The Guitar Player's Resource
You'll spot this guitar's jazz pedigree immediately - it's the same breed of instrument that helped George Benson define what sophisticated electric guitar could sound like.
Sometimes the best ideas come from asking a simple question: what if we could capture the essence of a legendary signature guitar without the legendary price tag? That's exactly what happened when Ibanez and George Benson put their heads together to create the LGB30. The result proves that sometimes the most sophisticated approach involves knowing exactly what matters and executing it flawlessly.
You'll spot this guitar's jazz pedigree immediately - it's the same breed of instrument that helped George Benson define what sophisticated electric guitar could sound like. But here's what makes the LGB30 special: it delivers that classic hollowbody voice without demanding you take out a second mortgage to afford it.
That spruce top over flamed maple construction isn't just about looks, though it certainly delivers in that department. Think of it like a well-designed concert hall - the spruce provides the acoustic projection and warmth that makes single notes sing, while the maple back and sides add the clarity and punch that keeps your playing articulate even in dense musical arrangements. It's a combination that's been working for acoustic instruments for centuries, and it works just as well when you add electricity to the equation.
Here's where things get really interesting: those Super 58 Custom pickups represent Ibanez's solution to the age-old hollowbody dilemma. Early electric jazz guitars had gorgeous tone, but they also had that annoying 60Hz hum that could drive you crazy in quiet passages. These specially designed humbuckers give you all the warmth and expressiveness of vintage pickups while eliminating the noise that plagued their predecessors. It's like having your cake and eating it too.
The bound ebony fingerboard with Artstar fret treatment tells you everything you need to know about Ibanez's commitment to getting this right. Ebony isn't just a pretty face - its density and hardness create a playing surface that responds immediately to your touch while providing excellent sustain. Those rounded fret edges mean you can execute lightning-fast runs or delicate chord work without your fingers getting hung up on sharp metal edges.
That 24.75" scale length hits the sweet spot for jazz playing. It's short enough to make complex chord voicings comfortable while providing enough string tension to keep single notes clear and defined. The slightly shorter scale also contributes to the guitar's warm, woody tone character - perfect for those buttery smooth lines that make jazz guitar so appealing.
The Gibraltar Artist bridge and LGB30 tailpiece work together to create excellent sustain and intonation across all strings. This isn't just about staying in tune - it's about ensuring that every note rings true whether you're playing soft ballads or uptempo swing numbers. The individual string adjustment capabilities mean your guitar tech can dial in perfect intonation for your specific playing style.
What really sets this instrument apart is how it handles different musical contexts. Plug it into a clean amp, and you've got that classic jazz box voice that floats beautifully over a rhythm section. Add a little drive, and suddenly you're in blues and R&B territory with that touch of grit that makes single notes speak with authority. Roll back the volume controls, and the Super 58 pickups clean up beautifully without losing their character.
The tobacco burst finish over that figured maple showcases the wood's natural beauty while giving the guitar a classic, timeless appearance that looks equally at home in a jazz club or a recording studio. This isn't a guitar that screams for attention - it earns respect through performance rather than flash.
The two-volume, two-tone control layout gives you precise control over your sound without cluttering up the interface. You can balance the pickups for rhythm work or favor one position for lead playing, all while having independent tone shaping for each pickup. It's a simple system that covers all the bases without unnecessary complexity.
This is what happens when decades of guitar-making knowledge meet the practical needs of working musicians. The LGB30 doesn't just copy the Benson sound - it gives you access to that sonic territory while opening up possibilities you might never have considered.
General:
Number of Strings: 6
Left-/Right-handed: Right-handed
Body:
Body Type: Hollowbody
Body Shape: Singlecut
Body Material: Flamed Maple
Top Material: Spruce
Body Finish: Gloss Polyurethane
Color: Tobacco Burst
Neck:
Neck Material: 3-piece Nyatoh/Maple
Neck Shape: Artstar
Neck Joint: Set Neck
Radius: 12"
Fingerboard Material: Bound Ebony
Fingerboard Inlay: Pearl/Abalone Blocks
Number of Frets: 22, Medium
Scale Length: 24.75"
Nut Width: 1.6875"
Nut Material: Bone
Hardware:
Bridge/Tailpiece: Gibraltar Artist Bridge with LGB30 Tailpiece
Tuners: Ibanez Die-cast
Electronics:
Neck Pickup: Super 58 Custom Humbucker
Bridge Pickup: Super 58 Custom Humbucker
Controls: 2 x volume, 2 x tone
Switching: 3-way toggle pickup switch
