I’m going to be as detailed as I can about this (1989?) JEM777VBK. I recently traded for it and have decided it's just not for me.
Overall I would say the guitar is in “very good” condition, particularly for its age. The modifications make things tricky, though.
Serial number is 892730. The plate is smooth, but has tarnish and is mostly blackened on the bottom and right sides of the plate.
(
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...c/100_0143.jpg)
Looking straight on, the guitar is in nice condition.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...c/100_0121.jpg
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...c/100_0122.jpg
There are two chips near the monkey grip, each about two centimeters in length.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...c/100_0152.jpg
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...c/100_0155.jpg
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...c/100_0154.jpg
The chip furthest from the monkey grip extends a minor crack and ding on the other side of it.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...c/100_0175.jpg
There are a few very minor dings and scratches on the front of the body. About four tiny dings that are almost unnoticeable. There are two or three smaller cracks, again almost unnoticeable, but also on the front of the body near the arm rest, then one slightly longer crack right on the edge of the armrest.
The back is quite clean as well.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...c/100_0123.jpg
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...c/100_0125.jpg
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...c/100_0126.jpg
There is one ding above the back plate and a few scratches, the largest is about two inches long near the ding.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...c/100_0145.jpg
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...c/100_0149.jpg
There is a smudge, but not quite a ding near the lower horn.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...c/100_0147.jpg
The electronic plate has been replaced by a “fancy” one.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...c/100_0150.jpg
There is one very small, probably buff-able mark on the upper and lower horn.
The upper portion of the neck joint has the usual crack.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...c/100_0164.jpg
But the lower portion does NOT have a crack.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...c/100_0163.jpg
I believe the strap buttons have been replaced judging by sight.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...c/100_0167.jpg
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...c/100_0166.jpg
The neck feels very smooth. It has darkened some.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...c/100_0139.jpg
There is one indentation behind the first fret.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...c/100_0142.jpg
There is NOT a crack behind the nut and the back of the headstock looks great.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...c/100_0137.jpg
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...c/100_0135.jpg
The tuners are losing some of their color.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...c/100_0138.jpg
The original truss rod cover is missing, but this “fancy” one is included in the case.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...c/100_0134.jpg
The fretboard has stayed in pretty clean shape. There is some fret wear. The worst pictured here is on the third fret under the B string.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...c/100_0165.jpg
The bridge is in pretty good condition.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...c/100_0168.jpg
There is some blistering on the side opposite of where the bar screws in, but oddly no blistering on the side with the bar.
The pickups are confusing.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...c/100_0160.jpg
The bridge pickup has been replaced by a
Dimarzio Evolution.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...c/100_0161.jpg
However, the original pickup is included.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...c/100_0132.jpg
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...c/100_0129.jpg
As for the middle and neck pickups, I can’t say for sure what they are. I was told by the person I got the guitar from that the middle is a stock JEM pickup from that era, though as you can see it is pink with one of those green stickers on top. He also told me the neck pickup is a
Dimarzio PAF Pro, and it looks like that. This one is black but also has a sticker over it.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...c/100_0159.jpg
The original pickguard has been replaced by one of these “fancy” ones.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...c/100_0151.jpg
There is one tiny crack and smudge near the top.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...c/100_0158.jpg
However, once again, what I think is the original pickguard is included.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...c/100_0128.jpg
The volume knobs are aftermarket to match up with the orange in the vine.
There is a new backplate (the plastic is still on it) included, which I think must not be the original.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...c/100_0134.jpg
The original Ibanez case is pretty beat up, though still certainly protects the guitar.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...c/100_0177.jpg
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...c/100_0179.jpg
The interior has darkend.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...c/100_0127.jpg
The outside looks like stickers were put on and then taken off and there are marks from drawing. The middle latch is missing.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...c/100_0178.jpg
I have tried to be as thorough as possible and I think I have covered everything. Please let me know if there is any more information you would like to know or if there are any more pictures you would like to see.
Price is hard for me to decide, because there are modifications to this JEM, so if you’re a collector, I suspect this might not be the guitar for you. However, it’s still a JEM and is still a great guitar, it’s just not all original. I way overpriced in an earlier possible sale and realized I’m pretty clueless about prices of these guitars, so I learned the hard way that modifications can devalue for collectors. Apologies to that person if he is reading this.
Nevertheless, this is a very early 777VBK from what I can tell, which must be nice for some. And it has an Dimarzio Evolution included, not to mention that with some of the modifications, original pieces are included.
I’m asking $1200 shipped. Having said that, I’m a reasonable guy. I’ve tried to be fair with my pricing, but the price is not set in stone, so I’m more than happy to talk about the price.
I’m mostly looking just to sell, with the only exception being if you have a PGM300 with white and black finish, Edge tremolo, and maple fretboard. If so, I would work out a trade for that.
