Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Northern California
Posts: 2,518
Re: Curious
I think on one level we represent the nitpicky-est Ibanez users. We have incredibly specific needs like Edge over EZII, certain DiMarzio models over others, and even certain finishes.
Ibanez makes what sells and while there may be trem users that can only picture the Edge, many a player would be thrilled with EZII. The alternative is Floyd Rose Special which is not in same league. While we may want DiMarzios, an Ibby branded pickup could do the job. And as for colors, face it, in rock and roll you always get great mileage out of black or white.
If you have other guitars like a Les Paul or an American Standard Stratocaster, certain Wizard necks not quite as thin as the thinnest of all Wizards are still thinner than most other brands.
We have come to expect a certain excellence but fail to realize just how much better our second (Iron Label, Artstar, Premium) and third tier guitars (RG Standards, Artcores, GIOs) are better than the other companies at the same price point. Like any big company, it lives and dies on some third tier and many second tier guitars and for some the first tier is a non-factor in terms of survival. Who here thinks top of the line Deans or BC Rich guitars made in America are honestly a big percentage of that company's bottom line? How much does J Custom offer to the overall picture for us?