Damn, I just realized it's the 30th Anniversary with matching back. Now I'm super jelly. I saw that at NAMM17 and this video doesn't even come close to showing what that guitar looks like in person. Holy shit, I'm really dying over here, having seen one up close.
Thanks Steve!!! Yeah the video doesn't pick up the beauty of the top very well at all. Next time I shoot a video with it, I will make sure it's captured better (I think my settings got messed up). It's definitely going to be a "keep in the case when not playing" guitar LOL. Rock on! :)
Dayum ! that thing is nice. I was within 2 days of buying the LNG jem reissue and it sold on me. I was BUMMED. you cannot go wrong with any MIJ Ibanez. the levels of quality are outstanding. dude lets fire up a Ibanez collab soon !
Thanks man, I just saw the guitar that Steve from Boston was talking about. Nice. I actually considered getting a Jem before I made up my mind on this j.Custom... the LNG reissue is sweet, and I also like the newer white with gold hardware
Thanks Ivan! Yes, I still have the PRS, but I haven't been playing it much lately. I still absolutely love it though, but I'm just starting to get a little protective of her as she ages LOL
For weight, it's still a very light guitar. As for tone, in fairness, I don't think I've played a basswood RG with the same pickups so I can't objectively answer that.
My first guitar back in 1984 was a yellow with a white pick guard Ibanez roadstar series 2, at the time I hated that guitar it was not what I wanted...I wanted a kramer Baretta but my Mother couldn't afford one...anyway I've stayed away from Ibanez ever since just because I hated that guitar so much.I do like this one It looks very nice and you play it REALLY good.
LOL thank you! I remember those Ibanez Roadstar guitars, but I don't recall ever actually playing one. I had two Ibanez Destroyers back in the 80s (prior to the RG series), and they were great. That said, I definitely would have traded either for a Baretta!
Yes! I almost bought a Prestige and was on Reverb.com and saw this one and thought..."It would be nice to have a limited version of my perfect guitar" then I had to have it!! I love the neck profile, body style (Strat/JEM) without the monkey grip and the pickups plus 5 way covers all bases. I don't think it's as 'Blingy' as the JEM. Sometimes I keep the case open when I'm not playing it just to look at it. (I can tell by the way you describe the guitar that you get that lol)
So how much? Does PDX stand for Pretty Damn eXpensive? What Ibanez does Steve Vai play? It has a handle cut out in the body. When are you going to actually learn to play it? Do you want a ride on my motorcycle? I will let you wear the wig. :)
Such provocative questions, but I will attempt to answer. 1) How much? I'm a gentleman so I don't kiss and tell. 2) PDX is the airport code for Portland, Oregon, and many annoying locals like myself will occasionally reference it as such to the pleasure of other annoying locals and the chagrin of non-locals. 3) Steve Vai plays his signature Ibanez JEM models, with the monkey grip handle (the new all white one with the gold hardware is particularly sexy). 4) I will learn to play when I'm darn ready. 5) Are you offering to let me ride solo, or is it because you want me behind you in a loving embrace? (either is cool with me)
You Rock. I enjoy your shows. Thank you for the time. I still wanna know how much. I won't tell anyone. About the embrace, or the price. Just don't forget the wig this time.
LOL, okay I found two US retailers that are both selling one new for $3999, but the people in Japan (or Korea) selling on Ebay want between $4600 and $6100, which seems pretty steep.
