Ibanez JS

**Wolfgang_'99** · 05.05.07, 02:53 PM

Has anyone had any experiance using this instrument allong with the JEM.
Those are the two guitars I've really been looking into. I'd appreciate any input about these guitars.

Thanks

AT · 05.05.07, 07:58 PM

I bought an Ibanez R540 Custom in '93; shortly before that it had been known as the Radius. Its body shape is almost identical to the JS, and it has a hum-single-hum pickup configuration. I've never played either the JS or JEM, but since both are artist signature models they're probably a step up from Ibanez's production models. Though I hardly play it anymore, I've never been able to bring myself to get rid of the R540 because it is such a good guitar. The pickups (DiMarzio) sound amazing, and the action has always been excellent. At this point in my playing I don't like the super-small body or that crazy-thin neck profile. I don't know much about the necks on the JS or JEM.

**Majestic** · 05.05.07, 09:23 PM

The JS guitar has a fuller neck, if I recall correctly. Granted, I've had 12 Coors Lights at this point, which always makes things interesting.

I'm almost positive that it doesn't have their "Wizard" neck, but I could be wrong. I've played the guitar multiple times, and it didn't feel or look like a Wizard neck to me.

I think the guitar is great.....just great. Would I block the whammy? Yes. I'm an EVH enthusiast. But that's a $20 mod.....not a big deal. The bridge pickup is a real keeper. It's only about 10k of resistance, so if you slightly dial-out the upper mids to the correct range, you're suddenly in EVH territory.

If you keep your signal chain as analog, and uncompressed as possible, you should very easily be in EVH range. Or hey......run through a rack unit and "Satch" it up!

I prefer Satch to both of his students, save for a couple of Vai tunes ("Call it Sleep" and "Viv Woman", to name 2).

**Charvel2** · 05.06.07, 05:51 AM

They're quite different guitars, particularly in feel. The JS has a much fuller neck, with smaller frets, plus it has 22 of them. The Jem has an incredibly thin neck with 24 chunkier frets. Both great guitars, but I'd say play both of them back to back if you can before making a decision, 'cause it'll come down to personal preference.