First, the metal finish is actually very cool. The next thing you notice is the graphite compound neck- yes, it is plastic - and it looks a bit wierd how it connects to the metal headstock.
This is a heavy guitar folks. For an example think mid-80's Norlin era
Les Paul Custom-heavy. I think they had to use an S-body because if they used the standard thickness Jem or Universe body the weight would be rediculous.
The neck has an
abalone binding even at the bottom of the board by the neck pickup. I don't know what pickups are used, but the metal-bobbins look cool and they sound great saturated, not so 'refined' on clean settings. I played it through a Budda 30 combo and a Marshall 1974 reissue combo.
The setup was 'tolerable' to me but I'm sure Rich cringes as he opens the case on these guitars. It has this rotating adjustment on the back above the cavity cover I think it regulates the tension on the trem-which looks different to me from other Ibanez trems....
I too have reservations about the Korean assembly, but for a different type of guitar it's cool overall.
Shady points:
1) where the headstock meets the neck is lame.
2) Plastic neck
3) price
4) weight
THESE ARE JUST JEMAHOLIC'S OPINIONS - your take may be far different from mine - but after having spent a good half hour alone with the guitar, and with every intention of buying one today - they called me to say it was in and I went right over. I think the guitar is worth a few grand but.....(shakes head)......
