NEW GUITAR DAY Ibanez Jem Junior

This is an unboxing and small dive into my new Ibanez Jem Junior.
www.guitarcent...

[@dzl8596]

I told my first guitar teacher that the original Jem looked cool with the monkey grip. He said it was a useless marketing gimmick. I stopped taking lessons from him. Your video helped me decide to buy one. My yellow one arrives tomorrow. Thank you! 🙏

[@TheOneTrueSpLiT]

I could have bought two these days for the £1,000 price I paid here in the UK for my Jem Jr back back in 2008, I'd love a pink one although the Jem 777VBK was always my favourite but was out of financial reach for me back in the day ☹

[@ThePedroDB]

I own a couple of Jrs. - a White and a Pink variant. Both 2017 models. One has a Gotoh Trem fitted, the other still has the stock Tremolo. My advice re: the stock Trem is to replace the block with a fatter 33mm Brass Unit (for 50% more natural sustain !..) and a genuine Floyd Rose Rose push-fit Arm (no more loose Trem Arms!..). Makes a world of difference. Gotoh PSP Trem Springs are also a good (cheap) replacement but not essential.. I shaved 4mm off the back of the necks, re-profiled to a shallow "C" shape, scalloped frets 21-24 and gave a Tru-Oil finish. They feel amazing and actually better than my Japanese Jems.... 🤷‍♂ I left the tuners, pups and electronics stock. No need to change. Perfectly serviceable. Great modding platform! 🤘

[@jrgguitars3620]

I wonder if a Gotoh trem would be more stable. This one is still giving me issues, but I will continue to work on it. I have thought about scalloping the top frets, just as the "real" Jems have. Maybe some day? Thanks for watching!

[@ThePedroDB]

@@jrgguitars3620 the Gotoh is just made from much higher quality metals. It will be more stable but the stock Standard DL Trem can be improved. I forgot to mention that I swapped my trem posts for a harder Floyd Rose set and gently filed any burrs from the trem baseplate knife edges. It's been very stable since. You don't say if you are having single string tuning issues or across the 'board. Single string is likely slippage at saddle/nut or string stretching. Across the board is more likely knife edges or posts or, occasionally, fouling the body cavity. Springs are rarely the issue.

[@jrgguitars3620]

@@ThePedroDB ​ Thanks for the comment and view! The strings are solid; it is the whole trem that does not stay put. I can see the tilt of the trem altering as I use it. For now I am just dealing with it, but I will probably block it or switch the trem. As I have started to check things out I have seen there are a lot of people with the same problem. Thanks for watching!

[@JoeR203]

@@jrgguitars3620 I have a yellow one. I added green knobs and a pink switch cap so it would look more like Vai's guitar. I was thinking of swapping pickups but the stock pickups impressed me so I left them in. The trem arm wouldn't stay tight. I kept the rear cover off because I was constantly tightening the Allen screw. I got fed up with it and had a Gotoh GE-1996T put in. It made a world of difference. I got the one with the 40mm block. The cavity cover will still go back on. The Gotoh posts are 11mm and there's not much wood there so the stock 10mm posts were left in.

[@jrgguitars3620]

@@JoeR203 That sounds very nice. I still have the trem floating, but when I use it, even a little aggressively it goes out of tune. I can jump up and down on my Floyd and it never goes out of tune. I think the Gotoh will probably be in my future.

[@andrewbello983]

Nice playing! thanks for the review.

[@jrgguitars3620]

Thanks for watching. It is a really nice budget friendly guitar.

[@MainPrism]

Those Infinity hunbuckers they use really are pretty nice for being one of their "cheaper" series pickups. That Cosmo Black definetly looks awesome, it looks nothing like I expected it too! Almost like a smokey effect on it, super cool!!!

[@jrgguitars3620]

Yes! It is kinda smokey. The pickups really surprised me, and the split coil wiring system makes it perfect. Thanks for watching. 👍

[@ThePedroDB]

Except they aren't Infinity Humbuckers... The White Jr is fitted with the Quantum Humbuckers. The Infinity variants are fitted to the Yellow & Pink Jr SP models

[@MainPrism]

@@ThePedroDB yea I thought about that. I was too lazy to change it lol. Good point out though!

[@jrgguitars3620]

@@ThePedroDB You are right! They are Quantum Humbuckers. But they still sound good. Thanks for watching.

[@joerogansghost7402]

GREAT demo. I was just in Guitar Center yesterday and had a old Washburn bass they offered $500 for a trade. Saw this exact Jem Jr and really liked it, but wasn't 100% sure about it. Had my eye on something else.. Came home watched a bunch of demo videos on it and YOURS my friend of all of them I think has sold me. I'll be going back there in a few days to do the trade. Why not it's a even swap and I haven't used the bass in forever. Nice video man loved it. Great job.

[@jrgguitars3620]

Awesome! Quick question: Do I get some kind of commission for securing this transaction? lol. Seriously, that is great. You are a better man than me. I am holding on to a lot of gear that I can't seem to get rid of, even though I never use. I am sure you'll love it. Thanks for watching and commenting. 👍

[@r2skyvader]

I changed out the tremolo with a Gotoh. Had to make very little changes to get it in. I did use Floyd Rose studs which fit right in. The sustain and tone changed for the better with the new bridge. I had planned to change out the pickups, but they sound fine for now - maybe one day.

[@jrgguitars3620]

I think I may change it at some point. For now, I'm just going to block it to help with the tuning stability. The Gotoh seems to be the best choice when I decide to change something. Thanks for watching!

