Need help on a guitar purchase

n.spade · #1 11-10-2009, 09:08 PM

Hi everyone,

Im a intermediate guitar player that plays very often. Im 16 so 'studies come first' and all but I am just so passionate about guitar. Ive been playing for over two years now. Ive owned a very bad guitar, very bad, for this whole time, and ive been saving up to buy a nice guitar. I love PRS guitars, but my favourites are the Ibanez guitars, Jem, Herman Li's, Paul Gilbert's. My budjet is about 1000$ but I want to get a guitar at 800$ or less so that I can get some more pedals. I play jazz, blues, rock, hard rock, metal ( a lot of Led Zep, Steve Vai, Rolling Stones, Queen, Static X ) and so I need a pretty versatile guitar.
I considered the Jem7v but its way out of my budjet and even used ( i had seen a couple running on ****/ craigslist ) for 1400-1600$ i cant/couldnt afford it. So I considered buying the Jem 555, I haven't tried it yet and I am hoping I can find it used for around 600-900$ ( i have already seen sold on **** a jem555 at 680$ and the buyer left a comment saying that it was real etc..) The thing is everyone is saying that it sucks. I mean it has edge pro 2 or 3 and evo pickups and im pretty sure the neck dimensions are almost identical to the 7v. And i have read many go reviews about this guitar, and the only bad ones were talking customer service, or how ugly it is compared to the 'real' Jems, or that it wasnt setup correctly when they bought it...

anyway what I would like to know is if the Jem 555 is not the way to go, then what do i do? What guitar is very versatile and plays well ( has to have a trem, not necesarily floating and humbuckers, preferably H/S/H) and especially, is the Jem 555 that bad?

Thanks in advanst,
Nick,

nato101010 · #2 11-10-2009, 10:18 PM

I'd go for a used BSB or DBK.

I've been watching them myself on the 'bay, and they seem to go for around $800.

n.spade · #3 11-10-2009, 10:26 PM

Ive been looking at them too, but I dont really like the black look, I dont like black guitars in general atcually. I would prefer a bright pink/yellow over an all black guitar. I have an issue with very black guitars haha

**jim777** · #4 11-10-2009, 11:20 PM

Check out the whole RG series, there are lots of fine instruments for under a grand, and if you buy used you save big. You don't need to get a Jem, and an RG will be a better buy than a 555.

piranha · #5 11-11-2009, 01:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jim777

Check out the whole RG series, there are lots of fine instruments for under a grand, and if you buy used you save big. You don't need to get a Jem, and an RG will be a better buy than a 555.

YUP.

dimarzio562 · #6 11-11-2009, 02:51 AM

I vote against the 555 and I agree with the above comments. Ibanez RG would be an excellent choice. You might even pick one up new, I see ibanezrules has a few in that price range: http://ibanezrules.com/new/index.htm#RG.

Or go the used route. With 800 you should easily be able to find a MIJ RG, put new Dimarzios in it, then have a tech do a pro setup. You'd have a really nice guitar.

n.spade · #7 11-11-2009, 06:39 AM

Thanks guys. Im looking at the RG prestiges and Ive found some nice guitars. The thing is, isnt that a little more hard rock/metal. Would I be able to play jazz and blues on it? And also i dont want to change the pickups. Unless Its REALLY necesary Id rather not.

n.spade · #8 11-11-2009, 06:43 AM

I dont need a Jem but i just love there look and franctly there my favourite guitars. Ive often played a Jem 7vwh at a friends house through a Carvin Legacy amp so my expectations are pretty high

How about the Jem 7PBK?