J-Custom & Prestige confusion

gkelm · #1 03-22-2001, 03:10 PM

I'm a bit confused about this...especailly concerning the RG 6/7 CST/CT...

Here they say J-Custom
http://www.ibanez.com/custom.html

Here indicates Prestige...
http://www.jemsite.com/axes/htm_features/spec_ib7.ht

In correspondence with Ishibashi about the RG1880, they say it's considered a "Prestige"...but seems like I've heard the 1880 called a J-Custom.

Do J-Customs say "J-Custom" on the head stock?

Wassup?
Greg

Todd Crawford · #2 03-23-2001, 08:55 AM

J Customs will say it on the headstock. They are written 2 different ways. One is very similar to the old USA Custom logo that was on the USA Customs, the other is like this:

As far as everything I've ever seen, a RG1880 is a J Custom.

**jemsite** · #3 03-23-2001, 10:40 AM

Quote:

I'm a bit confused about this...especailly concerning the RG 6/7 CST/CT. Here they say J-Custom. Here indicates Prestige.

This has been discussed and essentially the J-Custom is what is sold domestically (in Japan). Ibanez then brands the same guitars (or ones tagged for export) as Prestige guitars.

IMHO this is smart salesmanship. First it caters to each audience. In the USA it's no stretch to say "J-Custom" would have a negative impact on these guitars as they hang in Guitar Center or another 'vintage oriented' guitar showroom. The concensus still is that the best guitars (boutique too) are 'American' made.

Along those lines, after having "USA Customs" do you really think "J-Customs" is a good selling point in the USA? I sure don't. Keep in mind the USRG30 was sold as a "Prestige" too, see it in the catalog in it's final year. Obvious transition that Ibanez kept, which is smart. Notice Ibanez is also tagging "prestige neck" on certain 2001 ibanez' to distinguish them as more upscale models.

Second the "J-Custom Vs "Prestige" creates hype and possibly sales from people like us who want something different and will pay more for that "J-custom" imported logo... glen

gkelm · #4 03-23-2001, 11:26 AM

Great...thanks, guys, for the insight. *I feel better now.

pri0531 · #5 04-15-2002, 05:37 PM

Out of Curiosity - When I bought my VWH from GC about 5 years ago they gave me a J-Custom Case. *Now I have a RGT 3120 TDB. *As I understand from the above statements it would not be inproper to match up the RGT with the J-Custom Case. *Right?
Out,
GP *

Rich · #6 04-15-2002, 08:51 PM

The RGT is a Prestige, only a J Custom should go in a JC case, but since Hoshino put all their 90th Anniversaries in them I guess anything goes.

pri0531 · #7 04-16-2002, 10:26 AM

Thanks Rich
GP

kirk · #8 04-17-2002, 09:11 AM

While I agree with Glen in regards to clever marketing, I can't say that I would choose "Prestige" over "J-Custom" on the name alone. *

Knowing what I know about Ibanez guitars, obviously I would choose Prestige over J-Custom just because of the equal quality and the difference in price. *However, the word "custom" does something more for me than "Prestige" does. *As ab uneducated buyer, I might just think that the "J-Custom" is a custom made guitar made by someone with a name that starts with the letter "J."

RobBrooks · #9 04-29-2002, 11:27 AM

Could somone describe or link to a picture of a J-Custom case please?

I bought a J-Custom guitar a couple of weeks ago and I'd just like to make sure I got the right case for it.

Ta.

Rich · #10 04-29-2002, 11:32 AM

Kinda hard to miss it since it bears the plaque you're flying as your avatar.

RobBrooks · #11 04-29-2002, 11:35 AM

Hmmmmmmm. Didn't get one of those.......

Guitar in question is a JC-RG5, bought from Percy Priors in High Wycombe.

Should I phone them up and ask politely for a 'proper' case do you think?

Rich · #12 04-29-2002, 11:39 AM

Then you got it in an M200 molded which would be the correct case for an RG5.

RobBrooks · #13 04-29-2002, 11:41 AM

I'm not going to extend this away from the thread any further but I'm kinda wondering..........

Why does the RG-5 not get a J-Custom case?

Rich · #14 04-29-2002, 11:44 AM

Because they do things different overseas than they do in the US

Kevan · #15 05-10-2002, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jemsite

Ibanez then brands the same guitars (or ones tagged for export) as Prestige guitars.

This is simply untrue, and has been proven time and again, in printed quotes from Ibanez/Hoshino.
Check your catalogs.

You can ban me all you want and delete all these posts, but it'll still be false.

Greg- if you want a brand-new UV1000C for your VWH (or the RGT), I'll trade ya for that J-Custom case. Let me know.