Complain to Steve about the JEM/UV LINEUP here (no long winded rants elsewhere)

Re: Complain to Steve about the JEM/UV here (no long winded rants elsewhere)

My rule...

Don't like it?

Don't buy it.

It's that simple...

Countless companies have been made and broken by products they have launched all due to the foresight or lack thereof on their part.

However, I doubt this will ever happen. Regardless of how it looks, sounds, plays, people are going to pounce on this. Same thing goes for the 20K blackie or the "new" frakenstrat FMIC is going to release.

I admit, looking at the pictures I cannot but feel dissapointment. However I won't be quick to make a judgement since this guitar has not been physically unveiled at NAMM...I suggest those who have passed such judgements pause to think about it before they post any negativities.

Re: Complain to Steve about the JEM/UV here (no long winded rants elsewhere)

Reality check start...

I think too many people give Ibanez too much influence here. Vai can do what he wishes with the Jem line. Ibanez isn't going to boss him around when it comes to the Jems, if they did, he would just bail on them and go to someone else. Ibanez may give him some insight as to what is possible and not possible, but anyone who thinks Ibanez controls the Jem line is not thinking straight. Ibanez controls the pricing, and they are going after the collector's market, just like EVERY other guitar manufacturer. I think we had this same debate about pricing when the JS2s were introduced. Everyone thought that the price was way too high. But Ibanez was right in limiting the guitar and the price point. Example: try to find one now and get it for what you could have gotten one from a dealer for.

The long and short of it is if you don't like the guitar, don't buy it. I don't like certain guitars, and I don't complain about them, nor do I buy them. If anyone here actually thinks for one minute that Ibanez or Vai "care" what we want or what our opinion is about the Jem20th (or any other guitar for that matter), you need to get a serious reality check. And please refrain from the "but they rereleased the 550's because we wanted them" responses: it is a marketing ploy and a chance to tap into the used 550 market, where Ibanez doesn't make any money.

Reality check complete...

Josh

Re: Complain to Steve about the JEM/UV here (no long winded rants elsewhere)

OK. Having had time to think about this, I came to the conclusion that I probably made some rash statements I shouldn't have. I can't afford this guitar, and actually I don't like the look of it, so I shouldn't be so concerned about it. For those of you who buy it, I hope it brings you many years of enjoyment. However, my point was, and always has been, that I think Ibanez are making some bad moves and appear to be ignoring the requests of a large portion of it's user base. BUT... I won't get back into this right here, I understand that this thread is about the JEM 20th and how we feel about it. Thanks, Glen, for starting this thread.

If Steve Vai ever reads this, and somehow I doubt he will but I'll voice my feeling anyway, I'd just like him to know that it's sad how things have turned out. The JEM has gone from being the most interesting, eye-catching guitar on the planet to being the exact opposite. Sure, things change, fashions change, etc., etc., but certain things that make up a classic formula should not be messed with. It's happened to the JEM and also the RG. These have become quite bland, to say the least. Can the JEM range ever be as good as it was in 1994? I just don't see this happening, but I feel it should be even better by now. I'd just like to say it would be great if we could get Ibanez back on track and re-light the fire. I'd also like to echo what jb4674 said regarding Steve wanting to make these guitars affordable to the musician. It isn't really very affordable. Prices may not seem to be so bad in the USA, I think you guys have got it good and should appreciate that, but beyond the USA the prices are crazy. The best example I can think of right now is the RG 20th; in the USA it's $899. That's a good price. In the UK, the same guitar is £849 which is the equivalent of almost $1700. So basically, the RG550, which was originally created to be an affordable, stripped-down version of the JEM is quite out of reach for many of us. Apart from that, it will be very difficult for many of us to even get hold of one. I always wanted a JEM. After 20 years I still can't afford one, but I am trying my hardest to come up with the money for an RG 20th.

Please -- let's get Ibanez back onto the right track and inject some life back into the range. Let's also not forget about how you set out to make great instruments available to the musician at affordable prices. That's pretty much it. Good day.

