August Burns Red's JB Brubaker and Megadeth's Kiko Loureiro both get new signature instruments arriving in Australia mid-2026.
Ibanez has announced two heavyweight signature guitars landing in Australia: the JBBM40 for August Burns Red’s JB Brubaker and the KIKO300 for Megadeth axeman Kiko Loureiro. Both models showcase the kind of design philosophy and tonal choices you’d expect from players at the top of their game.
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Brubaker’s JBBM40 comes dressed in Pearl White and features a three-piece maple and bubinga neck—the bubinga stripe adding stability and extended sustain to the equation. An ebony fretboard delivers tight low and mid-range response with aggressive high-end attack, whilst jumbo frets make single-note runs feel effortless under your fingers.
The okoume body brings brightness and solidity, but it’s the pickup combination that tells you everything about Brubaker’s intentions. EMG’s 85 in the neck position brings alnico-driven dynamics and richness, while the bridge-mounted EMG 81 delivers the kind of detailed intensity and high-end cut that metal players crave. Gotoh MG-T locking machine heads keep tuning rock-solid, and the Gibraltar Standard III bridge ensures efficient string vibration transfer with a redesigned baseplate and saddles for improved playing comfort.
Loureiro’s KIKO300 takes things up a notch with its Ruby Red Sunburst Flat finish and S-TECH WOOD roasted maple neck. This special roasting treatment enhances attack, balances the overall tone, and extends sustain, whilst the fretboard edges feature smooth curves for supreme grip comfort.
The jumbo stainless steel frets receive Ibanez’s Prestige fret edge treatment, guaranteeing corrosion resistance and lightning-fast playability. It also pairs a poplar burl top—chosen for its exotic grain—with an alder body that delivers bright, well-balanced tone with rich resonance and sustain.
DiMarzio worked directly with Loureiro to create custom pickups that cover his vast stylistic range, from metal to jazz fusion. Both humbuckers offer medium output and balanced frequency response, whilst the middle single-coil runs hotter and warmer than typical vintage-style singles to maintain balance across all positions. A coil-tap switch expands the tonal palette even further.
Both guitars are built for players who demand precision, versatility, and reliability. Whether you’re after Brubaker’s aggressive metalcore tones or Loureiro’s genre-hopping versatility, these signature models arrive in Australia during the second quarter of 2026 and are sure to impress.
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