To Jem, or to JEM: That is the question.

[JohnnyRasgueado]

I think the fumes from my guitar polish are making me ask weird questions ... first was the question on the inability of cameras to capture the true colour of "Desert Sun Yellow," and now this ...

I got curious about whether or not to capitalize the entire name "JEM" or just the first letter. I've seen it written out both ways in a number of places, but nearly all of the authoritative references use "JEM." I did a little research and dug up an ad from Ibanez in 1990 that used the two different capitalizations "JEM" and "Jem" in the same sentence. Dang. They're no help, we're on our own.

So let's settle this once and for all, gang: Which is it, Jem or JEM?

I vote for JEM. I'm silly that way.

--jr

[jammer]

My vote is for JEM also since that is the way that it is printed on the headstock.

Mike

[The Euphor]

Jem.

As with Saber, Power, Radius...

[krizz]

Maybe this is a stupid question; but I'm into Jem/JEM 's quite some time now, but I still don't know if it's an abbreviation of someting? (Jolly Electric Machines maybe? ). Or has it something to do with a Jam (the musical term of course). Or is it J&M? AAarrgh

And is J-Custom somehow related to Jem/JEM?

Maybe I should have read some section of this website to find out, but I'm sure about it that there are _a lot_ more people with the same questions...

[The Euphor]

The first guitars called Jem were those made to Steve Vai by Joe Despagni. And to my knowledge, none of the other guitars Despagni made/customized were called Jem. Only those made for Vai. As I remember they were called Jem because they were gem-like. But I suspect there is another reason as well, Vai more often than not have a thought behind most things.

[The_Grindfiend]

I believe Despagni's shop was called Jem Guitars, or something like that. And I write JEM, for some arcane reason.

[jemsite]

http://www.jemsite.com/axes/model/despagni.htm

[codnchips]

This thread is mental!!

Someone's got too much time on their hands!

[JohnnyRasgueado]

I had seen the Despagni page on Jemsite when I was "researching" the name. Of course it just confused matters further: The original logo is written in all caps, but the "J" is clearly larger than the other letters ... so it _still_ could be either way! Aaaiiigh!

If I put half as much time into practicing the guitar as I do coming up with silly questions about it ...

--jr

[The Euphor]

Glen, that link show only Despagni guitars after the "Vai influence". What did he call them before Vai entered? As I understand Vai has been along most of the way, but I think you know what I mean...

[jemsite]

it was always like that... JEM. Nothing changed after Vai signed w/ ibanez except Joe got richer and lazier. .. glen

[The Euphor]

Thanks!

So every Despagni guitar is a Jem.