How to work out which JEM to buy?

fastonebaz · #1 12-12-2005, 05:50 PM

Hello - newbie to this site here;

Been researching JEMS and Vai equipment alot recently seeing as I just love his sound.

I have been toying with the idea of buying a JEM but finding it hard to workout what the differences are between the various models and this which one I should go for (not price based).

Have owned a Les Paul for past 15 years and really need something more dynamic for the next level of playing and I think a JEM is where I'm heading but there are no guitar shops near me that stock them so I can't spend an afternoon testing them out!!!!

Thus can anyone point me to the page which list clearly what the differences are between the various models so I can try to work out which one I fancy?

Which features in your experience are essentials to have and which are a waste of space?

cheers
Baz

surfdog777 · #2 12-12-2005, 06:05 PM

Just don't get a 555.

bloodandtears · #3 12-12-2005, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by surfdog777

Just don't get a 555.

grrrr

kennydoe · #4 12-12-2005, 07:30 PM

If you're used to playing Les Pauls, but you want to get into the Vai/Ibanez kinda stuff, I'd recommend trying out J-Customs. They have a much thicker sound. The only draw back is that they're a little hard to find. A good J-Custom is about in the same price range as the new jems, but the quality is far superior in the JCs.

~K

chopvai · #5 12-12-2005, 07:35 PM

i played les paul's for 8 years, and decided to go for a new 7v...

ever since then, my life has changed

hehe

ChopTart · #6 12-12-2005, 08:48 PM

i'd say a good way to sort through them would be the pups in them

the oldies (pretty much every one discontinuted) have paf pro's in them (wonderful pups IMO), the 7VWH has evolutions and the BRMR has breeds

PAF pros - more vintage-like sound. dont get me wrong, they're still very high-output humbuckers, but think old gibson like sound with better response, a bit tighter bass and singing highs. good clean or distorted (they dont hide mistakes too much like muddier pickups) significant skills required though .

evos - modern vai sound. very tight, aggressive and loud. these puppy's SCREAM in the bridge. i've heard that it sounds like every note you pick on them sounds like you're going full-throttle through the amp. great distorted, heard mixed reviews of them when they're clean. guess its personal preference. good chops required - these things dont mask mistakes at all.

breeds - described as a more "traditional" humbucker sound - these have what most humbuckers have: pulled back treble, big mids and lows, warm sound, not terribly loose though.

i've heard that the single coil is tailored by dimarzio to fit with the humbuckers put there, so the PAF single will be made to sound fitting with those and the evo single will for evos, etc.

search the forums and see which type of sound you think you will like best, then find some means to test it out (i can testify that the PAF pros are a lot of fun to play on) and make an educated guess
~happy hunting!

ll Mr Blonde ll · #7 12-12-2005, 08:56 PM

I am in the same pickle as you fastonebaz. When choosing between the pickups i have been thinking of vai's albums. On PnW he is using the PAF Pros and that is definently my favorite album and I love the sound, but then you hear Real Illusions:Reflections and hear a totally different sound from the Evos. Thats one way I've been thinking about it and just wanted to give you my 2 cents.
Good luck!!

bluealien · #8 12-12-2005, 10:00 PM

I think its a bit hard to chhose, you have several items to think about.

New Jems AANJ, neck and different pickup selection the with the older jems with square neck joint & PAF Pros,

I have both both, and like different aspecst of the all the guitar based on tone & feel. I do like the ANNJ neck style, and have changed out some pickups wich is also a idea. I would say if you can play a older model and then a newer one it should help you decide.

mi2tom · #9 12-12-2005, 11:39 PM

Just get the 7v.... it plays like a dream

leppermessiah · #10 12-13-2005, 12:34 AM

Quote:

A good J-Custom is about in the same price range as the new jems, but the quality is far superior in the JCs.

What are you basing that on? To my mind that is just one of those misnomers that people pick up and bandy around as if it were the truth.
I've played more than a few J-customs, great guitars they are (and substantially than a Jem in my local Ishibashi i can assure you), but to say "far higher quality" is ridiculous. comparable perhaps, but the Jems are certainly no worse. For the money however a J-custom is probably better value, though i have no idea how much you would pay for them overseas. On the other hand i would not give up my Jem for any other Ibanez (or other make of) guitar.

