Ibanez Jem JR (The Budget Jem Review)
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 10 сен 2024
- Ibanez Jem JR (The Budget Jem Review)
The Ibanez Jem is an iconic guitar, developed by Steve Vai and Ibanez. Personally I've always liked the look of the Jem (and the 7-string version, the Universe). For some time now there's been a budget version of the Jem available, since the real thing will set you back a bit. Enter the Ibanez Jem Junior. It's budget friendly, but is it any good? At least it's very yellow.
Enjoy!
For official website, visit elmojk.com
For lessons, visit ejkguitaracadem...
To support, visit / elmojk
Check out my music on Spotify: spoti.fi/2VnLgMs
Facebook: / elmojk
Instagram: / elmojkarjalainen
Twitter: / elmokarjalainen
The gear I most often use.
A Stratocaster of some kind, either an Yngwie Malmsteen Strat, or a custom Strat with a scalloped fretboard. For 7 string stuff I mostly use an Ibanez Universe.
A Marshall 1987x into a Marshall cab.
A Fender Yngwie Malmsteen overdrive, plus a Boss NS-2 noise gate, or a Strymon Sunset.
A Morley Bad Horsie 2 wah, and a delay.
An AKG C-414 mic for the guitar.
For acoustic stuff I use a Taylor 710 short scale thingy.
Check out some more of my gear reviews here: ruclips.net/p/PLNaLwTdlpQNFGz5Eesm0Ey_pDAL1F5y21
Hey dude so I picked this guitar out in white we haven't yet worded it but I do have one question how good is the tremoloI know it's an Ibanez and I just want to know it's better than some of the other actual special Floyd Rose is out there
@@blackmoonmetalproductions8747 On the one I had it worked well.
When you’re used to scallops every other fingerboard feels like playing a cutting board
@@jobinmcdastard3426 :D
Can you please tell me the different between Ibanez Jem jr white and the Ibanez Jem jr yellow..thank you
I've got the white one and I can attest the quality is great on all of them.
But have you tested the pink one
@@jaymckinnon6412 underrated comment
6:16 I saw that tender surrender you snuck in there I liked it :)
Cheers!
Killer intro dude!
Cheers :)
Grandissimo Luca!
It's "Hand on Heart" by Steve Vai, a rare gem!
Hand On Heart during the intro! It's rare to see people pulling that gem out! I even think that the man himself never played it live, which is a bummer.
Thank you so much for the review!
I know what you mean about the lack of scallops. I even need scallops on p#... I mean I just love scallops and highly prefer having them around. But seriously, the value you can get for your money with the entry level guitars these days is simply amazing. I remember when I was shopping for my first electric guitar and the cheaper ones were unique pieces, because their component placement varied so wildly. I remember drooling a used jem in a local guitar store as a teenager but it was like 10 000 Finnish marks back then. I Wish they had had these back in those days..
Yep, the entry level stuff is much better these days.
This is for sure the best time in history to buy and start playing guitar. When I started here in the states, you either bought a nice Les Paul, or a nice Fender Strat, or some copy that was horrible made in Japan. Back then, japanese guitsrs were not that great.
I bought one a few months back. I changed the stock tone and volume knobs to green knobs and getting some Dimarzio pickups for it. Thinking about changing the tremolo to an original Floyd Rose. It's definitely a fun guitar to play and look at.
Bit pointless buying if your going to change everything
@@kevinismay8853 I wouldn't call customizing a guitar to your liking pointless. All in all I still paid less doing this than buying the real deal.
You do those few things and you have a premium guitar that you could gig ANYWHERE and will sound totally professional. You wouldn't need anything else and I'd LOVE to know how those upgrades go..... cheers.
@@kevinismay8853 it would be a natural upgrade to the premium model for a bit cheaper if you shop smart. Then sell the stuff that came with the guitar (boxed with the new boxes that came with the upgrades) and you might not get much but you will get a few dollars back. If someone got a jem kit for $120 then they would be interested in that stuff as kit guitars have shit pickups that come with them.... just some thoughts though.... cheers.
