JS Vs. JEM (for me)

Chuck · #1 11-28-2007, 07:20 PM

Hi guys, great website you got here, I've been reading for a long time but never really decided to post anything until now.

For the last few months I've been having the dilemma between a JS1200 and a JEM7WH. I'm mainly a shredder, but I love to rock the blues sometimes. I'm a big fan of the vintage Fender feel too, so......What do you guys think is better for me?

P.S: I've tried both and like them both equally.

ryanb · #2 11-28-2007, 07:37 PM

Sounds like the JS is a better fit for you, but only you can decide which you want. They are very different guitars -- both great but different -- apples/oranges.

ColinMmmmm · #3 11-28-2007, 07:49 PM

Yeah I'd go for the JS if you're into strats, the body is sexier I think. And comfier. I think the fretboard radius is different too - did you notice a difference when trying them out?

RSVampire · #4 11-28-2007, 08:42 PM

blues and vintage?

JS for sure

jb4674 · #5 11-28-2007, 10:25 PM

If you're a fan of the vintage Fender feel, I'd definitely go for the JS. The neck and fretboard alone will let you get as close as possible to a strat without any major modifications.

Jimmy

Chuck · #6 11-28-2007, 11:57 PM

I've been hearing about this high pass/coil tap, thing. If I understand it right, that means that my sound will remain consistant even if I turn down the volume knob, can somebody please elaborate on the concept so I can further understand it?

RSVampire · #7 11-29-2007, 12:04 AM

yeah, usually when you turn the volume down on the guitar it cleans up (less gain) and also becomes warmer.

With this high pass filter it will allow more treble through so your sound doesn't get very warm when you turn it down.

the coil tap basically turns your humbuckers into single coils.

Tank · #8 11-29-2007, 02:28 AM

Sooner or later you will simply buy both...

Best guitars to have (and available new): 7VWH + JS1200 + something in the middle

chris101 · #9 11-29-2007, 06:33 AM

Dont forget the nut width is different on the 2 necks, 42mm on the JS and 43mm on the Jem, might not seem like a lot, but for me, it makes the string spacing feel MILES wider on the Jem, so I prefer the Jem neck for playing anything that I need to sound clean (i.e. not sloppy).

Vim Fuego · #10 11-29-2007, 06:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RSVampire

yeah, usually when you turn the volume down on the guitar it cleans up (less gain) and also becomes warmer.

With this high pass filter it will allow more treble through so your sound doesn't get very warm when you turn it down.

the coil tap basically turns your humbuckers into single coils.

Don't forget the JS1200 has the high pass on a push pull pot, so, if you want the sound to warm up when you back off the volume you can.
Jim

Chuck · #11 11-29-2007, 07:12 AM

One thing that sways the JEM in my direction a little, besides the fact that it looks so friggin cool, is that it has that really sharp biting tone that I enjoy, and it has the whammy bar ditch (don't know the proper name, sorry) dug out deeper, so I can go further with the whammy, something I use a lot.

The JS I like the playability of maybe a tiny bit more, but it has that kind of bassy sound which is cool and all, but that I don't like as much as the super sharp, biting sound of the JEM. And the whammy bar ditch isn't as deep, that's not a super big complaint, but still, the deeper the better as far as I'm concerned.

Is it possible to get that really sharp biting sound with the JS? And is the whammy bar ditch in the JEM really THAT much deeper?

SeanB · #12 11-29-2007, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuck

but still, the deeper the better as far as I'm concerned.

supermau · #13 11-29-2007, 09:18 AM

Being a Strat player my Jem7vwh felt awkward when I first got it. I almost thought I'd made a mistake in buying it sight unseen and having never played one. After a month of breaking into it it became my favorite guitar. I still love my Strats too, it just took some adjustment getting used to the extremely different necks. No regrets on my JEM purchase.

Tank · #14 11-29-2007, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuck

One thing that sways the JEM in my direction a little, besides the fact that it looks so friggin cool, is that it has that really sharp biting tone that I enjoy, and it has the whammy bar ditch (don't know the proper name, sorry) dug out deeper, so I can go further with the whammy, something I use a lot.

The JS I like the playability of maybe a tiny bit more, but it has that kind of bassy sound which is cool and all, but that I don't like as much as the super sharp, biting sound of the JEM. And the whammy bar ditch isn't as deep, that's not a super big complaint, but still, the deeper the better as far as I'm concerned.

Is it possible to get that really sharp biting sound with the JS? And is the whammy bar ditch in the JEM really THAT much deeper?

You wont get a JEM sound out of a JS easily. They are 2 totally different guitars. If you like the sound of the JEM you should get one.
I don't own a JS (yet) but testing them both on whammy abuse I didn't feel much of a difference in bending up.

**moebius** · #15 11-29-2007, 10:18 AM

I always thought the Fred pickup in the JS was a bit biting. Lots of high end. Of course I ended up putting an X2N into my JS-1 and talk about bit and bark.