The handle is honestly so practical. It makes it easier to hand to friends and to hang on a stand or hanger

@rjwood6314

3 жыл бұрын

And it looks cool

@zyzzyvacation

3 жыл бұрын

Can't believe Fender wasn't first to have a hand in that cutting edge design😏

@kitano0

3 жыл бұрын

Not a fan of the handle. I have never had a problem handing a guitar to anybody. There's that really long appendage attached to the body that makes it a cinch.

@AdamSpade

2 жыл бұрын

@@kitano0 where I like the handle is when I am actually playing . I can toss the guitar around with it. Why NOT have it there? Soon as I got used to it I miss it in all of my other guitars now.

@ida1799

2 жыл бұрын

its more so there as a branding thing. making the jem easily recognisable

That must be hard to hear you lost your first guitar for drugs.

@gnomeam

3 жыл бұрын

It was so unexpected when he said that. Comedy timing almost.

@mateuszjasicki

3 жыл бұрын

I sold my second guitar for candies back in the day. The third is my main one anyway.

@AaronBowley

Жыл бұрын

@@mateuszjasicki i traded my vintage tama imperial star(drum set) for a new imac and then when i was out of town the imac got stolen :(

@AaronBowley

Жыл бұрын

somewhere out there is a drug dealer totally shredding out

@Noah.Ferec.

Жыл бұрын

It wasnt his first

i really love the old 80s Floral JEMs

@richsackett3423

3 жыл бұрын

Sea Monster Green

The little ramp on the back of the neck is called a volute. It does give some tactile feedback as to your hand position, but really it's there to strengthen the neck at its thinnest point to keep your headstock from cracking where it joins the neck.

I love the part where he says,if you've had a few drinks on stage, the fretboard can be disorienting. LOL!!! 😁

@Jmilillo

2 жыл бұрын

It's not a problem for steve tho because he's sober on stage

Just got mine yesterday the Premium 7VP, It's been my dream guitar since I was 13, When Steve launched the PIA I was so torn because it was basically the evolution of the JEM but for me I just went with the JEM, I have been drooling over this guitar for far too many years and it did not disappoint. Ibanez custom shop makes amazing guitars. My go to guitar for the last 5 years has been the Ibanez EGEN 8 (Herman Li) model, and I chose that one because of how thin the body was and how light it was. I've ben dealing with a slowly worsening bone disease since I was 13, I was born with a rare kidney and liver disease and have had 3 seperate kidney transplants and 1 liver transplant and my bone disease is slowly getting worse, I used to play for 8 hours a day every day, now my fingers hurt after 5 min I have to constantly take breaks and the guitar I used for 10 or so years prior to the Herman Li was a Schecter Synyster Gates custom which is (for me with my bones) really heavy which is why I got the Herman Li model. The Jem is still heavy but I just kind of deal with the extra pain because it's been my dream guitar for the 20 years I've been playing.

I remember playing one when I was like 15 at my local guitar store. It was amazing. Then I realised 15 year old me could not afford a nice guitar like that. Sad day.

Best feature that jem has that's in no other ibanez - the last 4 scalloped frets. They're so good.

@johnsonsjams3439

3 жыл бұрын

I played one back in 2010 that had the scalloped frets and haven’t found another one since

@vichulapichula4343

2 жыл бұрын

If I’m not wrong kiko loureiro has those too in his sig

@ondrejlukas326

2 жыл бұрын

herman li signature does have them too on the 20-24 frets

I think that's really cool that you're going through your guitars and gear because as students or as curious KZreadrs we wonder always what it takes to achieve that sound that inspires us to pick up the guitar

Love my Jem. I bought one of the very first Jem FPs with the original curtain fabric in '88 and it's still my only guitar.

I've really really been enjoying these, can't wait to see what's next!

Ramping AKA Volute. Also to “ fix” your bar buy new plastic washers on the bar.

Can’t wait to watch this video. I have a Jem7VW. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts.

Great Review thanks man, I've been drooling over this guitar for ages now, I think it's time to pull the trigger

The jack angle is perfect for playing live when the cable is hooked through the strap.

Thanks for this, I've always wondered if these guitars live up to the hype. Sounds like it, indeed. Great review man.

11:14 my jerkass friends seeing me after quarantine

@TheArtofGuitar

3 жыл бұрын

Just more of me to love. 🤣🤣🤣

@indigotheindieghost7214

3 жыл бұрын

If the tone is in the fingers, then mine should be very very thick next time i bust out my axe! 😆

@DonVal86

2 жыл бұрын

🤣

15+hours into my research of first electric guitars, i've finally settled on this. although still stuck between the 7v and 7vp. thx for the detailed and very helpful vidz! you also taught me caged very well too :)

I played this guitar for the 1st time in September 2013 at a Guitar Centre in Los Angeles [Sunset Blvd]. I remember how amazing the ergonomics of the body, feel of the neck, access across the fretboard and the amazing tremolo system were. Maybe someday I would buy this guitar. Good seeing you at many MMA related videos. Keep it up. 👍

I got a Jem Blue Floral Pattern and I must say it's a Huuuge upgrade from and ESP. I love it and it's beautiful !

This wiring was so innovative at the time. Standard 5-way feel but the auto split in combo with the middle for both full HB and Strat type tones without needing all the extra switches of the BC Rich.

I love this series! Keep it up.🙏

That fretboard is *glorious* . (And the handle looks kinda practical, haha.)

The correct Japanese pronunciation would be GO (as in go home) TO (as in toe)

@216trixie

3 жыл бұрын

Yes

@JordyMarincic

3 жыл бұрын

Ok

@joshuawalterzemaitis7130

3 жыл бұрын

but isn't it spelled Gotoh?

@gregorygalyan3670

3 жыл бұрын

How does one solve a quadratic equation?

@Rxbandit421

3 жыл бұрын

@Sonny the Duck Aibanīzu

i bought a 2008 model on reverb a while back that was barely used by someone who tried guitar and then gave up(wild that they picked such an expensive model for their first one) for $1500. i was captivated by the looks of it, but then i started playing it and it just felt smooth no matter what i was doing on it.

Your holding an iconic guitar. If it gets older it will become really a gem.

Jems are amazing simple as I went to a guitar store in the uk with a 500 quid budget and they had a jem on the wall I played it for nearly 2 hours before blowing my budget and took it home

I love my Jem7V, have an early 2000’s model with Ebony fretboard from Japan 🤙🏽

I’ve had the blue floral Jem 77p for just over a year and I absolutely love it. It sounds beautiful and plays amazingly.

@Nacho-iq5sh

Жыл бұрын

NOICE I've been looking for a blue floral for a while, its given me an excuse to frequent guitar stores lol

I love and collect Jems and yes the volume pot is supposed to be like that, it's not my favorite style of pot either but I just wanted to let you know there is nothing wrong with yours. I switch mine out with the EVH low friction or the YJM low friction pots they are amazing and high quality pots, perfect for players who like to utilize volume swells when they play (I do)! Great review!

I really like that guitar in white. My first "real" guitar was the black Jem with green floral inlays. My dad helped me buy it back in 1991 or '92. I still have it and will never sell it. Currently it has a Dimarzio SD3 in the bridge and it sounds better than ever. After 30 years it still gets more playing time than any of my other guitars.

That single coil earns it's place when mixed with the neck pup! Sounded so much fuller than the bucker alone. Nice versatile ax.

My dream guitar at 16 (1978) was and still is the "Paul Stanley" Ibanez Iceman, then seeing Rick Nielsen holding it on the Budokan cover just made it more desirable. I would just stare at a store display and wished I can afford to buy one. To this day I still wish I had one. Probably not a great sounding guitar though.

@jrg770

3 жыл бұрын

There was are release of those not too long ago. 2000's anyways I think. The higher end model sounded great and played quite well. It was a gloss black finish though, not that mirror one.

@raydelrosario2366

3 жыл бұрын

@@jrg770 Thanks brother! Yes, I wanted the gloss black, no pick guard. Just plain.

