Ibanez Models confusion? J Custom vs Prestige?

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T

ThrowBackMan

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Hey folks..

Can someone tell me the difference between the J Customs, Prestige and the Artists guitars made in Japan?
I'm totally confused by these..

Also, what's the difference between the Iron label series and just the standard RG series or S, etc,?

Thanks
T
 
Prestige, Artists, and J-Customs are "Team J-Craft," which just means built in the Fujigen Factory in Japan. The J-Customs use to have somewhat wild (for Ibanez) specs, but they've become reasonably standardized lately, typically with Mahogany bodies and bent maple tops. J-Customs have extra fret finishing and maybe use nicer mahogany that the other guitars. I have had many Ibanez guitars and to be honest, I don't notice much of a difference between these guitars other than the J-Customs have very fancy fret end treatment. They all play very very well. I constantly switch between an RG8127 (J-Custom), RG1527M (Prestige) and UV7BK (Artist), and they all play and sound great. The J-Custom probably is my #1, but that may be just the wood combination that I like a bit better.

I think "Iron Label" is just a marketing thing for a set of specs shared across a few different body shapes. Typically black with binding and active pickups. These aren't built in Japan. I recently had a chance to play one, and it seemed fine, but for the price I would just buy a Prestige or used MIJ guitar.
 
cardinal":35a11v4i said:
Prestige, Artists, and J-Customs are "Team J-Craft," which just means built in the Fujigen Factory in Japan. The J-Customs use to have somewhat wild (for Ibanez) specs, but they've become reasonably standardized lately, typically with Mahogany bodies and bent maple tops. J-Customs have extra fret finishing and maybe use nicer mahogany that the other guitars. I have had many Ibanez guitars and to be honest, I don't notice much of a difference between these guitars other than the J-Customs have very fancy fret end treatment. They all play very very well. I constantly switch between an RG8127 (J-Custom), RG1527M (Prestige) and UV7BK (Artist), and they all play and sound great. The J-Custom probably is my #1, but that may be just the wood combination that I like a bit better.

I think "Iron Label" is just a marketing thing for a set of specs shared across a few different body shapes. Typically black with binding and active pickups. These aren't built in Japan. I recently had a chance to play one, and it seemed fine, but for the price I would just buy a Prestige or used MIJ guitar.
Click to expand...

Thank you so much. I have an S series from like 93 I think it is, and it's from Japan, so is it from the same Fujigen factory? It has some of the best fret work I've seen on a guitar, besides my Charvel built in Japan about the same time. :-) Love those guitars.. :-) Only my PrecisionGuitarWorks guitar from Canada has better fret work. The best I've ever seen. I was shocked at how good it is. I'm putting it together now, and can't wait to play it.. :-)

Also, what about the Premium guitars? Have you played any of those and what do you think of their fret work, etc? I've been eyeing one of the Steve Vai Premium's at the price point they are at, but I don't want to get one and be disappointed and haven't had the time or chance to play one yet as I live in a very very rural area and have to travel about 75 miles to get to a store that has one..
T
 
Yeah, the MIJ Ibanez stuff is all from the same factory. They just branded them "Prestige" at some point.

I don't think I've played a Premium.
 
To be honest, the premiums don't play any better or have any better quality than the regular Indo made stuff. I have owned 7-8 Indo models, 3 Premiums, 4 prestige and one J custom. The Prestige lines I have play just as nice as my J custom. The only difference is a crapload of money and maybe better slightly better woods and a cheesy vine inlay.

For me the best bang for the buck in the Ibanez lines are the Prestige models. Amazing quality, fast as hell and made in Japan.
 
The J Customs usually have a slightly different neck profile depending upon the model. Most of the newer models have a different feel on the back of the neck due to a finishing difference. I've had 5 j Customs over the last 5 years. The artist models are pretty much on par with those as far as finish and fit. The main difference being the rolled fret edges. I have a Jem FP2 and a JS2410 which I have kept over my J Customs because they are so well made.
 
I'd like to find a Prestige Jem guitar I'm thinking, but I'm not sure which one I want to get yet. It will be awhile before I talk the GF into spending the bucks anyway.. as I'm sure some of you understand. But, I'm wanting one in just a plain color, plain neck if I can find one.. I don't mind some inlay, but I'm over seeing the Steve Vai one.. and I love Steve's playing, etc,. :-) Just personal preference thing.. :-)
 
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