Ibanez Jem ?

[red997]

Morning all;

Any owners of Ibanez Jems on here ?

I've had a hankering for one of these guitars since the '80s - when I definitely couldn't afford one !

Things change, and I now can.

Anyone got one ? Specifically, the MIJ models.

The new reissues (pink, green, yellow) sound great but as they are limited production its going to be difficult to get to play one before purchase.

Second hand older models seem to fall into two categories; unplayed collectors pieces or road worn workhorses. I wouldn't want a collectors piece, as to me, a guitar is there to be played. You can still look after it and not abuse it. Ive still got my first electric from over 30 years ago, and its not in bad condition, despite being regularly gigged in the 80's / 90's, and in use today.

I've got a fair selection of guitars to date - and play most of them daily, but the JEM is still an itch that needs scratching.
Just not sure which model

TIA

[singlecoil]

I've never owned one but I've worked on a few. If it was me it would have to be the JEM77FP. Main reason is that it's a beautiful guitar, though I did once have a white version (not sure which model number, but it had a pearloid scratchplate and the vine inlay) which was also very nice.

I think as long as you buy the one you fancy you'll be very happy with it, they are all very good guitars. Set-up can be a bit tricky, especially if you change string gauges.

[Stig]

I was in the same position as you (wanting one since the 80s) and bought a JEM7VWH a few years back - primarily as I'm a big Steve Vai fan

Got it at a good price and it was a very lighly played collectors guitar. Haven't played it as much as I'd like (have quite a few others that are 'regulars') but it doesn't disappoint

[Don1]

I have a Bad Horsie and a Universe. Love the JEM - I would say go and play some to make your mind up.

[red997]

Cheers all;

I'm a bit torn on splurging the 3.5K on a new 30th anniversary model, or a 2.8K Jem77-FP2.

My concern with the anni model is that it being a limited edition might put me off playing it !

Don't get me wrong, I look after all the guitars I have, but accidents do happen.

I'm happy at setting up guitars; last nights job was restringing, setting the Edge 2 trem system, neck relief pickup height and intonation on my RD550XH.
Stupidly, I'd never checked the intonation when I got it new.
all the saddles were right at the front of the bridge, and intonation was way out !

also reminded me how crap my Korg tuner really is, and how good the Helix tuner is....

Always been a bit of a Steve Via fan, so the plunge will soon be taken

[Mastodon2]

They are incredible guitars, outside of specifically designed modern ergonomic instruments like Strandbergs, you won't find a better playing 6 string guitar.

[mike_knott]

I bought a Jem77FP in 1990. After a few years, other things started to occupy my time so it rarely got played for about 25 years. I never once considered selling it though, despite the lack of use; it’s a beautiful instrument.

Recently I started playing it again and am really enjoying it. I have just ordered an anniversary Jem in loch ness green, as I narrowly missed out on one when I bought the floral Jem and it was always an itch to be scratched.

Just do it; they are fantastic guitars. Plenty of info on Jemsite.com, IbanezRules.com and SellMyJem.com.

Mike…

[red997]

you did well to get a Loch Ness green; they seem to be the most desirable; I can only find one store listing them

I'm currently swaying towards one of these.

Drawback is no -one has them in stock to demo (not that they probably would anyway!)

[singlecoil]

I think if you play any of the top models, ideally one with the same pickups, you are going to know how the LNG will play, Ibanez Jems are very consistent.

[Don1]

That is very true, except the new 'woody' has the Dark Matter pickups, but I can't tell the difference!

[robbocop33]

singlecoil said:

I think if you play any of the top models, ideally one with the same pickups, you are going to know how the LNG will play, Ibanez Jems are very consistent.

I would expand on that last sentence, and take that 'consistency' to being, 'the whole Ibanez range sounds the same'.
I've had every rg all the way up, got all excited when i finally afforded a mint 7vwh, and to be honest with you it sounded no different to any other lower RG guitar i had before, yes, stick Steve Vai's talent and rig on the end of one 'then' they sound ok.
Just my opinion. ;-)

[mike_knott]

red997 said:

you did well to get a Loch Ness green...

It hasn't arrived yet!

I had two other orders cancelled within 24 hours of order confirmation so it was a bit of a chore. We'll see if one turns up but if it does I'll be a very happy man.

