attention to details on DNA

[ariomia]

Im wondering what your opinions are in regards to the
amount of workmanship(attention to details) vs. dollars on this guitar?

[jay ratkowski]

The paintjob is priceless. *The fretboard seems to be a slightly higher grade of rosewood...

Other than that... all that you get is a JEM7DBK. *Same room for error(ie, nut not a perfect fit). *If Ibanez spent a lot of extra time assembling this guitar... as nice as it is... it doesn't stand out as being better than any other JEM. *Direct mount pickups are a nice feature though.

[jemsite]

What more can be said about the DNA. It's like beating a dead horse now. Yes they are grossly overpriced at LIST or even with a fair discount. Since their price was $2k (list) more than a JEM10 I think all sorts of red flags were raised before they were even made. That should be obvious to anyone here.

Yes the DBK is a better bargain "guitar" at 1/3 the cost since it has essentially the same craftmanship minus the once over from Hoshino USA before going to customers. You paid for a bit of history, a priceless paint scheme as Jay said and Ibanez to build it for you. If you think you have a guitar that some master luthier in Japan sweated over for months to hand carved and assembled from rare and premium woods and parts then i'd like to sell you the Brooklyn bridge.

That said the DNAs are a bargain compared to Fender and Gibson reissues. I don't think too many of the 300 DNA buyers are complaining and they're easy enough to resell if you have concerns about these issues, which it sounds like you do. If you want value then buy a DBK or VWH. Personally i wish Ibanez had priced these better to avoid discussions like this. It overshadows the spectacular job Darren has done with the finsh... glen

[davenit]

Glen, I agree. I think it is the cost of these are outrageous. But, like you said, Fender and Gibson re-issues are a lot more preposterous. *I own 2 Flame top 59 re-issues from the early 80's. I am astounded by the price I can get for these now. I paid around 1500 for them (each) back then.

I would love to own one. I would rather take that 3-5 grand and make my own though. Of course that is just jealousy talking.....

[Vaibanez]

And to top it all off!!

With all the griping about quality and craftsmanship, not one owner on this site has given any word as to how it plays, sounds or feels.

I don't have one, can't afford it. But would buy one if I could. I say YIIIPPPEEEE for those of you who were able to drop 3-5k on these things and have done nothing but moan about them.

Sorry for the rant, but it cheeses me off to see such a beautiful guitar being bashed as hard as ER.

J>

[tommy west]

And we say we would like to see the UVMC make a return.......

[davenit]

Jimm, Darren has told me that his plays real sweat. Most of the people who have emailed me about registering their guitars have had nothing but raves about them. A lot have made mention of the tone. A lot mention the paint. NO ONE has mentioned that they are unhappy. Most want a second one.

This is after all a collectors guitar. It is not meant to gig with. If I bought one chances are I would gig with it. I am better off not having one. I just have to keep telling myself that.....

Dave

[tommy west]

Dave, don't you have like half a dozen swirls in the works of your own from Darren??

That seems to be the better trade off

[davenit]

Tommy, I actually have 4 in various stages. The Orange Multi Glow (actually glows in Orange) is in the works with Darren now. The next two Bodies are almost finished, they will get a DNA finish and something close to an Abolonie with a couple of tricks in it. The Forth one is going to be a Purple MONO finish, similar to Larry Mitchells old Saber.

Although I agree that FOR ME this is a better way to go with 5 grand. If I could afford 10 grand I would get all of the above and a DNA for collectibilities sake....

Darren says your body is looking SWEEEEET!!! He really liked you new neck also. He said it will match the body perfectly...

