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Spotting a Chibanez Jem tutorial Part 1

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124K views 175 replies 55 participants last post by  PowerTube  
#1 ·
Alright Jemsiters, I have just finished the Chibanez spotting guide. There are so many folks that get burned by these, and other that just want to know how to tell the difference. I have to break this guide into two parts to make sure I get all the photos in. Here's a picture guide to light the way...
All of the following pictures show the real Ibanez jem on the left, and the Chibanez on the right.
Here's a side-by-side comparison of the two:
Image

Take a good look the pickguard alignment on the lower horn:
Image

Notice the location of this pickguard screw:
Image

On to the back...
The neck heel is a dead giveaway! The Chibanez heel is longer than the pocket:
Image

Next, look at the output jack access cover. It's routed in the wrong direction:
Image

Now, look at the neck screws. First, they're not usually recessed like a real Jem, and the placement is off:
Image

Finally, look at the trem cover. The slots are too big, and the bottom, horizontal slot is too high up on the plate:
Image
 
#2 ·
Here's part 2.
Now let's examine the headstock. While they're getting better, the Chibanez logos are still off. The Jem logo is still too low on the headstock:
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Now look at the truss rod cover. These have also been getting more accurate, but they are still too short:
Image

The Ibanez logo has gotten better too, but it's still not place properly:
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Finally, look at the font weight of the Jem logo--the Chibanez is still too dark and heavy:
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Now, here's the scariest part--usually the first dead giveaway on the fakes--the trem. While these are a massive improvement over the older LoTrs knock-offs, they still have the screw on trem arm, unlike the pop in arm on a real Jem:
Image

What's the scary part? Talke a look at the newest Edge knock-off! It has the pop in arm:
Image

Take a look at the writing by the fine tuners. The real Edge reads, "Licensed under Floyd Rose Patents." The good-looking fake reads, "Tremolo Licensed Under Patents."

Well, there you go Jemsiters. I hope this little guide helps a avoid a catastophe or two...
 
#4 ·
I thought the same thing, but if they haven't got it right by now with the plethora of pics and specs on the Internet--they never will. Plus, there's the little issue of serial numbers--I'm currently creating a database of all known fake serial numbers for all to check legitimacy of their contemplated purchase
 
N
#9 ·
I agree with what you're saying that with all the correct pictures and specifications available. However, I can envisage this guide being printed off, rolled up and and whacked across the head of the designers of the counterfeits in order to improve them..."not like that one, like this one". It was on this basis why I suggested a sticky in this area of the forum for dealing specifically with a fake JEM or Universe, rather than show the counterfeiters how they should be done.

While your heart is in the right place and this guide will be helpful to some, you have essentially created plans in a nutshell that can be used to improve upon the current counterfeits and I fear that this may ultimately do more harm than good.
 
#10 ·
NSR said:
I agree with what you're saying that with all the correct pictures and specifications available. However, I can envisage this guide being printed off, rolled up and and whacked across the head of the designers of the counterfeits in order to improve them..."not like that one, like this one". It was on this basis why I suggested a sticky in this area of the forum for dealing specifically with a fake JEM or Universe, rather than show the counterfeiters how they should be done.

While your heart is in the right place and this guide will be helpful to some, you have essentially created plans in a nutshell that can be used to improve upon the current counterfeits and I fear that this may ultimately do more harm than good.
Click to expand...
I seriously doubt it. If those boneheads haven't figured it out yet through the vast info on the web and the many threads here dealing with these--this guide is not going to make a difference to them. The one thing that you guys are forgetting, and it's mentioned above--the serial numbers are the other tell-tale indicator.
 
J
#13 ·
theapprentice said:
I find it hard to imagine how hard it is for these Chibanez makers to simply buy a stock JEM, reverse-engineer it, and then make plausible fakes based on it. I'm pretty sure their spending real money for their manufacturing as well, so why not save some and invest on a good reference axe to replicate?
Click to expand...
I was about to say the same thing.
 
#19 ·
I've been really nervous of 1993penny! Some of his stuff seems too good to be true--plus based in S. Korea. When I was there in 1997, you could have anything made that you could imagine. Some of their guitars looked as good as the originals--scary! I wonder if he's doing the 'ol bait-and-switch?
 
D
#38 ·
this is a classic debate over information, but i think this thread is a good thing. and i don't believe it's so simple for the counterfeiter to look at the differences that have been pointed out and improve their manufacturing. as long as it's more profitable to be close but not perfect, the copies will be close but not perfect.
 
S
#46 ·
Here we are - a side by side of the real FP2 and the knock off (ala AlaskaBat)

Image


Again, i'm certainly not a JEM expert, but this is what i've noticed.

1) Finish

a) Upper left horn, there is a "moon" and some floral that is not there on the copy.
b) Under the pickgaurd there is some differentiating design from the original. Odds are they made it from images from the web before they actually had one to copy so they were unable to copy that portion exactly. Otherwise, its a fairly accurate representation of the real FP2.
c) The patina on the floral is not as "vintage" looking as the real FP2. I'm sure Vai was going for something that looked very old and faded (Art-Deco-ish) and the copy does not capture this. It's more white.

2) The Hardware

a) Silver hardware - the usual goods of a copy, the real one has cosmo except for the trem, which is silver.
b) "overlord of music" tremolo....I think this one speaks for itself...
c) The copy probably has the same crappy Gotoh knockoff tuners all the other knockoffs has (no pics to confirm)

3) Body

a) No square heel. Copy has fake AANJ.
b) Same old misaligned neck joint, per usual as copies.
c) The copy actually has a PGM style recessed jack, not a JEM style (as seen in this pic)

Image
 
M
#51 ·
"Overlord of Music"????? I'm just disgusted now. That's not even trying. It's no longer a funny side show act. It's blatant. I believe it is purposefully done as a joke by the thieves because they know we scrutinize. What I don't understand is how our government allows such fakes to be sold stateside. Is there a way we could educate the business bureau and have them intervene? Or is this a federal issue?
 
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