Re: Complain to Steve about the JEM/UV here (no long winded rants elsewhere)

jemsite said:

start a new thread then and title it...

I DON'T KNOW REALLY WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT... JOIN IN!

....glen

Click to expand...

8O Whoa!!! :lol:

Lol....Glen:razz: Start this thread telling people to voice their opinions and complaints HERE to avoid filling other threads with whiney rants.

And then when they do, you tell them to start a different thread :lol:

:mrgreen:

BTW - my only complaint is that I can't afford a 20th:|

So.....PRICING!!! Average everyday musicians are supposed to be able to afford Jems......right?? I'm not sure about the VBK, it may grow on me and at least it's METAL!! But they could've done better. Something other than BLACK!

I've been kinda ignoring these JEM 20th threads until I could actually see some pic's. Well it looks OK, even kinda unique incorporating several suggestions from this site I think. (acrylic, swirl, LNG and Pink bobbins and swirl for those who wanted the old colors back) Heck, I guess there's still speculation it has fancy LED's in it somewhere too!!!! Damn, what more could you as a loyal consumer expect???

So since Steve Vai had final say over what it was going to be...... just what part of public input from his fans did he listen to????? Seems "flash" and creating a guitar valued in "snob" appeal were his main interests! (other than a money grab and revealing a possible mid life crisis?) It looks like Steve and Ibanez will "hit a home run" there.

What truly is disappointing are the numbers attached to this guitar. Especially the price. And for what???? A flashy piece of acrylic? Where's the exotic woods that would help to justify this kind of cash outlay while possibly improving tone? Even a sustainer..... hell anything to enhance tone and beauty! Not even a ebony fret board! But lets all hope it's at least got real mother of pearl and abalone inlays!!!???

Oh I'm sure it will come with a signed certificate of authenticity, maybe even a drop or two of Steve's sweat on a few of those. (something he might work up while signing those 500 certificates) Maybe even a "collectible" pick or two also. (don't count on two though) God the things this man does for his limited fan base!

Heck for the price you'd think they (Steve and Ibanez) would at least throw in some of those premium package concert tickets....... you know, the ones where everyone pays homage to Steve and stands the chance to get another autograph, maybe a pic or two of you standing next to him like you're long lost high school buds. Or maybe brush up against him in hopes some of that coveted DNA will rub off!!! But don't count on that..... you really can't expect that for $5000.00 dollars can you?

Now I could be wrong about that price.... someone posted they pre-bought two at 4999.99 plus tax. (hummmmm, $10,000.00 for two guitars sounds like a wise investment to me.... NOT!)

So to sum it up, I felt compelled to place the JEM20th in the thread of "Which are the most overpriced guitars?"

http://www.jemsite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=594863#post594863

But remember now, I did that last night..... we now have a dedicated thread to express our pleasure or disappointment regarding this much anticipated masterpiece of craftsmanship and materials! (besides, if you post anywhere else you'll be risking the wrath of Glen) :lol:

So I say we all start running out to our local music store like good little Lemmings and pray luck and your credit card balance/limit is in your favor otherwise...... it's a long drop off the cliff of disappointment!

Well, having had some time to further think about my rant about this guitar, I guess my biggest complain is the price, that's all.

The guitar is what it is and was designed by Steve (I'm assuming) as a commemorative model based on his own personal perspective as to what the Jem was, is and will be. The Jem was always thought of as a guitar ahead of its time and from a different place altogether. It makes sense that this new iteration looks and bears such significant traits that further attest to the previous sentence.

I don't think the guitar is ugly entirely, there are some aspects that attract me to it. At the same rate, there are some features I wish Ibanez would've incorporated. I wish the same abalone used on the vine leaves was added to the edges of the headstock to dress it up a little bit more and maybe a truss rod plate that said "20th" or something.

Glen, I hope this post is more acceptable according to Jemsite's guidelines.

Jimmy:smile: