[halvey]

I saw this one on ebay, and he says the frets were not fully scalloped from the factory. It seems the 21-23 frets were started, and the 24 wasn't touched. Can this be right?

Ibanez Jem 777LNG #132/777 prestige RG 550 770 570 560 MIJ | eBay

Ibanez Jem 777LNG #132/777 MIJ. This Jem is from the first Jem production run of 777 of the Loch Ness Green Jems, all were signed and numbered by Steve Vai. The signature faded into the paint, below the clear coat.

www.ebay.com

From the listing:
"I had this guitar refretted with jumbo SS (Stainless Steel) frets. The last 4 frets were not fully scalloped from the factory. Neck and fretboard were refinished at the time of the refret."

 

[Viper Pilot]

Gonna need to see the stamps on the neck heel and the neck pocket for that one, as well as a more clear picture of the neck plate. Things don't look quite right.

Additionally, 132 is in the registry, and shows a very poorly retraced signature. This not the same guitar

 

[D1m3b4g2]

Yeah something isn't right. I just shot the seller a message asking how he knows it's #132 given there are no markings to indicate it on the body. I didn't let on we have a pic of #132 on the registry.

I'll report back if I learn anything...

 

[jim777]

I wouldn't trust it, but the color at least seems correct. The "last 4 weren't scalloped" makes ZERO sense given the limited numbers and this being their flagship guitar at the time.

 

[CosmicDebris]

I wouldn't trust it, but the color at least seems correct. The "last 4 weren't scalloped" makes ZERO sense given the limited numbers and this being their flagship guitar at the time.

The side dots are black. As I have never held a old gem like that with those inlays I don't know if the side dots would be black as they are on that neck. Almost like it was a 550neck with black dots and someone put those inlays in it, my thoughts. Yours?

 

[3bolt79]

Yeah I wouldn’t buy it. Being that these models are some of the highest, most copied guitars, I wouldn’t trust the seller. And that story….

 

[D1m3b4g2]

So... the seller said in reply the sig is really faint and has faded. If you zoom into one of the pictures that is actually true. And it does look like 132. It's faint but it's there. That said - it doesn't match the sig and pattern seen on the Jem registry.

So we have a situation where either the guy has the number slightly wrong, or the picture on the jem registry is actually a fake sig / has the wrong number.

Curiously of my 2 LNGs 164 does not have a # next to the number but 353 does. They also do have black side dots.

I'll ask if the seller can take a better picture of the sig.

 

[3bolt79]

Thanks for the update. Maybe he can take a pic of the controls, and take the neck off and give pics of the neck and pocket

 

[Viper Pilot]

Agreed. Pics of the neck heel and neck pocket are going to tell the story with this one.

 

[CosmicDebris]

I could have been a Friday at quitting time neck?

 

[D1m3b4g2]

Seller wrote something back about not being able to provide a better pic and mentioned something unrelated about Vai putting symbols in the sigs.

Basically they're not interested in the fact another guitar out there has the same number but it does appear it's at least a legit LNG for now.

 

[WMerkert]

Hands off !
Cheers !

 

[D1m3b4g2]

I still wouldn't bid on that until the stamps from the neck are shown. The body seems legit with the faded sig but the neck scalloping thing is weird.

 

[JsXLine6]

I am glad I am not a Jem guy... Reading all these threads about real or fake... That's frustrating garbage to sift through all the time. I'd constantly be second guessing everything I was browsing.

 

[3bolt79]

My Jem is my favorite Ibanez guitar. Bought it new from the dealer, so no worries about fakery. I just don’t know if I will try a Jem Junior SP again. I just sold my yellow one, but I really love the look of the pink one.

 

[WMerkert]

I am glad I am not a Jem guy... Reading all these threads about real or fake... That's frustrating garbage to sift through all the time. I'd constantly be second guessing everything I was browsing.

Well, it's not that bad. If you buy your instrument from a reputable music dealer, you don't have to worry about fakes.
Cheers !

 

[diablomozart]

that's not even a scallop, more like a suggestion lol...seriously that is extremely odd looking...d.m.

 

[D1m3b4g2]

It looks to me like whoever did the refret job sanded the entire board back a hell of a lot during the process. I think this is what killed fret 24. You can see on frets 21-23 there is a flat area before it dips into the scallop. It would also explain why the black fret markers are so close to the top of the board.

Should imagine this guitar is actually fully legit, just had a lot of work done.

 

[halvey]

Went for $3300

 

[3bolt79]

Went for $3300

Was it genuine or not legit?