Wow this Guitar is HOT and ...

[ggl]

Hi, I'm totally new here and it was great to find a forum devoted to this nice guitar range. I just purchased a second-hand JS 100 last week and I'm blown away by this guitar as it has the most beautiful sound, playability and shape I have ever experienced. I did own a very nice US strat once that was amazing but this JS would kick it's butt big time.

I would like to know the age of the guitar and I haven't pulled it apart yet (because I can't stop playing it) so is there anyway of telling the age from the serial number etc? Mine has "94" as the last two digits of the serial number so I was wondering if this maybe the year?

I would like to make a few improvements to it though and these are pretty standard from what I have read. I will change the pickups first and while I like satriani's and vai's sound I don't want to clone them but I was thinking about a Dimarzio Fred/Evolution mix or a Fred/PAF PRO. The Fred seems to be a good pickup and I guess it's just working out what I should use in the neck? I like a soulful/warm sound but with the ability to do attacking/growling leads when I want. Some sounds I like just off the top of my head that come to mind are: Gary Moore (Loser), Steve Vai (Liberty) Santana's sound and Satriani's rhythm sound especially. I also like the odd bit of tapping and harmonic work.
I have a Peavy Triumph 6o Tube combo but may buy a Marshal combo in the future.

Maybe some ideas expanding on the pickup selection would help me and I know this topic has been discussed before but I'm planning on ordering the pickups next week and I'm still a bit unsure what to go for?
I will change the tremolo if that causes problems after I pull it apart, refit it with new pickups and set it up but that's another topic that I will look at later.

Thanks in advance for any feedback..

ggl

[dcord]

Your serial number should start with a letter signifying the country of manufacture (probably F for Japan), followed by the serial number. The first two digits of the serial number will indicate the year.

[ggl]

Hi, Mine startts with C50 xxx 94

So I guess that makes it a 94 model made in Korea? I'm glad it is older as I think the wood sounds better with age, maybe that explains the warm & rich, sustaining sounds I'm getting.

[dcord]

Your guitar is a '95.

[ggl]

Originally Posted by dcord

Your guitar is a '95.

cheers, I see where you get the "5" now and I'm glad it is an older model.

Do you or does anyone else know when these guitairs were first released ?

[Rich]

94'

[ggl]

Originally Posted by Rich

94'

thanks, so that must make mine a vintage model

[ggl]

Well, Iv'e placed an order for a Fred Bridge F-spaced. I will see how this goes and then i will probably order an Evolution for the Neck later. I will post my feedback in a few days when it is in.

[Drew]

Yep, the satriani body style is one of the most comfortable i've ever played. And while the Lo-TRS bridge takes a lot of heat on this forum, it's on par with any Fender Floyd-liscensed bridge you can find, so i can definately see this guitar giving a US strat a run for it's money.

Enjoy the new axe!

by the way, you missed the most important question here- what color is it?

-Drew

[ggl]

Originally Posted by Drew

Yep, the satriani body style is one of the most comfortable i've ever played. And while the Lo-TRS bridge takes a lot of heat on this forum, it's on par with any Fender Floyd-liscensed bridge you can find, so i can definately see this guitar giving a US strat a run for it's money.

Enjoy the new axe!

by the way, you missed the most important question here- what color is it?

-Drew

I found mine to stay in tune ok but I don't use the wammy bar much . Mine is black and the body is in good condition for it's age but the frets may need replacing at some stage. The guitar has very good accoustics and just playing it without it plugged in nearly sounds like an accoustic. The thing I really like about it though is that it has excellent tonal qualities including each fret producing a very individual sound and all frets including the tighter upper frets produces clear rich sounds. The neck is very smooth and easy to play and the body is so light and has nice contours. I'm in love.

[satchman888]

Hey dude! Congrats on your new guitar! I also have a second hand JS100 and I am also in the process of changing the pickups. After a lot of research, I have decided to put an Air Norton(Petrucci) in the neck and the FRED on the Bridge. They've told me this is a delicious combination. Good luck!

[ggl]

hey satchman888, please post details on how your setup sounds once you get the pickups in as I'm interested in that mix.

cheers ggl

[ggl]

I went in and ordered a Fred Brigde F Spaced today and it they told me it would take 3 months and I did try another shop earlier that said the same. I paid a deposit and left to go into the city for more music shops. I walked into one and they had an Evolution Bridge F Spaced. I paid the guy and told him i just orded another Fred and he made a call and said he has Fred's as well. I got the Evolution and just changed my Fred to a standard and I don't mind waiting as it saves me some cash until it is here. But it was a real impulse thing and I hope I have done the right thing. I have it sitting here but I will take it back to the shop with my guitar and leave it with them for the day to install and adjust my tremelo. They are doing that for free which seems to be the standard and he took $20-30 off the price as well which was cool.

Anyway it will be interesting to play this thing after I throw the evo in.

[satchman888]

Hey ggl! I live in Mexico, so I will get the pickups until I get to the US. In *************** they are easy to get, and they are cheap ($53). I will tell you my results at the end of August when I get everything setup. So, you bought an Evolution for the bridge and a FRED for the neck? Tell me about your results

Thanks,
The Satchman

[ggl]

Originally Posted by satchman888

Hey ggl! I live in Mexico, so I will get the pickups until I get to the US. In *************** they are easy to get, and they are cheap ($53). I will tell you my results at the end of August when I get everything setup. So, you bought an Evolution for the bridge and a FRED for the neck? Tell me about your results

Thanks,
The Satchman

hey Satchman, was going to let you know later today as I'm taking my guitar into the shop to get them to wire my pickups up. I will let you know later how it goes and I hope I get it back today.