Ibanez Destroyer Explained

The Destroyer is an Ibanez brand electric guitar model (originally) manufactured at the FujiGen musical instrument factory for the Hoshino Gakki Company. The Destroyer model was first introduced by Hoshino Gakki in 1975 and was based on the Gibson Explorer design. The Destroyer has since undergone several design and line changes and has been available in both 6-string and bass versions.

The star-shape variant was one of the first eccentrically-shaped guitars at the time with a floating tremolo system, making it a popular choice for the heavy metal and shred musicians of the 1980s.

Timeline

This is a timeline of the first appearance of each verifiable model in an Ibanez catalog.

1976

Model #2459,^[1] Model #2459B^[2]

1980

DT-50,^[3] DT-400^[3] (first incarnation)

1982

DT-300^[4]

1983

DT-100,^[5] DT-150,^[6] ^[7] DT-200^[8] (first incarnation), DT-500,^[7] DT-600^[7]

1984

DT-250,^[9] DT-350,^[9] DT-355,^[10] DT-450,^[10] DT-555,^[11] DT-670,^[10] DT-870,^[10] DB-700^[9]

1985

DT-330,^[12] DT-380^[13]

1986

DG-350,^[14] DG-351,^[15] DG-555,^[16] DT-4550,^[17] DT-6750,^[17] DB-800^[14]

1996

DT-400^[18] (second incarnation)

2001

DTX-120^[19]

2004

DT-200^[20] (second incarnation)

2009

DTT-700^[21]

Models appearing in catalogs

6-String models

6-String Models	Line	Pickup Type by Position (N / M / B)	Note
2459	N/A	Super-70 / x / Super-70
DG-350	X-Series	V-5 / x / V-5	Star shaped
DG-351	X-Series	V-5 / x / V-5	Star shaped
DG-555	Destroyer-II	V-2 / V-2 / V-2
DT-50^[22] ^[23] ^[24]	Destroyer-II	Super-70 / x / V-2
DT-100^[25]	Destroyer-II	x / x / V-2
DT-150^[26]	X-Series	x / x / V-2
DT-200	Destroyer-II	unknown / x / V-2	First incarnation
DT-200		PowerSound1 / x / PowerSound2Infinity3 / x / Infinity4	Second incarnation
DT-250^[27]	X-Series	V-5 / x / V-5	Star shaped
DT-300	Destroyer-II
DT-330	Destroyer-II	V-5 / x / V-5
DT-350	X-Series	V-5 / x / V-5	Star shaped
DT-355	Destroyer-II	V-5 / x / V-5	Star shaped
DT-380	X-Series	V-5 / x / V-5
DT-400	Destroyer-II	Super-58 / x / V-2Super-70 / x / V-2	First incarnation
DT-400		Quantum1 / x / Quantum2	Second incarnation
DT-450	Destroyer-II	V-5 / x / V-5
DT-4550	Destroyer-II	V-5 / x / V-5	Ibanez Art Graphic SeriesFire Engine or Spider graphic
DT-500	X-Series	Super-58 / x / V-2
DT-555^[28]	Destroyer-II	V-2 / V-2 / V-2
DTT-700		DiMarzio D Activator X / x / DiMarzio D Activator X
DTX-120^[29] ^[30]		Axis Humbucker 3-1 / x / Axis Humbucker 4-1

Bass models

Bass Models	Line	Pickup Type by Position (N / M / B)	Note
2459B	N/A	unknown / x / unknown
DB-700	X-Series	x / Super-J6 / Super-J5S	Star shaped
DB-800	X-Series	x / LO-B / LO-BS	Active 2 band EQ SystemStar shaped
DT-600	X-Series	x / Super-P4 / x
DT-670	Destroyer-II	x / Super-J6 / Super-J6
DT-6750	Destroyer-II	x / Super-J6 / Super-J6	Ibanez Art Graphic SeriesFire Engine graphic
DT-870	Destroyer-II	Super-P5S / Super-J5S / Super-J6

Notable Ibanez Destroyer players

Eddie Van Halen (1955–2020) guitarist and founder of the American hard rock band Van Halen, used a Model 2549 Korina Destroyer for the recording of its first album Van Halen, which is also featured (in heavily modified "Shark guitar" form) on the cover of their third album, Women and Children First.^[31]
Adrian Smith (born 1957) guitarist of Iron Maiden played a Japanese version of the DT300 during the Number of the Beast tour in the early '80s and still owns it.
Paul Stanley played a black DT300 and used it as his primary guitar during the Unmasked Tour in 1980. Before that Ace Frehley played a tan model whilst making the Destroyer album (of no connection in title) in 1976.
Phil Collen (born 1957) lead guitarist of Def Leppard played a DT555 as his main guitar from 1981 until the end of the Pyromania World Tour in 1984. He still has three more copies of this guitar.
Dave Mustaine (born 1961) (Megadeth) played a Destroyer in his Metallica years (1981–1983)
Jay Jay French (born 1952) and Eddie "Fingers" Ojeda of the American heavy metal band Twisted Sister both played modified mid-70's Korina Destroyers.^[32]
Conrad Lant (born 1963) also known by the stage name of Cronos, bass player of Venom played a Destroyer bass guitar.
Tom Angelripper (born 1963) bassist for Sodom used an Ibanez Destroyer Bass^[33]
Quorthon (1966–2004) Swedish metal musician and founder of black/viking metal band Bathory. He used Destroyer model D-10 guitars on every Bathory album until 1995's album Octagon.
Kid Congo Powers (born 1961) used a Destroyer in his tenure with The Cramps (1980–1983)

