1985 DT-4550 BK-FE
TheDestroyerGuy is a fan site devoted to the free exchange of information relating to the various models of the Ibanez Destroyer electric guitar.
This site was last updated on 04 MARCH 2018. Please refresh your browser cache often to ensure you get the latest changes.
Well, I managed to make it through 2017 without any more major surgery but I'm not going to be so lucky in 2018. In mid-March I will be going in for heart surgery. Assuming all goes well, I will be back online by mid-May. Until then, TheDestroyerGuy web site will once again be on autopilot and I won't be able to answer email.
Made more updates to the information on the DT-200 (first incarnation) page. This was the only Destroyer model that was available with the Tri-Sound functionality. We've added a wiring diagram to the DT-200 (first incarnation) page for the Tri-Sound.
Recently got my hands on a 1983 DT-200 (first incarnation) and have made some updates to the DT-200 page. Hope to have more updates in the future as I take it apart.
Have some updates about the Destroyers with Modulus Guitars' graphite necks. Read about it here.
Made some minor updates to the DG-351 page.
A BIG TheDestroyerGuy apology to Shane155 for not getting the DG-555 updates loaded properly. The DG-555 page has been corrected.
Another BIG TheDestroyerGuy "Thank You" to Shane155 and DeeJayK from the
Ibanez Collector's World forums for setting me straight
on the DG-555. The DG-555
page has been corrected.
A BIG TheDestroyerGuy "Thank You" to Mr. Steve Berberian for allowing us to use images of his beautiful 1982 DT-400CS.
Welcome to TheDestroyerGuy: BlackOps. Check it out and see which look you like better. Same content just a different color palette. If you decide you like the original look better, simply click the WhiteSite link at the top of the navigation menu to return.
The mystery has been solved for one of our Mystery Models. Read about it here.
My deepest, most humble, grovelling apologies to everyone.
For the past couple of years the site has been on auto-pilot while I have dealt with various medical issues. I have tried to answer emailed questions as often as I was able but simply did not have the energy to keep the site up to date.
I'm slowly getting back into action. I'm not 100% yet but I'm getting there.
As you can see, the site has been revamped a bit and has been updated with the latest information I could find. If I have missed anything or if you find something that looks wonky, please let us know. Thank you.
Hopefully, 2017 will be a much better year, the site will be kept current, and I won't lose any more body parts.
We have found additional information regarding the speculative model DT-550. Read about it here.
Had someone reach out to me about a Destroyer they own that has a Modulus Guitars graphite neck. Read about it here.
We found an Ibanez price list from February 1984 that contained some interesting information regarding the DT-155. Scroll to the bottom of the DT-155 page to view it.
First off, it actually mentions the Marine Sunburst finish (DT-155MS) which is the only time I've ever seen a reference to that finish in official Ibanez documents. The second thing I found interesting is that both the DT-155BK and the
DT-155MS are referred to as the "Def Leppard model". That same price list also refers to the DT-650 (bass) as the "Def Leppard model". Scroll to the bottom of the DT-650 page
to view it. Lastly, I found that several Destroyer models were grouped into a section titled Fashion Series. FASHION Series??!! *sigh*
Apparently, Hoshino-Gakki has changed the URL for their catalog archives containing the export (non-Japanese market) releases. We have scrubbed our site and have, hopefully, updated all of the relevant hyperlinks. If you encounter a broken link, please let us know which page it is on and we will correct the address. Thank you.
Contributing author Lane S. Sparber has written an article for us that Phil Collen fans and DT-555 fans will find very interesting. Check it out: How I Built My Own Phil Collen DT-555.
Found the following on Reverb.com: Efkay Music Destroyer.
Just to be clear: it's not a "50th Anniversary Destroyer".
It is a Destroyer commemorating the 50th Anniversary of Efkay Music and Hoshino-Gakki.
"Efkay Music and Hoshino Gakki are celebrating 50 years of bringing musical instruments to the Canadian market."
Apparently, Hoshino-Gakki is releasing a very limited run of various instruments with the Efkay/Hoshino 50th Anniversary branding: Ibanez guitars and Tama drums.
These releases appear to be Canada specific.
For the 2017 production year, Hoshino-Gakki has released a Special Edition DTB-400 bass in conjunction with Sweetwater. As far as we have been able to determine, the only differences between the Sweetwater edition and the standard DTB-400 are the color of the finish, hardware, and coil caps: all are black on the Sweetwater edition.
Mike D'Antonio fans rejoice! A new Destroyer bass model was released for the 2016 production year: the MDB4. You can see it here or on the official Ibanez web site.
A new Destroyer 6-string model was released in late May 2015: the DT-425. It appears to be a variant of the DT-520/DT-420 models. The major difference appears to be the Tune-O-Matic bridge has been replaced by a Gibraltar bridge with a sustain block and the tailpiece has been changed from a Tight Tune to a Quik Change. Unfortunately, it appears the DT-425 will only be available in Japan.
