Ibanez is becomeing like Fender

AleTheNervo · #1 01-17-2009, 07:40 AM

It seems to me Ibanez is starting acting like Fender. What I mean is, the company i always loved because it made great guitar at a real affordable price begins producing overpriced guitars, incredible high priced limited run guitars and so on.
In my mind it all started with the slightly priced DNA and went on with the other limited guitars, last the new PG Fireman: 9.999...WHAT?? exactly like the new limited S!! Not to talk about the js20th and 20s or the black dog!
Do you remember when the Jem10th (still the most beautyful anniversary guitar) came out? it costed about 1000 more than a regoular jem...this allowed a great number of fans to have a great incredible looking and collectable guitar, spending not too much more than a 7v.
It seems to me that Ibanez has taken the policy of Fender: make a really limited run of guitar and put it on the market at an out of mind high price, like the 25.000 EVH and the various relics at 3.500 and more and even the normal line guitars at quite double the price they could be!
I hope it's not what Ibanez is going to be...but it seems it's going to be so!

prydogga · #2 01-17-2009, 08:00 AM

I'll take almost any Ibanez bashing in tolerence, except when Fender comes into the topic, I think they new fireman is overpriced but at least that is a one-off iceman design with single coils, not the same strat that has been around for years, signed by Yngwie or whoever. I doubt Ibanez has any plans to bring out a guitar in the $20 000 range.

6fingers · #3 01-17-2009, 08:07 AM

Dude it's a company,it's to make money and not to make you happy.
Some doctors charge 100 dollars some 10.000.
You choose the one you can afford.
Its a COMPANY not your grandpa's house.
Do you think they make guitars because they love us?

william1993 · #4 01-17-2009, 08:38 AM

well if they don't make us happy,
how do they make money..
company's are meant to make us happy, that way we buy stuff, and they get money
but if no ones happy, they don't get money ..

Jack Secret · #5 01-17-2009, 08:54 AM

They get my money for a PGM401. That's the only new guitar they're making that makes me happy within a reasonable price range.

**jemaholic** · #6 01-17-2009, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AleTheNervo

It seems to me Ibanez is starting acting like Fender. What I mean is, the company i always loved because it made great guitar at a real affordable price begins producing overpriced guitars, incredible high priced limited run guitars and so on.
In my mind it all started with the slightly priced DNA and went on with the other limited guitars, last the new PG Fireman: 9.999...WHAT?? exactly like the new limited S!! Not to talk about the js20th and 20s or the black dog!
Do you remember when the Jem10th (still the most beautyful anniversary guitar) came out? it costed about 1000 more than a regoular jem...this allowed a great number of fans to have a great incredible looking and collectable guitar, spending not too much more than a 7v.
It seems to me that Ibanez has taken the policy of Fender: make a really limited run of guitar and put it on the market at an out of mind high price, like the 25.000 EVH and the various relics at 3.500 and more and even the normal line guitars at quite double the price they could be!
I hope it's not what Ibanez is going to be...but it seems it's going to be so!

You're incorrect about the DNA being the first high-priced guitar - way back in 1987 the Loch Ness Green Jem was a limited-run model with a list price around $2,000. Two grand back then is like four grand today.
Ibanez also manufactured far fewer guitars back then. Today Ibanez sells more guitars in a year than ALL other companies other than Fender. The RG series has sold more units than all but the Stratocaster -which has been available for 50 years while the RG's have only been around about 20 years. Yep - RG's are NUMBER TWO in world popularity right behind the Strat for electric guitars. Look it up.

So as a company who's reason to exist is profit, they are doing the right thing. Unlike Fender who reduced quality during growth periods, Ibanez continues to product top quality, playable, great sounding instruments.

~j

**jim777** · #7 01-17-2009, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jemaholic

You're incorrect about the DNA being the first high-priced guitar - way back in 1987 the Loch Ness Green Jem was a limited-run model with a list price around $2,000. Two grand back then is like four grand today.

~j

I remember it like it was yesterday. I was expecting the Jems to be about 750-900, and some of the morons at Sam Ash were telling me it would be about 500 tops, because it was an Ibanez (after all). When the first few hit, and they were 1600 with case, it was nearly surreal. They were sooooo much more expensive than anyone had foreseen, but the LNG was so out of this world looking no one really cared. I think it was the first guitar I ever saw that literally made my jaw drop open in amazement. They all sold, and pretty fast, too.

Neoclasiccl · #8 01-17-2009, 11:09 AM

I remember back in the 80's when I bought my custom shop BCrich and it was $1008 and it took me 6 months to save up the money LOL. Prices are definately different now.

waylay00 · #9 01-17-2009, 11:21 AM

Maybe it's a good thing that Ibanez is becoming like Fender. Fender, in recent years, has offered consistent models with quality craftsmanship for very reasonable prices (and plenty of finishes, too). My $1100 American Deluxe Strat is still the best guitar I own.

Darin · #10 01-17-2009, 11:24 AM

They make expensive guitars because people want and buy them. They make cheap guitars because some people can only afford them. Be thankful they make something in your price range. And also guitars in a price range for the harder workers in society.

GTR-MAN · #11 01-17-2009, 11:39 AM

Ibanez has one of the largest selections of guitars of any brand. They make guitars for every style & income. I'm glad that I have the option to buy a $300 Ibanez or a $5000 Ibanez. Or anything in between. You get what you pay for.

Neoclasiccl · #12 01-17-2009, 11:48 AM

I wonder how the expensive guitars are selling now with the economy the way it is.

**jemsite** · #13 01-17-2009, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jemaholic

You're incorrect about the DNA being the first high-priced guitar - way back in 1987 the Loch Ness Green Jem was a limited-run model with a list price around $2,000. Two grand back then is like four grand today.

The DNA was a point of no return in regard to price. ATL is mostly correct there. The 10 was only about $400 more (street) than the 7VWH. The 90 was a trial balloon cost more than the JEM10! Sickening!

The LNG was $290 more LIST than the 777s and in stores it was just a little more (~$100) than the FP which quickly shipped after it. FWIW the 777s were priced in places like AMS (mail order) around $925 and the FP just over $1k ...glen

courtesy of rich:

**jemaholic** · #14 01-17-2009, 12:31 PM

Thanks for the clarification. Boy, I remember in the early 90's when all those swirls came out - like Jim says it was mind-blowing and a very exciting time for guitarists. Shrapnel Records was torquing up and great players were emerging like McAlpine, Becker, Friedman, Gilbert....
and those swirls were just jaw-dropping. Still are the BEST in my book:^)

~j

DJR · #15 01-17-2009, 01:13 PM

I remember talking to a work colleague when I was working for the FCN/Ibz UK distributer's retail outlet back int he early 90's, about how cool it would be if they did a finish that combined the 3 classic Jem colours, LNG/DY/SK, we were discussing design ideas, stripes, dots, patterns, etc etc.... despite at that time knowing a guy with a Fender Bowling Ball Strat, the swirl effect never entered my mind! I was truelly blown away when i saw the first promo's for the UVMC's coming through.... although I was soooooo dissapoointed about the monkey grip!!! I would've happily sacrificed a bit of bottom end for it! lol Thrilling times indeed, and 1987/1993 will always be the golden era for me.