fr. Lurker to Member - I finally have a JEM :)

[Jimi D]

After a couple years of intermittent lurking and a couple of trades with Jemsite regulars, I've finally taken the plunge and joined the priveledged ranks of JEM owners - my Xmas present to me this year is a lovely '90 JEM 77FP, in virtually unplayed condition. I picked it up today and spent several hours cleaning years of dust off it and setting it up, but now that I 've cleared away the neglect I've got a nearly mint instrument here - NO fretware or neck ware! all the pots and switches are clean and healthy! and excepting a couple of very, very minor scratches on the back, an unmarred finish - the pickups and knobs haven't even faded! I don't think this guitar has ever been played - but I plan to change all that

...and my point? Um, I guess I don't have one, except that I'm about the happiest I've been in ages right now. Man, what an absolutely wonderful guitar!

[Jimi D]

um... that should read "fret wear or neck wear". Guess I'm a little excited...

I will add that I had to give up an SV420FM, an Epi Les Paul and a Signature Crusader to manage this guitar, but it was definitely worth it!

[David Ho]

Congrats and Enjoy

[steve]

Outstanding - the first Ibanez I owned was a brand new '88 Floral. My true regret in my guitar playing/owning history is entwined with this as well; I traded that FP away after I'd had my UV for about a year, and had stopped picking up any of my 6 strings. Economics at the time forced the issue.

Had there ever been a floral Universe model, that would have been my first choice, to be sure.
Enjoy the guitar.

(This was also a good opportunity to test-post. =])

[jemsite]

Congrats & enjoy your Floral!!! ...glen

[Jimi D]

Well, I've been tweaking and turning and playing the h*ll
out of my new FP for two days now and I gotta say this guitar SMOKES

I received the guitar with .010s but went down to .009s (though I play tens on all my other guitars except my HM Strat [.009s] and my Ibanez Jazz box [flatwound .012s]). One of the first things I noticed with the JEM is how much more comfortable I find the JEM neck than the Wizard or Wizard II. I've owned an RBM1, an RG 565, an RG560 and an RG770DX and I didn't get along all that well with the necks on any of them (too thin, no meat) - the FP neck fits my hand beautifully, thick enough to be comfortable, thin enough to be slick. Even taking the .009s into account, this guitar seems easier to play than any other 25.5" scale axe I own. It's a real joy to run scales on - makes me want to practice

The neck doesn't seem to have any finish on it, but it hasn't been modified - did circa 1990 FPs have unfinished or very light satin finished necks as a rule? Whatever, it's a joy to play... I'm head over heels with this guitar!

[ripl3y]

Congrats!!!!
Glad you like it and hope you'll be buying more!

[Joel Lyndgohrd]

Enjoy your new JEM. I was just wondering, how much did you have to pay for the FP?

Peace,
Joel Lindgard
www.crosswinds.net/~alienwaterkiss

[Jimi D]

Joel ~ I paid $1400CDN (maybe $950US) after taxes including a new, generic hardshell case, strap and straplocks. I'm going out to buy a USA Custom Exotic Wood Lacewood in TransRed tomorrow, and that will set me back $800CDN (and four hours driving there and back :-) *Not cheap in terms of US prices I guess, but when you know a new RG520QS runs about $1000CDN, you can see the value is good. Besides, I'm happy :biggrin: