Ibanez JEM
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| Ibanez JEM | |
|---|---|
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| Manufacturer | Ibanez |
| Period | 1987–present |
| Construction | |
| Body type | Solid |
| Neck joint | Bolt-on |
| Woods | |
| Body | Basswood, Alder (varies with sub-model) |
| Neck | Maple |
| Fretboard | Rosewood, Ebony, Maple (varies with sub-model) |
| Hardware | |
| Bridge | Ibanez Edge (varies with sub-model) |
| Pickup(s) | H-S-H DiMarzio Evolution |
| Colors available | |
| Varies with sub-model | |
Ibanez JEM is an electric guitar manufactured by Ibanez and first produced in 1987. The guitar's most notable user is its co-designer, Steve Vai. As of 2006, there are five sub-models of the Ibanez JEM: the JEM7, JEM77, JEM777, JEM555 and the Universe. Although the Ibanez JEM series is a signature series guitar, Ibanez mass-produces several of the guitar's sub-models.
The Ibanez JEM series is heavily influenced by the superstrat concept, a more aggressive guitar in terms of shape and specifications compared to the Stratocaster.[1] Moreover, in the production process, Ibanez and Steve Vai compared the specifications of the Stratocaster, Ibanez RG and Steve's older guitars.
Contents |
[edit] History
[edit] Earlier guitars
Previously, Vai used a handbuilt guitar by Charvel & Jackson. Together with Joe Despagni and Tom Anderson they created various custom guitars and made attempts at innovation. Vai then used Tom Anderson's model to record the demo of the album Skyscraper, a collaboration with David Lee Roth. Vai also began to bring his Tom Anderson guitars on tour, despite their questionable durability. Regarding this, Vai said:
"... He built this for me after my old green monster, which I used out on the road last year until it died. I was pulling on the whammy bar and ripped the bar right out of the guitar [laughs]; it was actually ripped out before the show at Madison Square Garden. I was dying. So I started using Tom's guitar as my main guitar for the rest of the tour, and I really like it because it has a very heavy sound to it. So I took the best of the sounds from that guitar and had them incorporated into the Ibanez."[2]
[edit] Ibanez and Steve Vai
Vai later decided to stop using his Anderson guitar in favour of a guitar deal with a bigger company. Vai has stated in one interview that he chose Ibanez because the company could meet his requirements: that the guitar would be designed by Joe Despagni, who owned a guitar company called JEM Guitar, which later became the name of the model.
It is unknown whether Ibanez contacted Vai first, or whether Vai asked Ibanez to create a guitar model for him. In any case, just before Christmas 1986 Ibanez received Vai's guitar specification; they were similar to Despagni's guitars. Thus, Ibanez built one of their "Maxxas" guitars for him with a palmrest for the tremolo and sent it as a Christmas present to his parents' house. The company had to wait two weeks for Vai's response. However, Vai liked the model and decided to produce that particular guitar with Ibanez. It took five months to make the new model samples in Japan, the JEM guitar and the RG range which launched at the NAMM Industry Trade Show in June 1987.
[edit] Design and production
After the JEM series was launched at the NAMM show, Ibanez with Steve Vai began to design and produce the guitar actively. Rich Lasner of Hoshino explained that Vai used a "Chinese menu approach" to design the guitar (i.e. choosing from many different categories). The first design was by Vai, when he sent Hoshino his ideas from many different guitar features he liked and combined it into one guitar. The essential considerations were the weight, wood types and pickups. For the latter specification, Vai decided long before Ibanez contacted him, that he would use DiMarzio pickups for his guitars.
Later, Lasner asked Vai to explain the guitar specifications further: "'The first thing he did" Lasner explains, "was disassemble them on the spot. Neck from body, pickguard off, tremolo out... took 'em apart. I was shocked, to say the least. But Steve looked at me nonchalantly and said, 'Relax, I do this all the time.' He wanted to check Mace's detail and craftsmanship.""[2] Mace Bailey, who was also involved in the production, later went to Japan to the Ibanez factory to really begin producing the guitar. He sat there with the craftsmen and made ten guitars for Vai.
[edit] Naming conventions
Ibanez has not revealed much about the naming system of the JEM models(JEMxxx). However, it is known that the number 7 came from Steve Vai himself as he likes the number 7.[3] Steve Vai has also released an album titled "The Seventh Song" which contains ballad songs from albums before "The Seventh Song". Steve Vai stated on the CD cover, "Traditionally, I have made the 7th song on all my CDs the mellifluous guitar ballad that serves the melody on a silver platter. In numerology, the number 7 is shrouded in mystique. In a record sequence, it has always felt like the sweet spot. These songs are more devotional in nature than technical. They are a reflection of one man's desire to expose a glimmer of the depth of his longing for spiritual communion."[4]
There are 4 JEM sub-model numbers: 7, 77, 777 and 555. JEM777 was the first JEM sub-model, created in 1986. Currently Ibanez no longer sells this model, thus some of these models are quite rare, especially the JEM777LNG, which was a limited run and each model was hand-signed by Steve Vai. On the other hand, JEM77 models are more widely available compared to the JEM777 guitars. Some of the 77 models are very easy to make out and are especially interesting for collectors-these are models with a floral or multicolor pattern, for example, the JEM77FP (Floral Pattern) and the JEM77PMC (a multicolor). However, a variant of JEM77, the JEM77BRMR is not a multicolor guitar, but it has a vine inlay on the fingerboard and a "rock mirror" finish and the 77VBK, which is basic black with a mirror pickguard and the vine inlay. The JEM 7 series was derived from Steve's current main guitars, "Evo" and "Flo" and are still in production, with the 7VWH being the longest run production model of all JEM guitars. The 7VWH is still in production today. Different from other JEM models, JEM555 is produced in Korea and in terms of quality, this variant is considered by many to be poorer than the others. As of 2008, the only production model JEM guitars are the 7VWH and the 77VBK. The cheaper Korean- made 555 was discontinued in 2000 for the USA market. [3]
The myth that the order of the exclusivity is JEM777, JEM77, JEM7 and JEM555, no longer holds true, due to different models that were inserted into the production line. Currently, the most expensive collectors items are the 777LNG and the JEM2KDNA (sometimes referred to as the JEMVAI2KDNA or short just DNA), due to their very limited number (777LNG only 777 guitars world wide, DNA only 300 world wide).[3]
[edit] Models and variations
[edit] JEM Anniversary
There are four sub-models of the JEM Anniversary.
[edit] JEM10
The model was created for JEM's tenth anniversary in 1997, although production started in 1996. "This sub-model of Anniversary JEM includes numbered letter of authenticity hand-signed by Steve Vai. The aluminum pickguard has an engraved vine and its JEM10 serial number. JEM10s designated for the USA have a silver tweed JEM case with outside plaque and inner silk screened protective shroud. Later numbered JEM10s going to the USA have their JEM10 plaque screwed onto the case, instead of riveted/glued on."[5] There are 852 JEM10 guitars around the globe (210 of them are in the US), and each guitar has its own serial number. #1 is at Hoshino USA, #2 is at Roland (Roland/Meinl) in Germany. #3, #5, #7, and #9 went for sale in the US and JEM10 #16 was given away by Steve during G3.
[edit] JEM90HAM
HAM stands for Hoshino Anniversary Model, which was made for the 90th Anniversary of Hoshino. The specifications are similar to the JEM10 model, as both use the same type of wood, pickups, hardware and tremolos (actually, they're vibratos). There were exactly 72 guitars brought by Ibanez to the US of the 831 available worldwide.