The Jem Jr has come a long way. The finish of the neck is now excellent. Well worth a look if you can get the 2020+ version.

@kiiturii

Жыл бұрын

I'm so confused about the Jem Jr, is it actually a Junior guitar? or is that just it's name, how come it's so much cheaper?

@QuakeGamerROTMG

11 ай бұрын

@@kiiturii It's just an entry level JEM. Same setup as the full JEM but cheaper materials and standard off the shelf Ibanez parts rather than all the nice premium stuff on the 7V

I got one two months ago ibanez jem 7V WH 1994 I am very pleased with her. she stay in tune no matter how much I use the whammy bar . She weighs even less what My ibanez RG 550LTD 1995 Which I always thought was really lightweight I had GIBSON LES PAUL 1992 For which I exchanged Thanks to the JEM I went back to practicing guitar after over 10 years I barely played

@fadlyhans82

3 ай бұрын

I’m about to do a trade for my 01’ Gibson LP for a 07’ JEM7-VH. How’s yours holding up?do you miss your LP?

Kudos on the pickup diagrams. Teaches clearly

I still have my green Jem 77 Floral. I'll never let it go.

Just got one and I love it. I had my pots swapped out with Bournes speed pots. Mine is the JEM 77VBK with the mirror pic guard and the Dimarzio breed pickups. Sounds so good probably has the fastest guitar neck of all the guitars I own.

@ThePedroDB

3 жыл бұрын

Congrats! I bought my Jem77VBK last year and it is a stunning bit of kit. The Breeds are my favourite Vai pups

I have always loved the look of those guitars too. I’m not really down with the handle but it’s fine I guess.

Your videos are really cozy, its a one sided convo but im constanty approving what u say haha keep up the nice work

I really really want one of these, though I want a hardtail next. The JEM just looks so comfortable to play. I want those 24 frets with easy access

For me, the special sauce of an Ibanez HSH guitar is the 2 and 4 positions with low to medium gain. Maybe it's because I play Stratocasters a lot, but I love that single-coil split position sound.

Just bought a JEM 7V yesterday. A used one from 1999. Man what a great guitar. It just needs some new screws as the gold ist very worn, or not there anymore, to be precise. :D No volute, a solid one piece maple neck and an ebony fingerboard. The trem arm stays put and the volume pot is nice, not sticky at all. I'm very happy with it.

Love the look of that JEM. Nice touch on the last 4 frets being scalloped, didn’t know that! Anxious to hear your thoughts on your SGs and your LP.

My dream guitar. This is the prettiest guitar I've seen. I'm playing on my Amazon basics strat right now with really cheap pickuo system. but once I save the money, I'm getting this one

Would you review your Charvel guitar? Thanks. Great video!

i love everything about that guitar except the handle. i remember back in 89 seeing a guy that had this bad ass neon green gem with pyramids on the fretboard and i thought it was the coolest guitar i'd ever seen.

For the trem arm, here's what you do to secure the arm: 1. Pull out the trem arm 2. remove the white nylon bushings from the trem arm carefully so you don't break them 3. Get some teflon tape and wrap the tape around each groove where the nylon bushings go a few times (no more than 5-10 wraps) 4. Smooth out the tape in the grooves with your fingers and then place the bushings back in their grooves 5. Pop the trem arm back into the tremolo (you will get some resistance from the arm not wanting to go in because of the tape and that is normal, just use a little force to push it in. Once you get the arm in, it'll stay where you leave it. Some folks have also gone to the extent of replacing the arm assembly with that of a Floyd Rose but that makes the arm sit higher than it was intended.

All of those reasons are why '90-'92 RG's are my goto instruments. Plus the RG's have the original Wizard neck, I like that profile more than the Jem's. But you kept saying reliable, that is the key feature next to always in tune no matter how hard I trash it. Always there for me with little drama, what more can you want?

