Welcome to the forum Jay & thanks for the clarification. Drop me an email if you get a chance please

While not an absolute clarification, it does explain some parameters facing Hoshino of Japan's workers.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jay13
was to move some of the skill over to the standard production line, to train the newer employees how to do more detailed work on a guitar that was more affordable. SNIP.
The J-Custom guitars are designed to be sold only in the Japanese Market, however we do on occasion see some of these guitars come into the US.
History has shown us that if Ibanez believes there is a sales market for a guitar... it will find it's way to be produced and sold in America. With that in mind, can you comment if the initial J-C trial run in America had indeed altered the way the J-Cs were to be sold/marketed in non-Japan regions (ie. the USA)?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jay13
The Prestige models are not hand made like the J-Customs, but we tightened up all of the tolerances to equal that of the J-Customs. These are areas such as the depth of the neck and the pickup routing. The neck and frets are also hand finished (6-extra steps) and the set-up standards are much higher than that of a regular production model.
Can you please define "hand made"
I don't want to debate "hand made" but are these J-C guitars and necks not computer routed? Maybe hand-assembled is more accurate?
Off-topic a little, but I would please ask everyone not weigh too-heavily "ornamentation" when discussing quality and "hand-made". For example, we all know that abalone inlays, fancy bindings and multicolor paint does not ALONE make for a top quality guitar

I can vine inlay in 24-k gold and/or swirl a Hondo guitar... buy when you plug in and play it's still a Hondo. A rude comparison for sure, but just making a point clear... glen