The Ibanez JP20 Joe Pass Signature in Brown Sunburst is a highly regarded Japanese-made jazz archtop developed around the requirements of one of the most influential jazz guitarists of the 20th century.

Its full-sized 16" hollow body combines a spruce top with maple back and sides, while a three-piece maple set neck and ebony fingerboard give the guitar a substantial yet articulate playing platform. A single Ibanez Super 58 humbucker keeps the electronics deliberately simple, providing the warm, clear and responsive amplified sound required for traditional jazz playing.

The unusually long 25.5" scale and 22-fret fingerboard distinguish the JP20 from many conventional jazz boxes and reflect the instrument's purpose-built design.

Finished in Brown Sunburst, this Pre-Owned example is offered in Good condition and includes a hardcase.

At A Glance

Pre-Owned Condition Report

Good Condition

This Ibanez JP20 Joe Pass Signature is offered in Good condition.

Good condition reflects clear evidence of previous ownership, age and regular use while the instrument remains suitable for continued playing, recording, rehearsal and performance.

No specific faults, repairs or modifications have been supplied for this listing.

What’s Included?

✔ Ibanez JP20 Joe Pass Signature
✔ Hardcase

✘ No Additional Accessories Included

Condition Notes

This individual JP20 has been graded Good, making it particularly appealing to someone looking for an older Japanese jazz guitar to play and enjoy rather than a cosmetically pristine collector example.

With an instrument from this production era, signs of genuine use and ageing form part of its history. The supplied photographs should be used alongside the condition grade when assessing the exact cosmetic presentation.

Fair Deal Quality Control Assessment

This Pre-Owned Ibanez archtop has been inspected and assessed by the Fair Deal Music team before sale.

Our checks cover the Super 58 pickup, volume and tone controls, output socket, frets, ebony fingerboard, neck condition, tuning machines, adjustable bridge, tailpiece, hardware, tuning stability and overall playability.

The hollow-body construction is also checked for any obvious structural concerns, and the supplied hardcase is assessed for basic usability.

Service / Setup Work

All Pre-Owned guitars at Fair Deal Music are set up and checked before leaving the shop.

Our assessment includes action, neck relief, fret condition, intonation, tuning stability, electronics, pickup output, bridge positioning, hardware and overall playability.

Please note that full-hollow guitars can respond noticeably to changes in temperature and humidity, so minor setup movement after transportation is possible.

Why Choose The Ibanez JP20 Joe Pass?

Purpose-Built Jazz Guitar

The JP20 was not simply an existing Ibanez archtop with an artist's name added to the headstock. Its dimensions and specification were developed specifically around Joe Pass's requirements.

That gives the model a clear identity within Ibanez's vintage Japanese catalogue.

Single Super 58 Humbucker

The JP20 uses one Ibanez Super 58 humbucker positioned towards the neck area.

The stripped-back single-pickup format keeps the signal path simple and focuses the guitar on the warm, articulate tones most closely associated with jazz comping, chord melody and single-note playing.

25.5" Scale Length

The JP20's 25.5" scale is longer than the shorter scale found on many traditional jazz guitars.

The additional tension can provide a firm, articulate response that works particularly well with heavier strings and clean amplification.

Ebony Fingerboard

The bound ebony fingerboard contributes to the premium feel of the instrument and provides a smooth, hard playing surface suited to accurate chord work and fluid single-note lines.

Ebony Bridge And Tailpiece

Rather than using conventional metal hardware throughout, the JP20 features a height-adjustable ebony bridge and matching ebony tailpiece.

These appointments contribute significantly to its traditional archtop appearance.

Comparison Against Popular Alternatives

Ibanez JP20 vs Ibanez George Benson GB10

Both are important Ibanez artist jazz guitars, but their approaches are very different. The GB10 has a more compact body and dual floating-style pickups, while the JP20 provides a full 16" body, single pickup and a more traditionally proportioned archtop experience.

Ibanez JP20 vs Gibson ES-175

The ES-175 is one of the defining amplified jazz guitars and normally provides a shorter Gibson scale with one or two humbuckers. The JP20 offers its own Japanese-built interpretation of the full-depth jazz guitar, including a longer 25.5" scale and distinctive ebony hardware.

Ibanez JP20 vs Ibanez AF200

The AF200 follows Ibanez's traditional high-end Artstar archtop formula. The JP20 is the more specialised choice for someone specifically interested in Joe Pass's design preferences and the history of Ibanez's early artist models.

Ibanez JP20 vs Modern Hollow-Body Jazz Guitar

A current-production archtop can provide easier servicing and replacement parts, while the JP20 offers the additional character and collectable interest of a discontinued Japanese signature model from Ibanez's highly regarded vintage period.

Who Is It For?

Traditional Jazz Guitarists

The single humbucker, hollow construction and straightforward controls are ideally suited to clean jazz tones without unnecessary electronics.

Chord-Melody Players

The 25.5" scale and 22-fret ebony board provide an articulate platform for complex chords, moving bass lines and melody played simultaneously.

Fingerstyle Players

Joe Pass was renowned for his fingerstyle approach, and the JP20 itself was developed with that style of playing firmly in mind.

Studio Guitarists

A full-hollow single-humbucker archtop occupies a very different tonal space from a solid-body or semi-hollow guitar, making it useful for jazz, lounge, soundtrack and clean rhythm recording.

Vintage Ibanez Collectors

The JP20 comes from an important era of Japanese Ibanez production and represents the company's only Joe Pass signature model.

Suitable Genres And Uses

• Jazz
• Bebop
• Swing
• Chord melody
• Fingerstyle jazz
• Standards
• Lounge
• Big-band guitar
• Clean rhythm
• Solo guitar
• Studio recording
• Traditional amplified archtop playing

What Makes The JP20 Different From A Typical Jazz Box?

