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Ibanez JS1200 Joe Satriani Signature Guitar Candy Apple
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The Ibanez Joe Satriani JS1200 guitar is has a multi-radius Prestige neck that is an exact digital rendering of the neck on Joe's favorite axe.Its lightweight aerofoil shaped basswood body provides comfort, upper-fret access and expressive singing ...
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Searched Ibanez JS1200 Joe Satriani Signature Guitar Candy Apple in Reviews
A truly fine instrument! 
| Sound |
So far I've mainly played my JS1200 through my Boss GT-10, going direct into my DAW on the PC, using Ernie Ball Super Slinky "Custom Guage Nickel Wound" 2223 9-42s.
One of the thing I've always liked about the Joe's signature JS model guitars is the pull-tap knobs. Pulling up the tone knob allows both the neck & bridge pickups to be split into single coils, and pulling up the volume knob gives you a high-pass filter, allowing high frequencies to still ring through as you roll off the volume. Both of these features combine to give you an incredible range of tones.
The neck pickup is a DiMarzio PAF-JOE, which I must say is giving me the warmest tones I've ever heard from an Ibanez. (Warmer than my JEM7V for sure.) I really like the mid frequencies that come through this pickup, and with the right combination of effects, I've been able to create killer blues tones when married to another recent acquisition of mine, the Satchurator pedal (also reviewed here at Jemsite). However even straight into my Boss GT-10, it sounds incredible.
The bridge pickup is a DiMarzio FRED which is also standard on the JS1000 model of guitar. Why? Because Joe absolutely swears by it! And for good reason, too, as this baby really screams. Sure, you're not going to get a shred-metal tone out of a JS1200, but you're not buying this guitar for that. No, you're buying this guitar because you're looking for an amazing range of sounds, with lead tones that really stand out and a sweet sound that is appropriate for all kinds of blues and rock.
With the pull-tap on the tone knob pull tap, you can switch between bridge, both, or neck pickups all in single coil mode, or all in full humbucking mode. That's quite a flexible combination of sounds you get from these pickups. (Six different combinations!)
I find myself picking up the my JS1200 quite often for the times I'm looking for a nice a meaty hard rock sound or when I'm feeling like some class rock or funky blues type of tones. It really isn't very hard to achieve Satriani's signature sound with this guitar (especially combined with the Satchurator). Like my JEM, this guitar also has the Edge Pro tremolo. I've not broken a string on it yet, although I do change strings every four weeks or so. The saddles are very forgiving and seem to allow that high E to be bent as often as you can stand without wearing out the string.
What more can be said? This guitar does it all and it was a GREAT addition to my collection.
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| Action, Fit, & Finish |
I purchased this guitar online. When it arrived I'd expected I would have to take it into a shop to have adjustments made. To my surprise, the set-up from the factory really nicely already. I might lower the action just the tiniest bit eventually, but for now I'm gliding all over the neck without effort and there's no buzzing frets.
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| Reliability & Durability |
I would never bring *any* guitar that has a floating bridge to a gig without a backup. But I do feel the JS1200 is very dependable.
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| Liked about it |
The guitar's shape and candy apple red color is absolutely gorgeous. The pickup selection flexibility makes it so versatile. That combined with the high-pass filter on the volume knob pull gives me an amazing range of tonality. I really like how light the guitar is as well -- it is very comfortable for long gigs.
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| Didn't like |
I keep having to tighten the holder for the tremolo bar. I'm not sure why that is, I've never had that problem on my JEM which also has the Edge Pro.
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| Overall satisfaction: |
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5.0 |
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great guitar
| Sound |
this is the guitar you want is very versatile in sound and can get blues to metal.
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| Action, Fit, & Finish |
this guitar is flawless and looks very n9ice for a long time.
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| Reliability & Durability |
i have had no problems with mine ever.
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| Customer Support |
never delt with.
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| Liked about it |
i love every thing about this guitar. it is simply a dream to play and covers up alot of my mistakes.
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| Didn't like |
that i dont have 2.
that they are so high.
and wish they had a maple neck option.
