You guys need to read about Jake Bowen from Periphery because he’s one of those artists who literally defines technical guitar playing in this generation, so when he makes a move like this it matters. He's been an Ibanez artist since 2015 — that’s nearly nine years! And for the last two of those he was on their Stratocaster line which is already insane because his signature model sold out immediately every time. Periphery fans follow him closely enough to know exactly what gear he uses and why, so any change in direction gets massive attention from people who genuinely appreciate high-level craftsmanship. He’s not just a guitarist; he's one of the most respected players in modern metal and his equipment choices are always deliberate.
But here's the thing that makes this story worth following: Jake isn't leaving Ibanez because he hates them — he actually says he never minded playing their Stratocaster! But after two years on it, he felt limited by having only one tonal palette for a band as versatile as Periphery. He wants to explore different tonalities and Herbert Strandberg’s shop in Sweden offers those additional options through their signature models and custom builds. The switch is happening late fall or winter this year, and the big question everyone's asking is what his new Strandberg will look like compared to the Ibanez classic. Also worth noting: there are rumors that both lines might continue in limited runs because he doesn't want to cut off his existing fans — which would be wild if true!
Source: https://www.musicradar.com/artists/jake-bowen-swaps-ibanez-for-strandberg
But here's the thing that makes this story worth following: Jake isn't leaving Ibanez because he hates them — he actually says he never minded playing their Stratocaster! But after two years on it, he felt limited by having only one tonal palette for a band as versatile as Periphery. He wants to explore different tonalities and Herbert Strandberg’s shop in Sweden offers those additional options through their signature models and custom builds. The switch is happening late fall or winter this year, and the big question everyone's asking is what his new Strandberg will look like compared to the Ibanez classic. Also worth noting: there are rumors that both lines might continue in limited runs because he doesn't want to cut off his existing fans — which would be wild if true!
Source: https://www.musicradar.com/artists/jake-bowen-swaps-ibanez-for-strandberg