2003 Jem 77fp vs. Older Jem 77fp

ll Mr Blonde ll · #1 12-12-2005, 08:24 PM

What do you guys think? Is it better to get a mint 2003, or get a good-excellent older one? I have heard that the 2003 doesn't feel as good as a older one. Is it because of the neck or something else? While, I would rather get a mint condition then a lower, if the difference is great i will have to get a older. What do you guys think? Thanks

Little Fighter · #2 12-12-2005, 08:38 PM

I would buy the "mint" 2003 model instead of buying someone elses beat up junker.

BTW ... I have a 99' JEM 77FP ... and it feels just fine and plays with ease.

Just my two cents

David McCarroll · #3 12-12-2005, 09:14 PM

well - I'm all for older guitars - y'know - pre-loved so you'll never worry about putting the first ding in the finish - hence you'll never worry about gigging the beast.......BUT......... having said that I am about to shell out $500AUD for a refret on my '89 Desert Yellow Vine as the neck slowly goes south for the winter! (ouch!!!!)

Cheers, David.

bluealien · #4 12-12-2005, 09:46 PM

Well there is some difference with how guitars are made from back then till 2003, they got better with inlays in the later years but I think the necks radis did change a slight bit, I have a 89FP, and did play a 03, and I did feel a difference with the neck, but it also could of been based on the setup too. Also, based on tone I did perfem my older FP, this maybe because of the type of basswood used, pickups, and individual charateristics of the guitar itself. There are may factors in this to decide, because each guitar is different, you may find a sweet 03, that feels just as good as a 88, so it depends on if you can play them before you buy to help decide.

ll Mr Blonde ll · #5 12-13-2005, 12:55 AM

yeah, i am in a small town so no one has them, but I'm hoping to find a old and new one when I go down to San Francisco. Does the 2003 have a AANJ?

ibanez.shredder · #6 12-13-2005, 03:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David McCarroll

well - I'm all for older guitars - y'know - pre-loved so you'll never worry about putting the first ding in the finish - hence you'll never worry about gigging the beast.......BUT......... having said that I am about to shell out $500AUD for a refret on my '89 Desert Yellow Vine as the neck slowly goes south for the winter! (ouch!!!!)

Cheers, David.

$500AUD !? thats a bix extreme isnt it? My local luthier in Tasmania (who might i say is damn good) only chrages about $200 AUD including fret wire. I cant imagine how an extra $300 could be justified.

GTR-MAN · #7 12-13-2005, 04:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ll Mr Blonde ll

yeah, i am in a small town so no one has them, but I'm hoping to find a old and new one when I go down to San Francisco. Does the 2003 have a AANJ?

No it doesn't, block heel joint like the originals.

**jim777** · #8 12-13-2005, 10:37 AM

The biggest issue is the consistency of the older instruments. I got one of the first 88's and I loved it until I got a second one in '91 and realized how poor a guitar my '88 really was. If you buy an older one, you might get a good one, or you might get an outstanding one, who knows? With a newer one, they are much, much more consistent and your chance of getting one of high quality is better. You can definitely get gold from both era's, but your chances are better with a newer one if you're buying blind off the 'net.

jim

ll Mr Blonde ll · #9 12-13-2005, 09:38 PM

Anyone know were i could buy one? I have tried Rich's but he doesn't have any in. Any other good sites? Or does anyone have one for sale?

GTR-MAN · #10 12-14-2005, 04:36 AM

evil bay , evil bay no more new ones available

nuno · #11 12-14-2005, 05:56 AM

get an old one. the problem with the new Ibanezes is that they've been built with too young woods. and when the wood is too young it does not sound. just compare good old RG550 and a new sparkling RG Prestige, both unplugged: the Prestige won't sound at all, like it's underwater, while the old RG would bang the h*ll out.

ibanez.shredder · #12 12-14-2005, 05:58 AM

Well i can tell you now that my brand new RG1527 is the most acostically alive electric i have heard in quite a while, and my 2003 RG1570 is pretty good as well. But funily enough, my 1998 RG520 has super dense Mahogony and isnt nearly as acoustic. Thats a pretty profound stament to say that the older RGs have better (or older) wood when it is simply not true. The prestiges are easily comparable and although the 5XX series was undoubtably one of the finest made series ibanez has produced (with the exeption of J. Customs and other rarities), the prestige series is possibly even better.

**jemaholic** · #13 12-14-2005, 04:55 PM

The original PAF's sound much different to me - warmer and fatter than the re-issues I've had the opportunity to play. The wood on the older ones is drier and "cured" just by age and I believe that affects the sound also.....

ivan · #14 12-14-2005, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ll Mr Blonde ll

Anyone know were i could buy one? I have tried Rich's but he doesn't have any in. Any other good sites? Or does anyone have one for sale?

I have found one in spain but not sure if its still for sale.

ivan · #15 12-14-2005, 05:42 PM

If this help, I have tried a 88, 90, and many others i can't remember the year (about 6 in total) and finally own a 03. In my opinion it depends on if you're lucky (or patience) to find a good-excellent older one and also have the opportunity to play them all before you buy (as bluaien said).... Not easy in my experience. It took me 2 years because I was also looking for a particular pattern.