I Am Done With Ibanez

[shredmonster]

Not to add fuel to the fire but the JS series still use the old neck joint...

But I couldn't disagree with you more, shredmonster. Because when you start throwing things like they sound weak and thin out there, its your opinion, and that's all. I happen to think that Gilbert has great tone. I also think Vai has good tone. So it's all ice cream my man...

I've owned coutless Ibanez, both AANJ and the old one. I'm not quite sure where you think the loss of tone comes from, the neck is still held on by 4 screws. Maybe because the mass is a little thinner than the old one? Maybe it's the lack of a neckplate? Hum... I've never heard it. But I'll go home and check...

Thin necks? Some of the new Charvels I've played had thinner necks than the Wizard. But I would agree that the thickness of the neck will shape the tone...

Respecfully man I just can hear a difference. I was a 2 G3 concerts live - Yngwie and Eric Johnson and their tone was so much better than Vai or Satch.
There is a huge post over at the Gearpage board on neck width and tone.

And I personally emailed Vigier and read lots on neck joints and found these guys saying when you start cutting mass as the neck joint it sacrafices tone. If you ever get a custom built by Moser he will try to talk you into a nice thick neck and large neck heel.

And the guys on the Ibanez boards have commented on the neck issue as well.

Like I say I am not dissing Ibanez. Their guitars are probably the most beautiful shredders I have ever seen. But I seem to hear a difference in their tone especially when you are not running them through a lot of processing.

One of these days I am going to try a Prestige or J-Custom. I just love the way they look. I almost bought a limited edition Pink beauty a couple weeks ago that was a limited 15 run out of Japan. But I got worried about the tone sustain issue.

Then again I have heard the old American made customs are suppose to be superb guitars. If I ever find one of those I may go for one as well.

I figure if I find a nice Prestige or J-Custom for a good deal I may give them another try.

[Bengal]

But when you start saying "EJ has a better tone than Vai" your still debating opinion. I happen to think that Yngwie's tone is crap. Wet noodle. Like I said above, I think Vai has great tone. So maybe YOU don't like the tone, doesn't mean others don't...

And like I said before but will say again, most tone comes from your fingers...

[shredmonster]

Do you just like to argue or what? Vais tone is super processed. Ever see the equipment he runs through?

Now compare that to say Schenker with minimal equipment. I will take Schenker's tone any day.

Thats my point. A lot of the guys that play Ibanez use a lot of processing. Fine if thats what you like. Nothing I can say about that.

But A/B a JEM with a Dinky dry or with just distortion - I have. Where does the term thin tone come from ? I guess there is no such thing huh?

Some tone comes from your fingers yes. All the nuances of a persons playing etc... The playing will sound similar on any guitar. But to take equipment out of it is a disingenuous argument.
Why are people always looking for equipment and pups to get better tone?
Why do they even get concerned about the wood the guitar is made from - why not just make them from plywood and drop the price?
Come on man. I'm done here - no need to argue.

[Bengal]

Not all of Vai's stuff is "super processed". I've seen him wail on an acoustic not plugged into anything and his tone was there. Hence my point that most comes from your fingers...

I've been blessed enough to play through some "stars" rigs. Jerry Cantrell, both Jim and Mick from Slipknot, and so on. When I do, do I sound like them? Not at all. Not even in the least bit. Why? Because most of my tone comes from the way I grip the neck, the way I hold a pic, the way I palm mute, whatever. That's where I believe a majority of the tone comes from...

But then again, I'm guessing by your post that you own no Ibanez. So aren't you doing to Ibanez what you slammed Yard Dawg for? Making a statement without proper ownership? Just taking what you read on the net as fact? OK, I'm done too. Can't debate with someone like that...

[S-man]

Yes and No.:ROTF: Any '80's Ibanez is a kick ass guitar. My average cost for 2 Blazers, an RG100 and a RG410 is $100. Firewood? I think not. But, I will buy anything.

Well, I did say...."in this case".

We were talking about Brand New guitars. Doesn't matter to me though...


Since when is plywood a good tone wood???

[hippietim]

I had a JEM - it was a piece of junk if you want to be blunt about it. Felt like a toy and sounded weak. I also have a Custom Shop Jackson that will tear a new asshole in any Ibanez I have ever heard.

I'll take that challenge. Bring your Jackson over - my JEM 7VWH will hold it's own just fine.

[shobet]

I think this is all fairly subjective as there are so many variables that effect the sound of a guitar. If something floats one persons boat it will be poison to another.

Otherwise we'd all sound the same.

[CharvelRocker]

I think this is all fairly subjective as there are so many variables that effect the sound of a guitar. If something floats one persons boat it will be poison to another.

Otherwise we'd all sound the same.

Indeed. Most guitars over the $1200 mark or so sound good, it's just a matter of taste.

[yard dawg]

I wasnt talkin about tone. I was talkin about the quality ive been reading about lately. EVH had legendary tone from a $185 dollar guitar painted with bike paint. He didnt pay $2000 for a custom shop guitar and his tone from that axe is legendary. Claptons blackie was a parts mutt not a custom shop. SRV #1 was a pawn shop special. All legendary tone and not one of them cost $2000 and came from a custom shop. Vai and Satch dont know anything about tone???? What about the other artists who play Ibanez and sound good? Jackson doesnt have the only guitars that sound good. Tone is subjective anyway. If you think other non ibanez players arent processed you have never been in a studio and seen what processing goes on. Petruccis live sound is heavily processed. Ive heard of only one guitarist that plays only thru an amp and thats ANgus Young. There may be more but hes the only one I know of. Tone is subjective and ive played expensive axes that sound bad and cheap axes that sound good.

[wilkinsi]

YD couldn't have put it any better. And I experienced the same thing: Jackson JS1 £150 vs. BC Rich Speedloader Ironbird £525. Which was better built and sounded better? Not the BCR. Originally, I thought it was down to how well I program my FX processor, but the original tone of the guitar does actually affect how I program the processor. Still, I'd love to get my hands on a USA Jackson, whenever I finally learn to save up and wait. Nah, fuck it, I'm gettin' another import.