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Description
The Ibanez Destroyer is more than just an electric guitar—it's a statement of power and style. Crafted for those who dare to make a sonic impact, this solid body electric guitar combines aggressive aesthetics with exceptional playability. The radical reverse mahogany body not only turns heads but also contributes to the guitar's rich, resonant tone. A fast mahogany neck paired with a bound rosewood fingerboard ensures you're ready to shred with ease and precision.
At the heart of the Destroyer's sonic prowess are the DiMarzio humbuckers—an Air Norton at the neck and a Tone Zone at the bridge. These pickups offer a versatile range from warm, expressive tones to full-throttle rock mayhem, making it perfect for any musical setting. The Air Norton delivers deep, articulate sounds without losing clarity, while the Tone Zone offers a broad dynamic range, letting you transition from clean to crunchy with ease.
The guitar's stunning pearl/abalone block inlays add a touch of elegance to its raw, rock-and-roll persona. Whether you're playing on stage or in the studio, the Ibanez Destroyer is designed to capture attention and deliver uncompromising sound quality. With its Tight-Tune bridge and stoptail, you’re guaranteed stability and sustain, allowing you to focus purely on your performance.
Key Features:
- Radical reverse mahogany body
- Fast mahogany neck with bound rosewood fingerboard
- 22 jumbo frets with pearl/abalone block inlays
- DiMarzio Air Norton (neck) and Tone Zone (bridge) humbuckers
- Tight-Tune bridge and stoptail
- Sure Grip III control knobs and chrome hardware
Videos
Guitar Interactive Magazine
Ibanez Destroyer DT520 Guitar Review | Guitar Interactive Magazine
Reviews
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Ibanez Destroyer.
Mods and upgrades
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Lace Nitro Hemi pickups suggested for Ibanez Destroyer with push/pull mod for coil splitting.
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Solderless EMG kits recommended for ease of installation and Metallica-like sound.
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Irongear Hammer Heads praised for high gain and aesthetic similarity to SD Invaders, offering a budget-friendly option.
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Installing DiMarzio Double Cream Super Distortion pickups is a popular modification, with reports of enhanced sound quality from users who have tried it.
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Setup and maintenance
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For missing parts like bridge or tailpiece, generic replacements sourced from eBay can be matched by measurements from resources like StewMac.
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User experience
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One owner successfully refurbishes guitars despite being a teenager, indicating ease of modification for beginners.
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Owners appreciate the Destroyer's lighter weight, making it easier to play compared to heavier models like the Gibson E2 Explorer.
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Owners appreciate the sleek feel and aesthetic appeal of the Ibanez Destroyer's big knobs, contributing to a satisfying playing experience.
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Comparisons
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The Ibanez Destroyer is reportedly more versatile than the Gibson E2 Explorer, featuring a lighter weight and the pickup configuration of a hot V2 bridge and Super58 neck.
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Some players favor the Ibanez Destroyer over the Gibson Explorer, suggesting a preference for its unique style and playability.
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Features and functionality
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Matched Super70 pickups in the Destroyer are praised as excellent PAF copies by Maxon, enhancing its tonal versatility.
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Use cases and applications
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The Destroyer balances well when played both sitting and standing, offering versatility for different playing styles, unlike lighter V-shaped guitars.
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4.5 out of 5
Based on 1 Review and 19 Ratings
Artist usage
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"French (left) and Ojeda in 1976 with their then-new (and matching!) Ibanez Destroyers, which French recalls as renowned for being near-exact copies of Gibson’s korina-bodied Explorer. French/Ojeda in ’76: Michael Kagan, courtesy of Jay Jay French."
Kavus Torabi is seen with an Ibanez Destroyer in his Twitter profile picture as of January 10, 2017.
In an interview with Vintage Guitar® magazine, John Seagall is mentioned using the Ibanez Destroyer.
Seth used an Ibanez Destroyer when he played "Kyle From Incantation Has A Mustache" at an Incantation show, this same guitar was also used as a backup guitar by Josh Martin on AxCx tours.
In this video, you can see Danny holding two of his Ibanez Destroyers, the first is a black version and the other is the lemon drop finish.
In this post brian baker shows off an ibanez destroyer. He states that this belongs to mike. This particular guitar is a 1976 model
At 0:51 in Cherry Red Records’ YouTube video “Nuclear Assault - Radiation Sickness (Live at the Hammersmith Odeon, London, UK, 1987),” John Connelly can be seen using an Ibanez Destroyer.
This guitar was most likely used for many of carnivores live shows and probably Keith's favorite guitar ,was in a sunburst paint job and is fuckin awesome
Olof Wikstrand uses an Ibanez Destroyer as one of his main guitars. This can be seen in the music video for the song "Destroyer." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4785h6JSqNc&ab_channel=NuclearBlastRecords
Album Usage
The Ibanez Destroyer has been featured on the following albums:
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Ibanez Destroyer, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
Community setups
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