best introductory jem?

Kev Brigden · #1 02-21-2004, 05:47 PM

Ok, I'm interested in getting a jem.

I want you all to entertain me with your own totaly subjective views on the Jem guitar here and tell me which model (sensibly priced around £600 - £800 or ($1500-$2000 ish) 2nd hand

) would be a good introductory model. I'm currently working on my studio material, with a view to touring it and I have a section in one of my songs that would suit a JEM tone quite nicely... which one would you guys tell me to get.... I know that they are all essentially the same guitar... but dammit, they all look so nice

My personal favorite is the JEM777DY. But are there any others you guys would reccomend.. purely on your own opinions?

PS. I'm fairly new to the JEM model, so you guys may have to give a brief suggestion to set me off

Jammy · #2 02-21-2004, 06:07 PM

If your cool about buying from the US I think rich (www.ibanezrules.com)has a second hand DY in stock - and I even think theres one on UK ebay at the moment - get your dream one

. The standard "budget" jem is a DBK; even though they are budget, there still amazing guitars. Id look into one of those 2

-better shred than dead-ANDY

disassociative1 · #3 02-21-2004, 06:13 PM

i find jems and most current ibanez guitars very subjective.

i can try 6 of the same guitar and only like one, i think this is coz of there (imho) poor quality control and lack of decent woods half the time.

which promps me to say get an old one, a dy (if thats what u want) is prefect, the old jems (and ibanez in general) are much more solid, to me at least and standards are far more consistant.

shanghai prawn · #4 02-21-2004, 06:29 PM

Probably stretching your budget by about 100% but my all time fav is the GMC, beautiful (looking) guitars.
You can't really fault the DBK though and second hand they should be quite a bargin price over here. Guess it all depends on whether you like the sound of evo's, PAF Pro's or Breeds though

the.godfather · #5 02-21-2004, 06:32 PM

I would second what they both just said. If thats your "dream" model as such then get that. But as you know there are plenty of JEM's you can try.

As Stu said, every guitar is subjective, so try before you buy if you can.
And especially with the lack of quality control like he said, some are dogs and some are keepers!

One thing is for sure though, if you find one that you love and suits you, sounds good and is just perfect, then get it! They dont come along very often. Some people say a guitar is just a guitar, not if it has that "special something". I am yet to come accross one of these however, but it will happen eventually.

Anyways, the choice is up to you. But you cant go drastically wrong what ever one you choose in the end! Good Luck!
Gary - The.Godfather.

dex · #6 02-21-2004, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by disassociative1

i find jems and most current ibanez guitars very subjective.

i can try 6 of the same guitar and only like one, i think this is coz of there (imho) poor quality control and lack of decent woods half the time.

I think this is to do with setup way more than production inconsistencies.
Have the same guy set up all 6 and you won't be able to tell the difference.

Kev, as I recall you already have a JS1000 which is a basswood guitar with PAF Pro's in it already so either go for the DBK (Breeds) or for one of the alder bodied 7VWH or 7VSBL.
They also come with Evolutions so the sound will be different.

ilia

Kev Brigden · #7 02-21-2004, 07:19 PM

hmm, dunno if I could aford a 7, but the DBK sounds interesting... especially with regards to the tonal thing...

its the black one isnt it?

[meanders off to the Jemsite piccies section]

Kev Brigden · #8 02-21-2004, 07:24 PM

k, just looked at the DBK and it looks pretty cool actually!

One thing leaves me a-pondering however, I don't like the colour! black is a bit bland... but then again... the textured surface is purty...

Jammy · #9 02-21-2004, 08:22 PM

They look alot better in the flesh. If you fancy a trip to liverpool pop into curlys music in the town centre, they have a couple in stock...

-better shred than dead-ANDY

Kev Brigden · #10 02-21-2004, 08:52 PM

ah, but what are they priced at?

weserman · #11 02-21-2004, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jammy

They look alot better in the flesh

Very true, they are real hard to photograph well, as they usually come off looking horrid. If you get them in a good light they look very cool, especially the mirror pickguard. I have a DBK and it plays really nice and sounds great too. The best thing for me to recommend is for you to try out the guitars you are thinking of buying first. It's the only way you can be sure of what you want.

MALAM · #12 02-21-2004, 09:01 PM

buy a nice ,worn in 7BSB

bpd111 · #13 02-21-2004, 10:58 PM

If the DY is your favorite, Kev, go that way. Why mess around?

Jammy · #14 02-22-2004, 04:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kev Brigden

ah, but what are they priced at?

The second hand one they have in (looks mint) is up for about £900, but you can get em alot cheaper than that in the US. Just good for seeing if you actually like em

-better shred than dead-ANDY

disassociative1 · #15 02-22-2004, 05:57 AM

Quote:

I think this is to do with setup way more than production inconsistencies.
Have the same guy set up all 6 and you won't be able to tell the difference.

i dont think its to do with setup when all he guitars have been setup by barrie at machinehead.

i do setups all the time and trust me im talking about sound and board quality more than anythin else.