I have a dumb question for you. At 5 minutes and 24 seconds into the song "Tonight" by Ozzy, Randy Rhoads plays a note that sounds like, "puckeeeeeeew" like a pluck and a dive. How did he do that. Nobody can figure it out. Here th-cam.com/video/CCvVnSzXTfg/w-d-xo.html
That's a great question. Wow, I haven't listened to that in years, and I forgot how tasty that outro solo was. I'm really not sure what is going on, but I don't think there is any tremolo bar diving going on there (if that is what you meant by dive). Something happens when he is at the top of that bend, before he returns the bend to normal position. At first I thought it might be some incidental noise that occurs while switching back from neck pickup to the bridge pickup, but I think he actually switches pickups at 5:19. It sounds very much like the neck pickup at that one exact moment but the notes before and after definitely sound like coming from the bridge pickup. It could have been an accidental harmonic overtone (created how?!) when trying to do a pinch harmonic... we know that amp had to be cranked... or maybe it was an overdubbed note added after the fact where Randy was trying to fill in a gap, and he forgot he was supposed to use the bridge pickup at that point, and used the neck pickup. Some people might criticize that second explanation considering Randy was known to double or triple track his leads, and therefore a flubbed note would not be something very prominent or needing fixing, but I think this outro solo was a single guitar track, as it definitely sounds that way. I'm sorry I don't have a definitive answer :)
Wow, that's a great explanation. I guess it could be an overdub. I always felt like Randy was Niccolò Paganini reincarnated, just as genius as you are.
Yeah, the thing I always really liked about that solo in Tonight, was that it was pure Randy making that guitar sing it's own song. A lot of Rhoads' playing was beautiful because it borrowed from classical themes or even middle-eastern music maybe, but that solo in Tonight was just him and that guitar. Pure.
Man, I've wanted a J.Custom for years! Congrats on the new axe, bro, it looks and sounds absolutely killer.
Damn, I just realized it's the 30th Anniversary with matching back. Now I'm super jelly. I saw that at NAMM17 and this video doesn't even come close to showing what that guitar looks like in person. Holy shit, I'm really dying over here, having seen one up close.
Thanks Steve!!! Yeah the video doesn't pick up the beauty of the top very well at all. Next time I shoot a video with it, I will make sure it's captured better (I think my settings got messed up). It's definitely going to be a "keep in the case when not playing" guitar LOL. Rock on! :)
Dayum ! that thing is nice. I was within 2 days of buying the LNG jem reissue and it sold on me. I was BUMMED.
you cannot go wrong with any MIJ Ibanez. the levels of quality are outstanding. dude lets fire up a Ibanez collab soon !
A mint cond lng jem reissue just showed on gc used for $2799. Just saying.... ;)
damnit!
Thanks man, I just saw the guitar that Steve from Boston was talking about. Nice. I actually considered getting a Jem before I made up my mind on this j.Custom... the LNG reissue is sweet, and I also like the newer white with gold hardware
Sweet!! I knew the collection had been expanding but this is a very sweet addition indeed!!!
Thanks Gary! Not sure I'm worthy of it, but she's a keeper!
Congrats! That is a beauty, J-Customs sound and feel great.
Thanks Mike! Rock on!
The ultimate RG. In the words of Napoleon Dynamite: lucky!
Dream guitar right there!! Awesome and congrats!!!
Thanks man! :)
Beautiful guitar Dave! and it ROCKS!
Thanks Dave! ROCK ON!
Hi guitar freak ..awesomes lessons thanks.whats your opinion about the ibanez zero point tremolo system ..because i like them but i dont have one..
Always wanted that guitar and the one you showed earlier with the cream colored PU. Almost to pretty to play.
Dam nice Guitar sound and playing Dave Love Ibanez. Rock On.
Thanks bro, I appreciate the kinds words :)
Awesome pick, Dave. The finish reminds me of that old PRS 24 of yours. Do you still have that gem btw?
Thanks Ivan! Yes, I still have the PRS, but I haven't been playing it much lately. I still absolutely love it though, but I'm just starting to get a little protective of her as she ages LOL
How do you compare the weight/feel/sustain of this guitar with mahogany versus a standard basswood prestige/RG or JEM for that matter?
For weight, it's still a very light guitar. As for tone, in fairness, I don't think I've played a basswood RG with the same pickups so I can't objectively answer that.
My first guitar back in 1984 was a yellow with a white pick guard Ibanez roadstar series 2, at the time I hated that guitar it was not what I wanted...I wanted a kramer Baretta but my Mother couldn't afford one...anyway I've stayed away from Ibanez ever since just because I hated that guitar so much.I do like this one It looks very nice and you play it REALLY good.
Those arent even that bad. Maybe it was just not setup lol
LOL thank you! I remember those Ibanez Roadstar guitars, but I don't recall ever actually playing one. I had two Ibanez Destroyers back in the 80s (prior to the RG series), and they were great. That said, I definitely would have traded either for a Baretta!
