I wasn't quite sure which area to post this in, so here it is. You know I'm all about some good DIY projects, whether it's painting, customizing, building, etc. One of the sites I visit frequently is byoguitar.com
They've got some decent parts and cool DIY guitar kits. Well, I just stopped by today, and there it was--a brand new kit added to their inventory--a Jem kit complete with monkey grip, lion's claw, and vine inlay. I'm sure the trem is crap, but the rest doesn't look too bad. For the DIY folks that are building their contest-losing Jems, this might be your starting point.
Here's the link to the kit:
http://www.byoguitar.com/Guitars/Ele...__BYO-JEM.aspx

A pic of the kit:

Unless this is an officially licensed product as Fender does for Warmoth, surely that's a trademark violation or something?!?!?

Rich once told me that it's infringement if it has the vine inlays AND an Ibanez logo--that's how those Galveston knock-offs don't get removed from eBay, as they have the monkey grip, lion's claw, vine inlays, but no Ibanez logo like the Chibanez junk. Still, I'm curious about the quality. Body is basswood and looks about right--the jack location can always be doweled and moved to the correct spot. Pickguard seems to line up about right. Pickups and hardware can always be swapped. But i just wonder about that neck...

Hopefully the trem cavity would accept an Edge.

If it only accepts Floyds, then there you go, no copyrights...

Wonder who built the bodies.

I would have to agree with AlaskaBat on this one. If the neck is crap, then none of it is worth the second hand scrap wood it's made of. From the looks of it the neck appears to be a softer wood.....jesus, what is that, pine, lol!?!

For $200.00, it's almost tempting to get one just to find out if it's playable and able to accept proper trem replacement.

We sold BYO strat kits (the $99 ones before they got upgrades) at my store and I wanted to buy one to do a field test but we kept selling them too fast and couldn't stock anymore. The neck radius and fretwork definitely felt like a $99 guitar. I would be very willing to say this is no different. A $50 3 piece neck, $50 tremolo, $50 sounding electronics and some basswood. Think an Gio with Floyd and vines and Squier bullet fretwork.

That's pretty much what i was thinking, too! It would cost pretty much to get that thing to a decent level. It would be better to buy an old 550 or 570 and cut your own grip and claw. It doesn't cost much to get a cnc vine or pyramid routed fretboard and inlay kit either--plus that's an easy job.

Hahaha, it's sold out!

i know that one i am presently moding/hot roding this kit.mine came prepainted white.my kit has a bit of a neck dif.maple with spanish scarf joint (a la 87-90's)its also flat for neck shape.frettting looks promissing.def lots of tweaking though.

im new here if i can figure out how to post picks i will... kit 1-jem 7v ish...lol! kit-2 jem 777 ish they actually look pretty good and not much investment.i actually own a small collection of old rg's 570,550 neon purple and such but this is for fun...

Hi Everyone, I own BYOGuitar.com and would be happy to answer any questions people have about our kits.

Would you be up for sending me a kit to review? I am a senior reviewer here, and I've got my own blog too. I'd be up for giving this an unbiased review for everyone here.

These look like unfinished Chinese parts to me......

You realize you are now advertising for the same companies that slap the Ibanez logo on the painted headstock?

No logo doesn't mean its not infringing. I'm pretty sure the headstock shape is also a no no to copy... So explain that ....