@@titmusspaultpaul5 Perfect guitar the JEMJR to switch out some stuff like pickups and maybe a little stronger trem system and yeah, you got an amazing guitar for not a lot of money. I have heard pickups for 50$ that sounds better than the ones the guitar ships with :)
Nice review! I have the white jem jr, an awesome guitar. I wouldn't call it a 'budget' guitar, it plays actually as good as the jems with a higher price point; and it's more accessible for mods. It just is what it is.
I had a JEM BSB about 30 years ago, but had to sell it because life got in the way. I just acquired a white JEM JR and it came with a plush Ibanez hardcase and cost me $300. I absolutely love it and am just about to change out the pickguard and trem (gotoh GE1996T). I may change out the pickups at a later date when pension allows, but for me it's a keeper :)
The Jr can be a fantastic modding platform. Try and find a mildy used one at potentially half price (as I did...). Use the money saved for a few upgrades and you will have an even better guitar.
I own 2x Jr's. I thinned/reprofiled the backs of the necks on both and scalloped frets 21-24. With an Tru-oil finish they now feel better than my MIJ Jems. One is fitted with a Gotoh GE1996T. The other has the stock DL Trem with fatter brass block, Gotoh Power Springs and a Floyd Rose push-fit arm. I've left all other hardware stock.
I prefer the Quantum (White Jr) to the Infinity (Yellow & Pink Jr SP) pups. No need to swap them. An EQ tweak on your amp goes a long way!
Yeah I am thinking about buying the Yellow one and add a Scheller locking trem, Dimarzio Super dist in the bridge and a Dimarzio PAF PRO in the neck both pickups in zerbra black&yellow color. That would be enough to make this guitar truly awesome.
I've heard a bit of "may I help you" lick. Great review and great guitarist.
Cheers!
4:10 - Dude! If *_that_* counts as "clean-ish" in your book, what the hole do you consider "heavy distortion"?!?
That intro playing was so clean man!
Great playing man! I see the joy in your face playing this guitar .. will definitely pick one up
Cheers!
I added green knobs and a pink selector switch cap. I need to get some pink paint for the claw. For stock pickups, they're very good. Great harmonics. Only thing I don't like is the tremolo system. The collar for the bar just does NOT stay tight. I leave the back plate off because I'm constantly tightening the Allen screw.
Try either a little Plumber's Tape or Threadlocking Compound (liquid or tape). 😘
You’re so good at guitar! Also very nice review!
Thank you so much 🤗
Just about to order that exact model. Owned an rg years ago and really miss it!
I'm gonna become a patron. I hope you keep doing guitar reviews and pedals and amps. I enjoy them and your honest which is rare on RUclips now.
Cheers :) I really appreciate it.
I’m currently saving for one of these for around or just after Christmas
Wow that was some sick playing on the beginning. Scandinavians know how to shred!
Cheers :)
@@MrPolevaulter the man himself!
It's in their blood
Haha, top review brother! Got me a pink one, gotta say i'm lovin' every second with it. Cheers!
Forgot what you said about this guitar. I may have to get one and install a gotoh floyd which is better than the origimal if you ask me. I think gotoh makes the Edge and low pro edge anyways.
That and a new bridge pickup and I'll be in business. These are a great deal if you ask me..
Gotoh!
The only weakness of this guitar is the cheap (soft) material of the bridge. It wears out quickly, and the guitar goes out of tone. If you replace the bridge, it's a pro level axe.
Seriously thinking about the pink version
I really dig the jem jr ..also cause u can buy one cheap and swirl paint it and deck it out make it look crazy ..not gonna do that to 2000 doller jem
Not quantum pickup, infinity pickup.
Would try to get my hands on the pink knobs to go with those pickups, man :)
Yeah, I have a flourescent yellow Ibanez RG1XXV, I put bright pink pickups in and swapped the knobs and switch cap to neon green ones.
I've owned 3 jems in my time. The 505, a white Jemjr and a Woody. I did buy a pink Jemjr the other day but it arrived with a broken headstock (today actually which is ironic since my was shite anyway 😁). The Woody was (obbiously) in a league of its own. But I would stack the Jemjr against a 505 any day of the week, eventhough the pickups lack a bit in delivery.
Actually. When I picked up my 505 many years ago I didn't even know it was a signature guitar. I had just sold a Gibson Flying V and fell for that monkeygrip 😅. The things that sell, right?
