NAMM 2026 has seen Ibanez unveil two highly anticipated signature guitars that reflect the unique playing styles of two influential metal guitarists: JB Brubaker of August Burns Red and Kiko Loureiro, formerly of Megadeth and Angra. Both models are rooted in classic Ibanez designs but feature custom specifications tailored to each artist’s needs, making them standout additions to the Ibanez lineup.
JB Brubaker JBBM40 – A Metalcore Machine Based on the RGA
JB Brubaker’s guitar work with August Burns Red is synonymous with precision, speed, and clarity. His riffs and solos demand an instrument that can handle aggressive rhythms and articulate leads without compromise. The new JBBM40 delivers exactly that, drawing inspiration from Ibanez’s popular RGA series while incorporating features that make it uniquely suited to Brubaker’s style.
Key Specifications
- Body & Tonewoods: The JBBM40 features an Okoume body, chosen for its bright, solid tonal character that cuts through dense mixes—a must for modern metalcore.
- Neck Construction: A 3-piece Maple/Bubinga neck provides exceptional strength and sustain, ensuring stability during heavy touring and aggressive playing.
- Fretboard: The Ebony fretboard offers tight lows, strong attack in the highs, and quick response, perfect for dynamic riffing and lead work.
- Frets: Jumbo frets enhance playability, especially for single-note runs and technical passages.
- Pickups: One of the most distinctive features of the JBBM40 is its EMG 85/81 active pickup set. The EMG 85 in the neck delivers warm, dynamic tones, while the EMG 81 in the bridge provides razor-sharp attack and fluid sustain—ideal for crushing rhythms and soaring solos.
- Hardware: The Gibraltar Standard III bridge ensures optimal string vibration transfer and playing comfort, while Gotoh® MG-T locking machine heads offer rock-solid tuning stability and quick string changes.
The JBBM40 is a purpose-built instrument for metalcore players who demand precision and reliability. Its RGA-inspired design combined with EMG’s iconic active pickups makes it a formidable choice for high-gain performance.
Kiko Loureiro KIKO300 – Progressive Versatility Meets AZ Design
Kiko Loureiro’s playing style spans progressive metal, Brazilian rhythms, jazz, and classical influences. To accommodate this diversity, Ibanez and Kiko worked extensively on refining every detail of his new signature model. The result is the KIKO300, a guitar that marks a significant shift for Kiko—it’s his first signature based on the Ibanez AZ series, known for its modern ergonomics and versatility.
Key Specifications
- Construction & Tonewoods: The KIKO300 features a Poplar Burl top paired with an Alder body, delivering a bright, resonant tone with enhanced sustain. The Poplar Burl adds an exotic visual appeal, making this guitar as striking as it is functional.
- Neck: A S-TECH WOOD Roasted Maple neck provides superior attack, balanced tone, and rich sustain. The smooth curved fretboard edges ensure supreme grip comfort.
- Fretboard & Frets: The Rosewood fretboard offers a warm, balanced tone, while Jumbo stainless steel frets with Ibanez’s Prestige fret edge treatment guarantee effortless playability and excellent durability.
- Pickups: The guitar is equipped with DiMarzio® KIKO Original pickups, designed to handle Kiko’s wide-ranging musical styles. The neck and bridge humbuckers deliver medium output with balanced frequency response, while the middle single-coil is warmer and more powerful than a typical vintage design, ensuring tonal consistency across all positions.
- Bridge & Hardware: The Gotoh® T1502 tremolo features steel saddles and a die-cast zinc block for quick response and improved articulation. Its 10.5mm string spacing allows easy picking across strings, and the snap-in tremolo arm makes setup simple. Gotoh® MG-T locking machine heads provide exceptional tuning stability.
- Additional Features: A coil-tap switch expands tonal options, while Luminlay side dots make fret positions visible on dark stages. The guitar also comes with an Ibanez hardshell case for maximum protection.
- Made in Japan: As part of Ibanez’s Prestige line, the KIKO300 is crafted in Japan, ensuring top-tier build quality and attention to detail.
The KIKO300 is a versatile instrument designed for players who need a guitar that can move seamlessly between genres without sacrificing tone or playability. Its AZ-based design combined with Kiko’s custom specifications makes it one of the most adaptable signature models Ibanez has ever produced.
A Snapshot of Two Signature Voices
The JBBM40 is unmistakably JB Brubaker’s guitar—lean, aggressive, and purpose-built for the precision that defines August Burns Red’s sound. Brubaker has spent years crafting riffs that balance technical complexity with raw energy, and this model reflects that ethos. Based on the Ibanez RGA shape, it’s a streamlined instrument for players who live in the world of tight rhythms and articulate leads.
In contrast, the KIKO300 represents a new chapter for Kiko Loureiro. Known for blending progressive metal with Brazilian rhythms and jazz influences, Kiko needed a guitar that could move effortlessly between genres. His first AZ-based signature model delivers that flexibility while maintaining the refined feel and playability that have become hallmarks of his style. It’s a guitar designed for exploration, built for players who value nuance as much as power.
Two artists, two very different approaches—but both guitars share the same goal: to give players instruments that feel like an extension of their musical identity.
To find out where and when you test these guitars contact any of these official Australian Ibanez dealers. – https://linktr.ee/ibanezau
