What is wrong with the JEM 555's?

shredded · #1 08-17-2005, 12:44 AM

Hi all... I have heard alot of people bash the Jem JR (555). Well I finally got the chance to play one last week and I loved it! Why do they have such a bad rep?

Please let me know as i am thinking of buying it.
Cory.

littlewing777 · #2 08-17-2005, 12:58 AM

basically because its pretty low-quality when compared with the 7vwh.

1) the vine inlay doesnt go all over the fretboard.
2) its bridge is the lo-trs, which from what I have heard is much worse than the lo-pro or edge

im sure there are several more reasons, i just have never played one, and cant think of them right now. im sure someone else will jump on this.

Mr.Wonderful · #3 08-17-2005, 01:05 AM

It's called a jem jr. Doesn't that just give it away right there? I just am not feeling the vine inlay that only spans half of the neck.

chopvai · #4 08-17-2005, 02:24 AM

ive never played one..

but .. im guessing you can get a rg which would be much much better than the 555....

ur just preety much paying cuz its got JEM'Jr...

Flobanez · #5 08-17-2005, 02:29 AM

I'd play one.

fettouhi · #6 08-17-2005, 02:45 AM

They are nice guitars in their own special way but compared to the JEM7VWH they pretty much fall right through, not so much because of the half vine inlay it's the trem IMHO

, maybe also the missing gold hardware.

Regards

André

mi2tom · #7 08-17-2005, 02:48 AM

Played it and quite in love with it

guitvai1 · #8 08-17-2005, 03:02 AM

Played the 555 and it sucked compared to my RG570 and 550 plus it has that TRS cheap tremolo. No thanks!

Shep · #9 08-17-2005, 03:18 AM

my friend has the straight Jem 555 (not the jr) and it's really ok..the trem's really poor.but thats about it. the neck is nice (remebering that FLO has a 555 neck) and they have evo's in them so they sound pretty good.....it's the trem is the thing that gives them the bad name.

sanchez · #10 08-17-2005, 03:26 AM

Put an OFR on the 555 and you'd have a killer machine.

ZOMB13 · #11 08-17-2005, 04:34 AM

I tihnk JEM owners dismiss it because it dosen't have gold hardware or a full vine (I also think that vine is ugly) but I would not expect Ibanez to put a Edge-Pro bridge(or better bridge) on a low cost item, so they throw the TRS in there...I'd just swap it for a OFR or Lo-Pro and be done with it.

I was looking around to trade my Rg7321 for a JEM555, but found no one.....I'd give the JEM555 a 7.5/10, but I've never played one...

Distantshore · #12 08-17-2005, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guitvai1

Played the 555 and it sucked compared to my RG570 and 550 plus it has that TRS cheap tremolo. No thanks!

My thoughts too when I played them

dex · #13 08-17-2005, 08:32 AM

I'll just quote myself from another thread.
It is a bit harsh but sums up my feelings on the subject and don't get me wrong, all the guitars I've listed are fine guitars but they are watered down versions designed to apeal to starter guitarist on a budget.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dex

Let me just make a point here and that goes for EVERY kid with Squire, Mexican Strat, RG2xx, 3xx, 4xx, 5xx, Epiphone, LTD, Jem 555, JS100, PRS SE, Peavey Wolfgang Special, etc.

Me and you both know that the only reason you own one of the above guitars is because your budget didn't stretch far enough to get the real deal so I think it's a bit rich when someone who so clearly wants to own the real deal comes on here and claims how his Squire "Is just as good".
Don't lie to yourself.

ilia

freaky-styley · #14 08-17-2005, 08:39 AM

i believe it is the crappy tremelo system but then when my parents said i was getting a jem i was over the moon just to get a 555, there good looking just like any other JEM (imho) and with minor work to it you could have a really good guitar! i think i would get a 555 and buy some evo pick-ups and a good trem for it!
I was much more happy when i found out that they'd got the 7v though (i dont know who wouldn't be), i dont think theres many jems to me that compare with the fp's and the 7v's, again though that is just my opinion!

freaky-styley · #15 08-17-2005, 08:51 AM

Originally Posted by dex
Let me just make a point here and that goes for EVERY kid with Squire, Mexican Strat, RG2xx, 3xx, 4xx, 5xx, Epiphone, LTD, Jem 555, JS100, PRS SE, Peavey Wolfgang Special, etc.

Me and you both know that the only reason you own one of the above guitars is because your budget didn't stretch far enough to get the real deal so I think it's a bit rich when someone who so clearly wants to own the real deal comes on here and claims how his Squire "Is just as good".
Don't lie to yourself.

ilia

Ok so if your smug enough to come on here and say that anyone who cant afford a good fender or a high end jem has a crappy knock off that cannot compete then thats b.s! i own both a js 100 and 1000, ok so there are a few things that are great on the js 1000 that suck on the js 100 but they can be changed! also squiers can be excellent guitars and for all this i have evidence as i own both a fender and squier, a js 100 and 1000 and i have played both 7v and 555!
oh an just for the record, i know how lucky i am to have those high end guitars!