Great review, looking forward to some Steve Vai-jams featured on this guitar, although it does sound a bit thin compared to your Universe-specimens.
Well done, Elmo The oppressed opposite Karjalainen 👏.
Thanks Tuomo. Actually decided to sell it, precisely because I have two Universes and also a custom Jem copy with scallops. The JemJR would look great, but end up not being played.
Nice video dude, I really appreciate this kind of content (and I know that you’re buying what you’re testing). Try to do some guitar lesson on cool/hard licks (it could be great). And, I would like to know what do you think about the vox av30.
Keep going dude, you’re one of the best and, surely, the funniest guitar guy on RUclips !
Thanks Lucas! Much appreciated :)
I do have plans for some licks lessons. I might check out the AV30 as well.
This Junior guitar made in Indonesia, not in Japan as original Ibanez Jem. Recently my student bought this model but asked for return due to manufacture fault. The 1 st string was too close to the edge and always slipped out of fingerboard.
That's likely to be little more than a minor neck alignment issue. It could potentially have been solved by slightly slackening the neck bolts with the strings under tension and tightening back up again. At worst, also pulling the neck slightly towards the Bass side and re-tightening. Had a similar issue with my Premium Universe. 2 minute job...
and this guitar costs around SGD690 in Singapore. I'm aiming to get this soon.
They have a new green sparkle 421 that is a hardtail that looks good. Change the nut to a graphite nut and maybe change the pickups and you have a great strat style guitar for cheap. They go for 400.00 $ US new on ZZ Sohnds and sweetwater I believe.
Extremely hard to choose between this guitar and the PRS SE Standard. They are so different but both are so good for the price around 500€ In my opinion the PRS SE Standard sounds much better and is probably worth more than this guitar, to build and everything. But this guitar has something and with the right pickups It will be amazing. Damn that I have not got the money right now for both of them 😭
Wow, makes the full on £2k version really hard to justify!
A bit yeah.
I absolutely love the sound of that jem
Yellow is on back order. I think they all are. I saw the white one and went back like 19 hours later and got it. Not easy to get ahold of any RG style Ibaneze right now.
Seems so.
Bought one of these and liked it but did a return because of a neck fretboard issue of it twisting in temp changes. Also had a paint run drip in the upper cut out bout but I'm not fussy and would have kept it if the guitar were perfect playing. I'm not a novice and I notice little playability issues so it has to be right. Proper neck relief and string action for my style etc. I'm expecting a new one to try again with the return and am hoping I get a "Jem". I own a few guitars made in Indonesia and they're very excellent so I was surprised by the dud I had gotten. I have a few Jacksons from Indonesia made and they're excellent. Fingers crossed for a good JEM.
$450-$499 right now in the US good sir!
Cheers!
It's about $1000 in Aus .
Its about 740 cad right now
I heard that Tender Surrender that you snuck in there. Very nice man. :)
Cheers!
Hey is It good for metal
Sure, I guess. If you tune it down.
Got mine in white yesterday ye couple things I'll have to do,polish up fretts and oil fretts I'd like a thicker gauge strings than 9s I'm so use to 11s but I'll see,I love it it's fine no issues yet can always mod them up,change pickups later that's the fun with guitars making them urs style of choice I personally think,I love 80s rock I was 80s man born in 80s well 85 haha but 80s is my era motley crue whitesnake Europe all them great bands so I wanted a jem reminds me of the 80s years hahah
I know you mentioned it was in tune out of the box, but did it come with a good setup out of the box? Or did you have to tinker with it to get it setup right?
Didn't have to do anything.
Something about affordable Floyd's that doesnt sustain as long or much when you warble a note with the bar. Sounds very nice otherwise
That's due to the crappy thin Zinc Block that's fitted. A fatter Brass replacement makes for an excellent cheap (£20) upgrade and makes the Jr sustain 30% longer than the MIJ Jem7V. I did back to back timings to prove it.
