designer, Steve Vai. As of 2010, there have been five sub-models of the JEM: the JEM7, JEM77, JEM777, JEM555, JEM333, and JEM70V. Although the Ibanez JEM series is a signature series guitar, Ibanez mass-produces several of the guitar's sub-models.

Matsumoku Industrial was a Japanese manufacturing company based in Matsumoto, Nagano, between 1951 and 1987. Established in 1951 as a woodworking and cabinetry firm, Matsumoku is remembered as a manufacturer of guitars and bass guitars, including some Epiphone and Aria guitars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greco guitars</span> Japanese guitar brand

Greco is a Japanese guitar brand owned by the Kanda Shokai Corporation (in Japanese) 神田商会, a musical instrument wholesaler mostly known for being part of Fender Japan. Instruments manufactured with the name "Greco" are electric and acoustic guitars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ibanez Iceman</span>

The Ibanez Iceman is a guitar produced by Hoshino Gakki under the Ibanez brand.

The Fender Bullet was an electric guitar originally designed by John Page and manufactured and marketed by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation. It was first introduced as a line of "student" guitars to replace the outgoing Mustang and Musicmaster models.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ibanez S</span> Guitar series

The Ibanez S Series is a guitar series produced by Hoshino Gakki. Introduced in the late 1980s, the S Series is notable for being a streamlined mahogany-bodied guitar with a maple neck that plays comfortably while retaining the resonance of mahogany. Like the RG series, it also has prestige models, as well as derivatives, namely the SZ, SV, and SA series.

Hoshino Gakki Co., Ltd. is a Japanese manufacturer of musical instruments. It is the owner of the Ibanez guitar and Tama drum brand names.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Duesenberg Guitars</span> German electric string instrument manufacturer

Duesenberg is a brand for electric string instruments founded in 1986 and located in Hannover, Germany. The headquarter is in Hannover, Germany, they are known for using a Plek machine for the levelling of frets and setup. Duesenberg has uploaded a factory production video of how their guitars are made, revealing that most of the production of the guitars is done in Croatia, while the final setup and assembly is done in Germany.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ibanez GIO</span>

The Ibanez GIO Series is an affordable guitar series produced by Hoshino Gakki (Ibanez), replacing the Cimar line. The GIO line is intended as beginner models, similar to Fender's Squier guitars, and Gibson's Epiphone line. This series of guitars are produced in either China or Indonesia, depending on model.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gibson Spirit</span> Guitar model (produced 1982-86)

The Gibson Spirit was a guitar model sold under Gibson and Epiphone USA nameplates in the 1980s. This article does not refer to the made-in-China Spirit guitar sold under the Gibson Baldwin Music Education nameplate.

The Epiphone Coronet is an entry-level guitar previously manufactured by Epiphone. The guitar has been manufactured a number of times since its first production on the 1950s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guyatone</span> Japanese guitar manufacturer

Guyatone is a Japanese guitar brand and manufacturing company that produces electric guitars, guitar amplifiers, and effect pedals. In the 1930s, the predecessor company was established as the oldest electric guitar manufacturer in Japan, and produced guitars under Guya brand until 1940. In 1948 after WWII, the company was re-established to produce electric Hawaiian guitars. In 1951, Guyatone brand was established for electric guitars, and in 1955, their first solid-body guitar was introduced.

References