[Formerly Given To Fly]

https://reverb.com/news/the-story-of-the-ibanez-jem-steve-vai-superstrat-signature

Does this article accurately portray the "Story of the Jem?" It seems to me, plenty of Jemsite members have demonstrated a level of knowledge on the subject to be "authorities" on the matter, many times over.

 

[Rich]

I originally thought alot of it came from the Ibanez Book, which I just haven't read, until I got down to this line which I knew was from the Bacon book, which is just so stupidly wrong.

"and the JEM2KDNA—one of Ibanez's special millennium models in 2000—had Steve's DNA incorporated into the fingerboard's vine inlay."

The rest of it is regurgitated comments from those that were there so there's no reason to question most of it.

 

[jaxadam]

"and the JEM2KDNA-one of Ibanez's special millennium models in 2000-had Steve's DNA incorporated into the fingerboard's vine inlay."

No kidding... everyone knows it's in the volume and tone knob.

 

[Formerly Given To Fly]

I originally thought alot of it came from the Ibanez Book, which I just haven't read, until I got down to this line which I knew was from the Bacon book, which is just so stupidly wrong.

"and the JEM2KDNA-one of Ibanez's special millennium models in 2000-had Steve's DNA incorporated into the fingerboard's vine inlay."

The rest of it is regurgitated comments from those that were there so there's no reason to question most of it.

I did not realize Mr. Bacon had already written an Ibanez book from which I imagine he summarized the topic of the article. Since no sources were cited, I had no idea where all this extremely specific information was coming from. In the grand scheme of things, I do no think it is a huge deal the DNA is poorly described. Then again, an article on the history of the JEM is one place where JEM-specific details should matter.

 

[Rich]

I did not realize Mr. Bacon had already written an Ibanez book from which I imagine he summarized the topic of the article. Since no sources were cited, I had no idea where all this extremely specific information was coming from. In the grand scheme of things, I do no think it is a huge deal the DNA is poorly described. Then again, an article on the history of the JEM is one place where JEM-specific details should matter.

He sent me an advance copy to review and, the avid reader I am not I just went to the section of my greatest interest, he's got Joe saying there are around 300 Donnies which is just insanely ridiculous, and then the most important and sought after JEM of all he misses the whole point that the blood was in the swirl? I just couldn't read anymore, if you're supposed to be writing an authoritative book, which mind you is only about 3/8" thick, and you get major facts so wrong it's laughable? Read at your own peril. 8O

 

[BikerGirl]

Gentlemen, I work with Tony Bacon at Jawbone Press. He wanted me to tell you that he's pleased you saw his piece at Reverb.com (where he's been contributing many other pieces over the last few years).

You're right: Tony's Reverb piece on the birth of the JEM was largely adapted from his source material in The Ibanez Electric Guitar Book, his book on the company's instruments that we published in 2013.

Yes, the Reverb story and the book are based primarily on the many interviews Tony did with the people who were there. That includes both Steve Vai and Joe Satriani from this period, as well as other musicians, and many Hoshino and Ibanez personnel.

He apologises for the mistake with the DNA guitar. It was a silly mix-up between the "DNA design" in the fingerboard inlay and the DNA/blood in the body paint. It shouldn't have made it through to the book or the Reverb piece.

All the best to the fab Jemsite from sunny England!

Love, Siobhan

 

[Rich]

Thanks for chiming in Siobhan. Honestly, Tony has to realize the artists aren't the best source of information about their guitars. They are a good place to start but would you have asked Les Paul about the nuances of every model in every year, or would you ask George Gruhn? When you leave the real experts out of the process you're getting an incomplete and many times very wrong copy into print, that unfortunately can't be retracted. If you're reaching out to an expert to review the book after it's been published, the time to reach out was when it was in draft so ultimate mistakes could be corrected before they become a permanent fictitious record.

 

[Hoseki]

Yes, the Reverb story and the book are based primarily on the many interviews Tony did with the people who were there. That includes both Steve Vai and Joe Satriani from this period, as well as other musicians, and many Hoshino and Ibanez personnel.

He apologises for the mistake with the DNA guitar. It was a silly mix-up between the "DNA design" in the fingerboard inlay and the DNA/blood in the body paint. It shouldn't have made it through to the book or the Reverb piece.

Never too late to start working on the 2nd edition corrections, and it should be fairly easy to take some notes and start re-working the text.