There was a time when guitar manufacturers seemed to be competing to see who could build the most outrageous-looking instrument possible. Sharp angles, locking tremolos, high-output pickups, and enough gold hardware to make a Cadillac jealous. Right in the middle of that glorious era of excess was the Ibanez DT555 Destroyer II, a Japanese-made guitar that perfectly captured the sound and attitude of early-'80s hard rock.
Produced from 1983 through 1985, the DT555 has become something of a cult classic among vintage Ibanez enthusiasts, thanks to its unmistakable design, impressive build quality, and connection to Def Leppard guitarist Phil Collen.
From Gibson Inspiration to Japanese Original
The Destroyer story actually begins in the mid-1970s, when Ibanez was building guitars heavily inspired by American classics. The original Destroyer borrowed its distinctive shape from the Gibson Explorer, and those early Japanese instruments eventually developed a following of their own. Eddie Van Halen famously played a modified Ibanez Destroyer during Van Halen's early years, helping establish the model's place in rock guitar history.
By the early 1980s, however, Ibanez was moving in a different direction. Rather than simply interpreting existing American designs, the company was developing instruments with their own personalities.
The DT555 pushed the familiar Explorer silhouette into much more aggressive territory. Its angular body featured a dramatic notch at the rear, creating a shape reminiscent of the Dean ML. Combined with a black finish, cream-colored pickups, elaborate fingerboard inlays, and gold hardware, the result was unmistakably '80s.
And that's exactly what makes it so cool today.
The Phil Collen Connection
It's almost impossible to talk about the DT555 without mentioning Phil Collen.
When Collen joined Def Leppard in 1982, the band was on the verge of becoming one of the biggest rock acts in the world. His customized Ibanez Destroyer guitars became part of his signature look during the band's Pyromania era, and Ibanez capitalized on that association by featuring him in promotional materials.
Although the DT555 is frequently called the "Phil Collen Destroyer," it was never officially designated a signature model. Collen's personal guitars also differed from the standard production versions, including custom pickup and tremolo configurations.
Still, for anyone who grew up watching Def Leppard videos on MTV, the connection is hard to forget. The DT555 looked every bit as larger-than-life as the music being played on it.
More Than Just a Wild Shape
Behind the DT555's striking appearance was a genuinely sophisticated guitar.
Built in Japan, it featured a basswood body with a birch top, a set-in three-piece maple neck, 22 frets, and a comfortable 24.75-inch scale length. Its decorative split-block fingerboard inlays and gold hardware gave it a distinctly upscale feel.
The electronics were especially interesting. Instead of the usual pair of humbuckers, Ibanez installed three of its V2 pickups. A three-way selector operated the neck and bridge pickups, while a dedicated volume control allowed players to blend in the middle humbucker. It was an unusual arrangement that offered more tonal flexibility than the guitar's metal-oriented appearance might suggest.
The tremolo system also evolved during production. Early DT555s used the Ibanez Hard Rocker Pro bridge, while later examples received the Pro Rock'r locking system, reflecting the growing popularity of dive bombs and other extreme tremolo techniques.
A Brief Production Run, a Lasting Impression
The DT555 didn't stick around for long. After just three model years, Ibanez discontinued it in 1985, introducing the related DG555 with an updated Edge tremolo system for 1986.
As the decade progressed, guitar tastes shifted toward sleeker, more conventional superstrat designs. The oversized, aggressively angular Destroyer II gradually became a reminder of an earlier chapter in heavy metal history.
Today, that's a big part of its charm.
Vintage Japanese guitars have earned a reputation for their craftsmanship, creative engineering, and distinctive character, and the DT555 checks all three boxes. It's a guitar that represents a period when Ibanez was confidently establishing its own identity, rather than following someone else's blueprint.
For collectors, '80s rock fans, and anyone who appreciates an unusual piece of Japanese guitar history, the DT555 remains a fascinating instrument. It's loud without even being plugged in, wonderfully excessive, and unmistakably a product of its era.
Some guitars age gracefully. The Ibanez DT555 never really tried to be graceful in the first place. And that's why we love it.