A brand new Limited Edition Destroyer bass has just been released: the DTB-400. Grab yours before they disappear forever!
The new 2014 DT-420 TCH has been released. Get 'em while they're hot!
2015 - A brand new Destroyer model is due to be released in late May 2015: the DT-425. It appears to be a variant of the DT-520/DT-420 models. The major difference appears to be the Tune-O-Matic bridge has been replaced by a Gibraltar bridge with a sustain block and the tailpiece has been changed from a Tight Tune to a Quik Change. Unfortunately, it appears the DT-425 will only be available in Japan.
2014 - Wow! Lots of new Destroyers but the model numbers get a little bit confusing, so let's start at the beginning. The DT-520FM-CRS and the DT-520-BK were released first. Both have chrome hardware. Aside from having different colored finishes, the difference between these two models is that the "FM" model has a Flame Maple cap on the body.
Recently, two variants of the DT-520 were released in the US, exclusively to the Guitar Center/Musician's Friend chains: the DT1GFM and the DT2G. These are versions of the DT-520FM and DT-520 that have gold hardware rather than chrome. The DT1GFM comes in either a Cherry Red Sunburst or a Vintage Sunburst finish. The DT2G comes only in a Candy Apple finish. The major difference between the DT1GFM/DT2G and the DT-520FM/DT-520 is that the tone control on the DT1GFM/DT2G has a push/pull operation that is a coil tap function.
If you look on the Ibanez (Japan) web site, you'll see what appears to be the DT-520FM-CRS, DT-520-BK, and the DT2G-CA except the model numbers shown are DT-520FMGB, DT-520GB, and DT-520GGB, respectively. After asking an authoritative source, it seems the "GB" designation denotes "gigbag", which would make the model numbers align for the DT-520FM and DT-520.
It was our understanding that the DT2G was exclusive to Guitar Center/Musician's Friend yet the Ibanez (Japan) web site is clearly showing it as a model DT-520G.
A note on years: unless otherwise indicated, the years provided in the timelines below are the years each model first appeared in Ibanez marketing materials (i.e.: catalogs, flyers, brochures, etc).
The timelines below do not display all the years each model was in production. The timelines only display the first year each model was introduced. Actual dates of manufacture may be before or after the years listed.
In general, a model's production begins in November of the year prior to its release.
Three model numbers were reused: DT-200 (1983/2004), DT-400 (1980/1996), and DT-420 (1992/2002/2012 sample/2014).
The second incarnation of the DT-420 (2002) is a reissue of the second incarnation of the DT-400 (1996).
The 2014 DT-420 appears to be the same guitar as the 2013 DT-520 but with a new finish and different pick-ups.
The 2015 DT-425 appears to be the same guitar as the 2013 DT-520 and the 2014 DT-420 but with a new finish, a new bridge, a sustain block, and a new tailpiece.
1996:
DT-400 (second incarnation)
2002:
DT-420[3] (second incarnation)
2004:
DT-200 (second incarnation)
2014:
DT-420 (third incarnation)
What is a "sample"?
A sample is a pre-production edition of a guitar, usually a one-off, that is used as a demonstrator within Hoshino-Gakki to determine whether that particular design will become a production model. Model samples may vary by hardware configuration or by something as trivial as having a different colored finish. Samples may also be used as demonstrators at trade shows to advertise an upcoming product prior to its release.
The 2017 DTB-400 Sweetwater Edition appears to be the same as the 2014 DTB-400 except for a different color finish on the body, hardware, and coil caps. Other than that? They appear to be the same guitar.
What is a "sample"?
A sample is a pre-production edition of a guitar, usually a one-off, that is used as a demonstrator within Hoshino-Gakki to determine whether that particular design will become a production model. Model samples may vary by hardware configuration or by something as trivial as having a different colored finish. Samples may also be used as demonstrators at trade shows to advertise an upcoming product prior to its release.
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the mahogany Model 2459 prototype was created for the 1975 Summer NAMM in Chicago, IL, USA (Ibanez - The Untold Story, Specht, Wright, and Donahue, 2005, Hoshino (U.S.A.) Inc, ISBN: 0-976-4277-0-2, pg 73, inset).
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note the model name changes in 1986 from DT-350 to DG-350 and from DT-555 to DG-555.
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the following models did not appear in any known marketing materials so the
years provided are from actual dates of manufacture:
1981 DT-700,
1984 DT-650,
1992 DT-420,
1992 MED-320,
2002 DT-420,
2011 GDTM21 Mikro,
2011 DTB-100,
2014 DTB-400,
2015 DT-425,
and the 2017 DTB-400 Sweetwater Edition.
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