Hmmm.. I wonder what ba$tard bought that 1880 on e-bay...
See previous discussion here:
http://jemsiteforum.com/board/topic.cgi?forum=2&topic=14
I also have a 3120 that I love almost as dearly, so I can make a few comparisons:
* The 3120 has a Tone Zone & a PAF Pro with a special 5 way switch, while the 1880 has a Tone Zone, Blue Velvet, and an Air Norton with split 5 (Jem-like) wiring. Personally, I like the sound of the PAF Pro in a mahogany body more than an Air Norton (the PAF Pro sounds much more solid), but the Blue Velvet is really great by itself and combined with neck/bridge split coils.
* The 1880 has a 5 piece bound neck, while the 3120 has a simpler, thinner neck. Personally, I like the bigger neck, but it is absolute night & day compared to the 3120 neck--they don't feel remotely similar. The 1880's neck makes my strat's neck look like a toothpick.
* Of course there are the finish differences: The 1880 has a burst finish (the finish is also on the headstock--very cool), while the 3120 is a transparent stain. Both of them have killer tops.
* General attention to detail seems just as good on the 3120 as it does on the 1880.
Ishibashi music (
http://www.ishibashi.co.jp)--good luck finding your way around the website--stocks the 1880's, 1680's (unbound neck and different pickups), and lots of other sweet guitars, and they ship internationally.
If you do shell out of the 1880, you won't be disappointed (just don't be surprised by the neck!).
If you have more ?'s, let me know.
--Brent
(Edited by bduersch at 10:05 pm on Feb. 4, 2001)