Ibanez has just dropped fresh signature guitars for 3 of its biggest artists – but a new Premium Series has stolen their spotlight

Ibanez 2025
(Image credit: Ibanez)

Ibanez has just officially launched a score of new signature guitars for Joe Satriani, Lari Basilio, and Josh Smith – but they've been somewhat overshadowed by the arrival of the all-new RGA Premium Series.

The release wave marks the Japanese firm’s weightiest reveal since January, when a new seven-string weapon for Korn’s Head and a semi-hollow for George Benson headlined a signature-centric drop.

They also have bolt-on, five-strip maple and walnut necks crafted in Ibanez’s Wizard neck profile for a comfortable shredding experience, which are joined by ebony fingerboards with offset pearl dot inlays and 24 jumbo frets.

RGA Premium | Máté Bodor | Ibanez RGA20P1PB - YouTube RGA Premium | Máté Bodor | Ibanez RGA20P1PB - YouTube
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After a golden guitar release in January, Ibanez darling Joe Satriani is back with a pearly white version of his signature axe. Beyond its colorway, the JS2480-WH delivers Satch-approved tones via a Sustainiac Driver pickup in the neck and a DiMarzio Satchur8 humbucker in the bridge, with a push/pull Volume control to engage a hi-pass control filter.

Like the RGA Premium, it has a lightweight basswood body, this time with a bolt-on three-piece maple/bubinga neck and a rosewood fingerboard. It comes with an Edge Tremolo and is made in Japan, warranting a $2,944 price tag.

Ibanez JS2480-WH

(Image credit: Ibanez)

Lari Basilio has brought her signature stylings to a black-and-gold version of her T-style electric. The LB1-BK features her signature Seymour Duncan HSS humbuckers, and Ibanez's dyna-MIX9 system to get the most out of them.

Elsewhere, there's a Gotoh T1702B tremolo and Gotoh Magnum locking tuners, with an ash body, bolt-on one-piece roasted bird’s-eye maple neck, and compound radius fretboard. It was first teased back in January, but now it's officially available for $2,755.

Golden Hour | Lari Basilio Signature guitar LB1-BK | Ibanez - YouTube Golden Hour | Lari Basilio Signature guitar LB1-BK | Ibanez - YouTube
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Blues guitar maestro Josh Smith has also given Ibanez’s Tele-shaped offering some personal touches, upgrading his flagship FLATV1 in the process. The FLATV2-MSN comprises an ash body with a bolt-on maple neck and a rosewood fingerboard.

Other highlights include ivory dot inlays, a bone saddle, and Seymour Duncan FLAT5 pickups. In a twist to his OG signature, the FLATV2 offers a humbucker in the neck and a single coil in the bridge. It weighs in at $2,599.

Josh Smith Signature guitar FLATV2 | Ibanez - YouTube Josh Smith Signature guitar FLATV2 | Ibanez - YouTube
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The releases follow Ibanez dropping heavy metal acoustics and new offerings for its mid-priced AZ Standard series. Unfortunately, the Knocked Loose and Kiss-approved Iceman has been frozen out of 2025's shenanigans so far. Thankfully, there's still time for that to change.

A freelance writer with a penchant for music that gets weird, Phil is a regular contributor to Prog, Guitar World, and Total Guitar magazines and is especially keen on shining a light on unknown artists. Outside of the journalism realm, you can find him writing angular riffs in progressive metal band, Prognosis, in which he slings an 8-string Strandberg Boden Original, churning that low string through a variety of tunings. He's also a published author and is currently penning his debut novel which chucks fantasy, mythology and humanity into a great big melting pot.

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