DNA's - Skepticism proved.... - ...

[johncowan]

...to be untrue. *Before last night, I often thought that the DNA was quite pricey for just another JEM. *Now I have to say I'm honestly amazed by a few of the DNA's surprises.

Obviously it's a beautiful looking instrument. *As a matter of fact, pics just don't do any of them justice. *The inlay work is excellent with the DNA strands and dots. *The black light brings out so much from the pickguard, knobs, pickups DNA inlays and headstock that it's incredible.

Playability - The guitar truly played like butter, it rings unamplified. *I love the board and neck feel. *The back of the neck has an excellent balance between unfinished and a light matte. *

Tone - I never thought the BFP could be beat but the DNA clearly wins. *I've also played an FP, DSY, UV777BK and VWH.
The best description I could provide is crystal clear note replication with '0' string or pickup noise (almost like the Fender noiseless single coils). *I guess a better way to describe it would be, the sound it produces is controllable by your playing, not by noise generated from extra hot pick-ups..like the BFP or DSY's. *Sustain forever with no loss of gain for longer than I had the energy to count at the end of last night. *(I'll definately make the statement that the guitar was noisy when plugged into Rich's setup, but in my setup POD Pro it was extremely noiseless comparitive to the other JEMS...your mileage may vary)

Other caveats, the guitar was setup by a world renowned tech (RH). *I also will say, there are minor flaws to be found on the guitar (like the millenium decal on the headstock missing a small piece of one of the 0's in 2000. *However, when guitars cost this much you tend to look harder for these things and I personally wouldn't see how they can be avoided in the manufacturing process). *I have one legitamate complaint for Ibanez on selection of abalone used in the fret markers..which you shouldn't be overlooked when the guitar costs this much.

Price - Even with all the bells and whistles the guitar seemed a little pricey (I'd of preferred a list of $3,000 to $3,500).

Finally, I can't say enough about Rich Harris who made the whole experience a pleasure. *Imagine a store where JEM's are set up side by side and your encouraged to take your time, have fun and pick the one you want. *

JC *

[Rich]

There was a little piece of the decal missing?? Under clear or through? I'm always looking for what I consider the critical issues, but try to find everything, sorry I missed something! I think you spent more time talking than picking though :biggrin:

p.s. - world renowned nothing, but capable of a pretty fair setup

[L8X]

yeah I *can say that shopping at rich's is an experiance
real good guy to buy anything from, and I only bought a strap from him, It arrived set up and perfect, I even had a boot lace on one end so I knew which way round it went(customer care or wot) I'm starting out buying small things from you and working up to the 'couch'
ps. i will take a pic of pmc with its new strap on my couch.
sorry if of topic
steve

[jay ratkowski]

Rich, when are you going to open up a midwest branch? *I mean shopping online is grand... but I'm running out of quality stores to waste my days away at nearby. *

Dot 4 I hope?

[kirk]

I am still a little disillusioned by the DNA. *

It would seem to me that a guitar of this caliber (read price) would have been setup better from the "factory."

The inlays on the DNAs that I have seen first hand is not overly impressive, nor was the choice of the Rosewood fingerboard. *The inlays would have looked much better on an Ebony fingerboard. *They would have stood out more, and complimented the "subtle" finish.

IMHO, the whole DNA "package" takes a back seat to the Jem10th "package." *If you laid both guitars side by side with all of their accessories, I personally would guess that the 10th has a higher price.

[littlegreenman]

Hey Kirk, I agree with almost everything except that I like the look of the DNA 1000 times more despite the short comings you mentioned. *I haven't actually had the chance to see a DNA in real life so maybe my mind would change after that but I personally find the Jem10 to be a very tacky looking guitar. *But hey, it's all personal taste right?
By rights, I think all the Jem's and UV's are inflated in price but having said that I have 2 Jems and 2 UV's so it all comes down to what someone is willing to pay I guess.
Jeremy

[Rich]

Lay a 10th next to a sweet DNA and it's not even a question to me, the DNA everytime. Every Jem10 I've ever had looked EXACTLY LIKE the last one

I'm no expert on wood, wish I was, but I think the board is pao ferro (sp?), not the stuff you'll find on a DBK. Probably chose this for it's reddish/brownish hues to complement the body colors. The Crystal boards are the ultra dark Rosewood that are like the best boards put on the JS1's, the older stuff. Very nice. But I did get a Crystal with a DNA Pao Ferro board!! Still have it here. Just to equal things out, I have a DNA with the ultra dark Crystal board, well... had, I Next Day'd it to Rodney today :biggrin:

But I'm with you on the inlays, they all should have been choice hand select abolone! I'm talkin UV777BK body pyrimid type!! Hopefully they'll notice the disention, and the next super LE they put together (which you know it's only a matter of time till the next) will have select choice EVERYTHING like they deserve. The 10th still has the pretiest inlays of any modern Ibanez, and I truely love them, and the quality control was outstanding, every 10th looks EXACTLY LIKE the last one!! (ooops, didn't I already say that??)

[johncowan]

Rich, to answer your question, the decal defect is cleared over...so it's a factory blem. *

By the way, I forgot to mention my DNA is #203.