Dave

[vaijem777]

In regards to the quality of the DNA, I've gotta say that mine was flawless out of the box! *From the action all the way down to the small details like pickup height, etc; it was absoulutely dead on from chord one! *(Which, after having worked in a music store that was an Ibanez dealership for over 7 years, is a VERY rare thing indeed) * True, the DNA wasn't a small-shop 100% hand-made masterpiece of luthiery, BUT...for a production guitar the quality is waaaay above par! *I personally am not blown away by the Breed pickups, but that's not to say they're bad...just a lot different. *I love the high-octane Evolution's, and am especially fond of the PAF's of the JEMs of yesteryear. *But, playability is phenomenal, the sound was great, and every single detail seemed to be paid very close attention to. *The only thing that I noticed was that there was actually a bit *of buffing compound inside of the Monkey Grip, but...SO WHAT!! *I got my DNA for what seems to be a fair price (well below $4K) and honestly would have paid the full $5000 list price if necessary! *Not only is it a one of a kind, unique work or art visually, but it's a hell of a guitar in general! *If you've got one, count yourself lucky! *Would I gig with the guitar? *Probably. *It's a guitar that begs to be seen and experienced. *I'm not sure that all of the DNA's were set up as well as mine was, but even if there were a few that were a little rough around the edges, get over it! *Have it set up and I guarantee it'll outplay any other axe you put it up against! *But...that's only my opinion. *

[littlegreenman]

My only complaint about the DNA is I don't have one!
Jeremy

[diek]

actually, the paintjob isn't priceless. It's $425 (which IMO, is a wonderful price for Darrens services). I imagine the other $4500 is for the glow-in-the-dark pickgaurd and the ***cough***...inlay. Sorry, I couldn't resist

[kirk]

The DNA I had for a week was setup terribly, not anywhere close to what I would have expected for a guitar with a $5k list price (c'mon give me a rech around, ok?). *I only played a few chords on the thing, but after keeping it for a week, I just couldn't find a good reason to keep a $3000-4000 guitar. *

As for the glow in the dark pickguard, I couldn't seem to get the black light thing right, so I was never impressed with the appearance.

This guitar is a "Jem collector's" collectable, and I am pretty sure that, once again, we are the laughing stock of "conventional" (read Gibson & Fender) collectors. *Screw them, what do they know?

The guitar was a nice concept - *now - where did you put that whip Glen?

[deangelo]

MINE IS GOING TO BE A GIGGER FOR SURE,,,IT'S LIKE HAVING A SPORTS CAR,,,SURE YOU CAN JUST STARE AT IT OR YOU CAN GO OUT AND SPIN THE HELL OUT OF THE TIRES AND LATER YOU CAN PICK OFF THE LITTLE BITS OF RUBBER TO MAKE HER PRETTY AGAIN. *THIS GUITAR ALONG WITH MANY OF THE OTHERS ARE GREAT EITHER WAY YOU CHOOSE TO OWN IT. *THE BOTTOM LINE IS IF YOU HAVE ONE YOU ARE LUCKY,,,IF YOU DON'T WANT ONE THAT'S COOL, IT WASN'T FOR ME AT FIRST EITHER.
RIGHT WRONG OR INDIFFERENT THESE GUITARS SURE HAVE BEEN A CENTER OF CONVERSATION FOR SOMETIME. *GOOD PRESS,,,BAD PRESS IT'S THE WHOLE YIN AND YANG THING.
AFTER PLAYING MINE YESTERDAY FOR THE FIRST TIME I WOULD HAVE TO SAY IF I COULD I WOULD HAVE RICH GET ME 2 MORE, ONLY BECAUSE THE COLORS ARE SO MOVING AND INSPIRATIONAL TO ME. *DOLLAR AMOUNT AND COMPARING TO OTHER GUITARS REALLY ISN'T MY GIG,,,I GO FOR WHAT MAKES ME HAPPY, AND TRY NOT TO CRITISIZE OTHERS FOR THERE OPINIONS AND VIEWS.
IF I WERE SANTA,,,EVERYONE HERE WOULD GET THE DNA OR JEM OF THERE DREAMS FOR X-MAS..... *:-)

A.D.G.

[ellsobrien]

Sorry to be negitive, but....
If the DNA is soo sweet to play how come Vai doesn't have one or is ever seen playing a gtr that his own blood was used in?? There is no mention of this gtr anywhere on the Via web site. They show his entire collection of gtrs and no DNA can be found (however there is a 555), how odd. How odd inddeed that an endorser does not endorse!
...end of negative rant.
That said, I love Jems, but geeze let's see a pic of Steve playing this thing.