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Periphery’s Jake Bowen has left Ibanez after signing as a Strandberg signature artist.
The prog heavyweight becomes the latest high-profile player to join the headless guitar specialist, following the likes of Plini, Jacob Collier, Jordan Rudess, Sarah Longfield, Liso Lee and more.
Bowen has already incorporated a number of Strandbergs into his live setup – something that had been noticed by Periphery fans – and a potential signature model has already been teased.
It marks a significant move in the metal guitar world. Prior to the switch, Bowen had worked with Ibanez since 2014, releasing a handful of signature guitars over the years – most recently the JBM9999 in 2022.
However, Periphery fans have been speculating about a switch for some time, after Bowen was spotted playing a Strandberg on tour last year.
That switch has now been made official and, while we’ve seen artists adopt multi-brand partnerships in the past, it looks like Bowen will be exclusively Team Strandberg going forward. His Ibanez artist page is still live at the time of writing, but Bowen’s Instagram account only makes reference to Strandberg.
It paves the way for a potential signature Strandberg for Bowen. Here’s hoping for an extended scale headless guitar in the near future.
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“A great guitar should be inspiring the moment you pick it up - they almost beckon you from across the room to play them, and when I picked up a Strandberg for the first time I knew it was going to be special,” Bowen says.
“As a guitarist for 34 years, I’ve had a lot of time to discover what works in the studio and on the road. Strandberg guitars offer a lightweight, ergonomic solution without giving up tone, playability, and most importantly that instant source of inspiration.”
Keep your eyes peeled on Strandberg for more info.
Matt is the GuitarWorld.com News Editor, and has been writing and editing for the site for five years. He has a Masters in the guitar, a degree in history, and has spent the last 19 years playing everything from blues and jazz to indie and pop. During his GW career, he’s interviewed Peter Frampton, Zakk Wylde, Tosin Abasi, Matteo Mancuso and more, and has profiled the CEOs of Guitar Center and Fender.
When he’s not combining his passion for writing and music during his day job, Matt performs with indie rock duo Esme Emerson, and has previously opened for the likes of Ed Sheeran, Keane, Japanese House and Good Neighbours.
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