JEM JR Review

It's a pretty good guitar in terms of sound, even though it uses Ibanez pickups instead of DiMarzio ones.

Features:	8
Sound:	8.3
Action:	7.3
Reliability:	7.7
Impression:	8
Overall rating:	7.9
Users rating:	7.2
Comments:	22

Featured review by: unregistered, on april 28, 2009

Price paid: $ 300

Features: Ibanez JEM JR. Is a beautiful guitar. It's basically a cheaper twin (much cheaper) of JEM 555 (a cousin of JEM 777). The guitar was made for those Who peoples Who loves jems but can't afford one. But it still is a jem. It is 24 frets, a Floyd Rose bridge. Mine was made in Japan in 2005. It has passive electronics. It is 2 humbuckers and 1 single coil pick-ups. It also has locking tuners. // 10

Sound: I play rock music. I do some metal riffs and some clean plucking and some overdrive distortion soloing. The guitar has lovely sound on all of these areas. The distortion is a little thick and heavy for the humbuckers. I am using a sony ta-1630 amp with a Zoom G2 multi-effects pedal. The sound is bright, but not too much. The volume on the single coil is a little low though.

It has almost no noise at all ever at high volume. It doesn't even show any noise when playing with a high gain distortion pedal. // 9

Action, Fit & Finish: The guitar has fantastic finishing. No flaws at all. The pick-ups are fine. I bought it second hand, so there were some scratches from picks but no real damage. This pick-up selector works smoothly, you can change pick-up position during a song and not effect the sound quality or introduce any noise. // 10

Reliability & Durability: Because of being a Floyd Rose bridge, tuning the guitar is an ART. The tuning stays for a long time, even if you do some hard strumming and a lot of pulling. Tuning requires adjusting about once a month, which isn't bad. The tremelos is strong, I have dropped it a few times without breaking it. // 9

Impression: Great deal for it's price. A new JEM JR. Will cost you about 450 US dollars. If you want an Ibanez, at this price, it is much better than the GRZs. Besides, it's a different feeling when you own a Jem. People may say to you, it's not a real jem. But if it's made by Ibanez and says "Jem" on it, than it's a Jem. And you can't beat a jem. // 9

overall: 5.4

Reviewed by: molala2, on october 23, 2009

Price paid: $ 346

Purchased from: a local music store

Features: 15 years ago when I was a teenage with not much money, I was strumming Nirvana's songs with a Korea made Strat copy everyday. At that time, anything with Ibanez's label on it meant "quality", "professional" and "expensive". 15 years later I decided that I would pick up my guitar again. And so I walked into a guitar store, to see what I could get.

And there was the Ibanez JEM JR hanging on the rack. There was price discount for it, and there is a further discount because this displayed item is the last one in stock. Gave it a try and it didn't sound back with the shop's amp. And so I bought it home. I should mention it was made in Indonesia, for there are some that are made in Korea and Japan.

The guitar a bit heavy. The neck would give your fretting hand feedback but the surface finish seems to thin. If you practise a lot I would advise you to extra wax the neck's back. The Floyd Rose is solid. Afterall it is an Ibanez. // 5

Sound: The sound isnt too bad. In face it is pretty good. The impression was the it was so made that you can have a little of Strat and a little bit of Gibson out of it, and up to the quality of a 300 bucks guitar, but just that. I think it can cope with pretty many music styles. Nevertheless I must say that the single coil pickup is very much not to my liking, because of its forcelessness, lack of analytical power, and very low output. I replaced it with a spare dimarizo virtual solo I have. Sound is a lot better thereafter. The humbukers are OK though. // 6

Action, Fit & Finish: As I have said, it was a displayed item so it might not be fair for me to say too much on its appearance. Flaws could have been caused by other customers that were trying the guitar out. But there are some issues that I think must have something to do with the manufacturing process. To being with, the turners werent tight locked (!). Not so bad that they would get off the guitar anytime. But they were just not locked.