External links

Notes and References

Web site: Ibanez Golden Oldie Electric Guitars. 1. 1976. June 23, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20110724055707/http://www.ibanez.co.jp/anniversary/expansion.php?cat_id=359&now=1. dead. July 24, 2011.
Web site: Ibanez Electric Guitars and Basses. 2. de. 1976. June 25, 2010. dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100512190850/http://www.ibanezwiki.com/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=131594 . 2010-05-12.
Web site: Ibanez Brass Beauties Poster. 1980. June 23, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20110724055719/http://www.ibanez.co.jp/anniversary/expansion.php?cat_id=58&now=1. dead. July 24, 2011.
Web site: Ibanez Catalog. 4. 1982. June 23, 2010.
Web site: Ibanez Electric Guitar. 1983. October 19, 2018.
Web site: Ibanez GRX20ZBKN Electric Guitar Review. 3. 1983. May 19, 2018.
Web site: Ibanez X-Series. 1. 1983. June 23, 2010. and Web site: Ibanez X-Series. 2. 1983. June 23, 2010.
Web site: Ibanez Catalog. 6. 1983. June 23, 2010.
Web site: Ibanez X-Series. 2. 1984. June 23, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20110724055837/http://www.ibanez.co.jp/anniversary/expansion.php?cat_id=105&now=2. dead. July 24, 2011.
Web site: Ibanez Catalog. 22. 1984. June 23, 2010.
Web site: Ibanez Catalog. 6. 1984. June 25, 2010.
Web site: Ibanez Catalog. 2. 1985. June 23, 2010. July 24, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110724055537/http://www.ibanez.co.jp/anniversary_j/expansion.php?cat_id=51&now=2. dead.
Web site: Ibanez String Instruments. 10. 1985. June 23, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20110724055628/http://www.ibanez.co.jp/anniversary/expansion.php?cat_id=119&now=10. dead. July 24, 2011.
Web site: Ibanez Electric Guitars and Basses. 7. 1986. June 23, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20110724055847/http://www.ibanez.co.jp/anniversary/expansion.php?cat_id=130&now=7. dead. July 24, 2011.
Web site: Ibanez Profile Flex Appeal. 5. 1986. December 26, 2013.
Web site: Ibanez Catalog. 9. 1986. June 25, 2010.
Web site: Ibanez Graphic Art Series Poster. 1986. June 23, 2010.
Web site: Ibanez Electric Guitars, Electric Basses, Acoustic Guitars, Electronics, Accessories. 4. 1996. June 25, 2010.
Web site: Ibanez Electric Guitar Catalog for USA. 5. 2001. June 23, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20110930215531/http://www.ibanez.co.jp/anniversary/expansion.php?cat_id=249&now=5. dead. September 30, 2011.
Web site: Ibanez Electric Guitars, Electric Basses, Amplifiers, Effects & Accessories. 5. 2004. June 25, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20110616235511/http://www.ibanezwiki.com/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=132056 . 2011-06-16 .
Web site: Ibanez Electric Guitar Catalog for North America. 7. 2009. June 23, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20110930215635/http://www.ibanez.co.jp/anniversary/expansion.php?cat_id=384&now=7. dead. September 30, 2011.
Web site: Ibanez Electric Guitars 1 Catalog. 3. 1981. June 23, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20110724055547/http://www.ibanez.co.jp/anniversary/expansion.php?cat_id=64&now=3. dead. July 24, 2011.
Web site: Ibanez Electric Guitars 2 Catalog. 1. 1981. June 23, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20110724055615/http://www.ibanez.co.jp/anniversary/expansion.php?cat_id=65&now=4. dead. July 24, 2011.
Web site: Ibanez Iceman II, Destroyer II, and Rocket Roll II Electric Guitars. 1. 1982. June 23, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20110724055622/http://www.ibanez.co.jp/anniversary/expansion.php?cat_id=78&now=1. dead. July 24, 2011.
Web site: Ibanez Profile Fast Forward Poster. 1983. June 23, 2010.
Web site: Ibanez Electric Guitars and Acoustic Guitars. 3. 1983. June 23, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20110724055756/http://www.ibanez.co.jp/anniversary/expansion.php?cat_id=85&now=3. dead. July 24, 2011.
Web site: Ibanez String Instruments. 11. 1985. June 23, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20110930215639/http://www.ibanez.co.jp/anniversary/expansion.php?cat_id=119&now=11. dead. September 30, 2011.
Web site: Ibanez Catalog. 2. 1985. June 25, 2010. July 24, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110724055537/http://www.ibanez.co.jp/anniversary_j/expansion.php?cat_id=51&now=2. dead.
Web site: Ibanez Electric Guitar Catalog for USA. 9. 2002. June 23, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20110724055636/http://www.ibanez.co.jp/anniversary/expansion.php?cat_id=256&now=9. dead. July 24, 2011.
Web site: Ibanez Electric Guitar Catalog for USA. 11. 2003. June 23, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20110724055653/http://www.ibanez.co.jp/anniversary/expansion.php?cat_id=263&now=11. dead. July 24, 2011.
Web site: Guitar Stories: Eddie Van Halen's Destroyer . September 6, 2019 . Thalia Capos (blog) . https://web.archive.org/web/20200625192630/https://www.thaliacapos.com/blogs/blog/guitar-stories-eddie-van-halen-s-ibanez-destroyer . June 25, 2020 . September 22, 2020.
Meeker . Ward . October 2015 . Jay Jay French and Eddie Ojeda: The Un-twisted Tale of Stay Hungry . . https://web.archive.org/web/20200627202839/https://www.vintageguitar.com/20735/jay-jay-french-and-eddie-ojeda/ . June 27, 2020 . September 22, 2020.
Web site: SODOM WEB SQUAD (german).