Hey gang!
It's been a little over a year since I joined Jemsite and, more importantly, bagged by JEM777DY. I don't post that often, as I usually like to keep my mouth shut unless I really think I have something helpful to say ... but I really wanted to thank everyone at Jemsite for fourteen months of rockin' good times and share my goofy story. Sorry if it gets a little long.
Last May, I ordered a Jackson WR-1 and began the dreaded "eight to ten month" waiting period ... at that time I was playing the Carvin DC 127 that I've owned and loved since 1993. The wait was killing me, and, gearlust being what it was and all, I rationalized that I _needed_ a 24 fret, 25.5" scale guitar with a Floyd in order to "train myself" for when the Jackson came in. You know ... a "holdover" guitar.
Eventually I got the idea to pursue an RG 550/770DX (I owned a 550 back in '92 but had to return it due to a sideways-twisting neck ... yeek!), and I eventually found my way to Jemsite. What reaction could any rational, thinking human being have after perusing Jemsite's wealth of information but a total, maniacal, slobbering desire for a JEM? Right. After printing out FAQs, tech specs, and, of course, reading the experiences, opinions, and helpful posts of the members, I was hooked. Oh ... and Rich's catalogue scans didn't hurt either! Tee hee.
So ... long story longer ... I browsed Jemsite's forum's classifieds and soon found myself a local fella selling an '88 777DY. Two weeks later, I had my JEM (Thanks, Ko!!!), and the magic began. With a little restoration work and a setup (all of which came from Jemsite's incredible technical area, thank you), the guitar was _screamin'_. A friend of mine termed it "Look at Me" tone -- you plug this baby into a
high gain amp, hit just one bending note, and suddenly everyone in the room has stopped what they're doing to turn around and see where that incredible sound is coming from. It's like
Jack Butler's first note in Crossroads. (Yeah yeah had to get that reference in there.)
Many months later, the Jackson finally came in. There was a two month love affair with the new honey (I got a thing for pointy guitars), but slowly, inexorably, the JEM insidiously worked its way back into my hands. It was so subtle that I took no notice until my girlfriend said, "Why'd ya pay all that money for the new Jackson when you never play it?" I casually looked up from the JEM in my arms and thoughtfully replied, "Huh?" A more appropriate response might have been, "Honey, never insult me in front of the JEM!" But still.
Within six months it was quite apparent that, despite the notion that the JEM was my "holdover" guitar, it was my number one babe. After a day's work, she's the one I turn to to wail on. Sure the neck is a little thicker and the fingerboard isn't as wide as the Jackson's ... but being a well broken in '88 it just feels amazing. Plus the tone simply SMOKES the Jackson (I think the WR-1's moronic "Invader" pickups have more to do with that than anything). I love the Warrior and wouldn't trade it for the world (well ... MAAAYYYBE a PMC ... tee hee hee!), but there's something magical inside the JEM that draws me to it. By comparison, the Jackson is cold and sterile. The JEM is practically alive in my hands and just screams '80s shred. I love it!
Anyway ... I always dug JEMs back in the day but never thought I'd own one. Jemsite, above anything else, got me interested in them last year. I found my JEM through Jemsite, and used the tech setup area to get her up and running in peak condition. When tuning problems poked their nasty head up, Jemsite's members got me through it painlessly (thanks, Rich!!!). Jemsite members turned me on to new technique books, gear ideas (cough cough DHP-55 cough cough), and even new artists. In short, Jemsite has been the single source of my guitar inspiration for over a year (I gave up on guitar magazines years ago, gang).
In the last fourteen months, I've developed and grown musically more than any point in my life (except maybe when I started out back in '87). Silly as it may sound, I attribute most of that to the JEM (not to be materialistic, but having the right instrument makes all the difference), but the real inspiration has come from the creators and members of this site. You guys have been great!
I hope that I'm able to contribute to this great resource in some meaningful way ... I've been working on transcriptions of esoteric '80s bands (anyone else remember Helstar?), maybe that'll be the ticket. I just wanted to give props to everyone involved with this site and tell the story of how my "holdover" guitar has become my most prized possession. Aside from the four sentient beings (one woman, two fluffy cats, and a Burmese python), the JEM is probably the only thing I'd try to rescue from a fire. Everything else is replaceable.
Thanks again for 14 months of guitar joy!
--jr
