Questions about J Custom.

eclecticmage · #1 10-20-2007, 12:01 AM

Hey all,
I am really curious about the J Custom guitars. As it were, I am in the market for another guitar. I have been checking out the 570s because they have the super wizard neck and edge trem like the one I already have. However I see certain J Customs comes with the super wizard and all come with the edge pro. So my question is simple. What would the perks be with getting a J Custom over another 570 if the 570 has the neck and trem styles I am really looking for? I thank you all for your help and comments because I don't know anyone who has a J Custom except for those on this board so I cannot play one.

Thanks

eclecticmage · #2 10-20-2007, 08:08 PM

Ok,
So no one can tell me anything good about the J Customs aside from what I have already found? Aside from the fact that the J-Customs are "the top of the line" Ibanez guitars, what else makes them so fantastic? Also, where can I get one? I know Rich sells them but his stock is some what low according to his site and I fear buying off the "Bay" so any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Dee · #3 10-20-2007, 08:20 PM

J Custom's are built from different wood to the regular RG's.

RG's are almost always basswood, and J Custom's tend to be mahogany with a maple cap. I won't say one is better than the other, some people prefer basswood, some people prefer mahogany/maple. As you mentioned, J Custom's are top of the line in every respect, from the body woods I just talked about, to the smaller (but no less significant) details such as fretwork, electronics, binding, etc. They are not mass-produced like the regular RG's, and to be quite honest, if the RG570 does exactly what you want, stick with 'em.

Personally I think J Custom's are a little overpriced, and if I wanted a high quality guitar I would go directly to Carvin's custom shop so I could pick exactly the options I want. J Custom's are great, don't get me wrong, but there's still not much choice considering how much you'd be spending to acquire one.

Dino · #4 10-20-2007, 08:22 PM

They have better fret finishing... They are a big step up from the 570 in some ways.

Dino · #5 10-20-2007, 08:24 PM

They are a step up, even from Carvin.

Dee · #6 10-20-2007, 08:28 PM

Carvin's cost less, though, especially with the 50% off for USA customers offer. Having never even seen a Carvin in the flesh, I can't honestly say how well built they are, but I have noticed quite a lot of Carvin users saying they are pretty much as well made as the J Custom's. Personally I love the amount of options Carvin offer. I have the worst GAS in the world for one right now and I am seriously considering selling my RG's to pick one up. I don't care if they are not quite up to the standard of a J Custom, actually. If it's better than a regular RG (it is, I'm sure), and on par with something like a Prestige RG, I'd be more than happy.

eclecticmage · #7 10-20-2007, 08:34 PM

Well, quite frankly I know I want a Super Wizard neck. It feels great compared to the Prestige Wizard and I know some of the J Customs come with the Super Wizard. I got a chance to play a Jem7dbk and it was beautiful however, I don't want to play "Steve Vai's" guitar.
My 570(heavily modded, picture found here http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q...DSC00263-1.jpg ) has close to the same feel of that Jem which was exactly what I was looking for so I was wondering if that is what I would expect from the J Customs or better? I am really excited about this and really at a lose. I know I want an Ibanez but I don't know which way to go.

I play a Carvin V3 and I love it. It's a great amp and the guitars are stellar too. I have played one of those.

Dee · #8 10-20-2007, 08:55 PM

Have you considered the RG 20th? It has the neck you want, but it doesn't have the AANJ. If you can live with the old neck joint this may be your ticket. I have one, and it's an awesome feeling/playing guitar, and I prefer it to my 1987 original. On the other hand, I've moved up to 7-strings these days and now I don't use the 550. I'd recommend this guitar to anyone though, mostly because of the exceptional neck and original Edge. The Road Flare finish is also totally killer. Best finish ever.

eclecticmage · #9 10-20-2007, 08:57 PM

Yeah, I tried the old joint style and it quite frankly messes with me. I ig the AANJ style. I have also considered moving up to a 7 string for the low end but I don't know. We will see.

Thanks again for all the replies.

Dee · #10 10-20-2007, 09:01 PM

OK, no worries. I had a feeling you'd turn it down because of the non-AANJ.

7's are where it's at for me. It took only about 2 days to really get comfortable with the 7, now I can't stand 6's! That's pretty extreme for me, being a 6-string player for the last 28 years, but I wonder why I didn't go to a 7 much sooner. I originally wanted one back in 1990 or 1991 but never bothered to purchase one.

Dino · #11 10-20-2007, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dee

Carvin's cost less, though, especially with the 50% off for USA customers offer. Having never even seen a Carvin in the flesh, I can't honestly say how well built they are, but I have noticed quite a lot of Carvin users saying they are pretty much as well made as the J Custom's. Personally I love the amount of options Carvin offer. I have the worst GAS in the world for one right now and I am seriously considering selling my RG's to pick one up. I don't care if they are not quite up to the standard of a J Custom, actually. If it's better than a regular RG (it is, I'm sure), and on par with something like a Prestige RG, I'd be more than happy.

Yeah, I would say they are on par with with prestige Ibanez, and they are neck through body. J-customs have unbelievable fretboard finishing. The fret ends arew all perfectly rounded and the frertboard is shaped around every fret. It really is something else! A DC 727 would be an awesome 7 string if that is what you are into now. I played one when I visited the Carvin factory outside of San Diego. That is when I ordered my CT-6. If you want one get somebody on jemsite to take delivery of it and then ship it to you as a gift.

Dee · #12 10-20-2007, 11:11 PM

Thanks Dino. I already semi-arranged this.

I was just on 7-string.org and happened to find a few Carvin related comments in the thread I was reading.

Quote:

None of the several Universes I've had even came close to my Carvin quality-wise.

Quote:

Furthermore, a J Custom 7-string costs $2000? For that I can nearly get two 727's how I want, instead of what Ibanez tells me I can have. Don't get me wrong, the J Custom is a great guitar, but value for the dollar I think is lacking. At $2000 I'd go for an EB/MM JPM if I was tossing that kind of cash at a bolt-on.

Those are from page 9 of this thread: http://www.sevenstring.org/forum/sev...ut-ibanez.html

albee1952 · #13 11-02-2007, 11:32 PM

My 2 cents only. I think the J Customs as well as the older RG3120 have a more lively tone due to the mahogany/maple construction. My J Custom actually has a Prestige 3120 Ultra neck (previous owner kept the maple/vine neck) which is very comfy(to me anyway). I also think the 7DBK neck is awesome but a little too flexable for me.

Gudster · #14 11-03-2007, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dee

Thanks Dino. I already semi-arranged this.

I was just on 7-string.org and happened to find a few Carvin related comments in the thread I was reading.

Those are from page 9 of this thread: http://www.sevenstring.org/forum/sev...ut-ibanez.html

Custom Carvins are that cheep?

!?!

Phishphood42 · #15 11-04-2007, 05:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eclecticmage

Well, quite frankly I know I want a Super Wizard neck. It feels great compared to the Prestige Wizard and I know some of the J Customs come with the Super Wizard. I got a chance to play a Jem7dbk and it was beautiful however, I don't want to play "Steve Vai's" guitar.
My 570(heavily modded, picture found here http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q...DSC00263-1.jpg ) has close to the same feel of that Jem which was exactly what I was looking for so I was wondering if that is what I would expect from the J Customs or better? I am really excited about this and really at a lose. I know I want an Ibanez but I don't know which way to go.

I play a Carvin V3 and I love it. It's a great amp and the guitars are stellar too. I have played one of those.

IIRC the j custom neck is similar to the jem but 1 or 2 mm thinner, and maybe like 1mm narrower. I could be wrong though, just look up the profiles on the japanese ibanez site