JEM versus J-Custom

Alexeh · #1 07-08-2007, 09:24 PM

Since I can't try out a J-Custom here I was wondering if anyone who's played both could comment on it, in terms of quality, sound and playability compared to a new 7VWH? That thing was the best playing guitar I've ever held..

Thanks!

Jem#5150 · #2 07-08-2007, 09:42 PM

as far as i know a new 7VWH is a J-Custom. It has the logo on the back of my UV and on the back of my friend's VWH.

Phishphood42 · #3 07-08-2007, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jem#5150

as far as i know a new 7VWH is a J-Custom. It has the logo on the back of my UV and on the back of my friend's VWH.

J-Craft does not mean j.custom. They put that stamp on prestiges too.

However, I'm fairly sure that signatures are made in the same place as j customs. So the quality should be the same as j customs and a little above prestiges. The decision is really more about pickup and wood preferences

Ki swordsman · #4 07-08-2007, 11:51 PM

the j custom used to have a little extra treatment over everything else, but that was before the prestige jcraft thing came along, i think(and i'm only guessing) that now they may have been evened out so the prestige,jcustom and signatures are about the same level of quality...? if not and the jcustom still has extra attention then it's possible the sigs are only at the same level as the prestiges...

rvai · #5 07-09-2007, 12:03 AM

its kind of common sense that the j customs are a little better because of the price, but why are signatures better than prestiges? what are the differences?

Phishphood42 · #6 07-09-2007, 12:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rvai

its kind of common sense that the j customs are a little better because of the price, but why are signatures better than prestiges? what are the differences?

Signatures and j customs are made in a separate smaller shop, while prestiges are made in the factory. My j custom and my friends 7VWH are pretty even, but my j custom definitely beats the prestiges I've played. The j craft stamp doesn't mean much

Rich · #7 07-09-2007, 12:48 AM

Only the JC's are finished in a seperate area, still in the factory. Signatures are Prestige. Prestige finishing details have gone downhill in the last 2 yeats as Tommy Tanaka continues to make cuts, they're just not paying for as high a level of neck finishing as they were. JC's since 2001 were always far above the level of finishing of a Prestige, but that's finishing to parts built in the shared resources of the regular production areas, CNC, etc.

Jem#5150 · #8 07-09-2007, 02:17 AM

oops. i got the two mixed up. sorry for the misinformation.

Phishphood42 · #9 07-09-2007, 03:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich

Only the JC's are finished in a seperate area, still in the factory. Signatures are Prestige. Prestige finishing details have gone downhill in the last 2 yeats as Tommy Tanaka continues to make cuts, they're just not paying for as high a level of neck finishing as they were. JC's since 2001 were always far above the level of finishing of a Prestige, but that's finishing to parts built in the shared resources of the regular production areas, CNC, etc.

Hmm, I thought it was said in the j custom thread that sigs were built in the same place, but then I checked and realized I was already corrected there.

Chris777 · #10 07-09-2007, 03:59 AM

Jems and J-Customs are two very different beasts. Neither are better than the other, just different. Are you after an Alder body with evo's, or a mahogany/maple body with other Diamrzio's? They are too different to really compare, the tone and feel are different on these guitars. I myself usually prefer Jems to J-Customs because of the tone and feel. YMMV of course.

DavyH · #11 07-09-2007, 08:12 AM

What Chris said.

I do the majority of my practice unamped, and the Jem has a considerably better feel and dry tonal response. Amped, the J-Custom produces considerably more volume and sustain, but doesn't have the clarity of the Evos.

Very different beasts and a case of comparing golden delicious with granny smith.

scanlan75018 · #12 07-09-2007, 10:40 AM

My 2 JCs are far better sounding than any Prestige Guitar I've tried.

For exemple : RG1880 vs RG3120 old version with TZ and Paf Pro: the 1880 has a thicker and fuller sound, despite everything is very similar (woods, dimensions, pickups)

As far as the sound is concerned, my AT300 reaches the same excellence level, maybe finitions are a little bit less impressive on this sig.
Idem for JEM7V : its tonality is unique, no J custom can approach this sound, but concerning the overall quality, I think JCs are a little better.

So for me, Japan made sigs are far above "simple" Prestige guitars in terms of sound quality and overall building care on details.
JC's are a little above for the construction, neck feel, etc... and have a quite similar sound quality as good Sigs, despite it's not at all the same kind of tones

(excuse me for my poor english)

casper777 · #13 07-09-2007, 10:49 AM

The fret job is particularly amazing on the JCs... even better than on my 90 HAM Jem...

And even if people (and Rich) confirmed that JCs don't have stainless steel frets... they do not tarnish AT ALL! impressive!

The "velvet touch" finish on the back of the neck on newer JCs is also far better than the neck finish on prestige ir sig guitars.. but this is more subjective....

Rich · #14 07-09-2007, 01:56 PM

Of course the frets tarnish, it just takes them a little longer since they're much more highly polished to start with.

Andelusion · #15 07-09-2007, 02:36 PM

I had a 7vWH, my bandmate has a JC 8670, the bandmate's has a more solid feel, the fretwork on the 7vWH was better but then again it came from Rich, the quality of woods on the JC is (to my eyes) better, then touch of the maple binding is very nice.