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| Overall satisfaction: |
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5.0 |
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Fine Guitar
| Sound |
JS1200 Review with XL120 9 gauge strings. Great sounding guitar with many options to adjust the tone's you are looking for, 5 pick up selector and push/pull volume and tone knobs for an even wider range of tone. The neck pick up options can give very warm smooth sounds and using the push pull options certainly adds for variation. The Bridge pick up and with the volume and tone options can give any distored sound you could want. This guitar can produce sounds for all sorts of metal ro rock to blues to gentle soft sounds whether on clean or to a tainted distored setting. If your taste is thrash metal then I'd look to RG's and Jems for that tone. Nice gutiar to play, comfy neck (though much more narrow compared to a wizard so if your used to wizard necks try this before buying as you do have adjust your playing, as strings are closer together which may not suit all wizard neck players.) I have a 2007 model and it coems with an Edge Pro, great bridge, stays in tune and perfect for trills.
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| Action, Fit, & Finish |
Out of the box the action had to be adjusted (for taste, and to resolve fret buzz on low E string). Besides that all was well, you dont expect perfect set up from the factory. The finish, cant fault it, craft work on the body and neck was spotless. Dissapointing to see a few pick marks on the body so somewhere along the line it had been used, i ordered from the internet so was expecting an untouched guitar, maybe it had been on the shopfloor at some point.
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| Reliability & Durability |
No problems yet, had it 18 months and no issues. Sturdy guitar, light weight also so more comfy if standing a while.
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| Customer Support |
Not had to deal with them.
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| Liked about it |
1) The look of it, love that Candy Apple colour
2) The sound it creates.
3) The Edge Pro.
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| Didn't like |
Although i like the neck i do prefer the wizard more, but thats just purely personal taste and after playing a while i do adjust.
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| Overall satisfaction: |
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4.0 |
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Very Versatile
| Sound |
The JS1200 does whatever you want it to do. I play it through a Satchurator, 535Q wah pedal, Boss CH1 and a few other odds and ends pedals into a Crate GTX212 amp most of the time. It can be bright and twangy for country or dark and mellow for some light jazz. It does rock and blues tones very well. The coil taps allow you to get almost the bell-like strat tones while the high pass filter keeps notes bright and distinct when you roll down the volume. The pickups are stock Dimarzio Paf Joe (neck) and Fred (bridge). I use D'Addario XL strings (9-42 gauge) with it. I find myself using the Joe with good success for cleans and rhythm tones. Throw a little chorus and delay in there and it gets really big and lush while staying articulate. The Fred cuts through just about anything and gives great bite. It's well suited for distorted melodies and solos and it bright and snappy. With the right EQ, it can also get heavy but it is more suited to rock than metal. It seems to handle just about any style of music you throw at it.
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| Action, Fit, & Finish |
I bought this guitar from Rich at Ibanezrules and he does his own setups. You can view the guitar on his website in the used section. There was a slight 8mm dimple in between the two pickups from the factory. Looking at the guitar, you'd never see it unless the light angled off it just right. Other than that, everything else about it was perfect. All the edges were rounded nicely, frets were level and the ends were smooth. Rich did an excellent job and I recommend his guitars to anyone looking for an Ibanez.
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| Reliability & Durability |
I've owned the guitar for 1.5 years and I've gigged with it about once a month in that time. For the most part, I bring a back-up because of the floating trem if I happened to break a string. That said, I've never used the back-up and the JS has never let me down. I change my strings every month or so and I've only every broken 1 high E (it was time to change it anyway). I don't abuse the trem too heavily, but I use it and it has consistently returned to pitch and been easy to maintain. I've bumped the guitar a few times on the head stock and it's held up without any chips. There are some pick and finger scratches on the body, but the finish seems sturdy.
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| Customer Support |
When the guitar first came, on a very cold February day, the push/pull pots were broken in shipping. Rich handled everything and replaced the parts for me promptly (within 1 week including shipping). I was very satisfied with his service and the help he's given me since when I've had a question about the guitar.
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| Liked about it |
I love the sounds versatility and the ability to play multiple styles of music with only minor adjustments for EQ. There are so many tonal options with just the guitars controls and it's very responsive.
I love the feel of the neck, it's radius is like a strats without the bulky feel of a strat neck in my opinion.
I like the guitars unique shape and it's rounded and tapered edges. It's light-weight and very easy on the shoulder to play. Looks fantastic with it's finish that glows red/orange depending on the lighting.
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| Didn't like |
It's hard for me to think of something I don't like about this guitar, but since I have to put something here, I'll mention that I wish the trem bar brushings lasted a little longer. They hold the bar really well when new but they seem to loosen too quickly and are a bit pricey to replace. Also, no one really stocks them where I live.
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| Overall satisfaction: |
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5.0 |
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internal use: spec97 spec484 spec554
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