JEM555WH why not ???

9506 Views 28 Replies 13 Participants Last post by extremist777, Oct 13, 2005

extremist777

Discussion Starter · Oct 6, 2005 (Edited)

http://www.ibanez.co.jp/world/products/eg/page/JEM555_WH_a_e.html

JEM555 are still in production but not shown at ibanez website, you can order them in europe, asia, Mexico and Southamerica. I'm thinking on getting one, the price here in Mexico is abot $999 usd,

Now let's review price and quality, of course you can get a better axe for that price a prestige or rg5xx maybe, but what about of those who can't spend $2,000 dlls. for a 7vwh,

This is for those who can't afford the JEM7VW not comparing it to the JEM555WH

JEM555WH
1. u get a jem body (basswood as steve jems are, not alder as newer jem7vwh) if you order it from EKG it's $300 dlls unfinished (add $150dlls. with white finish plus you have to ge the perloid pickguard).

2. you get Evolutions (just like big jems does) So add the $$ for this pickups to our project.

3. the half vine (half three of life) it may not look as pretty as the whole one which i prefer, but it's ok, you can't get RG5xx with vine inlay if you like it. You get that inlay done for about $350 dlls. not including the neck.

That's why the JEM555WH is not a waste of money for some. Now if you think you can save for the JEM7VW, GO FOR IT !!!

By the way Jem555BK black look sucks! so i'm on the WH.

1 - 20 of 29 Posts

King Knall

· #2 · Oct 6, 2005

The 555 is not all bad. Sure the half-vine inlay is well, butt-ugly. Even the inlays on the JEM-JR (333) are prettier

. 555s are unpopular mainly because they used to carry the horrid Lo-TRS II Bridge. Well Ibanez has improved the quality ever since with the introduction of the Edge Pro II. I still think its a waste of money though, because you can get a new 1570 and replace the pups for about the same money

.

mi2tom

· #3 · Oct 6, 2005

I've tried the 555...... It's not as bad as people claims but It's not as good as 7v... But it's cheaper than a 7v though

lyconxero

· #4 · Oct 6, 2005

I still believe that the JEM555 is a complete waste of money. For the kind of money you're throwing into that guitar you could definitely get a Prestige Ibanez which is going to kill it in playability which is the NUMBER 1 thing to look for in a guitar. Any guitar can be modded to look a certain way, but what good is it if the guitar looks good but doesn't play like butter in your hands.

extremist777

Discussion Starter · #5 · Oct 6, 2005

If so ? where are they, ? there should be tons of them on **** !!! and it's not the case...

Sorry.

Davey

· #6 · Oct 6, 2005

It's all about personal preference at the end of the day.

The only things I don't like about the 555 is the "Steve Vai" 24th fret (because it makes you look like your playing someone else's guitar even to someone that's *gasp* never heard of Vai)

Then there is the top frets not being scalloped, but you can argue that a lot of other top jems don't have that (Bad Horsie, 10th, etc.) and also if you are a trem user you are going to have to get rid of the TRS trem (can't comment on the Edge Pro II, I've never used one.)

In general, if you find one, play it and like it, buy it!

But make sure that you've scouted around first, I bought one a while back (before I knew much about them) and sort of regretted it because the money I spent on it could of bought me a used RG550 and left me PLENTY of change.

red5

· #7 · Oct 6, 2005

mi2tom said:
I've tried the 555...... It's not as bad as people claims but It's not as good as 7v... But it's cheaper than a 7v though

That's my thoughts on it too. I think I could get a better Ibanez for the money, but if you really have your heart set on a Jem and can't afford a more expensive model, then the 555 isn't bad.

jemsite

· #8 · Oct 6, 2005

Buying a 555 new is a horrible idea, even if you like the axe. It's more than that...

First it sends a horrible message to Ibanez that you - the customer - values endorser brand names above QUALITY. Style over substance. The 555 is an inferior guitar to MIJ Ibanez axes.

Worse, it says you are clearly willing to pay a premium for an inferior product (relative to other, cheaper & better ibanez guitars)... glen

Davey

· #9 · Oct 6, 2005

jemsite said:
Buying a 555 new is a horrible idea, even if you like the axe.

Forgot to mention that. Yeah, over here in the UK a 555 cost about £700-£800 brand new. You'd be crazy if you were spending that kind of money on a 555 when you can get a used 7vwh for pretty much the same price.

