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264 Posts
So, 20 years back, when I was importing tons of guitars from Japan, there was ONE model that stuck out as an Ibanez classic, a guitar that I wish became a staple model, kind of like the RG3120 was for years, and perhaps the way the RG652 is now. Anyway, that model was the JCRG-3VV. I owned 4 of them, sadly 2 of them had back bowed necks that could not be brought back with the truss rod, one of them was functional with the truss rod completely loose, and ONE that was totally fine. The one good one I had was probably the best guitar I've ever owned, though sadly, I ended up selling all of them off after about 6 years, as I started to get more into the radius models (thanks to my twin brother). Anyway, it's been another 10 years since those J-Custom days, and I find myself itching to get something similar. The only problem? I am not a big fan of the current offerings. My favorite Ibanez guitars were the Texas Specials, RG7CT, RG8527's, RG1880's, 1802's, 3120's, JPM's, UCEW1FM's, etc...
I've been tossing around the idea of getting a limited run model going in one of the facebook groups I'm a part of, then it got me thinking, what about Jemsite? I literally haven't been back here in about a decade, and thought it was worth starting a conversation about this, FWIW. I've written Jon Safford, from Killerburst guitars, about it and it's essentially up to me to present something of a plan.
My thought was to propose a Prestige model based on the JCRG-3, as I doubt that I could get any backers for a J-C, then again, the quantities for J-C's are said to be low enough (6 is what I hear), so either option may be doable.
Either way, I think everything comes down to the "JPM-look" that I loved so much from Ibanez back then. The JCRG-3VV had that but with serious class...I suppose it was like an "Ibanez Les Paul" when you really think about it. Mahogany body, maple cap, 2 humbuckers, offset-dots, white neck/headstock binding (rounded over, which was so nice btw), lo-pro edge, luminlay side dots, tilt jack, countersunk knobs, J-C AANJ, JPM/Wizard 4 neck shape. Now obviously, going prestige would mean losing a lot of those features, almost assuredly the J-C AANJ, countersunk knobs, tilt output jack, and having to go with a veneer instead of an actual top, but either way, I'm ok with that if J-C's become out of the question. The only modifications I would ask for would be an ebony board, stainless steel frets and cosmo chrome hardware. The colors I was thinking of are VV or BBS (both finishes were available on the RG1880, hell, reallly any of the RG1880 finishes would work). I am definitely partial to the blue-black sunburst and vintage violin, though idk if those finishes are still available, so I might have to go with something that is being currently offered in the J-C/Prestige lineup.
The only big variable I am stuck on is the body, now that the RGA is out, I've been thinking about how fantastic it would be to get a JCRG-3 reissue with the RGA body, basically a JCRGA-3? I am sure there are tons of things I am unaware of in doing something like this, things you only find out about after presenting the idea; at the end of the day, Ibanez may not even have time for a limited run at all, but I was curious to know what everyone's thoughts are about this? I've been thinking about this off and on since I was in my teens, I'm now close to 40, so, I am pretty excited that this is even a possibility at all
I've been tossing around the idea of getting a limited run model going in one of the facebook groups I'm a part of, then it got me thinking, what about Jemsite? I literally haven't been back here in about a decade, and thought it was worth starting a conversation about this, FWIW. I've written Jon Safford, from Killerburst guitars, about it and it's essentially up to me to present something of a plan.
My thought was to propose a Prestige model based on the JCRG-3, as I doubt that I could get any backers for a J-C, then again, the quantities for J-C's are said to be low enough (6 is what I hear), so either option may be doable.
Either way, I think everything comes down to the "JPM-look" that I loved so much from Ibanez back then. The JCRG-3VV had that but with serious class...I suppose it was like an "Ibanez Les Paul" when you really think about it. Mahogany body, maple cap, 2 humbuckers, offset-dots, white neck/headstock binding (rounded over, which was so nice btw), lo-pro edge, luminlay side dots, tilt jack, countersunk knobs, J-C AANJ, JPM/Wizard 4 neck shape. Now obviously, going prestige would mean losing a lot of those features, almost assuredly the J-C AANJ, countersunk knobs, tilt output jack, and having to go with a veneer instead of an actual top, but either way, I'm ok with that if J-C's become out of the question. The only modifications I would ask for would be an ebony board, stainless steel frets and cosmo chrome hardware. The colors I was thinking of are VV or BBS (both finishes were available on the RG1880, hell, reallly any of the RG1880 finishes would work). I am definitely partial to the blue-black sunburst and vintage violin, though idk if those finishes are still available, so I might have to go with something that is being currently offered in the J-C/Prestige lineup.
The only big variable I am stuck on is the body, now that the RGA is out, I've been thinking about how fantastic it would be to get a JCRG-3 reissue with the RGA body, basically a JCRGA-3? I am sure there are tons of things I am unaware of in doing something like this, things you only find out about after presenting the idea; at the end of the day, Ibanez may not even have time for a limited run at all, but I was curious to know what everyone's thoughts are about this? I've been thinking about this off and on since I was in my teens, I'm now close to 40, so, I am pretty excited that this is even a possibility at all