@FenderMarko47

3 жыл бұрын

I believe the Jem came out before the RG but I've been wrong before

@jrg770

3 жыл бұрын

@@FenderMarko47 You are correct, the JEM was before the RG's but the Jems were not plentiful and few of us could afford it at the time.. I imagine anyways, I sure couldn't. I bought a made in 1987 released in (1988) RG 560, and still have it :)

Mike, My second guitar was a Fender Strat that I traded for a Ibanez S540 and I have been hooked on Ibanez ever since. I put my guitar story on that video you asked for our stories. I have 2 now a RG421 fixed bridge and a S670QM that I replaced the pickups with DiMarzio's. My 670 has the Edge Zero 2 Tremolo and the bar can sit fixed or I can leave it loose. That Edge that snaps in is the way it is. My S540 had that same Trem as your JEM. BTW JEM's are beautiful guitars!!! I do recommend a premium or a prestige from Ibanez. I believe all prestige models are made in Japan.

You should do a solar guitar harsh review!! Great video 🔥

Love this guitar! It looks awesome, I do like the white/gold look, love the Tree of Life fret inlays. It sounds freakin amazing too. I actually bought Passion and Warfare a little while ago but I haven't listened to it yet. Guess I know what to listen to today 🙂

@dylanadams1455

3 жыл бұрын

listen to For The Love Of God. It's unbelievable.

@salildeshpande7

3 жыл бұрын

You're in for a treat.. check out a song called the Riddle. Steve Vai's masterpiece.

@sci_ent_ificsui_neg9236

3 жыл бұрын

@Forty Six The entire album is a masterpiece ... very rarely I hear an album that I adore every single composition on it? ... My favourite guitarist, the right blend of speed/technique married with melody/soul. The guy is alo so down to earth, ... no rockstar EGO.

I've wanted a Jem since High School(the Late 90's). I have come close to buying 1 on more than one occasion. And every time I do the salesman has some issue with That particular Jem. Now that I know what I'm looking for out of my Axes. The Hunt is on Great Vid \m/ Liked 'n' Subbed

My dream guitat right there. Either that or a kh602 in purple sparkle

Fantastic review of this guitar.Now i want one.Is there just one guitar as the JEM7v?

I love this guitar. I've always wished one with ebony fretboard. Many years ago I got an rg350 which was very similar in the appearance, and then got a 550 which feels and plays great. Who knows if someday I will be able to afford this beauty.

love this guitar

What Amp do you use? It sounds so good, I wish u played the whole for the love of god ahah

Most people think Eddie invented the Super Strat, but it was actually Vai, the Jem was the evolution of the Strat Formula, I would like to think that Leo Fender eventually would have evolved the Strat to this form. At this point there are a couple interesting things you can do to the Jem, Seymore Duncan Hyperswitch allows you to do some crazy extra things to the tonality without compromising the original formula, adding a push pull/mini toggle allows you to run a Gilmour 7 way allowing both Humbuckers, kill switch addition, There are just so many interesting things you can accomplish.

Had a black jem555 Steve Vai signature back in 2002 when I was at uni. Blew a whole.somester student loan payment on it, was Pure awesomeness. Sadly had to sell it a few years later. Best ever 10/10.

Just subscribed to your channel, Mike and impressed you have something different than others out there. My Jem story... I always liked a "stunt" guitar over the typical traditional Gibson or Strat. I picked Ibanez during the 80s over Charvel/Jackson/ ESP etc. Just seemed cooler. Then I got hooked on shredders, Yngwie first but soon gravitated to Satriani and Vai. I knew I would buy one of their signature models and in 1993 I traded a (totally awful) Yngwie Strat for a black Satriani. I still have it and its the most comfortable guitar I ever played but the ultimate Jem beckoned...In 1999 I got a used Floral Jem. It was brilliant. I felt I could replace any Strat and my Satriani model with that Jem. Pink pickups and flower pattern and all it was so original. But the pickups, two Dimarzio PAF Pro and Ibanez Blaze were not to my liking. There was a certain midrange to the bridge I could not get rid of. The volume balance with the single coil could not be improved no matter how high I raised the pickups. So I sold it. Now its worth a fortune. Damn.Then the Jem7VWH was in my sights, the older ones(with ebony fretboard) but the older a white guitar was, the yellower it would be.Yuck, yet I loved those Evolution pickups! And the single coil was louder so not such volume drop. Yet the feel was exactly the same as that Floral I had. So I waited, then I found a Floral 2 Jem four years ago. Feels the same, with Evolution pickups and a black body floral pattern that looks incredible. Yes, it is better than the old Satriani model I still have. The only negatives I have is its fairly heavy and it a large guitar. For a smaller guy like me it is a bit cumbersome. The flat and wide neck radius takes a bit of getting used to. The scalloped top frets are unnecessary. Don't like the sound of the notes there. I find the tone mutes out a little way up there. Wicked guitar otherwise. Cheers and keep up the channel.

