Periphery guitarist Jake Bowen has officially ended his long-running relationship with Ibanez and joined Strandberg as the company’s newest signature artist. Bowen joins an impressive artist roster that includes Plini, Sarah Longfield, Liso Lee, Jacob Collier, Jordan Rudess, and fellow progressive innovators.
Bowen’s move may not come as a complete surprise to attentive Periphery fans. Over the past year, he had increasingly been seen performing with Strandberg guitars during live shows, fueling speculation that his long-standing Ibanez partnership was coming to an end. Obviously it has.
Ending a Decade with Ibanez
Bowen’s relationship with Ibanez began in 2014, producing several signature models that became favorites among progressive metal players. His most recent release, the JBM9999, arrived in 2022 and showcased many of the extended-range and modern performance features associated with his playing style.
Although Bowen’s Ibanez artist page remained online at the time of the announcement, his social media profiles now exclusively reference Strandberg, signaling a complete transition to the brand.
A Natural Fit
Strandberg has built its reputation around lightweight headless guitars, multi-scale designs, and its distinctive EndurNeck profile, making the brand particularly popular among progressive metal players.
“A great guitar should be inspiring the moment you pick it up – they almost beckon you from across the room to play them, and when I picked up a Strandberg for the first time I knew it was going to be special,” Bowen said.
“As a guitarist for 34 years, I’ve had a lot of time to discover what works in the studio and on the road. Strandberg guitars offer a lightweight, ergonomic solution without giving up tone, playability, and most importantly that instant source of inspiration.”
Signature Model on the Horizon?
While Strandberg has yet to officially unveil Bowen’s signature instrument, the announcement strongly suggests one is already in development. Given Bowen’s history with extended-scale instruments and modern progressive metal specifications, fans are already speculating that his first Strandberg signature could feature a headless extended-scale design tailored to Periphery’s low tunings and intricate playing style. It’d be awesome.
