Or the silkscreen, or the mask as Darren aluded to above.

BUT...I'm not stating definitively that the ARTs WERE done by hand. The bleeding COULD be a result of the masking, etc. It COULD be a result of whatever magical silk-screening method that you theorize was used. It COULD be a result of half a dozen different things. But I'm not even going to hazard a guess as to which is true, because I don't have PROOF.

I don't have video or any other form of documentation stating that the ARTs were stained by hand. You haven't shown any proof stating otherwise. As it stands, there are two THEORIES as to how they were done. You can attempt to justify your theory, but unless you can actually PROVE it, then it's just a theory.


And I don't need to ask Mike- I had the guitar for a couple of years and spent quite a bit of time examining the finish. In fact, that's why I sold it. I spent more time looking at it than I did playing it!

Then you know how bad the glitter fill was, just as it in on the 3040's. Still IMO the only "hands" that were invloved in a JC from the era

[beside the requisit finish sanding and fret end radiusing, either of which could be incredible, or mediocre]

The factory has been contacted for a definative

In all fairness, "IMO" applies to this entire thread up to this point (on BOTH sides)

It'll be interesting to see what the "factory" has to say on the matter. Especially since Ibanez has been SOOOO helpful in providing other in-depth details and info on the J-Customs LOL

"Well...the RG-ARTs and JPM90HAMs WERE touched by hands, but we can't tell you by how many hands, whose hands they were, or in what manner or for what purpose the touching was done."

Thye probably won't even answer

Well...either way, I suppose that the original question has more or less been answered: No transparent fabric with a printed design was laid under the clear.

You consider 48 to be SMALL?

Yes, I've seen plenty on 97' JC's. The chipping on the Gears, bad. Neck pockets way too big. The afformentioned fill on the Arch's. It's all "hype" meant to sell guitars. The 90th series was also hyped the same way if you remember. To show the home market the quality that could be produced. Nah, I "never" see any flaws on those! [the bindings on the PG's around the inner curve of the horns, the pockets on many of the JP's. The guards and pockets on the Jem's. No complaints on the JS's]

I actually inspected my GEAR this morning before packing it up. I've seen the chipping on Shawn's, but his is a "player" anyways. I got mine NOS, and it is crisp and new. NO chipping. The only "flaws" that I could even find were miniscule gaps between parts of the walnut gear inlays and the mahogany top. Still, considering that at the time there wasn't another guitar that could really compare, it's hard to call that a "flaw". It could just be a factor of the technique used.

Compared to a JEM10th, a JS10th, a DNA, or a PRS Artist (or even most of the Dragons), then yes. 48 units IS a small production run. Even the 90HAMs were mass-produced in comparison.

Not compared to a Gear, and the chipping I'm talking about was at the edges of the design in the top itself, not edge chipping. There has been plenty on all 3 Gears I've inspected

A pity you didn't get a chance to inspect my GEAR then

Wait...is this by your "micro-inspection"? I'm sure that with a microscope of comparable magnification device, it would be possible to see chipping on even the finest of finishes. LOL

I'm sure yours was perfect

Nah...no guitar that has any ammount of HAND FINISHING is perfect. That would mean that a perfect being would have had to have done the hand finishing, and no such being exists. The little imperfections are what makes them special.

Darren, step forward and claim the boobie prize!!

Each one is masked with friskit and cut by hand with the aid of a master stencil, then the colors are applied with a lacquer gun. One color at a time.

[no mention on how the burn/impressed outlines were achieved, or that they exist]

[prize to be determined by the size of the boobie available]

all this debate over perhaps the ugliest J-C created yet ...glen

LOL Yet another opinion thrown into the ring! I'm sorry Glen, but that's an off-topic comment. You're grounded!