As to the outlook, there are black stains around screws and nuts. Not unreasonable to assume that they were caused either by sloppy paining or screwing. The paint jobs is otherwise OK.

If you happen to be a owner of it too and if you could handle it, I would advise you to open the pickgurad and check the electric wires inside. I have done it, and didn't feel good thereafter. // 5

Reliability & Durability: I only have it for two months. As far as myself is concerned, I practise 3 to 4 hours a day and haven't have any problem with it yet. Excpet that the turners aint tight locked, what supposed to be solid appears to be solid on this guitar. Sometimes I carelessly crash the guitar slightly against chairs and wall, luckily no dent and scratch so far. // 6

Impression: Just another 300 bucks guitar. Next time I would still go for an Ibanez but one that is made in Japan. I do not regret buying this guitar but I think for the price they should give you a better single coil pickup, or perhaps they may want to go stricter with their manufacturing process. // 5

Reviewed by: unregistered, on april 28, 2009

Features: Made in korea. 24 jumbo frets. Rosewood. Basswood body. White colour with plate. Floyd Rose. H-S-H pickup style. Ibanez Infinity pickups. 5-way selector. Volume & Tone. Adjustable bridge angle. The best affortable guitar you would want to own!! // 9

Sound: I play blues, rock and metal. It fits all of them. the guitar has great sound when playing lead or rhythm. I use 15 watt Samick amplifier and it sounds powerful, bright and great. // 10

Action, Fit & Finish: everything is good. The pickups, body and stuffs were fine. everything ready to plug and play // 7

Reliability & Durability: I have performed many time at gigs, the guitar is superb. The guitar will last longer if u take good care of it of course. I would not use other guitar, i will only choose this guitar to perform or practice. // 8

Impression: I play mainly Rock. It suits perfectly. I have been playing this guitar for 2 years. it is still in good shape. This is the guitar i will use for a life time. I will kill the person who steal my JEM-JR. I love the shape of the guitar especially the handle. i sounds good when playing. I hate it when changing strings because i have to cut the ball end of the string before inserting it. I compared this guitar and the Epiphone Flying-V but this guitar wins it all. If this guitar is not good, why would Steve Vai use it? so trust me, this is the guitar you must buy...... // 10

Comments

[imoeng]

its not real.. JEM JR is not a real JEM... www.jemsite.com

[Ash_Lawrence]

Well...it may be crappy but it's still a "Jem".

Referring to an unofficial website doesn't really prove anything...

[6DOIT]

Umm actually a Jem555 made before 1995?? has Jem Jr writen on it i believe. I may be way off with the year though.

[Genius_92]

look imoeng are u sad a or something u really hav something against jem555 don't u. wot do u hav against dem? look if it says Ibanez jem on it it's a jem end of u can't say anthin different.

[ibanezist]

It is NOT a REAL Jem! Real Jem are made in Japan. YOU pretenders kill me with what crap! The REAL Ibanez's ARE MADE IN J A P A N ! ! ! the korians and the indonisian Ibbys Are made by other companys ! HOSHINO= IBANEZ(JAPAN) and cort and world ( KOREA and Idonisia)= C R A P! ! ! ! ! !

[kfong03]

lol not a fan of ibanez so i can't reli give

[>1B4N3Z<]

hm ibanezist is right. but this guitar is nice to play. my friend has one.
and to that other dude. how come you dont like ibanez but you actually bothered to look at the guitars and comment?? not picking for an arguement. just curious.

[mi2tom]

It might not be a real jem but it's catered for someone who's broke

[liquid85]

It is "real". Ibanez makes both the jem 333 and the jem 555 in korea just like other rgs. These guitars are marketed over seas, not here. Go to the Ibanez website click on the philipeans, and you will see the 333 (jr) and the 555. They may not be the best jems, but the have wizard 2 necks and edge 3 tremelos. So if you were looking for a mid range rg and like the jem go for it.

