[Takin' a Ride]

So this has been the hottest topic in the Ibanez Facebook groups the past two days: what will be the impact of new 7VP?

The topics have been all over the place so I'll try and capture some highlights.

- Is this the sign of the end of FujiGen? (accompanied by resurfacing of the rumor that they'll stop making guitars to make car dashboards)
- The pickguard on the 7VP looks different...is Ibanez fooling us with the Edge and substituting cheap parts everywhere else?
- Is this going to kill sales of the MIJ 7V?


My guess is that 7VWH sales have slowed way down and even if this picks off a few buyers from those ranks, the overall effect will be positive. Rich, do you have a sense of what production looks like on the 7VWH these days?

 

[Rich]

Of course VWH sales are slow, it's been on the market for 25 years. In fact this year would be a nice 25th anniversary model for the VWH if anybody had thought about it.

Anything indo with an Edge already is cheap, I've said this before in many threads. They have LN instead of TL nuts, they have the cheap twin pin tuners instead of the MB500's, everything inside the guitar is what would be on an Indo, except for the Edge.

I sold a VWH last night after a customer asked me about the VPWH. Not a big sample pool, just a fact to note.

Fujigen's main production is interior wood for the auto industry. It has been, guitars are just part of the wood business. Fujigen has a capacity problem and IMO the solution is for Sugi and Ibanez to partner in their own production facility that only produces Ibanez Japan, period.

How will the P affect sales? Time will tell. Can't you find something more interesting to argue about? 8O

 

[Takin' a Ride]

I saw the cheap tuners but the nut is different as well? I assumed it was all part of the same Edge “kit” that would include the nut, retainer bar, springs and claw?

These aren’t arguments I’m having. I was surprised how much discussion this sparked. More than discussion of the other new models.

 

[Rich]

No trem kit contains a nut, not in 25 years.

 

[Takin' a Ride]

Well, now I know I’m getting old. Memory is going 8O

I think I must have been thinking of a Floyd. That includes the nut.

 

[BdaGolfer]

Rich - when do you expect to get your hands on a P (assuming you're bringing some in)? I'm very curious about the build quality, especially as the pricing puts it in the used V market.

Cheers
Alan

 

[Rich]

February, and I expect them to be like 70V's, spotty for really good ones but it's the stainless they're really unqualified for so that's not a concern.

 

[Rich]

Rich - when do you expect to get your hands on a P (assuming you're bringing some in)? I'm very curious about the build quality, especially as the pricing puts it in the used V market.

Cheers
Alan

Are you a bad golfer or a bad golfer that can't spell? 8O

I'm a bad golfer

 

[BdaGolfer]

Good golfer, bad speller 😁
Comes from my time living the island life.

 

[Leviathus]

This model is really disappointing to me, you could probably find an ebony boarded 7VWH from back in the day in the same ballpark price wise. Ibanez is what it is today because of the JEM and i think it deserves its spot at the top of the pyramid (no pun intended) and that means MIJ! The JEM line used to represent the top of the line Ibanez, the most creatively styled axe they have to offer, not living in the past but pushing into the future. Tired of all the throwbacks.

Still holding out hope (probably in vain) for a MIJ show only release later this month.

 

[jono]

This model is really disappointing to me, you could probably find an ebony boarded 7VWH from back in the day in the same ballpark price wise. Ibanez is what it is today because of the JEM and i think it deserves its spot at the top of the pyramid (no pun intended) and that means MIJ! The JEM line used to represent the top of the line Ibanez, the most creatively styled axe they have to offer, not living in the past but pushing into the future. Tired of all the throwbacks.

Still holding out hope (probably in vain) for a MIJ show only release later this month.

Firstly, I'd love to see a new MIJ JEM this NAMM, I still think that the JEM represents the "ultimate" guitar for me and I completely understand (and agree) that it needs to at least be on the top rung of the Ibanez ladder. In the same way I think that the new Chromeboy ALSO needs to be on that top rung.

However, I find it a little scary how much a Chromeboy is, but in real terms it's probably no more expensive than the JS10...

As such, I can see the need to be able to capitalise on the draw of the endorsers and the fact must be that Ibanez think that the 7PV will sell. It's a different marketing world these days than it was 30 years ago (or even 20) and folks aren't as content to settle for an RG550, they want a JEM and so Ibanez is simply catering to the market they think they have.