I believe many of the anniversary Jems are held up in a shipping container full of guitars that contain rosewood. These have fallen foul of the new import regs so the whole shipment has been delayed. When it gets sorted, I suspect you might see a yellow or pink one at large dealers but I doubt there will be any green ones left.

Mike...

[red997]

robbocop33 said:

I would expand on that last sentence, and take that 'consistency' to being, 'the whole Ibanez range sounds the same'.
I've had every rg all the way up, got all excited when i finally afforded a mint 7vwh, and to be honest with you it sounded no different to any other lower RG guitar i had before, yes, stick Steve Vai's talent and rig on the end of one 'then' they sound ok.
Just my opinion. ;-)

kind of makes sense; after all, we're not talking about an acoustic / classical guitar where the wood does actually make a significant difference.

I know the wood and build on an electric do make a difference - I've got a Les Paul with some SD pickups in, and a generic superstrat type guitar with he same pickups, and there is a difference, not much granted, but its discernible; mostly in the sustain.

I like the neck playability of my RG550XH, its just that with 30 frets, theres not much room around the pickup area for your right hand !

Going to get on the phone this morning and see what the music shops have to say about the 30th anni model availability.

Failing that, I think it will be an FP2

[robbocop33]

I just find them really soul less guitars for some reason. I've been stunned by certain sounds an old strat will throw out, certain les pauls are fantastic, old Yamaha sg1000, s have amazed me more than some les pauls, i've just never picked up any ibanez, chose a certain pickup position and went oooh, that's a gorgeous tone? Maybe i just need my ears cleaned out lol. They just seem so sterile, must be the materials used.

[red997]

Well, you were all correct - can't get hold of a green 777 30th Anni for love nor money.

So I've ordered a new 77-FP2 today; will one with me Thursday

and put a holding deposit on an incoming pink 777 anniversary - hopefully early June delivery !

ahh well; it's only money....

[vsonix]

robbocop33 said:

I just find them really soul less guitars for some reason. I've been stunned by certain sounds an old strat will throw out, certain les pauls are fantastic, old Yamaha sg1000, s have amazed me more than some les pauls, i've just never picked up any ibanez, chose a certain pickup position and went oooh, that's a gorgeous tone? Maybe i just need my ears cleaned out lol. They just seem so sterile, must be the materials used.

I'd blame the Floyd Rose - they suck the life out of a guitar IMO. In general, guitars with hardtails are tonally better than those fitted with conventional tremolos but the double locking Floyds with the clamp at the nut are especially numbing to a guitar's overall tonal quality.

[red997]

Really ?
not sure how clamping the strings at or behind the nut would affect a guitars sound; can you elaborate ?

Sure, all the gibbons at the other end can and does make a difference. Knife edge pivots, multiple springs, various bits of metal do make a difference.
To be fair, IMHO, the most dominant item (99%) on sound is the pickup; everything else is in the 1% band.

[singlecoil]

red997 said:

To be fair, IMHO, the most dominant item (99%) on sound is the pickup; everything else is in the 1% band.

Not sure I entirely agree. Much depends on how quickly the string vibration decays, which is why the traditional Telecaster bridge helps give it the twangy sound it's famous for.

[Mastodon2]

vsonix said:

I'd blame the Floyd Rose - they suck the life out of a guitar IMO. In general, guitars with hardtails are tonally better than those fitted with conventional tremolos but the double locking Floyds with the clamp at the nut are especially numbing to a guitar's overall tonal quality.

Yep, Steve Vai is known for his lifeless tone

[vsonix]

I'm just going by whatever guitars I've owned over the years that have had Floyds... a couple of Washburns, a couple of Jacksons. OK so maybe the locking nut isn't the nail in the coffin in terms of tone, but at the same time, no Floyd equipped guitar is without one as far as I know. Actually back in 1999 I nearly bucked this trend by being >this< close to ordering a bespoke custom LAG guitar with a Floyd trem, a wide graphite nut, a roller bar to keep the strings from coming out of the nut, and individually locking machine heads. But in the end I went for an off-the-peg PRS instead, which I in some ways regret but in others, don't at all. Also, I don't follow Vai's recent work much but back in the 90s I wouldn't have considered him a tone guru, too much FX and processing, more about the shred than the sound.