I've been kinda ignoring these JEM 20th threads until I could actually see some pic's. Well it looks OK, even kinda unique incorporating several suggestions from this site I think. (acrylic, swirl, LNG and Pink bobbins and swirl for those who wanted the old colors back) Heck, I guess there's still speculation it has fancy LED's in it somewhere too!!!! Damn, what more could you as a loyal consumer expect???

So since Steve Vai had final say over what it was going to be...... just what part of public input from his fans did he listen to????? Seems "flash" and creating a guitar valued in "snob" appeal were his main interests! (other than a money grab and revealing a possible mid life crisis?) It looks like Steve and Ibanez will "hit a home run" there.

What truly is disappointing are the numbers attached to this guitar. Especially the price. And for what???? A flashy piece of acrylic? Where's the exotic woods that would help to justify this kind of cash outlay while possibly improving tone? Even a sustainer..... hell anything to enhance tone and beauty! Not even a ebony fret board! But lets all hope it's at least got real mother of pearl and abalone inlays!!!???

Oh I'm sure it will come with a signed certificate of authenticity, maybe even a drop or two of Steve's sweat on a few of those. (something he might work up while signing those 500 certificates) Maybe even a "collectible" pick or two also. (don't count on two though) God the things this man does for his limited fan base!

Heck for the price you'd think they (Steve and Ibanez) would at least throw in some of those premium package concert tickets....... you know, the ones where everyone pays homage to Steve and stands the chance to get another autograph, maybe a pic or two of you standing next to him like you're long lost high school buds. Or maybe brush up against him in hopes some of that coveted DNA will rub off!!! But don't count on that..... you really can't expect that for $5000.00 dollars can you?

Now I could be wrong about that price.... someone posted they pre-bought two at 4999.99 plus tax. (hummmmm, $10,000.00 for two guitars sounds like a wise investment to me.... NOT!)

So to sum it up, I felt compelled to place the JEM20th in the thread of "Which are the most overpriced guitars?"

http://www.jemsite.com/forums/showth...863#post594863

But remember now, I did that last night..... we now have a dedicated thread to express our pleasure or disappointment regarding this much anticipated masterpiece of craftsmanship and materials! (besides, if you post anywhere else you'll be risking the wrath of Glen)

So I say we all start running out to our local music store like good little Lemmings and pray luck and your credit card balance/limit is in your favor otherwise...... it's a long drop off the cliff of disappointment!

So they can sell a Reissue batch of 500 at $10.000US in 2012

Regards,

JP

You're missing the point here. It's not a thread to request a wider variety of models or a thread about the FP, it's about our dissatisfaction with the JEM 20th.

EDIT: This post was written before Glen changed the topic title.

Bring back a lefty model, even for a short, limited event. They wont sell like hotcakes as a production model, but a limited edition would sell out easily. A limited edition jem comes out every other year (Or so it seems) so next time, make a small batch of lefties.

Well, having had some time to further think about my rant about this guitar, I guess my biggest complain is the price, that's all.

The guitar is what it is and was designed by Steve (I'm assuming) as a commemorative model based on his own personal perspective as to what the Jem was, is and will be. The Jem was always thought of as a guitar ahead of its time and from a different place altogether. It makes sense that this new iteration looks and bears such significant traits that further attest to the previous sentence.

I don't think the guitar is ugly entirely, there are some aspects that attract me to it. At the same rate, there are some features I wish Ibanez would've incorporated. I wish the same abalone used on the vine leaves was added to the edges of the headstock to dress it up a little bit more and maybe a truss rod plate that said "20th" or something.

Glen, I hope this post is more acceptable according to Jemsite's guidelines.

Jimmy

I don't understand all the fuzz, if you don't like it, don't buy it. Period.

Ibanez made some great guitars in the 80s. I love the old stuff, simply not impressed by most of the new stuff.

And the 20th Jem.....well......maybe your average 3 year old likes it. With the lights and all........

no... the jem20 whining made this happen but this will be a continuous thread about the entire JEM line. i edited the thread title after reading a few early replies (that just took the jem20 thread here)... glen

Well now I'm confused...... do I delete my post here on the JEM 20th and move my "long winded rant" there???

No, it's not. Just look at this quote from Glen.

Myst

leave the rant here (as it really serves no purpose in a JEM20 thread where people want to have legitimate conversation about the guitar).... glen

I still think a purple JEM with gold hardware would be pretty cool. With pyramids in the neck... Wow.

Myst

Bah! The thread title changed!

You are kidding, right? That sounds hideous. But anyway.

For the first time in a long while they are making a color of jem that I would consider buying (black) I don't like white guitars... there are no red jems. no sunbursty wood tones that don't have a messed up mokey grip that looks like it was cut with by the new guy at the factory... and I'm sick of guitars that match the couches my mother owns. for ten years I have been an avid fan of the product line but have always held back waiting for all the right specs... as close as they have ever gotten I think may be this new black jem. but now they are far past the lo pros which is the only trem steve actually uses (I figure since the guy doesn't have to settle for crap he is probably playing the better trem) and I'm sure it will be basswood like every other jem I ever thought looked good enough to own. keeping in mind my opinions are my own and that black seems to be a despized color here on the threads... look, I realize steve is a flamboyant character. but there is a market of vai fans who are looking for a quality guitar that isn't pink or flowery or in the shape of a flame or made of platinum and engraved with alien hieroglyphics and I keep feeling like the longer I sit staring at the jem line the more I'm missing in the prestige line that doesn't make me look like the newb onstage who doesn't know how to spend two thousand dollars and make it count. My business has shifted. the best looking jems I have ever seen were handmade by the sponsors of this page and drawn in photoshop by the members of this page. and still I hold out hope. but for now, what I see... it is just too much darn money.

While I don't play or own a Jem, my biggest gripe would easily be price as well. I've played several Jems throughout the years and they feel and sound great, but the tag is way too high for those of us who are still in the basement.

I'd like to think the 555 was the correct thought process to resolving this, but a poor implementation IMHO. I think the re-introduction of the 555 line is a good idea, so long as the faults of the original are improved upon. Then, those who can afford a 7V can buy themselves a 7V, and those who can't afford a 7V can still purchase a quality guitar in the image of a virtuoso.

Some great posts here.

My biggest annoyance with the whole thing is that WE AREN'T GETTING THE SAME GUITAR THAT STEVE PLAYS. Simple as. How can you have a signature model, have the balls to charge premium prices, and then not have all the mod-cons? Where are the sustainers? LEDs? Lo-Pro or Edge trems?

Great guitars in the grand scheme of things though, although this years introduction as left me a bit cold. I'm going on holiday next month the the money I'd saved for a new Jem, how many other people are doing a similar thing?