Old Jem´s are better than newer?

Jommi · #1 08-10-2005, 02:01 PM

OK, guys i know i´m going to get some beesting when i ask this, so..
What is your opinion about quality of newer and older Jem´s?
Several years ago i had 1996 or 1997 Model 7VWH Ibanez Jem, and it has tremendous good sound - very sustained, very clean and also very screaming. Also when i tested several other Jem´s from -96 to -99, they were sounding very good also. Today - as I have noticed, newer Jem´s (from 2000 to 2003, for example) sound often littlebit darker, like maiden with a flu. It is just me, or have you noticed same thing?

JJEMMER777 · #2 08-10-2005, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jommi

OK, guys i know i´m going to get some beesting when i ask this, so..
What is your opinion about quality of newer and older Jem´s?
Several years ago i had 1996 or 1997 Model 7VWH Ibanez Jem, and it has tremendous good sound - very sustained, very clean and also very screaming. Also when i tested several other Jem´s from -96 to -99, they were sounding very good also. Today - as I have noticed, newer Jem´s (from 2000 to 2003, for example) sound often littlebit darker, like maiden with a flu. It is just me, or have you noticed same thing?

1996-1997 7VWH = Evo Pups / ebony fretboard
2002-2003 7VWH = Evo Pups / ebony fretboard

There should be no difference in the sound. The 2005 7VW's have a rosewood fretboard, but that's the only difference. Are you talking maybe the PAF Pros (Like in Florals) vs the EVO's????

MehYam · #3 08-10-2005, 02:36 PM

Guitars mellow with age.

The Euphor · #4 08-10-2005, 02:54 PM

I always thought the older Jems sounded/felt better than newer ones. Last week I got to try new Ibanez Prestige models (custom made to user) with the new Edge Pro, and they sounded/felt very good! Finally I've realized the new Edge Pro is at least ok, still I don't like the stores where they never setup any guitars before they're sold...

Bottom line, every guitar is different. There are some differences, but it could just as well be your taste that has changed...

Jommi · #5 08-10-2005, 02:57 PM

Well, i mean every Jem, FP´s, 7VHW´s etc. Somehow i feel like older were better, dont know why. 7BSB - to me - was huge one, sound of those was very nice. It is truly collectors item today.

BTW: I always make some modifications to my Jem´s. sanding neck is first: I´ll fix the corners of fretboard to get littlebit more round-shape - gets more confortable to play. Also i´ll change angle of the neck (gluing neck brings some more sustain) so i can get strings really low action. Also i like when tremolo is high so it flows in both way.. Everyone has own way to make it better.

Has anyone else something what you fix in every guitar?

Sorry about broken english...

Jemwielder · #6 08-10-2005, 03:54 PM

you play a guitar it's gonna get better with age. Pickups too, Vai actually sent his whole road crew to go dumpster diving because his tech threw out one of the evos he had in the bridge that was humming.

Jommi · #7 08-10-2005, 04:04 PM

Yes, i´ve heard about that incident.

JJEMMER777 · #8 08-10-2005, 04:15 PM

Lately, I've been playing my BFP and FP's A LOT. I picked up my 2000 7vwh the other day for a while...then I put it back and picked up my 92' BFP to play. I think I'm begining to like the feel of the older necks better. Maybe I'm just getting used to them is all. I also like the PAF Pro's...I think they are a little more versitle than the Evo's. But man I tell ya...I really miss the AANJ

red5 · #9 08-10-2005, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MehYam

Guitars mellow with age.

So do the tubes you're running in the amp you're testing them with.

The rosewood fretboard 7vwh's will sound different than the older ones with an ebony fretboard. Other than that, they sound the same.

chopvai · #10 08-10-2005, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by red5

So do the tubes you're running in the amp you're testing them with.

The rosewood fretboard 7vwh's will sound different than the older ones with an ebony fretboard. Other than that, they sound the same.

not much different tho...

i mean.. it wont effect your playing or your tone lol

**jemaholic** · #11 08-11-2005, 02:03 AM

It's more drastic with acoustics, but the wood does age and dry with time which feels and sounds better to most players. Although the ebony boards will never mellow like rosewood 'cause it's a harder wood, the aging pickups will more than make up for it in tone.

I love the AANJ, but I prefere the original Jems/UV's any day- maybe because I'm an aging player and can identify better! =:^)

mi2tom · #12 08-11-2005, 04:58 AM

i think anything or mostly everything is like a shoe. New shoes mostly are like crap but if you wear them for quite sometimes it become better

nickcoumbe · #13 08-11-2005, 05:16 AM

Of the Jems I have played I prefer v. old, like '92 0r before.

Jommi · #14 08-11-2005, 05:26 AM

BTW: Has anyone any ideas, where i can buy used 7DBK... its total silence in here.... Any guitar shops etc?

Distantshore · #15 08-11-2005, 07:18 AM

I love the AANJ, but I prefere the original Jems/UV's any day- maybe because I'm an aging player and can identify better! =:^)[/quote]

I can relate to that.lol
To me even the crafstmanship was better . I started noticing more flaws in each new Jem I owned over the years. Starting in the early to mid 90's.