[JPL] Ibanez Celebrates Thirtieth Anniversary of The Classic Benson Jazz Guitar

[Dr. Jazz]

Ibanez Celebrates Thirtieth Anniversary of The Classic Benson Jazz Guitar

First seen at the Anaheim NAMM Winter 2008 show in the hands of George 
Benson himself who gave a live performance <#> at the Hoshino booth, the 
Ibanez GB30TH gets its official send off at the Nashville 2008 Summer 
NAMM Show. Only 30 of these collectible small-bodied jazz guitars will 
be available worldwide, with just 16 slated for the U.S.A. The list 
price is $13,333.32.

The GB30TH electric guitar celebrates three decades of the contributions 
of George Benson and Ibanez to the evolution of the modern guitar. It 
also commemorates one of the earliest, longest and most significant 
artist endorsements in the musical instrument industry and how important 
those artist/instrument maker relationships have been creating in 
interest and enthusiasm in the public for music <#> making.

The original George Benson GB10 guitar was the first real 
acknowledgement that the nature of jazz performance had changed 
significantly from the conditions that had created the first jazz boxes. 
Benson's design featured a thicker top with floating pickups to reject 
feedback --- a must at the increasingly higher dB levels of modern 
music. Not only did the smaller body allow Benson, a stellar vocalist in 
his own right, to perform standing up, it also allowed the guitar to 
ride in the safer airplane overhead compartment to gigs. Plus the guitar 
was much more stable than traditional jazz boxes so it arrived at the 
gig as playable as it was at departure. During the rare times 
adjustments were needed, the guitarist could do many of them without 
tools, even on stage. But most important was the sound. "The notes don't 
melt together like on softer guitars," says Benson in the guitar 
history, Ibanez --- the Untold Story. "It maintains the tone while 
articulating each note. No other guitar gets that sound."

For a fitting tribute to this historic collaboration of an American jazz 
master with Japanese craftsmanship, Ibanez chose a prestigious company 
in Kyoto with a four-hundred year history in the traditional Japanese 
textured silver leaf Garahaku art form to create and apply the finish 
for this extraordinary and very limited edition instrument.

Specifications

    * Model GB30TH
    * List $13,333.32
    * Available Finish Garahaku Silver Flake
    * Body Material Spruce Top, Maple Back & Sices Max Width At Lower
      Bout 14 3/4" Max Body Thickness _ 3 1/4"
    * Neck Material 3pc Maple Neck
    * Scale 24 3/4"
    * No. Frets/Type 21/Medium
    * Fingerboard Bound Ebony
    * Inlay Special GB30TH
    * Bridge Ebony
    * H/W Color Gold
    * Neck Pickup IBZ GB Special
    * Bridge Pickup IBZ GB Special Controls
    * Case Special GB30TH
    * Case List Included

For more information, visit their web site at www.ibanez.com 
<http://www.ibanez.com/>.

-- 
Dr. Jazz
Dr. Jazz Operations
24270 Eastwood
Oak Park, MI  48237
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http://www.drjazz.com
SKYPE:  drjazz99