I would love to get a hold of a Pia! Those are beautiful as well!

I used to have a jsx(satch Ibanez) somehow I found it not my type of guitar in my 17 yr old brain and traded it for a dimebag shadow which is basically the Korean (cheaply made) version of the actual dean sig. The jsx was double the price and quality I just didn't want to deal with adjusting a new guitar until it was fitting. Ugh.. I still have regret and wish I had held on to that amazing guitar I used to have. I still got my trusty Jackson dinky with emg 81's she gets me around

This is THE best Jem of them all, it's even better than the new same model, this one has the ebony fretboard

I'm warming up to the Charvel San Dimas. 2 humbuckers, and 3-way blade switch, pull volume pot for coil tap. Then your blade switch is essentially doubled with 6 options instead of the 5-way blade switch.

My favorite guitar of yours

HI great video and great guitar I ask you, do you think it's a versatile guitar with which to play multiple styles (rock, pop, blues..) or is it made just for Steve's world? Can it finally replace Strato and Les Paul or not? Thanks and congratulations again!!!

Got a Jem77P and love it and I specially love the monkey grip and always grab my guitar with it.

Please do more of these!

That "ramp" is called a "Volute". The plastic torque bushings in your bar are worn, which is why it drops when you let go of it. I think they can be replaced.

Hey man great video, tip buy a volume pedal then you don’t have to switch out your pot and it is easier to do swells

Beautiful guitar ever made!!

Hello Sir, beautiful guitar and nice playing! What kind of amp and pedal effects did you use here? Thank you.

I played quite a few guitars that I failed to "connect" to and this is one of them. I used to have one back in around 2003 and I didn't like it quite as much as I liked my Ibanez RG, which was kinda disappointing considering I paid for the JEM over 3x more used. I don't know what it was, but it just never felt or sounded right in my hands. It was just too "stiff" for lack of better words. It was reliable for sure, but not inspiring if you know what I mean. I idolized Vai back then and the JEM7V WH was an icon I just had to own ;)

For that pop in style arm, does the bar have a little bit of wiggle room in the socket? I’ve experimented with the typical screw on Floyd Rose arm, and the “old style” arm, and both wiggle a bit, which bothers me because it causes it to eventually loosen or tighten up. I like my bar to be constantly loose. How is this bar?

Mine is a Team j craft. My favorite ax even over my gibson and PRS

I purchased one of these "new" from GC. I think it was a '12 model, but '09 sticks out to me too... Luckily, I was friends with the assistant manager and got it brand new for $1.8K.

1.) Ibanez Edge: you can buy a pouch of Trem Arm torque bush washers (trem arm collars, bushes, bushings...), i.e. those two white nylon washers in your trem arm. 2.) DiMarzio Evo 2 Bridge: "Although Steve was happy with the basic sound of the original Evolution bridge pickup, he felt that a pickup with similar tone and less output would be useful - particularly for live performances. He also requested the frequency response in the 4000Hz to 5000Hz range to be reduced slightly..." (dimarzio.com). 3.) Some brands make potentiometers with different stiffness (Low Friction, Normal, High Friction). EVH (the brand) seems to use High Friction Tone and Low Friction Volume. Although everybodys normal might be bit different + there's always some variation, especially on cheap parts. Just remember to choose Logarithmic 500K, if that's what the original Volume was. Also redo the Treble Bleed (propably just one Capacitor?), if/when your JEM has one. It shouldn't have any effect at 10/10, but on lower Volume settings there's lot more Treble than there "naturally" would be. Or perhaps update it to something similar to Ibanez JS (Joe Satriani), i.e. On/Off Treble Bleed. 4.) Steve Vai seems to use Ibanez Backstop on all/many of his JEMs. To get even more stable floating bridge. It only resists you, when you pull up.

