Hoshino Gakki
Encyclopedia
is the owner of the Ibanez
guitar and Tama drums brand names.
In 1957 Hoshino Gakki manufactured what would be considered the first of the modern era Ibanez guitars.
In 1962, Junpei Hoshino, Yoshitaro's son, opened the Tama Seisakusho factory to manufacture electric guitar
s and amplifier
s. The Tama Seisakusho factory produced a line of guitars that included clones of several popular guitars, including the Martin Dreadnought. At the time they were also manufacturing Star Drum
s, available in either the Imperial or Royal models.
Hoshino Gakki stopped making guitars at the Tama Seisakusho factory in 1966 (but continued making drums) and from then on contracted outside guitar factories, like their main factory and exclusive one in Japan, FujiGen
, to make guitars.
Ibanez
is a Japanese guitar brand owned by Hoshino Gakki. Based in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, Hoshino Gakki were one of the first Japanese musical instrument companies to gain a significant foothold in import guitar sales in the United States and Europe, as well as the first brand of guitars to mass produce...
guitar and Tama drums brand names.
History
The Hoshino company was founded in 1908 by Matsujiro Hoshino originally as the Hoshino Shoten bookstore which mostly sold books and sheet music and then gradually over the years also began to import musical instruments into Japan. Matsujiro was succeeded by Yoshitaro Hoshino. In 1935, the company began manufacturing their own stringed instruments. The company had little presence in the Western world until the mid-1960s.In 1957 Hoshino Gakki manufactured what would be considered the first of the modern era Ibanez guitars.
In 1962, Junpei Hoshino, Yoshitaro's son, opened the Tama Seisakusho factory to manufacture electric guitar
Electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
s and amplifier
Amplifier
Generally, an amplifier or simply amp, is a device for increasing the power of a signal.In popular use, the term usually describes an electronic amplifier, in which the input "signal" is usually a voltage or a current. In audio applications, amplifiers drive the loudspeakers used in PA systems to...
s. The Tama Seisakusho factory produced a line of guitars that included clones of several popular guitars, including the Martin Dreadnought. At the time they were also manufacturing Star Drum
Drum
The drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments, which is technically classified as the membranophones. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a shell and struck, either directly with the player's hands, or with a...
s, available in either the Imperial or Royal models.
Hoshino Gakki stopped making guitars at the Tama Seisakusho factory in 1966 (but continued making drums) and from then on contracted outside guitar factories, like their main factory and exclusive one in Japan, FujiGen
FujiGen
FujiGen Gakki フジゲン 楽器 is a musical instrument manufacturer based at Matsumoto in Japan and is named after the famous Mount Fuji. Gen means stringed instruments and Gakki means musical instrument - the name being literally translated as "Fuji Stringed Musical Instruments"...
, to make guitars.
Timeline
- 1908: The Hoshino Shoten bookstore company is founded by Matsujiro Hoshino. Originally selling books and sheet music they gradually start to import musical instruments.
- 1929: The Hoshino company starts Hoshino Gakki Ten Inc. and starts to import Salvador IbáñezSalvador IbáñezSalvador Ibáñez was a Spanish luthier. He made guitars, ukuleles, mandolins and other stringed instruments. These instruments were considered the finest of their age and are prized for their excellent quality and impeccable workmanship....
acoustic guitars from Spain. - 1935: Hoshino Gakki Ten begins their own production of "Ibanez Salvador" branded Spanish guitars.
- 1945: The Hoshino Gakki Ten factory was destroyed by World War II bombing.
- 1955: Hoshino Gakki Ten builds new headquarters in Nagoya Japan and becomes an export only business.
- 1957: Hoshino Gakki Ten starts making the first modern era Ibanez branded guitars.
- 1962: Hoshino Gakki Ten opens the Tama Seisakusho factory.
- 1966: Hoshino Gakki Ten starts to use outside manufacturers for guitars and amplifiers but continues to manufacture drums themselves.
- 1969: Hoshino Gakki Ten starts to use the FujiGenFujiGenFujiGen Gakki フジゲン 楽器 is a musical instrument manufacturer based at Matsumoto in Japan and is named after the famous Mount Fuji. Gen means stringed instruments and Gakki means musical instrument - the name being literally translated as "Fuji Stringed Musical Instruments"...
Gakki guitar factory to make most of the Ibanez branded guitars. The headstock logo on Ibanez guitars is changed from a metal logo to a more modern decal logo. - 1971: Hoshino Gakki Ten starts a U.S. distribution channel named Elger near Philadelphia.
- 1972: Hoshino Gakki Ten launches its own line of Ibanez effect pedals. The Ibanez effect pedals were licensed from the Nisshin Onpa Company who own the MaxonMaxonMaxon may denote:* An electronic musical device Maxon Effects Pedals.A surname:* Bonnie Maxon American professional wrestler* William Ralph Maxon American botanist...
brand. - 1974: The Tama brand name is used for the drums produced by Hoshino Gakki Ten.
- 1975: The Ibanez IcemanIbanez IcemanThe Iceman is an electric guitar model produced by Ibanez. -History:The Iceman is an Ibanez guitar produced by Hoshino Gakki. Hoshino Gakki exported copies of American electric and acoustic guitars in the 1950s, and by the mid 1970s the Ibanez guitars had reached a level of quality comparable to...
an original guitar design by Hoshino Gakki Ten (IbanezIbanezis a Japanese guitar brand owned by Hoshino Gakki. Based in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, Hoshino Gakki were one of the first Japanese musical instrument companies to gain a significant foothold in import guitar sales in the United States and Europe, as well as the first brand of guitars to mass produce...
), Kanda Shokai (GrecoGreco guitarsGreco are a brand of electric guitars produced by Kanda Shokai 神田商会. Kanda Shokai is a musical instrument wholesaler mostly known for being part of Fender Japan.-History:...
) and FujiGenFujiGenFujiGen Gakki フジゲン 楽器 is a musical instrument manufacturer based at Matsumoto in Japan and is named after the famous Mount Fuji. Gen means stringed instruments and Gakki means musical instrument - the name being literally translated as "Fuji Stringed Musical Instruments"...
Gakki is launched. - 1980: The Elgar name is changed to Hoshino USA Inc.
- 1981: Hoshino changes company name from Hoshino Gakki Ten to Hoshino Gakki and starts Hoshino Gakki Mfg (based on TAMA Seisakusho).
- 1982: Hoshino Gakki starts Hoshino Gakki Hanbai for the Japanese domestic market.
- 1987: Hoshino Gakki starts Hoshino Los Angeles office.
- Late 1980s: Hoshino Gakki starts using Korean guitar manufactures as well as Japanese guitar manufactures and in later years also uses Chinese and Indonesian guitar manufacturers.
- 1990: Hoshino Gakki starts Hoshino (U.S.A.) Los Angeles Branch.
- 2005: Hoshino Gakki starts Qingdao Representative Office in China.