Been Jonesing for a JEM....

[Newc]

Well, I hate to admit it, but I've been thinking of easing my self-imposed Ibanez boycott to grab an original 80's JEM - Green or Pink (the Yellow is way too much).

I know how they play, and I have a rough idea of what they go for, so if anyone can point me in the right direction.....

[VACharvel]

Jemsite classifieds may help you out...at least in the right direction.

[Bengal65]

Jemsite for reference, then fleabay. I opted for newer ones since the older models demand pretty hefty prices. Good luck in your search.

[finstah]

Jemsite is a great resource. I hang there a lot and there are always deals to be had.

[Bengal]

The LNG ones are going for around 5K now. Even player LNG's get over 2K.

You want the pink but the yellow is "way too much"?

SK is more rare than DSY. But SK's show up on ebay more than they do on jemsite. SK's can go for 1500-2000. If you can find a VSK, a pink Jem with the vine inlay, those are more rare as are the vined DSY's. But be carefull, the SK's paint faded very easy.

The DSY's are the cheapest from that era, those and the FP's. More of those made than the LNG, which only 777 were made, and the SK's.

[Newc]

Wow. Thanks for the info bengal. Guess I'll just hold out for the Pawn Shop/Crackhead score

[Bengal]

Newc,
The prices these original Jems are getting is insane right now. Seems like only 2 or 3 years ago you could get a nice SK for under 1000. But now they have become "collectable" and more scarce.

Too bad, they are great players.

[Big Al]

I had no idea that the LNG is in that price range. I bought one from a guy on jemsite a few years ago but never really played it.
What about the DBK? You should be able to find them at a decent price.

[Rupe]

I totally agree with Bengal's market assessment. The prices have gone crazy over the past two years. I passed up a near mint LNG two years ago for under $2K and now the asking price seems to be $5K+ (although I have yet to see one sell for more than $3K). The original SK and DSY's will be your cheapest (and IMO they're some of the coolest), but they also have the thinnest necks so you have to be into that sort of thing.

Aside from the limited edition models (10th, DNA, etc), the models that seem to demand the most $$$ are the LNG, BFP, and PMC...and to a lesser degree the GMC.
Good like in your search...Jems are some of my favorite guitars from the 80's-early 90's era.

[Bengal]

I had no idea that the LNG is in that price range. I bought one from a guy on jemsite a few years ago but never really played it.
What about the DBK? You should be able to find them at a decent price.

DBK's didn't go over too well. And they were made for 3 years so there are a lot of them out there. I think they were like 1200 new so they should be pretty cheap on the used market.

The swirled Jems have been going crazy too like Rupe said. But I think the GMC's and the PMC's both command over 5k now. Less than 300 made of each.

BFP's are in demand because it was the only maple boarded Jem with a Vine inlay and only made for 1 year, I believe.

The VSK's and VDY's both had rosewood fretboards. Those are quite rare too. Don't see many of those pop up ever.

I've always been a fan of the VBK. I love the black/green motif. I had one a while back and sold it. Necks are just too damn thin. I had a beat to shit FP that had a monster neck on it. Should have kept that one too.

[Axewielder]

A lot of people convert the 4-bolt 550's into JEM 777's, and look pretty good except for the inlays.

[Rupe]

BFP's are in demand because it was the only maple boarded Jem with a Vine inlay and only made for 1 year, I believe.

Most were made in '91 but they actually had a 4 year run '91-'94. I passed on a new one back in '92 and regretted it for the longest time. I finally scored one a few years back, luckily right before the prices went crazy. Here she is posing with a Charvel:



I'd still love to add a PMC and a LNG to the line-up...my second and third favorite Jems.

[Bengal]

Rupe,
That's right, it was a 4 year but you only really see 1991's. I think they made a ton and they didn't sell very well so they were selling the 91's until 94. Well, I don't know that for sure but that's my theory.

They are cool, no doubt.

I'm more of a GMC fan than a PMC fan. Most subtile, if that's possible, of the swirls. And I always liked the Vine better than the Pyramids. Don't ask about the Phillips Head Screw inlays. Yuck.

[Newc]

Well, for me it's either the Pink or the Green. I have no interest in the 7VWH or Universe or 555.

A FP or BFP might be ok, but I strongly prefer the pyramid inlays and the original 80s colors.

[xbolt]

My FP...not a huge IBZ Fan but a relatively good guitar