[edit] JEM2KDNA
The most notable aspect is the color, as Vai added his DNA (blood) to the mixture of the paint. The painter of the guitar, Darren Michaels/Darren Johansen of ATD (About Time Designs), stated on Jemsite.com, "For the record if you own a DNA you have a good amount of the "DNA". The "blood red" paint that I mixed was mixed at a ratio of approximately 8:1 [paint:blood] so the content is quite high. There had to be pigment mixed into the paint to hold it onto the guitar as well as a carrier. If you purchase a canvas you get a picture of myself and someone mixing [the blood] in to the color. Also a picture of the room we did the guitars in too. The canvases also have the same content as I mixed all the DNA left into the paint when I left Japan and brought the paint back with me . I hope this clears things up for you"[5] The guitars were made in the year 2000, represented in the model series, JEM2KDNA (2000). Around the world, there are exactly 300 guitars.
[edit] JEM20TH
In 2007 Ibanez announced the 20th Anniversary JEM guitar. This guitar is made of acrylic with multicolour paint streaks running through it. When the tone control is pulled up a set of green LEDs light up within the body.
[edit] Standard Production Models
[edit] JEM7
From six different variants, currently Ibanez produces only the JEM7VWH [6] series as it was Steve Vai's main guitar that he used for live performances. Steve Vai has one JEM7VWH with exactly the same specification as the guitars on the market, which he named "Evo". The main features of JEM7 variants are the monkey grip, which are located above the pickups and the scalloped fingerboard that applies from the 21st fret up to the 24th. This series is also equipped with DiMarzio Evolution pickups. In 2003, the 7VWH specifications were changed from an ebony fingerboard to a rosewood fingerboard. Due to Ibanez officials this was done, because "Evo" and "Flo" also had their necks changed to rosewood fingerboards.
Complete list of JEM7 variants:
- JEM7RB - dot inlays, Root Beer, American Basswood body (production 1988,1989)
- JEM7PBK - disappearing pyramid inlays, Pearl Black, American Basswood body (production 1989,1990)
- JEM7VWH - vine inlay, White, Alder body (production 1993 - present)
- JEM7BSB - screw head inlays, Burnt Stained Blue, American Basswood body (production 1996 - 1998)
- JEM7DBK - screw head inlays, Black with texture, American Basswood body (production 1999 - 2004)
- JEM7VSBL - vine inlay, Sparkle Blue, Alder body (production 2002 - 2004)
[edit] JEM77
The older 77 guitars use the DiMarzio PAF Pro pickups, where the new 77BRMR (discontinued) and the 77VBK (still in production) are equipped with DiMarzio Breed pickups. Steve Vai used to use the JEM77BRM model as his other main gear, named "MOJO". Steve's version of the 77BRMR has a few modifications that are not in the production model, such as blue LED light fingerboard inlays. The 77FP and 77BFP featured a flower pattern, that was a real fabric, put over the black painted guitar body and then clearcoated onto the guitar. The 77FP was re-issued as the 15th anniversary model, with the exact same specs as the older 77FP. Therefore the 77FP is widely available on the used guitar market and the cheapest collectors model.
Complete list of JEM77 variants:
- JEM77FP - vine inlay, Flower Pattern, American Basswood body (production 1988 - 2004)
- JEM77BFP - vine inlay, Blue Flower Pattern, American Basswood body (production 1991 - 1994)
- JEM77GMC - vine inlay, Green Multi Color, American Basswood body (production 1992 - 1993)
- JEM77PMC - disappearing pyramid inlay, Purple Multi Color, American Basswood body (production 1992 - 1993)
- JEM77BRMR - dot inlay, Black Rock Mirror, American Basswood body (production 2005 - 2006)
- JEM77VBK - vine inlay, Black, American Basswood body (production 2007 - present)
[edit] JEM777
The JEM777 variants are the oldest variants among all JEM models.[6] Currently no 777 model is in production. There are exactly 777 JEM777LNG (which stands for "Loch Ness Green") guitars around the world, which is also the first variant produced. One of the most noted users of these was the late Denis D'Amour of Canadian band Voivod.The Loch Ness Green guitars were also hand signed by Steve Vai. From a technical point of view, all JEM777 guitars have more or less the same specifications with the other two JEM models (JEM7 and JEM77)
Complete list of JEM777 variants:
- JEM777LNG - disappearing pyramid inlay, Loch Ness Green, American Basswood body (production 1987)
- JEM777DY - disappearing pyramid inlay, Desert Sun Yellow, American Basswood body (production 1987 - 1996)
- JEM777SK - disappearing pyramid inlay, Shocking Pink, American Basswood body (production 1987 - 1989)
- JEM777VBK - vine inlay, Black, American Basswood body (production 1988 - 1992)
- JEM777VDY - vine inlay, Desert Sun Yellow, American Basswood body (production 1989 - 1991)
- JEM777VSK - vine inlay, Shocking Pink, American Basswood body (production 1989)
[edit] JEM 555
All the JEM555 variants are not widely available in the USA currently, as Ibanez received a great deal of negative feedback from consumers.[6] However, in 2000, the variants have been reintroduced in many different countries thanks to high demand. Unlike the other JEM variants, the 555s are Korean-made rather than Japanese and are of lower quality and specs.