Having said that, used 555's over here hover around £400 depending on condition and what case is with it. £400 isn't bad to get a first taster (providing it has got a different trem than a TRS)

Like I say, I picked up a RG550 eventually for £200 and sort of regretted buying the 555. The 555 paved the way for the other Jems I own now though.

mi2tom

· #10 · Oct 6, 2005

Ibanez249 said:
Forgot to mention that. Yeah, over here in the UK a 555 cost about £700-£800 brand new. You'd be crazy if you were spending that kind of money on a 555 when you can get a used 7vwh for pretty much the same price.

Having said that, used 555's over here hover around £400 depending on condition and what case is with it. £400 isn't bad to get a first taster (providing it has got a different trem than a TRS)

Like I say, I picked up a RG550 eventually for £200 and sort of regretted buying the 555. The 555 paved the way for the other Jems I own now though.

I didn't know the price there in uk between these two jems. But this is how my country is charging for these two jems
Jem 555 = MYR 3500
Jem 7V = MYR 7200
So as you can see the jem 555 is half the price of the 7v

Davey

· #11 · Oct 6, 2005

Wow...

Just did a currency conversion and MYR 3500 = £523.83p, so that'd not be far off what we'd pay in the UK for a used one.

I think the best route as far as playability goes, from experience, (and this the route I'm trying to impress on my nephew)

Some form of beater (maybe squire strat) > RG550 > Jem of your choice (not 555 obviously)

Cash and experience allowing

extremist777

Discussion Starter · #12 · Oct 6, 2005

red5 said:
That's my thoughts on it too. I think I could get a better Ibanez for the money, but if you really have your heart set on a Jem and can't afford a more expensive model, then the 555 isn't bad.

that's my point.
And prices here in Mexico are:
JEM555 $999 usd.
JEM7VWH $1,850 usd. (cheaper than USA price)

Andelusion

· #13 · Oct 6, 2005

Ibanez249 said:
Forgot to mention that. Yeah, over here in the UK a 555 cost about £700-£800 brand new. You'd be crazy if you were spending that kind of money on a 555 when you can get a used 7vwh for pretty much the same price.

Show me where?

lol

To the original poster: Please, PLEASE, do a forum search on the old 'What's wrong with the Jem555' subject as i'd bet you my Jem7VWH there's at least 30 different threads asking about it

Davey

· #14 · Oct 6, 2005

Show you what where?

King Knall

· #15 · Oct 6, 2005

mi2tom said:
I didn't know the price there in uk between these two jems. But this is how my country is charging for these two jems
Jem 555 = MYR 3500
Jem 7V = MYR 7200
So as you can see the jem 555 is half the price of the 7v

Really? I asked Mighty Music the other day and they told me that the 7V was in the RM 6900 range :wink:. Hopefully a UV will cost less. Anyway, the 555 is at 3500? You can get a 2xxx series new! And that's a Japanese, Prestige series, that comes in a nice special case.

extremist777

Discussion Starter · #16 · Oct 6, 2005

Andelusion said:
Show me where? lol

To the original poster: Please, PLEASE, do a forum search on the old 'What's wrong with the Jem555' subject as i'd bet you my Jem7VWH there's at least 30 different threads asking about it

I've done my research on the forum, that's why i want to make clear my point and others, the jem555 is not as good as other guitars in the same price or maybe for less money, but what if you want a JEM (like) guitar and you don't have enough money to afford a jem7v... i have a prestige guitar too and a jem is not my priority but would like to have a jem in my collection so in that case i could probably go for a JEM555, understand that i'm not trying to throw flowers on the JEM555!

Flobanez

· #17 · Oct 6, 2005

I'd get a 7VWH rather than a 555.

Davey

· #18 · Oct 6, 2005

Flobanez said:
I'd get a 7VWH rather than a 555.

How about a 333? lol

extremist777

Discussion Starter · #19 · Oct 6, 2005

CHEEEESSS!!!! For the Money i pay for a JEM7VWH i can get a nice Prestige RG that feels as great as the jem7v and switch pickups and also buy a JEM555 that way i get the feel of a prestige and the look of a jem in two Guitars!!!!

bluealien

· #20 · Oct 6, 2005

For $1000. you can get a decent used JEM, so why get a 555 when you get a real JEM?

1 - 20 of 29 Posts

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