Welcome to the "30th" Club!
You have one too? Well, we are in good company, right? :)
Yes! I almost bought a Prestige and was on Reverb.com and saw this one and thought..."It would be nice to have a limited version of my perfect guitar" then I had to have it!! I love the neck profile, body style (Strat/JEM) without the monkey grip and the pickups plus 5 way covers all bases. I don't think it's as 'Blingy' as the JEM. Sometimes I keep the case open when I'm not playing it just to look at it. (I can tell by the way you describe the guitar that you get that lol)
Not sure if you still have this guitar, but would you be interested in selling?
Every kiesel guitar "look at mme!!"
Yeah exactly! Have you tried one? I was looking at those, but I hear mixed things from people. Regardless, they sure do like pretty
And who else can play it better than you. Mr Professional.
Thank you Joe! You are too kind! :)
my guitar skills only deserve $150 guitars !
LOL, hey it's in the way that you use it bro!
So how much? Does PDX stand for Pretty Damn eXpensive? What Ibanez does Steve Vai play? It has a handle cut out in the body. When are you going to actually learn to play it? Do you want a ride on my motorcycle? I will let you wear the wig. :)
Such provocative questions, but I will attempt to answer. 1) How much? I'm a gentleman so I don't kiss and tell. 2) PDX is the airport code for Portland, Oregon, and many annoying locals like myself will occasionally reference it as such to the pleasure of other annoying locals and the chagrin of non-locals. 3) Steve Vai plays his signature Ibanez JEM models, with the monkey grip handle (the new all white one with the gold hardware is particularly sexy). 4) I will learn to play when I'm darn ready. 5) Are you offering to let me ride solo, or is it because you want me behind you in a loving embrace? (either is cool with me)
You Rock. I enjoy your shows. Thank you for the time. I still wanna know how much. I won't tell anyone. About the embrace, or the price. Just don't forget the wig this time.
LOL, okay I found two US retailers that are both selling one new for $3999, but the people in Japan (or Korea) selling on Ebay want between $4600 and $6100, which seems pretty steep.
Well, I just had my left nut appraised. Looks as if for me, that guitar is going to be behind glass for quite some time. :)
LOL, well you could sell both nuts, but that's probably not a good idea... you only need one, right?
I have a dumb question for you. At 5 minutes and 24 seconds into the song "Tonight" by Ozzy, Randy Rhoads plays a note that sounds like, "puckeeeeeeew" like a pluck and a dive. How did he do that. Nobody can figure it out. Here th-cam.com/video/CCvVnSzXTfg/w-d-xo.html
That's a great question. Wow, I haven't listened to that in years, and I forgot how tasty that outro solo was. I'm really not sure what is going on, but I don't think there is any tremolo bar diving going on there (if that is what you meant by dive). Something happens when he is at the top of that bend, before he returns the bend to normal position. At first I thought it might be some incidental noise that occurs while switching back from neck pickup to the bridge pickup, but I think he actually switches pickups at 5:19. It sounds very much like the neck pickup at that one exact moment but the notes before and after definitely sound like coming from the bridge pickup. It could have been an accidental harmonic overtone (created how?!) when trying to do a pinch harmonic... we know that amp had to be cranked... or maybe it was an overdubbed note added after the fact where Randy was trying to fill in a gap, and he forgot he was supposed to use the bridge pickup at that point, and used the neck pickup. Some people might criticize that second explanation considering Randy was known to double or triple track his leads, and therefore a flubbed note would not be something very prominent or needing fixing, but I think this outro solo was a single guitar track, as it definitely sounds that way. I'm sorry I don't have a definitive answer :)
Wow, that's a great explanation. I guess it could be an overdub. I always felt like Randy was Niccolò Paganini reincarnated, just as genius as you are.
Yeah, the thing I always really liked about that solo in Tonight, was that it was pure Randy making that guitar sing it's own song. A lot of Rhoads' playing was beautiful because it borrowed from classical themes or even middle-eastern music maybe, but that solo in Tonight was just him and that guitar. Pure.