[@Scottocaster6668]

​@@jrgguitars3620I blocked mine with a hip shot. I don't care for a floating trem. The Ghoto bridges are the way to go, also cheaply priced. Mine is identical to yours, beautiful guitar I might add 👍🏻

[@jrgguitars3620]

@@Scottocaster6668 Yes, I finally blocked it and its way better. I don't really care about the floating tremolo either, but sometimes its nice to channel my inner Steve Vai and pull up on the bar. lol Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@shawndesjardins3841]

I have a 90 or 91 RG550. Other than hating floyd style trems, it's an awesome guitar. Don't be afraid of the middle pickup.

[@jrgguitars3620]

Thanks for watching. I don’t use the middle pickup nearly enough. You’re on to something, maybe it is fear. 😉

[@gianlucabattisti2954]

Thanks for the review, I really liked it and I compliment you, I think it's very honest because it's clearly a low-mid range product but with some adjustments and adequate setup it can become a good guitar at an affordable price and you have demonstrated it without any doubt. And then as usual, what matters is to bring out the hidden character of a guitar and only someone who plays well like you can do it.👍🤗🎸!!!

[@jrgguitars3620]

Thanks for the comment and very kind words! Since posting this video I have blocked the tremolo to help with tuning stability. I was struggling with keeping it in tune. So now it only deflects the pitch down, but stays in tune great. It a good trade off. Thanks for watching!

[@leeclayton5151]

I’m looking for a decent left handed guitar and I have seen the Jem Jr in a number of videos and in online reviews. it looks great and sounds pretty good too. The HSH pickup configuration is also just what I’m looking for. I think I’m sold on this one but I do wish they did this in other colours as well or even white and gold like the original Jem.

[@jj96zkkm]

Great review bro.

[@jrgguitars3620]

Thanks! It is a pretty nice guitar and not a bad price. Thanks for watching.

[@ranman58635]

A friend of here named Dylan talks tone has a video on how to set up a floyd. You may like it. It's sorta like decking but better. Killer guitar.

[@jrgguitars3620]

He makes good videos. I'll definitely check it out. Thanks!

[@sebandsheep]

Great.. thanks

[@TheOneTrueSpLiT]

I got my Jem Jr back in 2008 when it cost £1,000 from dealers here in the UK (now £450), I just wish mine played and sounded as good as that one. I've not had it set up by a professional and now wish I had, but having had several strokes I can no longer play as I did back in the mid/late 1980s, so paying over £50 for someone to set it all up properly seems a waste of money to me. I'd always set up my own guitars other than when Tony Zemaitis (who I knew as he lived near to me at the time and made a fretless bass for a mate) did my late 1980s Yamaha RGX and RGZ back in 1992.

[@Patchesmouse]

about the only review who didnt make the guitar NOT sound bad. thank you. Do you have a Js 140 m in soda blue that you can demo for me? Im tring to figure out between the JEM and that one.

[@jrgguitars3620]

I do not have the JS-140. Actually this Jem Jr is the only Ibanez I own. But the JS-140 looks really nice. The Soda Blue finish is really cool. Anyway, I hope you like whatever you get. If you can't decide maybe just get both! :) Thanks for watching.

[@mohitchauhann69]

Would it be great for a beginner? I can play barre chords and some picking not best to be exact on an acoustic guitar. Would it be best for me to purchase this guitar?

[@jrgguitars3620]

Maybe not the best for a beginner. Mostly due to the floating tremolo. It can be hard to tune and keep in tune. In terms of the way it sounds and feels, its great. But it might be frustrating to keep it in tune. Good luck! Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@mohitchauhann69]

@@jrgguitars3620 thank you for replying and would it be worth the effort if i give it time?

[@jrgguitars3620]

@@mohitchauhann69 Yes! It's worth it for sure. Good luck. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@natsuxv]

9:05 that was sick

[@jrgguitars3620]

Thanks!. That was a fun little track to put together. Thanks for watching!

[@natsuxv]

​@@jrgguitars3620I'll buy one for sure thanks for the video budd

[@HecatiSköl]

This is going to be my next guitar…. Shame about the pickguard though

[@Mr_DK34]

Is it a good choice for beginners?

[@matteon4192]

I dont have one but right away I'd say maybe not ideal because of the Floyd rose, not against it though just something to keep in mind

[@jrgguitars3620]

@@matteon4192 I agree. The Floyd Rose style tremolo, especially a floating one, can be really hard to get and keep in tune. However, the fit and finish is very nice. It comes very playable out of the box. It sounds good too.

[@brixelryan6963]

are the frets stainless steel or nickle?

[@jrgguitars3620]

I'm no expert, but I'm pretty sure they are nickle. They were polished well out of the box.

[@dmimcg]

Dat grtar sure has a purdy look. I like that Ibuniz. Me going to get me won.

[@jrgguitars3620]

I really is pretty. I say you should get one. thanks for watching!

[@lesdixon7487]

Wasn't too impressed with the guitar. The paint finish on the inside of the monkey grip was terrible and the trem had stability problems. I took it for a professional setup and still, it couldn't impress me. Maybe my expectations were a little high. I now have an RG550-rf Genesis which more than impressed me straight out the box.

[@jrgguitars3620]

I found this pretty good. I've read others had problems like you speak of, but mine was good. Maybe they've fixed some production problems. I have messed with the trem though. It would not stay in tune. I ended up blocking it, so it's a one-way tremolo now. That made it very stable. Thanks for watching.

[@lesdixon7487]

No worries.

[@anullencounter]

That horrific black knot in the neck is enough for me to avoid.