I'm just pleased that this has the "right" trem on it, it's the trem that scares me off the Premium BFP; if that had had an Edge, I would have bought one to be honest, so I see this as a step in the right direction. Hopefully the next one will be one of those photo-dipped printing technology things as a way of getting a swirl on a premium

 

[Takin' a Ride]

I didn’t originally give my opinion but I’m really happy to see this guitar. As much as I’m a MIJ purist, I understand that a $3000 guitar is just absolutely out of the question for a vast majority of people. So it’s nice to see them do something like this for Vai’s fans.

You can say that it has cheap parts but the fact is that a lot of the people excited about this are playing Indo guitars today, so that explanation just doesn’t stick with them. I’ve seen more than a few comments made by people that thy see the MIJ model as $1200 for a case and less desirable fretboard.

 

[mike570]

I could afford a MIJ JEM if I wanted but I just feel way uncomfortable playing a guitar that expensive, especially gigging it. But that's me. I do honestly prefer RGs but I dig the Premium JEMs too, especially the SFG. And I still wouldn't mind having a UV70P. I like that these exist as a stunt guitar option. I'd like to get the white one just for Schmitts and giggles but there's always the nagging question - why not an MIJ RG at that price instead?
I totally agree Ibanez needs their own production facility for MIJ. Why couldn't they partner with another company to build one if they're concerned about the risk? At least that way they're not competing for production slots with car interiors as well.

 

[jemsite]

This model is really disappointing to me, you could probably find an ebony boarded 7VWH from back in the day in the same ballpark price wise.

The market - buyers and stores - indicate new axes are desirable especially since Ibanez/dealers don't make $$$ on used private sales. Plus stores don't generally want MIJ $3k white/gold superstrats handles hanging around showrooms these days. I'm sure Vai+Ibanez prefer having new JEMs in retail that sell too.

Ibanez is what it is today because of the JEM and i think it deserves its spot at the top of the pyramid (no pun intended) and that means MIJ!

That is an emotional opinion but Ibanez did fine before the JEM and perhaps would be a better company today if Vai went w/ Tom A. We'll never know. But you're cherry picking facts... forget they were in dire straits in the early 90s as JEM/UVs were distributor & dealer closeouts (S marked UVs anyone)?

The JEM line used to represent the top of the line Ibanez, the most creatively styled axe they have to offer, not living in the past but pushing into the future.

When was this? The original JEM was Vai's modified Roadstar/RG550 and the combo of a smart, reliable artist (Vai) matched with Ibanez global distribution network was a win. Sure they sold some pricey JEM/UV limited editions to aging shred fanatics (fishing in a barrel) but the "top of the line" in terms of quality was never bolt on superstrats.

Removing JEM/Vai from the convo, the industry barely needs super pricey MIJ, non-customizable Ibanez superstrats at this point though. Maybe Vai/Ibanez sees this before the superfans?

 

[Formerly Given To Fly]

I think this will be an interesting experiment. lain:

 

[Leviathus]

@ Glensite
So you're saying that Ibanez isn't what it is today because of the JEM/Re-styled-RG body shape?

 

[mike570]

I'd like to get one for the novelty of them. And I never agree with the haters who say Premiums are junk. They're not. They're just not as good out the door as MIJ - typically.

 

[Takin' a Ride]

When was this? The original JEM was Vai's modified Roadstar/RG550 and the combo of a smart, reliable artist (Vai) matched with Ibanez global distribution network was a win. Sure they sold some pricey JEM/UV limited editions to aging shred fanatics (fishing in a barrel) but the "top of the line" in terms of quality was never bolt on superstrats.

Pre-kicking myself for engaging this but what were the top of the line models in terms of quality at the time the Jem was released? The Maxxas? The Artist?

 

[Hoseki]

Pre-kicking myself for engaging this but what were the top of the line models in terms of quality at the time the Jem was released? The Maxxas? The Artist?

George Benson model

 

[Takin' a Ride]

Fair enough. So the pinnacle in Ibanez/FujiGen quality in the 80's was a niche model with very low production.

I think it's fair to say that we wouldn't be having this conversation today, on an Ibanez enthusiast forum, if we were hanging our hats on George Benson models. Ibanez is where it is today because of superstrats. We can sit here and have the chicken and egg conversation about the Jem and RG, but I think we should be able to agree that the Jem was an extremely important halo model for Ibanez during the 1987-93 "Golden Era".

Saying that the Jem represented the top of the line is not wrong. The definition of a halo model goes beyond simply quality. Look at marketing materials from the time. The Jem is heavily featured. It also appears first on price lists. Those are indications of the importance of the guitar to Ibanez at the time.

A Corvette has never been the nicest car that GM makes. But it's their halo model nonetheless. The fact that most people buy more affordable Camaros does not diminish the standing of the Corvette.