Another great upgrade is the push-fit Floyd Rose Tremolo Arm. Saves all the bother with the arm rattling or coming loose with use 👍
Hey man, killer tone and and awesome ass review! I really enjoyed your playing. Sure wished I heard you live here in Southern California. Last year, I switched out the stock pickups on my white Gem Jr. and put on my new Dimebucker pickups and dude...it sounds incredible through my Randall Diavlo RD100H amp head with all my pedals and my Hartke Cab with new 10' Celestian speakers. Very beast and mean sounding..you'd love it man. I really dig the look and feel of this guitar. Keep rocking!
Thanks man :)
Great review and playing as always Elmo, I am on a budget torn between buying jem Jnr or evh standard any advice?
Thanks! Tough one. They're really different in terms of how they feel. The EVH is probably slightly better quality, but you won't go wrong with the JemJR either.
is it called jr because its smaller or because its not the signature? i was looking to buying this but i wasnt sure if it was full size, can someone please help me.
It's full size, just cheaper.
It's like signature-light. Not all the specifications match Steve's regular guitars. The trem model is different, the pickups are different, none of the frets are scalloped on the Jr...
The bright yellow jellybean look is killer
:)
So do you think the Harley benton fusion 3(hss,roasted maple) is better than this?
Probably a bit, but it's not a big margin. Besides their totally different imo.
15:40 you played for the love of god :)
Great song that :)
Sounds awesome love what you’re doing!
Thanks!
Watching this again. Forgot what you said about it. I need another guitar that has a locking trem. This guitar is in my budget and I can upgrade the trem with a gotoh 1996t for a 100 bucks which is an excellent term. Surh uses them instead of the floyd rose original. I think the nut and bridge after the pickups have a lot to do with sustain and tone. So I believe ( I have no proof) that the steel nut makes the guitar sound better. Notes are more defined and better sustain is achieved.
Great reviews, and I always want to play guitar after hearing your excellent playing. Very cool. Thanks again my friend and be safe sir. Oh, I wasn't a big huge fan, but as you probably know the frontman and guitarists for children of bodwn died. RIP
Be safe sir.
Yeah, he did. Seems he wasn't entirely well. Sad business. He went too young.
Maybe FUTone has a good trem replacement for your guitar. I bought one for my import Dean ML and I was surprised how it improved the sound and feel of the guitar.
Very good amazing guitar beautful songs ,good pickups
Thanks! :)
Does anyone know why this guitar is cheaper then the rg 550 genesis? I love both just trying to make a decision. Would love some help 🤘🏻
No idea.
Corey Amero 550 is made in Japan. This one is Indonesia or China. Better trem on the 550, prestige level quality and stock ibby v7, s1 & v8 pups. Better made neck, basswood body on 550 vs mahogany on the JR. its just prestige level vs rg 450 level.
I can tell you the difference
quality control is far better on the RG 550 genesis and has better hardware overall
the people at the japan factory takes better care when making the instruments
the people at the Indonesian factory they're reasonably skilled at the job but to keep costs within reasonable prices they cut corners so you can get a guitar at a reasonable price
not knocking the Indonesian factorie/s but quality control can be hit / miss
@@And1slash you are fucking dumb
@@ting6161 state why he is dumb or your comment is useless, you fucking tool.
Is the guitar full sized or is it smaller because the jr. part of the name confuses me
Full sized.
I couldn’t stop staring at elmo , what kinda guitar is it
:D
got the s520 sounds very similar. its great, similar price
Best review for this jem kiitos 😎👍🤘🏻🎶🎸🥂
Kiitos :)
What where you playing in the beginning I really want to know
Steve Vai. I forget the name of the song. It's from Fire Garden.
@@MrPolevaulter thank you 🧡
@@MrPolevaulter hand of heart
Killer playing and overall awesome fucking demo bro! That got me pumped
Cheers :)
What distortion may I ask are you using for your super saturated sound?
Hi! I'm not sure, as it's an older video. It's either a Fender Yngwie Malmsteen Overdrive, or the Strymon Riverside (which I use these days).
Hi Elmo, great tone & awesome playing. Can you elaborate a little bit on how you got this tone? Pedals/AXEFX/plugins/Amp? Thanks!
Cheers! Guitar, Strymon Sunset, Marshall 1987x, Strymon Timeline in the loop, volume pot to control the volume of the amp, Marshall cab with Greenbacks, AKG C-414.
