An Old Friend…My Ibanez EX350 Electric Guitar

It’s been many a year since I last had gone to a local musical instrument store in Michigan, (a store that no longer exists), and purchased a new electric guitar. Up until the early 1990s I had relied on two low budget Magnum electric guitars that just were not making the grade anymore as my rate of performing began to grow. I could not even begin to tell you what made me settle on that brick red Ibanez EX350 guitar with the black pickguard and “heavy metal” styling that day, but I still consider it one of my prized possessions.

The Ibanez company, owned by Hoshino Gakki, is based in Japan. The name “Ibanez” is derived from a time in the earlier half of the 20th century when the Hoshino Gakki company imported Salvador Ibáñez (a Spanish luthier) guitars from Spain. When the Salvador Ibáñez guitars were no longer available, due to the Spanish Civil War, Hoshino Gakki purchased the “Ibanez” name rights.

Fast forward to the late 1980s early 1990s and the Ibanez company begins manufacturing some of the coolest, edgiest 6 and 7 string guitars. My Ibanez is of the EX350 model family that were manufactured in Korea. With 24 frets, a rosewood fingerboard, pearl triangle inlay, and three pickups (2 humbuckers and 1 single), it was considered quite the sharp looking “ax” back in those days and still looks pretty darn good, even if a little dated.

I think that my personally preferred guitar playing style has always been more of a strong classic rock rhythm guitar or a generally cleaner sound making the EX350 not really the best choice. Without a doubt, the Ibanez EX350 was a good quality guitar but better for those who wished to play lead rock riffs or more of a metal sound. Nevertheless, I made it work for my purposes back then.

I recently brought the red beauty out of “retirement”, still in its hardshell case and in excellent condition. Although my playing style might be better expressed on a hollow-body electric or a Fender Stratocaster, I still love my Ibanez EX-350 and never regretted its purchase.

Some old friends you just never forget.

Here are a number of people who gave their own personal reviews of the no longer produced Ibanez guitar model.

http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/product/Ibanez/EX350/10/1

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