jackson PC 1 or Jem7V

[MichaelLitvak]

hey people
i currently own a jackson dk2
i managed to save a lot of money from my past summer jobs so i can let it allll go


lately i've been gassing for a PC 1 or a JEM steve vai signature

i havent played them but i will when i visit my local guitar store next time

what can you people say about those guitars? from various videos on youtube i like both sounds but i like the ibanez one a bit more. however, i like the sustainer and the harmonics thing on the PC 1 and it also sounds great. in terms of quality, which one is better? hows the edge trem comparing to the FR?

[Robert Burns]

Well...i own the PC-1 and i sure like it. For the sustainer alone..
its a great guitar. Any other axe going to give you the sounds
like the PC? Either pick would be good...but i lean towards the
PC-1 as most owners including myself, feel that its Jacksons
best product at any price. And nothing like a vibrating guitar!
Keeps the hands loosened up.

[quiksilver]

Wow, fun decision. These are 2 very different guitars. I've had and loved both, but I ended up selling the PC1 - and out of my entire collection, my 7VWH is the last guitar I would let go.

I think that, in general, Jackson has the edge in quality. I think that Ibanez tends to cut corners where possible, which leads to things like Ibanez bridge finishes bubbling or fading, trem post anchors moving in basswood bodies, etc. OTOH, I think that Ibanez is a bit more adventurous/cutting edge, going for things like piezo-equipped locking trems, scalloped frets, etc.

The PC1 is going to have a thicker neck, and the middle pickup can't be lowered out of the way (flush), like the JEM's can, which is a big deal to some people (like me). The sustainer is fun, and really powerful, though I found that I didn't have much actual use for it after the novelty wore off.

The JEM will have a thinner/wider neck and a different sound, with Alder and EVO pickups (assuming you are referring to a JEM 7VWH).

If I were you, I would look for a 2003 or older JEM 7VWH, as those have Ebony fretboards (2004 & up have Rosewood), but the PC1 is a great axe, too, and either way, you will be getting a fantastic guitar. Good luck, and let us know how everything ends up!

[Burn]

Well, I think you should get a flute. I mean, flutes are way shinier than guitars.

[rjohnstone]

All I can say is go play both.
Pick the one you like.
The necks are like night and day.
Jem necks are thin, flat and wide.
PC1 necks are thick, but very comfortable.
The rest is fluff.
I love my PC1, but I also dig my 1987 RG560. Same neck as the early Jems, minus the scallops on the last four frets.

The RG makes my hand cramp up, so it get little play anymore.
I'll never sell it though... it has a killer tone.

My PC1 is my main guitar now.

[MichaelLitvak]

thanks so much for your input people
as i said, will try both as soon as i get a chance.. i am not close to purchasing either one yet.. its all thoughtd right now

one more question: how is the sound of a dk2 comparing to the pc1?
i heard the pc 1 and it kind of sounds like a dk2 (well after all they are both jackson)

[Robert Burns]

pc-1 is more like a JB pickup imo... very good, but not as hot as the
EVH art series pup, or the Charvel Custom/custom. Sounds great,
but more mainstream. But that Sustainer is the bomb!

[rjohnstone]

PC1 has DiMarzio's in it... sounds nothing like a DK2.
Much warmer and fatter tone than any DK2 I've played.

[hksb_alex]

dont like JEM, RG..

[shreddermon]

Not a fan of Ibanez. Love both of my PC-1s, though. Your opinion may vary. Try them out for yourself, when you can.

[toejam]

pc-1 is more like a JB pickup imo... very good, but not as hot as the
EVH art series pup, or the Charvel Custom/custom. Sounds great,
but more mainstream.

The PC1 comes with a DiMarzio Super 3 which is hotter than all of those pickups.

[Axewielder]

PC1's have only side dot markers and no fretboard inlays, that might be weird for some people.

[rjohnstone]

PC1's have only side dot markers and no fretboard inlays, that might be weird for some people.

Only if you stare at your neck while playing.
The side dots are good enough for me anyway. They are sufficient to get me on track if I got "lost" for some reason.
I try and practice riffs/songs with my eyes closed... it's not a show off thing, I need to be able to focus on what's going on around me and not where my hands are no the neck.

[Robotechnology]

I have both... I wouldn't sell either without replacing them with the same model but in another color. They are vastly different in terms of feel and moderately different in terms of tone. The Jackson has an Les Paul ish neck size that extremely comfortable. The Ibanez has a thin neck but, not as thin as a Wizard neck profile (a good thing for me). The JEM is more versatile tonally to me (setting aside the Sustainer) but, the PC-1 sounds beefier. Can't go wrong with either.

[hippietim]

I have both - if I had to sell one it'd be the PC-1 but just barely.