Wizard II vs JEM Neck

[SilverEra]

Both are the same thickness etc, the only difference is that the jem neck is prestige and the wizard II neck isn't. So the common sense conclusion would be that the JEM neck is better.

But is there actually any reasonable difference between them in terms on action, playability, etc?

[Homebake]

um...the jem neck is 430mm radius and the wizard II is 400 radius?

[SilverEra]

Originally Posted by Homebake

um...the jem neck is 430mm radius and the wizard II is 400 radius?

Yes.

However, the thickness of the 1st and 12th fret are identical for both.

Thickness at 1st 19mm
Thickness at 12th 21mm

As such, many people say that the wizard II is just a sub-par version of the JEM neck, others say there is no difference.

[Homebake]

well, i haven't had much time to really play a wiz II to gauge if that 30mm makes a difference. but the wiz 2 necks i have played have had slightly worse fret ends and feel kinda...rough? i dunno.

main difference would be finishing details etc.

[Hub]

They have different shapes to the back of the neck aswell, the jem neck is more round, the wiz II often has a flatter back on the neck making it thicker overall compared to the jem, but the thickness in the middle of the necks are the same... Hopefully that is understandable! They do not feel the same to play, the actual thickness has very little to do with playability. The shape of the back and the radius is much more important.

Wiz II necks tend to vary alot, some are great, some feels like a 2x4

[SilverEra]

Originally Posted by Hub

Wiz II necks tend to vary alot, some are great, some feels like a 2x4

I heared somewhere that Korean necks have better QC etc than Indonesian necks. Maybe that's a factor?

[mike570]

The main reason I like the RG3XX series is the neck. It's very close to a Jem neck. W2 feels more squared off on the sides, I think, due to the flatter radius. Neck binding make the squared-off feeling more noticeable. Otherwise I think both feel very close.

[IbanezDaemon]

The Jem necks (excl 555) will be of a higher quality obviously that a Korean or Indo neck. Some Jem necks have slightly different dimensions to them and the dimensions on the necks of the Jem7PBK, Jem777VDY and the Jem777VSK are the same as the Wizard neck dimensions.

[mike570]

Original Jem necks were thicker than Wizard 1's. I used to own a 777VBK and the neck felt much like a Wizard II.

Original Jem
http://www.ibanez.co.jp/anniversary/...t_id=137&now=1
RG350
http://www.ibanez.com/ElectricGuitars/model-RG350EX

Granted, yes, a Jem neck is going to be of better construction.

[faekildare]

I had the chance to acquire a korean wizard II And a MIJ Wizard II. Measuring with a pair of calipers tell me that Korean Wizard II are actually as thick as a Gio neck, about 20.5 first fret and 22.5 on the 12th. The MIJ one on the other hand is exactly as the Ibanez catalog mentioned.
What I would be interested to know is how the MIJ wizard II compare to a Jem Neck?