The Ibanez Iceman is one of Japan’s boldest guitar designs, and around the same time Greco released a nearly identical model, the Mirage. Was it just a copy? Not exactly: the two were more like twins, built at the same factory. This article covers how that happened in the late 1970s. For the brand as a whole, see the Ibanez guide.
Ibanez Iceman and Greco Mirage Quick Facts
- Period covered: 1975 to the late 1970s
- First appeared: 1975 as the Artist 2663; named Iceman in 1978
- Factory: FujiGen, which built for both Ibanez and Greco
- Twins: Ibanez Iceman (overseas), Greco Mirage (Japan)
- Famous player: Paul Stanley of KISS, signed in 1977
- Fun fact: Paul Gilbert’s Fireman is a reversed Iceman
Prefer to watch? This article is based on my own video below.
Ibanez Iceman vs Greco Mirage at a Glance
| Ibanez Iceman | Greco Mirage | |
|---|---|---|
| Company | Hoshino Gakki | Kanda Shokai |
| Market | The world stage, outside Japan | Japan’s domestic market |
| Built by | FujiGen | FujiGen |
| Design | Same shape | Same shape |
| Main difference | Pickups and branding | Pickups and branding |
Mid-1970s: Japan Wanted Designs of Its Own
In the mid-1970s, Japan’s guitar industry was in transition. Makers that had grown on copies of American guitars began looking for original designs. Hoshino Gakki, the company behind Ibanez, introduced the shape that became the Iceman in 1975 as the Artist 2663.
At the same time, Kanda Shokai, the company behind Greco, needed a new domestic model for Japan’s growing hard-rock scene.
1977: Paul Stanley Signs With Ibanez
Then came 1977. Paul Stanley of KISS signed a deal with Ibanez, and his signature model, the PS-10, appeared in the 1978 catalog. That same year, the shape got the name it is known by today: the Iceman.
Built at FujiGen: One Design, Two Brands
The design took shape at FujiGen, the same factory building guitars for Greco. That shared connection soon led to two versions of one idea:
Same factory, same hands, two brands
Greco’s first Mirage, the M-800, launched in the late 1970s, and the range grew from the M600 up to the M1000. Two companies building the same design side by side was an unprecedented moment in Japanese guitar history.
For the Mirage and Greco’s other originals, see Greco Original Models.
Copy or Twins?
Why “twins” fits better than “copy”
- Same factory: both were built at FujiGen
- Same design: one shape, not one brand imitating another
- Different markets: Ibanez sold overseas, Greco in Japan
- Different details: mainly the pickups and the branding
Fun Fact: Paul Gilbert’s Fireman Is a Reversed Iceman
Decades later, Paul Gilbert flipped the Iceman shape, and Ibanez released it in 2009 as the Fireman. The name is a play on the original: fire is the opposite of ice.
The Ibanez Iceman Today
The Iceman never really went away. Ibanez still builds it, such as the IC420MFM, and keeps reviving the shape with new models, including Iceman basses announced for 2026.
| You want… | Look for |
|---|---|
| The original 1970s Iceman | Vintage FujiGen-built Ibanez Iceman |
| The Japanese twin | Vintage Greco Mirage (M-series) |
| A new Iceman | Current Ibanez Iceman models |
| The Mirage idea today | Greco GM series |
Ibanez Iceman
The one to find if you want the shape Paul Stanley made famous.
Greco Mirage
The domestic twin, mostly found on the Japanese used market.
Final Thoughts
To me, the Iceman and the Mirage are one of the most interesting stories of the FujiGen era: not a case of one brand copying another, but one factory giving the same idea to two companies. If you spot either one, now you know they are siblings.
FAQ
Is the Greco Mirage a copy of the Ibanez Iceman?
Not exactly. Both were built at FujiGen from the same design, with Ibanez selling the Iceman overseas and Greco selling the Mirage in Japan. They are better described as twins than copies.
When did the Ibanez Iceman come out?
The shape first appeared in 1975 as the Artist 2663, and the Iceman name arrived in 1978.
Who made the Ibanez Iceman?
Vintage Icemen were built at the FujiGen factory in Matsumoto, Japan, the same factory that built Greco guitars for Kanda Shokai.
What is the difference between the Iceman and the Mirage?
The design is nearly identical. The main differences are the brand, the market each was sold in, and the pickups.
What guitar did Paul Stanley play from Ibanez?
Paul Stanley of KISS signed with Ibanez in 1977, and his Iceman signature model, the PS-10, appeared in the 1978 catalog.
Is the Paul Gilbert Fireman a reversed Iceman?
Yes. Paul Gilbert flipped the Iceman body shape, and Ibanez released it as the Fireman in 2009.
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