hi everybody.

i have been offered a guitar that is apparently a jem 7 pbk. However, it is plain wood, not black. All of the guitar seems to be in order, except for the paint job. Has anyone got any advice for how i can ensure it is a genuine jem, not a fake. what are reasonable precautions to take. Even the smallest detail that anyone might know may help me make a decision either way, like writing on machine heads or stamped on the internals of the tremolo system etc, details of the body or writing on pickups knobs etc. Is there a way that i can tell a genuine jem or ibanez body from a fake. BY the way, i am based in england. Perhaps the spec for the UK was different or the bodies were supplied as a wood finish

many thanks

The PBK was never offered in any finish other than gloss black. IF it was once a PBK, it's either been stripped, or it's a replacement body. You should be able to tell by removing the neck. I think there should be a stamp in the neck pocket or some sort-maybe a date. Either way, it's value is far less than an original PBK would be. $650-1000US seems to be going rate for decent used PBKs, and I'd imagine that a stripped one would be at least a couple of hundred dollars less.

Does it have the abalone/pearl pyramid inlays? If not, maybe it's a JEM7RB? A picture says a thousand words though...

Sounds like somebody made a copy of one of the Bad Horsey proto's, the one that has the pearl pyrimid neck. If you want to be sure have him pull the neck and shoot a pic of the neck pocket, it will clearly have factory model designation stamps in there.

This is the guitar I'm talking about. If it's well done it's a very atractive guitar, I don't see it being worth much less if any than a PBK.

Nice looking guitar, but it's collector's value would be shot. It'd be a great "player" though. Would an LNG with the finish stripped be worth as much as an all-original one?

Pyramids or dots?
Grip - Old or current style?

Yes, check the neck pocket ;-)

A stripped LNG would be apples, we're talking oranges

Ok...would a stripped FP be worth the same? There were a lot more FP's than there were PBK's, and used FP's seem to be in about the same price range. That seems a bit more like "oranges"

And by saying that there shouldn't be any difference in price, does that mean that YOU would sell a stripped PBK for the same price as you'd sell an all-original one in comparable shape?

Nah, you'd have to paint it white, put a pearl vine neck on it, and mark it Flo

LOL Not quite the same, but...I see your point. Still- non-original is non-original. If you would honestly sell a stock, all-original VWH for the same price as you'd sell one with no finish and a black pickguard (and the REAL Neville does NOT count!), then you've probably found a very naive buyer. Look at the various "stripped" Ibanez guitars that have gone on EBay- none of them have brought near what a comparable model would in stock, finished condition.

What we need are pictures of the "PBK" in question-that would help greatly.

(And don't forget the Sustainer if you're making a Flo copy!)

OK add the sustainer and it'll definately sell for what a regular FP would

I hear ya, I know what you're saying, but some people are funny. No doubt there's "somebody" out there that would pay more for a good copy of Steve's proto linked above than he would for a regular PBK, but you are right in that the masses would not

On a more fun note, I just alligned the terribly misalligned strings on an RGT :big****ing****asseatinggrin!!:

He could be talking about a 7RB and not a 7PBK.
7PBK=Gloss Black finish, White pearloid pyramid inlays, White pick-ups.
7RB=Stained Root Beer finish, dot inlays, pink pick-ups.
Both of which have the large grip.

Agreed...I think the countless Kramers and Strat copies out there with black and white (and yellow) tape all over them are testaments that there is a market for good copies of "star" guitars.

OK guys. Thanks for all the info so far. The body by the way is not like the attached photo in Rich's posting, very nice photo/ guitar though. The shape is 7PBK, so is the handle. It has the pyramid inlays and white pickups. I cant remember the colour of the plastic covers at the rear of the guitar, although I have a feeling they are white, but I am probably going back to see the guitar so I will check. Hopefully he will be willing to remove the neck. I presume it is just 4 screws or bolts? Also, will the factory markings under the neck actually say 7PBK or a code. I reckon I could repaint the body professionally which I assume would increase the value ( it would be a top class job) ?. Also, if i can get to the guitar again, if I can I will get some photos, so maybe that will help.

Thanks for all the info so far. It has at least given me encouragement to check the guitar out again. I will probably check this in a few days as I am going away for a bit but I will be back Saturday or Sunday and let you all know how its going. Thanks

SB

Sounds like a stripped PBK.

The code in the neck pocket should read 7P, correct, Rich?