Almost bought a JEM today

[PowerTube]

As soon as you see a "C" on the back of a Jem Headstock you instantly should know it's fake. All Ibanez Jem's after about 1998 serial number will start with an "F" for "FUJI GEN" the factory they're built in. The "C" stands for the "Cort" factory in China. If you ever buy a Japanese made Ibanez the serial will always start with "F." The whole thing sounded too good to be true anyway. I mean who sells a 3K guitar for $600 bucks? Answer???? Nobody! Sorry it was bogus bro but I am very happy you didn't get smoked on a shit guitar for $600 bucks. Better luck next time.

Thanks. I'm quite confident that they'll keep playing the charade of it being real and trying to pass it off as such. Truthfully, I would still buy it for maybe $250.00 or less. I could make it a decent player and it looks really nice. But I know they won't do that and then they'll claim that I made up the whole "fake" story to get it cheap.

[AdRock]

Part of the fret buzz problem on that thing could also be a twisted neck. I've tons of people get screwed with these knockoffs and at least half of them were told the guitar had a twisted neck when they took it somewhere to get a setup done.

[leftykingv2]

Part of the fret buzz problem on that thing could also be a twisted neck. I've tons of people get screwed with these knockoffs and at least half of them were told the guitar had a twisted neck when they took it somewhere to get a setup done.

+1 That does happen quite regularly with the knock offs AdRock. There are other issues as well with the Chinese Jem knock offs like frets that aren't even close to level (Fret buzzing issue.) Tremolo problems I.E. off center routing, cheaply made metals especially the base plate, Truss rods that don't even turn or move the neck at all for adjustment purposes. Poor grounding, garbage pick ups and wiring, volume and tone pots that cost less than 50 cents a piece. Bad neck joints and just poor craftsmanship in general in terms of the wood working. I've actually seen a few that were even made of plywood.

[PowerTube]

Part of the fret buzz problem on that thing could also be a twisted neck. I've tons of people get screwed with these knockoffs and at least half of them were told the guitar had a twisted neck when they took it somewhere to get a setup done.

That's the thing. Until I could raise the bridge to see if the buzzing went away, I wasn't touching it with a 10-foot pole because I was worried about exactly that. I'm sure they would have let me, but still, they weren't budging on the price. The Chinese knockoff site sells this copy new for $358.00:

http://www.rareelectricguitar.com/JEM77VBK-sale_577.html

Typical pawn shop, I guess.

[leftykingv2]

Thanks. I'm quite confident that they'll keep playing the charade of it being real and trying to pass it off as such. Truthfully, I would still buy it for maybe $250.00 or less. I could make it a decent player and it looks really nice. But I know they won't do that and then they'll claim that I made up the whole "fake" story to get it cheap.

I am positive of that. The guy's got to get his money that he has in it back somehow. Some poor uneducated kid will probably get ripped off.

[leftykingv2]

Ive been wanting to try a JS1000..these look to be a very good guitar..a Fender type neck w/a edge tremblo.best of both worlds.BUT,I just cant see getting anything but Jackson guitars..custom shop preferably...but anyway im glad you looked into it like you did..the really nice Ibianez guitars all have "made in Japan"on the back of he headstock.and.newer ones say TEAM CRAFT Japan..thats that.and if it dosent have one of these or both its not a quality made instrument..but I never owned one so I shouldn't even comment.I really would like to see what the JS1000's are like...take care....

I own two Satch models and the necks are nothing like any Fender. I own five Fender's two are vintage and the other three are newer but none of them have a neck as nice or playable as a Satch model. Even the lower line Satch model like you're speaking of have a nicer neck than any Fender I've ever owned or played. Also only the newer Ibanez guitars say " Made by Team J. Craft Japan" if they're Japanese. The other models I.E Indonesia or China don't say that. Old Japanese Jems don't say anything on the head stock. The serial Number is on the neck plate. Here is an example of a real J.Craft Ibanez guitars head stock marking.......https://www.google.com/search?q=Iban...ml%3B684%3B912

[leftykingv2]

This is an example of a fake Ibanez's head stock from the back view. No Jem or Japanese High quality Ibanez will have a serial number stamp like this and none of the high quality Ibanez guitars have a serial number that begings with the letter "C" https://www.google.com/search?q=Iban...ml%3B684%3B912

[1994]

I haven't played a Jem in 15 years but I do know this - there are loads out there in the used market. You'll pick one up for a competitive price sooner or later

[PowerTube]

I haven't played a Jem in 15 years but I do know this - there are loads out there in the used market. You'll pick one up for a competitive price sooner or later

My local Guitar Center has one on the wall. I might ask to play it sometime just to see if I like it. If so, then I'll try to find a good used one.

[jgcable]

I am really late to the party but 2 things would have happened. If it was real.. the pawn shop would have found out after you expressed so much interest and they would have raised the price up considerably. If they didn't.. they either knew or they now know its a cheap Chinese model or a fake.

Its a lose lose situation. JG

[PowerTube]

I am really late to the party but 2 things would have happened. If it was real.. the pawn shop would have found out after you expressed so much interest and they would have raised the price up considerably. If they didn't.. they either knew or they now know its a cheap Chinese model or a fake.

Its a lose lose situation. JG

This pawn shop was recently bought out by a chain called Cash America, along with a few others in town. I discovered recently that they have a 30-day return policy with receipt.

So..... if I were just a bit more devious, and if I had a few friends with cash to spare....... I would have each of them take turns buying it, then bringing it back a week later because they "discovered that it's a fake." So the same guitar would keep getting bought-returned-bought-returned.

But since they're a chain, they would probably just transfer it to another store.

[pianoguyy]

And its probably store credit. Its a pawn shop, of course there is a 'sell it to us' policy.

[jgcable]

Prior to the internet.. pawn shops were the places to go for incredible finds. Not so much nowadays. Most of the pawn shops around me (Connecticut) are usually so overpriced its crazy. They look up stuff online.. find the highest price they can find and that's what they use. The last time I was there they were asking MSRP for guitar processors and PA gear that was 8-10 years old.

[leftykingv2]

Prior to the internet.. pawn shops were the places to go for incredible finds. Not so much nowadays. Most of the pawn shops around me (Connecticut) are usually so overpriced its crazy. They look up stuff online.. find the highest price they can find and that's what they use. The last time I was there they were asking MSRP for guitar processors and PA gear that was 8-10 years old.

The pawn shops in Pgh. Pa are the same way. I saw a used beat up 87 American strat that was left handed at the shop about two weeks ago and I pulled it down off the wall and started playing it. Despite the mileage and the dings it was a nice player and it sounded really nice. I asked the guy how much he wanted for it and he said $1400!!! I said to the guy "You realize I can get one of these brand new for $1199 dollars with a case right?" He looked at me and said "The price is the price." I sat the guitar down face first on the amp without even turning it off and walked out laughing.

[pianoguyy]

Just to play devils advocate:

there's been a lot of government regulation that has interfered with the ability to sell things cheap.
Their overhead is outrageous.