I would certainly reccomend a newer Jem with the AANJ. I don't like playing my JS anymore because of the old square neck joint. If the pick ups aren't to your liking you can always change them at a later date. That said, the pick up choices on the J-customs are great, and they sound awesome. You can't change the neck joint so easily.
You should also consider a prestige. I have an RGT 220H with a thru neck. Cheaper than both the above, quality is ace and even the IBZ/Dimarzio pick ups sound good. The thru neck is also dream to play on. I bought this guitar over a Jem 90th (the Jem was 30,000 yen cheaper as well).

kennydoe · #11 12-13-2005, 01:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leppermessiah

What are you basing that on? To my mind that is just one of those misnomers that people pick up and bandy around as if it were the truth.

I'm basing it on the fact that i currently own both. I have owned a few other Jems in my time and I've played my share of JCs as well.

Quote:

Originally Posted by leppermessiah

I've played more than a few J-customs, great guitars they are (and substantially than a Jem in my local Ishibashi i can assure you), but to say "far higher quality" is ridiculous. comparable perhaps, but the Jems are certainly no worse. For the money however a J-custom is probably better value, though i have no idea how much you would pay for them overseas. On the other hand i would not give up my Jem for any other Ibanez (or other make of) guitar.

Isn't it all about value though? Jems are expensive because Ibanez has to write Steve (and Joe D?) a check everytime they sell one. JCs are expensive because there's a lot more care taken, work put in, better materials and higher quality control on each individual guitar.

Quote:

Originally Posted by leppermessiah

I would certainly reccomend a newer Jem with the AANJ. I don't like playing my JS anymore because of the old square neck joint. If the pick ups aren't to your liking you can always change them at a later date. That said, the pick up choices on the J-customs are great, and they sound awesome. You can't change the neck joint so easily.
You should also consider a prestige. I have an RGT 220H with a thru neck. Cheaper than both the above, quality is ace and even the IBZ/Dimarzio pick ups sound good. The thru neck is also dream to play on. I bought this guitar over a Jem 90th (the Jem was 30,000 yen cheaper as well).

The Prestiges aren't a bad option. A prestige with Dimarzios is essentially a Jem without all the extra routing...and in most cases a nice wood grain.

If he can find a used Jem for around $1000 or so, definitely go for it...but if he's in the 'new' market and ready for drop $1800-2300 on a new guitar, the JC is absolutely the way to go based on the situation he's describing.

~K

PS: Going back tot he original post, you can do side-by-side specs comparisons right here on Jemsite http://www.jemsite.com/jem/spec.htm

kennydoe · #12 12-13-2005, 02:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ll Mr Blonde ll

On PnW he is using the PAF Pros and that is definently my favorite album and I love the sound,

P&W was done mostly (if not all) on UVs...no PAFs there. Just Blazes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ll Mr Blonde ll

but then you hear Real Illusions:Reflections and hear a totally different sound from the Evos.

RI:R has MANY pickups on it. http://vai.com/realillusions/index.html
Evo is used for a lot of leads, but there's also a lot of Floral w/ PAF and Midi triggers, Bad Horsie (breeds) and Flo (sustainer)...and don't forget his fender strat and the triple neck!

fettouhi · #13 12-13-2005, 02:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennydoe

If you're used to playing Les Pauls, but you want to get into the Vai/Ibanez kinda stuff, I'd recommend trying out J-Customs. They have a much thicker sound. The only draw back is that they're a little hard to find. A good J-Custom is about in the same price range as the new jems, but the quality is far superior in the JCs.

~K

Plus you those nice tops and everything

.

Regards

André

vette6600 · #14 12-13-2005, 03:07 AM

i agree with the idea of going for a J custom. i bought a jem awhile ago and loved it, but got sick of people mentioning steve vai everytime i played it. i sold it and but an amp and a different ibanez. if i could do it all over again, i'd have bought a JC right from the start. just look at those freaking finishes! if it plays anywhere close to a jem (and i imagine it would) i wouldn't be able to put it down.

**jim777** · #15 12-13-2005, 10:12 AM

Playing a 7VWH for the first time is an awesome experience...they are such great guitars. That would be my first choice in a Jem, no question. I wouldn't take just any J-Custom over a Jem, but I'd take an RG-8670 over a Jem. The RGT3120 is a pretty nice guitar as well, if you like through necks, which I do.

jim