Buying a JS Guitar

sam_at2001 · #1 10-08-2002, 01:20 PM

Hello everybody..ooh my first post

Anyway..I have been playing the guitar for about 10 years and have gotten into Satriani only in the past 2 years or so. I love him, I love his music etc..yeah im a freak of a fan...anyway..(oh yeah I like Vai also)

I wanna buy a new guitar..my red Ibanez GAX70 is gettin a little old now..I live in the UK so prices over here are really expensive, buying from America online only really broadens my range from a JS100 to a JS1000 (still cant really afford to splash out on a Jem). I was just wondering..is a JS1000 really worth the extra £300 (about 500-550 bucks)? This will only be my third guitar I have owned but like I say, I have been playing for 10 years so its not as if I'm just begining..
Any comparrisons on the 100/1000 would be appreciated as I don't really know much about the techical stuff, I just want to know if they sound any different/play any different etc..

Many thanks in advance!
Sam

iain · #2 10-08-2002, 01:31 PM

Well, if you can afford it, there is no contest between the JS100 and JS1000, IMO.

JS100 - Crappy TRS trem
JS1000 - The best trem there is - lopro.

JS100 - Crappy AH1 & 2 pickups (if I remember right)
JS1000 - Great Dimarzio FRED & PAF Pro

JS100 - Body made of several pieces of unmatched wood
JS1000 - Body made of 2 pieces.

The JS1000 also has the multiradiused fretboard, which can make for nicer setups/playability. To me, the trem is the biggest issue. If you don't want to retune after every pull & dive, get the lopro. There are other differences, which I'm sure others can fill in. Check out the specs at ibanez.com for more info.

EKG · #3 10-08-2002, 02:48 PM

The 100 is a good guitar, but the 1000 is a great guitar and IMHO, paying the extra for a 1000 is definetly worth it. As iain said, the 100 is going to be more maintenance and more setup, which can get old very fast.

Try doing a search, also. There are a number of other threads with 100/1000 comparisons

OH! And welcome to the forum

JESTER700 · #4 10-08-2002, 03:01 PM

Welcome!

You may also wish to see what prices you could get from a US based person like Rich, or direct from Japan like Ishibashi.

Also, if you're in the used market, consider an old Radius model - closer in quality to a JS1000 than to a JS100, but available used for less than a used JS100. (they guys here are probably tired of hearing me pipe up about this model!) ;-)

TheGubbins · #5 10-09-2002, 12:10 PM

i almost prefer the js100 to my prs santante se. The trems a bit wierd from the factory, perhaps the springs arent very tight. its REALLY easy to bend strings 2-3 tones, and the arm is no way near as stiff as the lo-trs II on my rg320. its a pretty fast guitar, for £600, and the pups sound great through a good amp, but a poor amp does let the guitar down. go for a js1000, it comes close to a jem7what ever, but if you have the readys, go for a jem!

disassociative1 · #6 10-09-2002, 01:31 PM

well i had a js100 and was gona upgrade it slowly (some people may rember me talking about this) but then i relaized the js100 is a nice axe but its not even a patch on the js1000.

Scott 74 · #7 10-10-2002, 04:52 AM

From my experience save up the extra money, and get a 1000. You'll thank us later

LGMT · #8 10-14-2002, 09:40 AM

I'd go 1000 in any case.

grrrpoop · #9 10-14-2002, 12:24 PM

I was in the same boat as you about a year ago.

I tried a JS100 (had been looking at SG's, SC420's and others) after some guy in Sound Control said "hey, have u tried one of these.."

Well, I think even the JS100 sounds really nice, very versatile, but I'm still not very skilled at trem abuse so for my purposes I guess even the LoTRSII would be fine.. but..

I saved up, borrowed a little off my parents, and got myself a JS1000 BTB

I was reading up on them online, I really wanted a BP model and almost got the JS900 but at the last minute realised that the 900 is missing most of the features I wanted!

well that almost ruined the whole thing (price getting too high) but I spoke to CodaMusic and they gave me an amazing deal on the JS1000 - cheaper than the JS900 in Sound Control!

So here I am a year later, knowing I made the right choice

Wait for a JS1000.

antroplasm · #10 10-27-2002, 08:54 AM

man I think 300 pounds for shipping is so high. I think you should go to united states at a summer holiday. U whould be able to see states and also buy your js. I so interested because I also want to buy a js. But If are not interested in that I can suggest you a site which sells a js ( i think 1000 ) for 1100$ shipping included

Pablo · #11 10-27-2002, 09:49 AM

I personally would go for the 900 as

A it has the original trem
B has chrome hardware
C Is black

I'm not a big fan of the BSB finish and that's the one you always see in British stores

The electronics if you can't live with out them would take at most an hour to install and the parts would cost at max £30 The price difference between a 900 and a 1000 dosen't really warrent the differences.

I too do want a JS but feel that RG's are easier to play primarily due to the AANJ. However I will be getting a 700 soon (Hopefully) then I'll make the call on buying an expensive one.

But I would not buy any of the budget sig Ibanez range (Did once and I learned my lesson)

All I can say is DON'T buy the 100 you will regret it

Good luck
P

6StringGod · #12 06-09-2003, 12:36 AM

Um... the js1000bs the black one is really the js900? I am confused...