Complete list of JEM555 variants:
- JEM555BK - vine/ dot inlay, Black, American Basswood body (production 1994 - present)
- JEM555WH - vine/ dot inlay, White, American Basswood body (production 1994 - 1999)
- JEM555LWH - vine/ dot inlay, White, American Basswood body (production 1997 - 1999)
note:(only left-handed JEM model ever made)
[edit] JEM-Jr
Also known as the JEM333, these are currently only available in East Asian and South American countries. In essence it is an RG350EX with the monkey grip, using the same Infinity pickups instead of DiMarzio pickups that even the JEM555 used, and the inferior Lo TRS II tremolo.
(Unfortunately, there are some companies in Asia (China) that produce JEM counterfeit copies. These are cheaply made and are sometimes sold on US auction sites. They're referred to as "Chibanez" models in the US. These are not to be confused with the authentic Ibanez JEM333 models.)
[edit] Universe 7-string
The universe series is a JEM sub-model with seven strings. Most of the variants of the Universe are considered as old models since four out of six variants (UV7PWH, UV7BK, UV77MC and UV777GR) were produced only in the early 1990s. Currently, Ibanez produces only the UV777BK series and these guitars are widely available.
Besides the fact that the Universe has more strings than the variants of the JEM, there are also some other differences. The most notable difference is the Universe does not have the monkey grip, a hole on top of the pickups to hold the guitar. There is no lions claw cutout behind the vibrato. Also, all Universes do not have scalloped fingerboards while almost all of the JEMs have scalloped fingerboards. In terms of aesthetics, the Universe differs with the JEM variants as well, since there is no "Tree of Life" vine inlay on every Universe guitar. Instead, the dots on the fingerboards are usually replaced by pyramid inlays, as used on the earliest JEMs. The UV7BK did have dots, though.
Complete list of Universe variants:
- UV7PWH - white disappearing pyramid inlay, White, American Basswood body (production 1990 -1993)
- UV7BK - green dot inlay, Black, American Basswood body (production 1990 - 1994, 1996)
- UV7BK '97 - dot inlay, Black, American Basswood (production 1997)
- UV77MC - disappearing pyramid inlay, Multicolor, American basswood (production 1990 - 1993)
note: MC (pink, yellow, green, black,) First MC were done by Darren Johanson from ATD, later on by Ibanez Japan. After some problems Darren did the rest.
- UV777GR - disappearing pyramid inlay, Loch Ness Green, American Basswood (production 1991 - 1993)
- UV777PBK - pearl disappearing pyramid inlay, Black, American Basswood (production 1998 - present)
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Ibanez RG History http://www.ibanez-guitar.com/history.asp
- ^ a b Ibanez JEM History http://www.jemsite.com/jem/origin/index.htm
- ^ a b c Jemsite FAQ http://jemsite.com/faq.htm#guitars
- ^ The Seventh Song CD Cover
- ^ a b Ibanez JEM Specifications http://www.jemsite.com/jem/spec.htm
- ^ a b c Ibanez JEM Specifications http://www.jemsite.com/jem/spec.htm