Id replace the pickups to dimarzio ones which is what steve vai has, and also upgrade the hardwear and you could have a decent guitar!
Yep.
Cool Guitar playing. 👊😎
Thanks!
Love the color. If only the pickups would be black or yellow :/
LOVE the yellow!
Ok so I still can't get on. When I use the link in the description it takes me right to the tier selection page for Elmo. When I click the 5 dollar tier it starts to load but never finishes. It just gets stuck. When I go to the app I can search Elmo's page and that loads but when I hit become a patron it gets stuck loading. So then I go to the website and the home page won't finish loading but down the bottom where "about us" and other links are I can click them and they work. I think patreon is having technical problems. I'll keep trying though till it works.
Edit: I just tried it on someone else's channel and the same thing happened. Won't load. I can't be the only one experiencing this can I?
It worked in the end. Must have been something with Patreon.
Yeah I had to do it from a desktop and it worked. It wouldn't load from my iPhone. Weird. Happy to support you Elmo. You may be the last honest reviewer on RUclips.
Is it worth getting . . .
This particular one was good.
hi any recommend this guitar for shredding and sweep between squire and fender ?
Depends on what kind of thing you like.
Ibanez Jem jr indo 2018 vs Jem 555 korea 2008?
Dunno.
Awesome review, thanks!
Glad it was helpful!
@@MrPolevaulter Anyway, the difference between QUANTUM picks and infinity? Did you heard that? ¡Thanks!
@@DELHERBEDISAR No.
@@MrPolevaulter Okay, great, Thank You.
Wish they would make it with pyramid inlays
those are cool inlays
I've played a original 87' jem though I struck one that I feel like it was a badly made model
but the colour and inlays were cool
Meranti is one of 400 or so Philippine mahoganies and Jatoba first gained wide acceptance as a floor plank wood. But kudos to Ibanez for looking for low cost tonewoods. These two arent the prettiest but that isnt necessarily how you get to a good guitar.
I believe this is a Jr special yellow not just a Jr. And these yellow and pink ones have the infinity pickups where the white Jr has quantum pickups....am I thinking right here or am I confused?
You are 100% correct 🥇
Just ordered this exact guitar. Can't wait till it gets here. And What do you mean scallops???
Scalloped guitar necks: ruclips.net/video/y_ibCyOQP6U/видео.html
Yet another JEM left undiscovered by me as I sift though all the other jewels hanging on the wall at Guitar Center...”excuse me buddy...can you go fetch us a ladder and then get that guitar at the top of the wall that I can’t afford...” Your A Wizard Neck Now Elmo! 🧙🏻♂️Cheers! Rock On! 🎸🔊🎶🤘🏻
Cheers :)
PAtreon won't load for some reason on the site and the app. I'll try again tonight
It worked for me just now. Don't know what the trouble was.
Elmo Karjalainen so when I get to the tier page and click the tier it keeps loading and loading and loading and never loads. If I use the app I go to your page and click become a patron and then that gets stuck loading. Maybe it's just me. Regardless I will get it to work eventually.
They should make it in flower pattern
That would be cool :)
Save up a bit more and buy a used Premium Jem 77P-BFP. Voila! Flower Pattern + Dimarzios + Better Trem :-)
You can direct drop an official Floyd or kahler trem in no mods needed.
As for the flower pattern, it's just a wrap under the clear coat.
Might be able to have an auto shop in your area do that for cheap, and you would be able to even choose your own wrap designs.
@@Mr__V you're right. You can do all that. You would potentially have a fabulous unique guitar afterwards too. However, by the time you've paid for a new Trem, refinishing and (potentially) a pickup upgrade, you might as well have bought a used Premium Jem77P-BFP. You wouldn't loose money on resale at a later date either...
@@ThePedroDB not quite.
Your talking about like a 2 guitar.
A jem Jr is like 500, i got mine for 350.
I got a set of Duncan's for 100
I can get a trem for 150.
If i wanted to wrap it and spray it, and say I even pay someone else for the work, I'm looking at maybe a bit over 1k in the worst case, and it would be exactly what I want it to be.
Still half of a used Jem premium.