@TheArtofGuitar

3 жыл бұрын

Just bought some. They wanted freaking $75 for a new arm. Yikes. Thank you for the info.

@ThePedroDB

3 жыл бұрын

...and yet the Evo 2 was only fitted to one production Jem, the 777FP2 - which I've never seen Steve Vai play. His stage guitars are all fitted with the original Evo Bridge pup

Great review!

I'd use a right angle cable at home on that. Great vid!

I got the blue s670qm, that thin body is so awesome

The white bushings on the bar can be replaced with larger ones for a tighter fit.

I would say a volume pedal helps so much with swells. It just removes some work for your picking hand

I fell in love with the gem the first time I saw one. If you need to look at your axe to play your doing it wrong.

The "ramp" near the nut on the back of the nut is called a volute. Supposed to be stronger.

I know I’m a bit behind on seeing this video but sometimes a stiff pot is because it needs to be cleaned up, contact cleaner sprayed into the volume pot it self with a little bit of turning tends to help loosen it up, hopefully that is helpful for you. Always wanted a JEM and hope to get one someday but phenomenal playing and videos man!!

"We are going to have some clunkers in there soon" (I smell Gibson)

Ibanez are just the best looking guitars! Especially the head stock! And Thanks for the Video!

jackson kelly maybe? i love the way it looks and marty friedman made me fall in love with it so i’d like to hear your thoughts on it

@joeyvanostrand3655

3 жыл бұрын

I have KEX neck through. I LOVE it!

Quality instrument . And good demo too .

That arpeggio you were playing almost sounded like the beginning of “In My Darkest Hour” by Megadeth.

The name Jem, referes to Gemini but I've always found the name apropos for the level of craftsmanship that went into the design and construction of team j crafts instruments. the jem was the first guitar i ever played that absolutly justified its pricetag, everything from the frets to the neck contour to string action was lightyears ahead of my medium jumbo single coil strat i thought made me eric johnson i wasn't even close, knowing what i know about guitar setups and pickup resistance now.

@ThePedroDB

2 жыл бұрын

Errr... No. JEM was the name of Joe Despagni's guitar company. Joe was a friend of Steve's who did some customization on his early guitars (e.g. the Bones guitar). Those early 'prototypes' included features that would later appear on Steve's signature Ibanez. Steve named his Ibanez, "Jem", as an acknowledgement to his friend's contributon to the development of the guitar

My 1999 Jem has that *stiffness* on the tone and volume pots, and at first I thought maybe they were damped... I have to be honest and say that after all this time they haven't loosened at ALL :) so perhaps it's something that is standard on jems .... Loved the review.

i got incredibly lucky and found a japanese-made ibanez prestige in a pawn shop for $300, it immediately became my favorite guitar

Got the same guitar , my whammy does the same thing .But over all the guitar is so well made possibly the best I own .

I have the first run that came out in the 90's, the whammy bar should have 2 small plastic bushings, with none the bar will just fall and swing, with 1 it will still swing but not as much, and when both are on it should stay where ever you leave it and not fall or swing at all, well at least on my 2 jems, i also had the original 80's shocking pink one

I have that same decal loaded up on my wife’s cricut lol I just haven’t used it on anything yet. I’ve got a similar one but it meleficent on my purple les paul.

o shit that satch boogie though, nice! I actually really like the look of the satriani ibanez over this one personally.

If you dive the Floyd Rose using the tremolo then there should be a hole near the tremolo arm from where you can tighten the tremolo arm using an Allen wrench. My 2009 Ibanez RG has it...

I have the same one! I have a 2008 that I just bought last week at guitar center. A collector had it and never played it so I go kinda lucky. My volume knob is also very stiff!!! I noticed this right away but it's fine I guess.