J-Custom & Prestige confusion - What makes a J-C a J-C?

[gkelm]

FWIW....After seeing a multitude and playing several here in Tokyo, my impression of JCs is that the quality on comparable models is not necessarily higher than on Prestiges. The exception might be consistency in maple top figuring...I've never seen a "bad" on here on a JC, just some that are less spectacular than others (whereas I've seen some 3120 tops that are nicht so gut). But the high-end models (RG9670 & S9870 neck-through) are another story. These really seem to have a feel that's a step above the rest...and you certainly pay for it.
Greg

[pd0x]

Originally Posted by Drew

Yeah, so i think we can break it down as follows- similar lines, one geared for high production, the other comparatively limited production, and occasionally there's some crossover. This sounds fairly plausible... Yeah, i know a few of them, such as the aforementioned 8527, aren't THAT limited, but more so that your typical prestige, it appears.

Anyway...

-Drew

I think this settles the whole thing.

[urkoman]

Long time without posting, but i have to do it now. Agreed to the previous post from the Hoshino worker. I have an j-custom RG 8670 and i have to say itīs LIGHTYEARS over a prestige. I can easily compare as i had a 3120. The j-custom is honduras mahogany made /the 3120 is african, the JC has an AAAA top/the 3120 AAA, pickups are different (and three in spite of two), the neck is wider, almost jem-sized and made of five pieces (3 maple 2 bubinga)/the 3120 is three maple, the fingerboard is ebony with vine inlay/ the 3120 rosewood.
Do you still think theyīre the same guitars? It has the same quality as my Jem 90 Ham, which is far better than a prestige too, isnīt?

[Rich]

Try comparring the 3120 to the myriad of rosewood board JC's, that's not a quality issue, that's a spec issue

Bottom line is it still depends on the hands that did the finishing work. I've had JC's that were more like regular production, but I've also had a Prestige that wasn't good enough for Indonesian production

[urkoman]

I know Rich, but you canīt put all j-customs in the same group nor all prestiges. I just say the high end j-custom are much better. Canīt tell about lower JC as i only have the 8670, but iīve had some prestiges and this guitar is much better (big difference).
And the specs, hmmm...rosewood vs ebony is a spec, but the AAAA vs AAA top or Honduras mahogany vs african arenīt, theyīre just a quality upgrade, donīt you agree? The 8570 and 8527 have this upgrade too having a rosewood board, so i think theyīre better too.
Apart, my 3120 was perfect, but it simply is a worse guitar than my 8670, you just need a look and a touch to notice. Maybe iīm a lucky man.
BTW Rich, Iīm still wating for that we talked a month ago, seems it will delay till February or march, but my intention is the same.

[Rich]

I've seen AAAAA tops on 3120's, and does nobody remember the driftwood RG4's?!

How do you know it's Honduran, does it answer in Spanish?

[urkoman]

The guitar specs were honduras mahogany at the ibanez japan page, and Noriko at ishibashi confirmed it to me. Apart, i have another Honduras mahogany made guitar and two africans and thereīs a notorius difference. The honduras are lighter, different drawed and better sounding.
We talk a lot at night!!!
What does driftwood mean?

[urkoman]

BTW now in the ibanez japan page it doesnīt say it is Honduras mahogany any more, maybe theyīve stopped using it?

[Rich]

More than likely it was wrong to begin with

[fishhead785]

lighter?????????? thats laughable.........my 8527 is a heavy log.....plays awesome but it is really heavy.......i have 2 friends that also have 8527's and one says same that its a log and the other one weighs 7lbs

[urkoman]

Originally Posted by Rich

More than likely it was wrong to begin with

This are the old links:
http://www.ibanez.co.jp/japan/el_gui...om/rg8570.html
http://www.ibanez.co.jp/japan/el_gui...rx/rg8670.html

not working now, but have been there (minimum) from January to june with the Honduras Mah spec, donīt know when they changed it. I bought mine on April.
Fishhead, a 7 string is always heavier, but i wouldnīt call that guitar "heavy" on both 6 or 7, or in any of both mahoganies. You should try a LP or a Washburn Dime, thatīs heavy!!!

[fishhead785]

let me think for a second........since i personally have an RG7620, RG1077XL, RG7CT, and about 12 other 6 strings i think i can pretty much say intelligently that my 8527 is in fact the heaviest guitar i own or ever have owned for that matter

[urkoman]

Being the heaviest of your guitars doesnīt mean itīs a heavy guitar, does it? I have or had much more than twelve guitars, the heaviest was an Heritage H 150 ultra and weighted...mhhh... in pounds must be a little more than 10. Almost unplayable, your shoulder hurted when playin more than an hour. A LP custom i had weighed more than 8 and another almost 8. My Assasin USA is almost 8 too, thatīs the most similar to a jC in shape, but is neck thru body.
Doesnīt mind, if itīs heavy for you, great. Just differents oppinions, itīs a stelire discussion.
Just a thing, i said honduras mahogany usually weights less than african, and i donīt find the connection with the weight of your guitar. I did not discuss if your guitar is light or heavy.

[Praetorian]

I want to hear more about the 8527. I've read the specs and such, but what would happen if you compared it to a newer Prestige? Like, compare the highest end Prestige 7 in production now to the J Custom 7...so the RG1527 as compared to the 8527. I guess that's Ibanez' current take on how high above the JC's are, it looks to me like the 8527 would kill the 1527 ina a comparison. Plus it's better looking1

[akoch]

Guys, check this link out. You may find it interesting.
http://www.kurosawagakki.com/ibanez1.html
Keep going through the Chapter 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. It answers many of the above questions.
Cheers,
Alex