Ebony Fretboards? What the?

[getsy777]

Hi Jem lovers!
Does any one know how how to tell if your jem has an ebony fretboard? Is it just a visual thing or can you tell via the serial number?
Does it really make that much of a difference?
Cheers..

[jim777]

Moving this out of the classifieds.

[nuno]

left is ebony, right is rosewood. you tell the visual difference.
ebony is darker with very, very small pores (fairly visible). rosewood is brownish with big pores.
ebony is harder, denser, "theoretically" it gives a bit more of attack to the sound. rosewood is softer, more warm sounded.

[eviltwin]

Originally Posted by getsy777

Hi Jem lovers!
Does any one know how how to tell if your jem has an ebony fretboard? Is it just a visual thing or can you tell via the serial number?

you should be able to tell by visual inspection, but, other than that it's very simple anyway:

HAM=ebony
10th=ebony
VWH up to and including 2004=ebony
VWH from 2005=rosewood, identifiable by the Team J-Craft logo.

Does it really make that much of a difference?

Yes.

[Rich]

Changeover to rosewood was 2004. 2003 was the only year EP and ebony.

2005 introduced the 58mm heels, the TJC branding, and case.

[MacMusica]

It's in their specs and these are widely available. But be aware that the older Jems used wood dyes on rosewood to make it look like ebony e.g. my Jem7RB made in '88.
The over-hanging last few frets lack in sustain and albeit the purpose of scalloping was to add sustain on these, to some degree, I really can not figure out why they still insist on using that design even on their UV77 reissue, since the AANJ solved this sustain problem. It also gives a slight "quacking" tone from that overhang.

Incidently, notice the improved inlay fitting on the rosewood pic above compared to the glue used for the ebony.

[eviltwin]

Originally Posted by Rich

Changeover to rosewood was 2004. 2003 was the only year EP and ebony.

Funny, I tought it was 2004 at first too, but then I checked your NAMM reports and they say 2005...I should've checked the forum though

jem7vwh-spec-change-26602.html" target="_blank">http://www.jemsite.com/forums/f15/20...nge-26602.html

sorry for the confusion.

But be aware that the older Jems used wood dyes on rosewood to make it look like ebony e.g. my Jem7RB made in '88.

Model trumps any considerations about year of production.

Prior to the introduction of the VWH there had been no Ebony Jems at all.
Which is why I listed the only other two models which also have ebony (Jem10th and Jem90HAM) besides the VWH.
Anything that looks ebony on any other Jem is darkened, stained rosewood, which particlarly on some FP and PBK catalogue shots could look like ebony, but never is.

I don't think the RBs were stained by the factory, it must've been a previous owner:



Dot inlayed Jems that I've seen were always quite obviously rosewood, there was no darkening/staining on either the RBs or BSBs or BRMRs, from the factory.

[Rich]

It was a running change like the Edge trems are currently, except it wasn't announced. Just showed up in inventory with no notice, well after NAMM.

[MacMusica]

So they mean the 04 (as I have) when it changed to rosewood was sold in shops in 05.

Yes my 7RB doesn't look as brown as the pic here. A luthier thought it may have been stained and would exercise caution when dresseing it. But no marks have ever scratched it to find out. The Evo neck & Evo2 go in tommorow - I can't wait

[eviltwin]

Originally Posted by MacMusica

So they mean the 04 (as I have) when it changed to rosewood was sold in shops in 05.

No a running change means you (or your dealer) could order a Jem in Q1 2004 and not know whether it would come with ebony or rosewood. Fujigen simply ran out of ebony at some point and started making rosewood, without prior notice from Ibanez to distributors.

Anything with an '05 date would be rosewood, anything with an '03 date ebony. Transition somewhere (early) in '04.

If and when those guitars would end up in shops is a completely different matter and irrelevant for dating purposes.

[Rich]

Nobody ran out of ebony. It's not like they quit making JSM's and GB's.

I believe all 04's are rosewood, I've never seen one that wasn't. Running change in this instance would just mean, next batch made after the decision is made, is made in the new spec.

[sniperfrommars1]

Originally Posted by MacMusica

It's in their specs and these are widely available. But be aware that the older Jems used wood dyes on rosewood to make it look like ebony e.g. my Jem7RB made in '88.
The over-hanging last few frets lack in sustain and albeit the purpose of scalloping was to add sustain on these, to some degree, I really can not figure out why they still insist on using that design even on their UV77 reissue, since the AANJ solved this sustain problem. It also gives a slight "quacking" tone from that overhang.

Incidently, notice the improved inlay fitting on the rosewood pic above compared to the glue used for the ebony.

Are you positive that the one on the right is an actual ibanez or a custom made? Judging by the empty pores on the rosewood that looks like a fairly new neck and the profile looks a bit different on the frets

[eviltwin]

Originally Posted by Rich

Nobody ran out of ebony. It's not like they quit making JSM's and GB's.

It was just a manner of speech. Usually when it's a running change people within manufacturing know it's coming, just not exactly when. So you run out of ebony necks and switch to rosewood without stopping production.

Fujigen still has plenty of ebony, also available on their non-Ibanez builds, but Ibanez is just not specifying it for the kind of guitars I'm interested in.

...although a nice jazz box is tempting.

[cryptonet]

I like ebony fretboards just because of the darker color and slickness, although 5 of my 8 guitars are rosewood. One is maple. Ebony is more prestige, but I love my maple on my strat. My '88 540s Saber has rosewood.

[guit10thann]

I here you, and love my 02 7vwh with ebony, it sure makes the vine stand out beautifully