My prices are based on being a lefty too so prices may be different right handed, but I find that lefty prices are far more average then the random deals found righty.
The correct pronunciation is Jah-to-bah (as in wah... and Jah obviously)
or more phonetically correct would be Jah-toe-bah
Note to all reviewers of guitar, pls refrain from using fx, this is just giving filter and not disclosing the true tone direct to an amp.
Bruh, you got skills!
Cheers!
I wonder why the lefty version is all white. Maybe somebody said "hey, usually lefty guitars are all black. Let's do it different this time". I don't know.
Simples. They never made a Black version until a year or so ago. The White Jr was the original variant and therefore had the Leftie to match. It's also maintaining the White finish used by Steve Vai for many years with his "Evo" Jem7V
I just bought one! 🤘
Yo, how is the guitar going after 2 years?
Who are your Two Other Guys on your Amp Head?
One is Elmo, and the other is ZIltoid the Omniscient.
@@MrPolevaulter I thought it was Jari & Teemu in muppet form :). Good luck in UEFA Suomi!
@@madddog6790 :D Thanks :)
great video
Glad you enjoyed it
put in some DiMarzio's happy sailing.
Is the locking trem any good?
I seem to remember it being fine. Also fine on the one I bought recently.
Thanks for another good video. :-)
Kiitosta :)
sorry for asking..is that the indonesian version?
Dunno. Sold it.
Pretty sure it is
I just unboxed one this morning and decided to look around for a review on the newer models.
This one was the same odd combo of newer woods as mine. Mine also has a bad 5 way switch that only activates 4 positions though.
The grain pattern in my fretboard feels like unfilled mahogany, lots of open end grain. Makes the board a bit rough to the touch, but doesn't affect overall sound.
Did you happen to experience that as well?
Been a while, but I don't remember having any of those issues.
@@MrPolevaulter I fixed the switch up, it just had dirt or something in it stopping position 5 from activating.
As for the board, a full week of oiling it seems to have smoothed it out a bit.
It was one of the thirstiest fretboards I've ever seen, I would spray it and before I could get a rag to wipe off excess, it soaked it all up.
I thought maybe these were smaller but I guess not.
You might be thinking of the Jem Mikro... 😉
Another great video Elmo - its a man's colour too ! ;)
:D
I bought the white one used in absolutely MINT condition for under $400 last year, I wish I didn't. Do I like it? Meh......
It's okay. While the pickup configuration is versatile and useful ..... the guitar "Feels" plasticky in the hands. Like a cheap toy.
I guess you get what you pay for. I'm sitting on it because to sell it is to take a hit on it.
So it's literally become a collector of dust in my guitar rack.
And yes, the action is set up right, intonation is on point etc etc.....
Sorry to hear.
@@MrPolevaulter there's an Ibanez prestige in the shop I saw yesterday for $800.........looked so beautiful, I played that for close to half an hour. Didn't want to leave without it. But I don't have the room really here to put anymore guitars.
these are great however got to agree that you get what you pay for
I've heard these and they're good but it's just a Indonesian Ibanez with some cosmetic upgrades
I hope you got that prestige Ibanez by now
they're fantastic instruments
@@And1slash
No, but I will get one eventually. I have 10 guitars in the house lol.
Anybody buying a Jem Jr shouldn't expect it to feel like a Prestige model. However, buy used and do a bit of minor TLC and make a few cheap mods and you can have a fantastic feeling and playing guitar. I actually play my Jr SP more than my MIJ Jems now... 🙅♀
It's $499 here in the U.S. .
where is it made?
Can't remember. Sold it.
these generally are made in Indonesia
however there was some made in Korea that had dimarzio pickups
Nice...👍👍👍👍
Awesomeness!
Thanks!
COOOOL !!!
Cheers!
Thanks for the info. Are you John Malkovich’s son?
Why never got it why get a fucking 3k guitar,this is just fine
If you can afford a £3K guitar and want one, why not? It will be made from better quality materials and potentially be built/finished with more care but it won't necessarily make you a better player.
The Jr can be a fine guitar though, so I agree with you, there's no real need..
I wish you guys would do a review instead of just a demo, Its cool playing it and all but crack it open and show people what they get for their money.