The 25.5" scale and 22-fret neck are two of the most important differences.

Many traditional jazz guitars use fewer frets and shorter scale lengths. The JP20's longer neck geometry pushes its single pickup slightly further towards the bridge relative to some conventional archtops, contributing to its articulate response.

The single Super 58 humbucker also keeps the instrument intentionally focused. Rather than trying to cover bridge-pickup rock tones or complicated switching options, the JP20 concentrates on producing a strong core jazz sound.

Story & Context: Joe Pass And The Ibanez JP20

Joe Pass became one of the defining jazz guitarists of his generation, renowned for his extraordinary chord-melody playing, improvisational vocabulary and ability to perform complete arrangements without requiring a rhythm section.

Ibanez introduced the JP20 in 1982 as a dedicated Joe Pass signature guitar.

Development involved Ibanez and its distributors, with the design drawing inspiration from a 16" D'Aquisto archtop owned by Pass. One of Pass's key requirements was an instrument that suited his fingerstyle technique.

The result was unusual even by jazz-guitar standards: a full-hollow 16" archtop with a 25.5" scale, 22-fret ebony fingerboard and single Super 58 humbucker.

Production initially took place at FujiGen in Japan, later moving to Terada during the 1980s, and the JP20 remained in Ibanez's range through 1990.

That relatively contained production period, combined with its Joe Pass association and highly individual specification, has given the model lasting interest among both jazz players and collectors of vintage Japanese Ibanez guitars.

Technical Specifications

Specification Note

The JP20 underwent some hardware changes during its 1982–1990 production run, particularly regarding tuning machines, control knobs and strap buttons.

No serial number has been supplied for this individual guitar, so an exact year and the corresponding year-specific hardware specification have deliberately not been assumed.

Power Requirements

No battery or external power supply is required.

The Super 58 humbucker and controls are completely passive. Connect the guitar to a suitable guitar amplifier, preamp, modeller or recording interface using a standard 1/4" instrument cable.

Why Buy Pre-Owned From Fair Deal Music?

Buying Pre-Owned is essentially the only way to access a discontinued signature instrument such as the Ibanez JP20.

Older Japanese Ibanez archtops can also differ significantly from current-production jazz guitars in specification, feel and construction, making the individual instrument particularly important.

At Fair Deal Music, every Pre-Owned guitar is individually checked and assessed before sale, helping customers purchase vintage, discontinued and second hand instruments with greater confidence.

Fair Deal Music Verdict

★★★★★ 5/5

The Ibanez JP20 Joe Pass Signature Brown Sunburst is a fascinating jazz guitar with far more individual character than a generic single-pickup archtop.

Its 16" hollow body and ebony hardware look traditionally jazz-oriented, but the longer 25.5" scale and 22-fret neck give the guitar its own distinctive feel. The Super 58 keeps the amplified sound focused, clear and uncomplicated.

Best suited for: Jazz, chord melody, fingerstyle and players looking for an older Japanese signature archtop.

Customers usually upgrade from: Ibanez Artcore guitars, entry-level jazz boxes and more affordable hollow-body electrics.

Most commonly paired with: Clean solid-state jazz amplifiers, low-wattage valve amps, compact reverb and high-quality instrument cables.

Our tip: The JP20 is particularly well suited to flatwound strings. A medium or heavier set can complement the longer scale and bring out the smooth, controlled response associated with traditional jazz playing.

Showroom feedback: The long scale and single Super 58 give the JP20 a distinctly articulate personality. It feels purpose-built rather than like a standard hollow-body guitar adapted into an artist model.

Why Buy From Fair Deal Music?

When you buy from Fair Deal Music, you're choosing one of the UK's most established, independent family run music retailers since 1987.

Our knowledgeable musician-led team can help you choose the right instrument whether you're buying your first serious guitar, upgrading an existing setup or searching for something unusual within the vintage and Pre-Owned market.

You can buy with confidence thanks to our experienced staff, carefully checked new and Pre-Owned equipment, Birmingham showroom, secure ordering, fast UK delivery and friendly support before and after your purchase.

Trade In. Trade Up. Save More.

Thinking about upgrading? Your next guitar could cost less than you think.

Fair Deal Music buys and part-exchanges a wide range of guitars, basses, amplifiers, keyboards and other musical equipment.

Your existing gear could help reduce the cost of this Ibanez JP20. Contact our team for a no-obligation valuation and we'll be happy to discuss your options.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was the Ibanez JP20 produced?

The JP20 was introduced in 1982 and remained in production through 1990.

Was the JP20 actually designed for Joe Pass?

Yes. It was developed as Joe Pass's dedicated Ibanez signature model, with elements influenced by a D'Aquisto archtop he owned and his preference for fingerstyle playing.

Is the JP20 fully hollow?

Yes. It is a traditional full-hollow archtop, rather than a centre-block semi-hollow guitar.

What pickup does it use?

It uses a single Ibanez Super 58 passive humbucker.

Why does it only have one pickup?

The JP20 was designed primarily as a dedicated jazz instrument, where a warm neck-position humbucker is often the main amplified sound required.

What scale length does it have?

It uses a relatively unusual 25.5" scale length, longer than many traditional archtop jazz guitars.

Does it have an ebony fingerboard?

Yes. The JP20 uses a bound ebony fingerboard with decorative split-block inlays.

Is the hardcase included?

Yes. This Pre-Owned example includes a hardcase.

Can I request a closer look before buying?

Yes. Our Request a Video Demo option is particularly useful for an older Good-condition archtop if you'd like to see its individual cosmetic wear and hear the Super 58 pickup before purchasing.