Ibanez GB-10 George Benson Archtop Sunburst, 1981

The Ibanez GB-10 George Benson BS (for Brown Sunburst) is still in production as are other versions of the model, and they are as practical as when introduced.

This model features two ‘floating’ mini-humbucking pickups, one attached to the fingerboard tag and the other to the pickguard. Neither contacts the top though the pickguard has a small support post.

The Ibanez GB-10 George Benson has been in production since 1977 along with other versions of the model, and they are as practical as when introduced. The GB models features two ‘floating’ mini-humbucking pickups, one attached to the fingerboard tag and the other to the pickguard. Neither contacts the arched Spruce top though the pickguard has a small support post.

Around 1977, the great Jazz guitarist George Benson entered into a collaboration with Ibanez to produce a series of signature archtop electric guitars, including the Ibanez GB-10 George Benson and its fancier sisters.

These guitars were immediately popular with other jazz players, because the design addresses real needs. The body is comfortably compact, and while its hollow, F-hole body design provides real archtop resonance, responsiveness and ‘thump’, the arched spruce top is laminate to dramatically reduce feedback at performance volumes. The sides, back and neck are Maple, with Ebony for the bound fingerboard and bridge base. Tuners are excellent Ibanez ‘Velvet Tune’ models, and the tailpiece provides adjustable tension for treble or bass strings.

This example of the Ibanez GB-10 George Benson production dates to June 1981 at the Fuji-Gen plant in Nagano, Japan that produces so many fine instruments. This guitar is in good, original condition, with an amount of honest play wear from its now 43 years of use. There is a finish scratch on the back of the head below the serial number and ‘Crafted in Japan’ identifier. Overall, this guitar plays well and cleanly, and is currently strung with flat wound strings.

The original hard shell case is included.