[DavyH]

Irrespective of whether it's a 'real' Jem or not, a 9.2 rating compared to 9.7 for a VWH is ridiculous. This is a budget copy of a high-end guitar and does NOT warrant a similar rating.

6.5, tops.

[JulAhmed]

I have one, and it's awesome for the price. Mine was made in Indonesia (2007 with Edge III) and I don't encounter any problem with it

[Shredaintdead]

I've owned several original jems, just bought a Jr 555, made in Korea serial # 00090997, and I'm tellin' ya it's so close to the same as the original Jems that it's not worth talking about! Been playing solid for 33 years, owned dozens of vintage Fenders and Gibsons. I'm telling ya, if I'm butchering the "Attitude Song" on this guitar, or an original Jem 777, you couldn't tell the difference! Most of you guys use way too much dirt and have absolutely no concept of real tone anyway! Fact!

[ivan_2894]

It is NOT a REAL Jem! Real Jem are made in Japan. YOU pretenders kill me with what crap! The REAL Ibanez's ARE MADE IN J A P A N ! ! ! the korians and the indonisian Ibbys Are made by other companys ! HOSHINO= IBANEZ(JAPAN) and cort and world ( KOREA and Idonisia)= C R A P! ! ! ! ! !

not everyone can afford a jap ibanez , but i'm sure no one is so idiot as to say that korean/indonesian ones are better or match the japanese

[xxPHENOMxx]

How much does this one cost? the other jems are WAY out of my range...

[Coldmystery]

OMG Not a real JEM? It may not be a JEM you like.. but it is what it's called. And Ibanez calls it a Jem. Therefor it's a Jem numbnuts.

[JEM333]

HEY YOU GUYS!!... JEM JR IS NOT A FAKE IBANEZ... AND WHAT MATTERS MOST IS THAT IF YOU HAVE THE SKILL TO PLAY THE GUITAR!... I KNOW MOST OF YOU DOES ALL THE TALKING BUT DONT HAVE THE GUTS!!!.. I PLAY MY JEM JR FOR 4MONTH NOW, I PLAY IT WITH FOR THE LOVE OF GOD AND TENDER SURRENDER,... I CHALLENGE YOU GUYS THAT HAVE JEMS THAT MADE IN JAPAN.. POST YOUR VIDS ON YOUTUBE AND LETS SEE WHAT YOU GOT!!.. DONT JUST TALK SHOW IT!!!.... WHATS THE PURPOSE OF YOUR JEMS IF CANT PLAY STEVE VAI, JOE SAT, PAUL G & ETC...

FOR SHORT YOU AS THE OWNER OF YOUR JEMS SUUUCCCCCKKKKKSSSSS!!!!!

[JEM333]

I PLAY IT WITH STEVE VAIs SONGS AND IT SOUNDS GREAT AND ORIGINAL... ITS ON THE PLAYERS HAND ON HOW TO USE IT.. AND ITS NOT FAKE, IT GOES THERE THAT JEM JRs ARE MADE SO THAT THOSE WHO CANT AFFORD JEMS IN A HIGHER PRICE CAN AFFORD THIS JEM JR.. ALMOST PEOPLE HAVE JEMs ARE MADE IN JAPAN CANT EXACTLY PLAY STEVE VAIs songs... they are just fan of steve vai not a player... i challenge you guys, post your vids on youtube...hahha.. im sure you cant play it right...

goodluck!

[justine3563]

isnt it real?!but why is it being sold by ibanez dealers?and it is in Ibanez.com..come on its not a fake!its just made for those who cant afford to have a 7V or what so ever.they're like in line with the standard RG series.=P

[justine3563]

jem333 is sooooo right!!hahaha lol

[justine3563]

jem333 is sooooo right!!hahaha lol

[gaafaroof]

need help here guys this or the rga42

[SlayingDragons]

Where do you get one?