NAMM 2021: Ibanez announces the FlatV1 signature electric for blues virtuoso Josh Smith

NAMM 2021: Ibanez has announced its first signature model for blues virtuoso Josh Smith – introducing: the FlatV1 electric guitar.

The guitar was designed in a collaboration with Smith, who called the instrument “A lifetime dream fulfilled.”

“[Ibanez has] been a joy the entire step of the way and I couldn’t be prouder of this guitar,” he wrote in an Instagram post. “ Every. Single. Aspect. Of this guitar was chosen with intent. They let me do everything I wanted.”

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The Tele-flavoured guitar is made in Japan and incorporates a number of Ibanez innovations. Its one-piece roasted maple neck features a special S-Tech roasting method, said to improve attack, balance and sustain. For added neck grip comfort, the fretboard edge also has a smooth curve.

The Soft-V neck shape also offers a vintage feel with the roundness and comfort of a modern neck. This lets you approach the instrument with either a thumbs-over or -under method. It has a scale of 25.5” and a fretboard radius of 250mm (around 9.8 inches).

The ash bodied guitar also comes loaded with single-coils from Smith’s signature Seymour Duncan set. These include a slightly hotter neck pickup and a bridge pickup built with a mix of different Alnico magnets. The pickups route to a volume and tone control, as well as a three-way switch.

Rounding off the FlatV1’s features are machine heads and bridge by Gotoh, an ergonomically curved control plate and Luminlay side dots.

Stay tuned for more information about the Ibanez FlatV1’s pricing and availability.

Learn more at Ibanez.com.

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